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Required Startup Mentality
13Jul

Required Startup Mentality

Pivoting an established company’s business model is one of the most daunting challenges a CEO can face. When the new CEO of Zilliant took the company’s helm in 2022, the mandate was to accelerate growth and increase market share. It quickly became evident that success lay not in product updates or tech investments but in rethinking the organizational mindset. Required Startup Mentality. With a master’s degree in organizational behavior studies from the University of Illinois and extensive experience in organizational transformations, the CEO understood the process typically follows one of two paths: changing an existing culture or building one from scratch. High-profile examples provide inspiration for both approaches. Satya Nadella, upon becoming CEO of Microsoft in 2014, transformed the company from a “know-it-all” to a “learn-it-all” culture, fostering a growth mindset. Conversely, Marc Benioff of Salesforce instilled the “ohana” culture of family spirit, trust, and equality from the company’s inception. The CEO, having been immersed in Salesforce culture for over a decade, learned the importance of a robust support system for employees and customers. Upon joining Zilliant, the CEO brought lessons from Salesforce to the new role. Zilliant, a company with 23 years of history and a long-standing CEO, Greg Peters, had thrived in price optimization. However, to evolve further, the company needed to adopt a startup mentality. This approach included scrutinizing every budget line item, incorporating a new marketing playbook, and, crucially, leveraging existing talent in new ways. Identifying influencers within the company and placing them in positions of broader influence proved to be an effective strategy. Required Startup Mentality of leaders. This group of long-time employees, respected and experienced, became the “change champions.” Their elevated profile across the organization facilitated listening and acting on peer feedback, making the traditionally challenging task of cultural transformation more manageable. Initially, there was a struggle to clearly articulate the future vision. The transitional period was marked by confusion rather than resistance. This experience underscored the importance of vision and constant communication during transformation. The CEO discovered that merely communicating new company values wasn’t sufficient. Creating a unified vision with full conviction from the executive team was essential. Significant time was spent defining this vision in granular detail, learning from the successes and failures of other companies. Once the leadership team was aligned, this conviction was cascaded through the ranks. Instead of dictating change, employees were invited into the process through feedback sessions and pilot programs, giving them a stake in redefining cultural norms. Celebrating small wins, even if they’re a “loss,” was emphasized to support learning from missteps. Modeling desired behaviors, systematically updating policies, incentives, and processes reinforced the new mindsets and actions. It was an arduous journey, but staying intentional and bringing people along was crucial for evolving into the envisioned culture. Through the transformation, one principle remained constant: customers must see Zilliant as a partner rather than a vendor. This required individuals in every department—marketing, sales, customer success, product, and engineering—to proactively address and solve customer problems. Transitioning to a new business model and rethinking organizational mindset is a long-term effort requiring vision and commitment from all levels. The payoff, however, can be immense. Already, Zilliant has delivered two consecutive quarters of 60%-plus growth in year-over-year bookings and is positioned for continued record growth through the end of the year. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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July 13, 2024in Mulesoft, Salesforce
Education Cloud Support Programs
12Jul

Education Cloud Support Programs

Model Support Programs with Education Cloud The Education Cloud Student Success and Mentoring apps empower educational institutions to design, plan, and deliver non-scholastic services that support each learner’s journey. From career counseling to mentoring, these apps provide the tools needed to manage a wide range of support programs effectively. Defining and Managing Support Programs Educational institutions often run various support programs to enhance learners’ experiences, such as a job placement program that offers career counseling, resume workshops, aptitude assessments, mock interviews, and corporate connect events. With the Student Success and Mentoring apps, Education Cloud provides robust program management features that allow institutions to scale these initiatives efficiently. For more information, see Get Started with Program Management. Through these apps, directors and facilitators can model programs and define the associated benefits. When an advisor adds these benefits to a learner’s care plan, the learner is automatically enrolled in the respective programs. Mentoring facilitators can also connect learners with mentors. Available benefit types include: Note: It’s essential to define the unit of measure for each benefit type to avoid errors when creating benefits. For guidance, see Define Units of Measure for Program Management. Creating and Managing Support Programs In the Student Success and Mentoring apps, you can easily create programs, enroll learners, and manage benefits through workflows accessible from the dropdown navigation menu. For a deeper understanding of the program management process, see Program Management Workflow. To create a support program: An advising program might include an advising benefit. When a learner enrolls, they are automatically assigned to an advising benefit, allowing them to schedule an appointment with a success team member. The system updates the benefit disbursement status based on the appointment. Automating Program Enrollment Processes Education Cloud offers integration procedures, flows, and invocable actions to automate program enrollment processes. For example: Note: A program enrollment record can be created regardless of the program’s status. Implement restrictions as needed in your org. Creating Assessments for Program Enrollment To understand learners’ requirements during program enrollment, create assessment questions: Setting Up Advising Programs Create an advising program that runs an assessment when learners enroll from the portal: Learners can schedule appointments with assigned case team members directly through the learner portal, ensuring they receive the support they need. By leveraging Education Cloud’s Student Success and Mentoring apps, institutions can create, manage, and scale support programs that effectively address the unique needs of each learner. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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July 12, 2024in Data, Salesforce, Salesforce Education Cloud
Public Sector Loan Management
12Jul

Public Sector Loan Management

Optimizing Public Sector Loan Management with Salesforce Effective loan management is vital for public sector financial operations, ensuring that funds are allocated efficiently and responsibly. As public entities face increasing demands for transparency and accountability, leveraging technology becomes essential. Salesforce, a leading customer relationship management (CRM) platform, offers robust solutions tailored to enhance loan management processes in the public sector. This article explores how Salesforce optimizes key aspects of loan management, with a focus on the Loan Boarding, Handoff, and Approval Process. Understanding Loan Boarding in Public Sector Finance Loan boarding refers to the initial steps of creating a new loan within an organization’s financial system. In the public sector, where loans often involve multiple stakeholders and complex regulations, a streamlined boarding process is critical. Salesforce’s customizable workflows and automation capabilities enable organizations to reduce manual entry errors and improve overall efficiency. Streamlined Data Entry Salesforce allows organizations to create custom fields that capture essential data points, such as borrower information, loan amounts, interest rates, and terms. When a loan application is submitted through a portal integrated with Salesforce, the platform automatically populates relevant fields, minimizing repetitive data entry and human error. Enhanced Collaboration Salesforce’s collaborative features, like Chatter, enable seamless communication between departments, such as finance, compliance, and risk management. Teams can access real-time information and discuss applications directly on the platform, eliminating the need for delays caused by emails or meetings and expediting the approval process. The Handoff Process: Ensuring Smooth Transitions Once a loan application is successfully boarded, it must be handed off to various stakeholders for review and approval. Without proper management, this process can become bottlenecked. Salesforce provides tools that automate notifications and reminders, ensuring smooth handoffs at each stage of the approval process. Automated Alerts and Task Management Salesforce’s task management system assigns specific tasks to team members and sets deadlines for completion. Automated alerts ensure no step in the approval process is overlooked, minimizing delays caused by human error or oversight and keeping the process on track. Approval Process: Simplifying Decision-Making In public sector lending, the approval process often requires multiple levels of scrutiny due to regulatory requirements. Salesforce’s powerful reporting capabilities allow decision-makers to quickly analyze applications based on predefined criteria, such as creditworthiness and compliance metrics. Custom Approval Workflows Salesforce enables organizations to design custom workflows that reflect their unique approval hierarchies. For instance, loans that require additional scrutiny based on size or risk can easily be routed to the appropriate stakeholders, ensuring compliance and mitigating risks. Document Management: Keeping Everything Organized Effective loan management relies on accurate documentation throughout the loan lifecycle, from application to repayment. Salesforce’s document management features enhance organization and compliance: Conclusion Optimizing public sector loan management with Salesforce offers substantial benefits in efficiency, accountability, and adaptability. From seamless loan boarding to enhanced collaboration, streamlined approvals, and robust document management, Salesforce provides a comprehensive solution for public sector financial operations. By leveraging these technological advancements, public sector organizations can effectively manage loans from application to repayment, ensure compliance, and build trust with the constituents they serve. Salesforce’s capabilities position public entities for operational success while maintaining the high standards required for public financing. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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July 12, 2024in Data, Salesforce, Technology
What is Salesforce Health Cloud
11Jul

Explore Salesforce Health Cloud

Empower Your Healthcare Team with Salesforce Health Cloud Equip your healthcare team with comprehensive 360-degree views that help connect and engage every patient, member, employee, and partner. Explore Salesforce Health Cloud Explore Health Cloud Understanding the capabilities of this platform is the first step to transforming your organization’s patient management. Let’s explore what Health Cloud offers to various types of healthcare organizations. Introducing Salesforce Health Cloud: A CRM Solution for Patient Management Over 600 companies, including industry leaders like Lilly, Pacific Clinics, United Healthcare, Progyny, Stanley Healthcare, and Humana, trust Salesforce Health Cloud for their patient management needs. As the healthcare industry rapidly evolves, effective patient information management is essential. This insight looks into Salesforce Health Cloud’s capabilities, features, integration options, and benefits, including its security architecture. What is Health Cloud? Salesforce Health Cloud is a cloud-based technology designed specifically for the healthcare industry. It centralizes patient information, giving healthcare professionals a complete view of patient records, enabling more effective treatments and better patient care. Key Capabilities of Salesforce Health Cloud Salesforce Health Cloud is a robust platform offering key capabilities such as: Salesforce in the Healthcare Industry Salesforce is increasingly popular among healthcare organizations for several reasons: Salesforce Health Platform Features Salesforce Health Cloud offers three main sets of features: Salesforce Health Cloud Architecture The architecture of Salesforce Health Cloud includes: Salesforce Health Cloud Security Salesforce Health Cloud is designed to securely manage healthcare data, featuring: Revolutionizing Healthcare Delivery with Salesforce Health Cloud Salesforce Health Cloud is designed for healthcare organizations to automate processes and provide personalized patient care. Since its launch in 2016, Health Cloud has evolved to address the complexities of the healthcare industry, including the introduction of Customer 360 for Health, an AI-driven healthcare solution. Why Choose Salesforce Health Cloud? Salesforce Health Cloud connects healthcare teams to ensure that patients receive the right care, supported by multi-layered security to protect sensitive patient data. It integrates clinical and non-clinical patient data, streamlining workflows and enhancing patient satisfaction. Top Features of Salesforce Health Cloud Key features include Patient 360, Care Plans, Care Coordination, Health Timeline, and Einstein Analytics for Healthcare, among others. Salesforce has also introduced AI-powered innovations under the Patient 360 for Health initiative, enhancing patient care and operational efficiency. Integration with MuleSoft Salesforce Health Cloud’s integration with MuleSoft allows organizations to connect with existing healthcare systems, ensuring accurate and up-to-date patient information, unlocking the full potential of their data, and improving decision-making. Conclusion Salesforce Health Cloud is more than just a platform—it’s a comprehensive solution for managing doctor-patient interactions, recordkeeping, and delivering personalized care. By leveraging Health Cloud, healthcare organizations can transform patient experiences, streamline processes, and ensure data security and compliance, positioning themselves for a brighter future in healthcare. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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July 11, 2024in Mulesoft, Salesforce Health Cloud, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Salesforce Shield
Generative AI for Tableau
11Jul

Generative AI for Tableau

Tableau’s first generative AI assistant is now generally available. Generative AI for Tableau brings data prep to the masses. Earlier this month, Tableau launched its second platform update of 2024, announcing that its first two GenAI assistants would be available by the end of July, with a third set for release in August. The first of these, Einstein Copilot for Tableau Prep, became generally available on July 10. Tableau initially unveiled its plans to develop generative AI capabilities in May 2023 with the introduction of Tableau Pulse and Tableau GPT. Pulse, an insight generator that monitors data for metric changes and uses natural language to alert users, became generally available in February. Tableau GPT, now renamed Einstein Copilot for Tableau, moved into beta testing in April. Following Einstein Copilot for Tableau Prep, Einstein Copilot for Tableau Catalog is expected to be generally available before the end of July. Einstein Copilot for Tableau Web Authoring is set to follow by the end of August. With these launches, Tableau joins other data management and analytics vendors like AWS, Domo, Microsoft, and MicroStrategy, which have already made generative AI assistants generally available. Other companies, such as Qlik, DBT Labs, and Alteryx, have announced similar plans but have not yet moved their products out of preview. Tableau’s generative AI capabilities are comparable to those of its competitors, according to Doug Henschen, an analyst at Constellation Research. In some areas, such as data cataloging, Tableau’s offerings are even more advanced. “Tableau is going GA later than some of its competitors. But capabilities are pretty much in line with or more extensive than what you’re seeing from others,” Henschen said. In addition to the generative AI assistants, Tableau 2024.2 includes features such as embedding Pulse in applications. Based in Seattle and a subsidiary of Salesforce, Tableau has long been a prominent analytics vendor. Its first 2024 platform update highlighted the launch of Pulse, while the final 2023 update introduced new embedded analytics capabilities. Generative AI assistants are proliferating due to their potential to enable non-technical workers to work with data and increase efficiency for data experts. Historically, the complexity of analytics platforms, requiring coding and data literacy, has limited their widespread adoption. Studies indicate that only about one-quarter of employees regularly work with data. Vendors have attempted to overcome this barrier by introducing natural language processing (NLP) and low-code/no-code features. However, NLP features have been limited by small vocabularies requiring specific business phrasing, while low-code/no-code features only support basic tasks. Generative AI has the potential to change this dynamic. Large language models like ChatGPT and Google Gemini offer extensive vocabularies and can interpret user intent, enabling true natural language interactions. This makes data exploration and analysis accessible to non-technical users and reduces coding requirements for data experts. In response to advancements in generative AI, many data management and analytics vendors, including Tableau, have made it a focal point of their product development. Tech giants like AWS, Google, and Microsoft, as well as specialized vendors, have heavily invested in generative AI. Einstein Copilot for Tableau Prep, now generally available, allows users to describe calculations in natural language, which the tool interprets to create formulas for calculated fields in Tableau Prep. Previously, this required expertise in objects, fields, functions, and limitations. Einstein Copilot for Tableau Catalog, set for release later this month, will enable users to add descriptions for data sources, workbooks, and tables with one click. In August, Einstein Copilot for Tableau Web Authoring will allow users to explore data in natural language directly from Tableau Cloud Web Authoring, producing visualizations, formulating calculations, and suggesting follow-up questions. Tableau’s generative AI assistants are designed to enhance efficiency and productivity for both experts and generalists. The assistants streamline complex data modeling and predictive analysis, automate routine data prep tasks, and provide user-friendly interfaces for data visualization and analysis. “Whether for an expert or someone just getting started, the goal of Einstein Copilot is to boost efficiency and productivity,” said Mike Leone, an analyst at TechTarget’s Enterprise Strategy Group. The planned generative AI assistants for different parts of Tableau’s platform offer unique value in various stages of the data and AI lifecycle, according to Leone. Doug Henschen noted that the generative AI assistants for Tableau Web Authoring and Tableau Prep are similar to those being introduced by other vendors. However, the addition of a generative AI assistant for data cataloging represents a unique differentiation for Tableau. “Einstein Copilot for Tableau Catalog is unique to Tableau among analytics and BI vendors,” Henschen said. “But it’s similar to GenAI implementations being done by a few data catalog vendors.” Beyond the generative AI assistants, Tableau’s latest update includes: Among these non-Copilot capabilities, making Pulse embeddable is particularly significant. Extending generative AI capabilities to work applications will make them more effective. “Embedding Pulse insights within day-to-day applications promises to open up new possibilities for making insights actionable for business users,” Henschen said. Multi-fact relationships are also noteworthy, enabling users to relate datasets with shared dimensions and informing applications that require large amounts of high-quality data. “Multi-fact relationships are a fascinating area where Tableau is really just getting started,” Leone said. “Providing ways to improve accuracy, insights, and context goes a long way in building trust in GenAI and reducing hallucinations.” While Tableau has launched its first generative AI assistant and will soon release more, the vendor has not yet disclosed pricing for the Copilots and related features. The generative AI assistants are available through a bundle named Tableau+, a premium Tableau Cloud offering introduced in June. Beyond the generative AI assistants, Tableau+ includes advanced management capabilities, simplified data governance, data discovery features, and integration with Salesforce Data Cloud. Generative AI is compute-intensive and costly, so it’s not surprising that Tableau customers will have to pay extra for these capabilities. Some vendors are offering generative AI capabilities for free to attract new users, but Henschen believes costs will eventually be incurred. “Customers will want to understand the cost implications of adding these new capabilities,”

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July 11, 2024in Generative AI, Salesforce Data Cloud
Data Protection Improvements from Next DLP
11Jul

Data Protection Improvements from Next DLP

Insider risk and data protection company Next DLP has unveiled its new Secure Data Flow technology, designed to enhance data protection for customers. Integrated into the company’s Reveal Platform, Secure Data Flow monitors the origin, movement, and modification of data to provide comprehensive protection. Data Protection Improvements from Next DLP. This technology can secure critical business data flow from any SaaS application, including Salesforce, Workday, SAP, and GitHub, to prevent accidental data loss and malicious theft. “In modern IT environments, intellectual property often resides in SaaS applications and cloud data stores,” said John Stringer, head of product at Next DLP. “The challenge is that identifying high-impact data in these locations based on its content is difficult. Secure Data Flow, through Reveal, ensures that firms can confidently protect their most critical data assets, regardless of their location or application.” Next DLP argues that legacy data protection technologies are inadequate, relying on pattern matching, regular expressions, keywords, user-applied tags, and fingerprinting, which only cover a limited range of text-based data types. The company highlights that recent studies indicate employees download an average of 30 GB of data each month from SaaS applications to their endpoints, such as mobile phones, laptops, and desktops, emphasizing the need for advanced data protection measures. Secure Data Flow tracks data as it moves through both sanctioned and unsanctioned channels within an organization. By complementing traditional content and sensitivity classification-based approaches with origin-based data identification, manipulation detection, and data egress controls, it effectively prevents data theft and misuse. This approach results in an “all-encompassing, 100 percent effective, false-positive-free solution that simplifies the lives of security analysts,” claims Next DLP. “Secure Data Flow represents a novel approach to data protection and insider risk management,” said Ken Buckler, research director at Enterprise Management Associates. “It not only enhances detection and protection capabilities but also streamlines data management processes. This improves the accuracy of data sensitivity recognition and reduces endpoint content inspection costs in today’s diverse technological environments.” Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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July 11, 2024in Generative AI, Salesforce Data Cloud, Salesforce Optimization
Proper Programmers Desk
10Jul

Proper Programmers Desk

You’ve probably come across those generic “Proper Programmers Desk Items Under $100” lists. For some reason, there’s always that pointless monitor light and back support included. Let me be the first to call you out: if you need a monitor light to type, you’re not really a programmer. And if you spend money on back support but don’t use a random box to store your adapters and cables, you’re probably a poser. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s look into some genuinely indispensable gadgets that every developer should consider. Simple Silicone USB-C 120W CableEven Apple, nudged by EU regulations, has transitioned to USB-C. Owning a robust, full-pin cable that ensures speedy connections between your devices is crucial. Ideal for app developers and tinkering enthusiasts alike, this cable is a steal for its price and versatility. Price: $2.68Where: Aliexpress Baseus 65W GaN ChargerSince everything is wireless and needs charging, a good charger is essential. The Baseus 65W GaN Charger is the best one we’ve come across. No more fumbling under the table for your USB or dealing with dead batteries. Just plug the cable in, and you’re good to go. Price: $26.04Where: Aliexpress External Power ButtonGot your setup under the desk or obscured by monitors? An external power button is your new best friend. Just watch out for curious cats! And touch-driven toddlers! Price: $3.09Where: Aliexpress USB 3.2 HubThe era when USB connectors were used for more than just charging might be fading, but for now, we still need to set up USB drives, keep a mouse receiver nearby, and connect various other USB devices. This hub is the fastest and most affordable option available from a reputable company. Think you are the exception to the rule? Don’t forget headsets, grab-and-go charging blocks, your Vape, the monitor light referenced above. Price: $24.90Where: Aliexpress HydrationWhether you’re into plain water or cutting-edge nootropics, staying hydrated is key. Snowmonkey flasks are my go-to: durable, excellent at maintaining temperature, and backed by fantastic customer service. They even offered a discount code just for you after hearing about this article! Promo Code: SuperShort15Where: Snowmonkey EarplugsWhile noise-canceling headphones are a game-changer, on a budget, simple earplugs are a miracle of their own. Whether foam that expands to fit, kneadable silicone, or rigid types, they’re affordable enough to try them all and find your perfect fit. Price: $1Where: Aliexpress Software EssentialsAs developers, our toolkit is incomplete without some top-notch software. While JetBrains or VIM might top your list for IDEs, let’s not spark a war over it. Here are a few essentials: Flow LauncherFlow is the ultimate Spotlight open-source alternative for Windows, surpassing everything I’ve used before. Need a fast, on-the-go translation? No problem—just choose a plugin from your settings, and you’re all set. It truly is magical. Where: Flow Launcher TickTickManaging your time becomes essential eventually. TickTick’s straightforward interface lets you jot tasks down and tick them off without fuss. Where: TickTick ObsidianA second brain for storing everything from code snippets to comprehensive project notes. Dive into tutorials on YouTube and explore its vast capabilities. Where: Obsidian CamoDitch the subpar sub-$100 webcams and use your smartphone instead. Crisp, clear, and cost-effective. Where: Camo Consider These Upgrades for the Proper Programmers Desk Good Mechanical KeyboardWe are living in a golden era for mechanical keyboard enthusiasts! You could spend years on YouTube exploring the countless options. Choose your favorite wisely. We’ve opted for the SteelSeries Apex Pro because its keys are analog, allowing you to adjust the sensitivity, making it a dream to type on. Of course, there are other viable options at this price point. Light MouseAfter extended use, you might start to feel pain and a sense of fullness in your wrists, eventually leading to sharp pain. But don’t worry. Choosing a mouse under 70 grams, like the Logitech SUPERLIGHT 2, can alleviate these issues. You could opt for the first edition, which is cheaper, but it uses a micro USB, and that’s a dealbreaker for some. Noise-Canceling HeadphonesIf you enjoy a bit of music or podcasts while programming (though they’re not the best for concentration), you might want to consider noise-canceling headphones. The best we’ve encountered are the Sony WH-1000XM4. We would suggest the newer version, but some tests indicate the previous model performs better and is more affordable. Good OLED TVWith TVs now boasting 120Hz refresh rates and various gaming modes, there’s no reason not to own a 55″+ monitor. Believe us, an OLED from LG makes all the difference. Android PhoneFinally, consider this scenario: You’re outdoors without your laptop, and suddenly, your customer’s service goes down. If you were prepared, you’d simply launch a Linux instance on your phone, open your IDE, and start coding a patch. Of course, you could also rush home, risk using a random computer, or just panic. And if money really is no object, add a Universal Robots UR20 Collaborative Arm to your desk for just south of $60,000. While marketed for moving pallets, handling packaging, and the like, we think it would be pretty cool running back and forth from the Keurig to your desk with steaming hot coffee. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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July 10, 2024in Salesforce
Alphabet Abandons Acquisition for HubSpot
10Jul

Alphabet Abandons Acquisition for HubSpot

Alphabet Abandons Acquisition Plans for HubSpot The integration between Salesforce and Hubspot could have changed drastically. The HubSpot-Salesforce integration allows you to pass data between HubSpot and Salesforce seamlessly, and maintain consistency between your marketing and sales teams. Current HubSpot Google integration includes: ability to log emails sent from Gmail into HubSpot CRM with one click, so your team spends less time on busy work and more time doing what they do best. HubSpot integrates with your Google Calendar to help you book more meetings in less time. Google parent Alphabet has abandoned its plans to acquire HubSpot, according to sources familiar with the matter. This decision puts to rest what would have been one of the year’s largest takeovers. HubSpot, Inc. is an American developer and marketer of software products for inbound marketing, sales, and customer service. HubSpot was founded by Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah in 2006. The talks between Alphabet and HubSpot never progressed to due diligence and fell apart shortly after the companies held initial discussions on a potential deal, the source said, on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential matters. HubSpot’s shares, a customer relationship management company, plummeted by as much as 19 percent on Wednesday (Jul 10) in New York trading, marking the most significant drop since 2020. The shares closed down 12 percent at $492.31, giving the company a market value of approximately $25 billion. Earlier this year, Alphabet had expressed interest in a potential deal with HubSpot. However, the two sides never progressed to detailed discussions or due diligence, said the sources, who requested anonymity due to the confidentiality of the matter. Representatives for Alphabet did not immediately comment. A HubSpot spokesperson also declined to comment. Any acquisition of HubSpot would have been among the largest tech deals of the year, comparable to Synopsys’s pending $34 billion acquisition of Ansys, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. HubSpot recently suffered a hack attack. HubSpot, which builds marketing software for small and medium-sized businesses, has specialized in so-called inbound marketing, where consumers start engagement with a brand. HubSpot customers apply its software to make advertising content that consumers can click on. CEO Yamini Rangan said in May on HubSpot’s financial results call that customer demand had weakened, as small businesses worried about the economic impact of high interest rates. Acquiring Cambridge, Massachusetts-based HubSpot, which caters to small and midsize enterprises, would have bolstered Alphabet’s competitiveness against rivals like Microsoft, Oracle, and Salesforce. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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July 10, 2024in Data, Enterprise, Google, Salesforce
Salesforce to Boost Productivity and Customer Interaction
08Jul

Salesforce to Boost Productivity and Customer Interaction

Vonage, a global leader in cloud communications and a part of Ericsson, has announced that Endress+Hauser, a Swiss-based supplier of process and laboratory instrumentation and automation, has selected Vonage Contact Center for Service Cloud Voice to deliver consistent and personalized customer experiences across all channels. Salesforce to Boost Productivity and Customer Interaction With nearly 17,000 employees worldwide, Endress+Hauser sought to revolutionize their customer interactions. Vonage Contact Center for Service Cloud Voice seamlessly integrates with their existing Salesforce CRM, enhancing automation, intelligence, and engagement capabilities on a global scale. Salesforce to Boost Productivity and Customer Interaction Vonage is a trusted partner for Salesforce, offering a platform that enables businesses to manage, deploy, and consolidate multiple communication solutions for increased efficiency. Leveraging Vonage’s AI capabilities, such as real-time transcription and omnichannel routing solutions, Endress+Hauser can create deeper connections with customers and enhance agent experiences with a more informed view of the customer. Rob MacKenzie, Corporate Director of Sales Excellence at Endress+Hauser, expressed the importance of integrating communication channels to improve the customer experience, ensuring seamless interactions and capturing vital insights. Thomas Plack, SVP and Head of Industry at Salesforce Germany, highlighted how Service Cloud Voice empowers agents to handle calls and resolve issues seamlessly, enabling Endress+Hauser to adopt a proactive and personalized approach with their customers. Savinay Berry, Executive Vice President of Product and Engineering at Vonage, emphasized that Vonage solutions are tailored to organizations like Endress+Hauser, aiming to deepen customer engagement and enhance agent satisfaction. With Vonage Contact Center for Service Cloud Voice, integration with Salesforce optimizes efficiency and leverages AI-based capabilities to deliver a consistent and personalized customer experience. Like1 Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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July 8, 2024in Salesforce, Salesforce Communications Cloud, Salesforce Einstein, Salesforce Experience Cloud, Salesforce Implementation Services, Salesforce Manufacturing Automotive Energy, Salesforce Optimization, Salesforce Service Cloud
Salesforce Agentforce Platform
08Jul

Salesforce Agentforce Platform

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has hinted at the upcoming launch of a new AI and automation platform geared towards customer support. Salesforce Agentforce Platform. In anticipation of September’s Dreamforce event, Benioff used X, formerly Twitter, to offer a sneak peek into the platform, specifically highlighting its customer-facing “Einstein Service Agent.” In his post, Benioff underscores the essential features of the virtual agent, emphasizing how it will seamlessly blend digital and human-assisted support to expedite case resolutions. This blended experience appears to build upon the technology integrated into Salesforce following its acquisition of Airkit.ai in 2023. Airkit.ai provides a low- to no-code bot-building platform that empowers businesses to orchestrate AI-driven conversational experiences. Primarily used for service automation, Airkit enables firms to design and automate complex cross-platform workflows, enhancing automated customer interactions across Salesforce applications. The Einstein Service Agent, positioned within Salesforce’s broader Einstein 1 vision, leverages Data Cloud to create a unified, cross-functional data ecosystem. Benioff hints at the agent’s capability to span service, sales, marketing, and commerce functionalities, underscoring its pivotal role within the Salesforce ecosystem. Expanding on Airkit.ai’s foundational capabilities, Salesforce has integrated Mulesoft to enable insights triggering cross-platform automations, alongside real-time data harmonization within Data Cloud. Moreover, the platform now incorporates generative AI (GenAI), enhancing its ability to interpret text, images, and audio/video for diverse customer engagement scenarios. Despite these advancements, Benioff acknowledges that no virtual agent, even with GenAI augmentation, can resolve every customer query alone. Salesforce ensures omnichannel transfers and human handoffs to address more complex issues effectively. In an era where many vendors offer similar conversational AI capabilities, Salesforce distinguishes itself through ecosystem integration and orchestration. Benioff emphasizes the value of low- to no-code workflow orchestration, democratizing AI technology for non-programmers and fostering an inclusive AI revolution. Expect Benioff to elaborate further on these themes and unveil more details about the Agentforce Platform during his keynote at the 2024 Dreamforce event. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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July 8, 2024in Generative AI, Mulesoft
Sinch Omnichannel Connector
08Jul

Sinch Omnichannel Connector

Sinch (Sinch AB (publ) – XSTO: SINCH), a pioneer in global communication through its Customer Communications Cloud, has launched the Sinch Omnichannel Connector on Salesforce AppExchange. This innovative solution enhances conversational marketing and customer experiences for Salesforce Marketing Cloud customers by offering advanced one-way and two-way messaging capabilities. The solution is now available on Salesforce AppExchange. The Sinch Omnichannel Connector seamlessly integrates with the Salesforce ecosystem, enabling businesses to elevate their marketing strategies by reaching and engaging customers across their preferred channels. This new offering expands the features of Salesforce Marketing Cloud, providing a comprehensive suite of omnichannel messaging capabilities. Businesses can now connect with customers through one-way and two-way messaging across 13 diverse channels, including RCS, Kakao Talk, Viber, and Instagram. This complements Salesforce’s native channels of SMS, MMS, Email, WhatsApp, and LINE, offering a complete communication solution. “With the Sinch Omnichannel Connector, businesses can enhance their customer communications, personalize engagements, and maximize the return on their marketing investments,” said Jonathan Campbell, Senior Director, Messaging Products at Sinch. “Salesforce Marketing Cloud users can now leverage a broader spectrum of messaging channels through Sinch, beyond those directly supported by Salesforce, to optimize their marketing strategies and elevate customer engagement.” To get started, Salesforce Marketing Cloud users need an existing account and can onboard the Conversation API through the Sinch Dashboard. From there, they can easily activate the channels of their choice, tailoring their messaging strategy to suit their unique business needs. Sinch has partnered with Salesforce since 2014, when Salesforce expanded its SMS offering into international markets. Sinch is a strategic supplier for Salesforce’s global SMS delivery, providing enterprise-grade messaging solutions that support Salesforce and its global customer base. Sinch, a pioneer in global communication through its Customer Communications Cloud, has once again been named a Leader in the 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS). Sinch sees this recognition as validation of their robust Super Network and the extensive range of communication channels they offer, including messaging, email, and voice. These capabilities enable businesses to enhance customer experience (CX) and engagement. Sinch attributes this recognition to their innovative AI capabilities, integration with over 500 platforms, and global market reach, allowing them to serve customers of all sizes worldwide. The evaluation was based on criteria that assessed the company’s Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute. “We believe being recognized as a Magic Quadrant™ Leader for the second consecutive year confirms our commitment to our customers and our ability to help them deliver superior customer experiences,” said Laurinda Pang, CEO of Sinch. “Effective digital, one-to-one communications are vital across marketing, operations, and customer care. Sinch simplifies customer communications throughout the entire journey. Our leading API platform and comprehensive applications enable businesses to exceed customer expectations and deliver personalized communications at scale, using both established and emerging channels.” Magic Quadrant reports are based on rigorous, fact-based research in specific markets, offering a wide-angle view of the relative positions of providers in high-growth markets with distinct provider differentiation. Providers are positioned into four quadrants: Leaders, Challengers, Visionaries, and Niche Players. This research helps businesses maximize market analysis in alignment with their unique business and technology needs. View a complimentary copy of the Magic Quadrant™ report to learn more about Sinch’s strengths and cautions, as well as the offerings of other providers: https://go.sinch.com/sinch-gartner-mq-24-pr Source: Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Communication Platforms as a Service, Lisa Unden-Farboud, Pankil Sheth, Ajit Patankar, Brian Doherty, 24 June 2024. Like1 Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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July 8, 2024in Salesforce Marketing Cloud
Salesforce Sandboxes Explained
08Jul

Salesforce Sandboxes Explained

What is a Salesforce Sandbox? A Salesforce Sandbox is a duplicate of your live production environment, offering a safe and isolated space for developers and administrators to test new features, configurations, and code changes. This environment ensures that you can experiment without affecting your live data, allowing for thorough validation before changes are deployed to production. By mimicking the production setup, a sandbox helps identify and fix issues early, leading to more stable applications and a more reliable development process. Salesforce Sandboxes play a crucial role in ensuring the quality and functionality of applications. They provide a secure environment to conduct rigorous testing, allowing teams to catch errors and make improvements before affecting end users. This controlled environment fosters innovation while minimizing the risk of disruptions. Types of Salesforce Sandboxes Salesforce offers different sandbox types, each designed to meet various development and testing needs. Choosing the right sandbox depends on the scope and complexity of the project. 1. Developer Sandbox A Developer Sandbox is ideal for individual developers working on isolated tasks. It includes a copy of the production environment’s metadata but no actual data. This sandbox allows developers to build and test new features or configurations without impacting each other’s work. With daily refreshes, it provides an agile development environment for quick iterations. 2. Developer Pro Sandbox Similar to the Developer Sandbox, the Developer Pro Sandbox has more storage capacity and includes some data. This makes it suitable for larger development projects, where more comprehensive testing is required. It’s perfect for data-intensive tasks and collaborative development, allowing multiple developers to work on shared projects. 3. Partial Copy Sandbox A Partial Copy Sandbox includes all metadata and a sample of production data, making it useful for functional testing and user acceptance testing (UAT). It allows teams to validate application performance with real data, helping uncover data-specific issues. It can be refreshed every five days, providing an accurate testing environment without needing a full data set. 4. Full Copy Sandbox The most comprehensive option, a Full Copy Sandbox replicates the entire production environment, including all data and metadata. This sandbox is ideal for final testing, load testing, and staging before deployment. By mirroring production, it ensures that any changes or updates function seamlessly when deployed to live systems. How to Create a Sandbox in Salesforce How to Refresh a Sandbox in Salesforce Refreshing a sandbox updates it with the latest data and configurations from the production environment. Here’s how to do it: Salesforce Sandbox Templates Sandbox Templates allow you to define specific data and metadata to include in your sandbox. These templates ensure a more tailored environment for testing and development activities. 1. Developer Sandbox Template This template includes metadata from the production environment and is perfect for developers who don’t need production data, allowing them to focus on configurations and code. 2. Developer Pro Sandbox Template Similar to the Developer Sandbox Template but with more storage and data, this is suited for more complex projects requiring integration and quality assurance testing. 3. Partial Copy Sandbox Template Ideal for testing with actual data, this template allows you to include a subset of production data for validation and scenario-based testing. 4. Full Copy Sandbox Template A complete replica of your production environment, this template supports full-scale performance testing and final staging before deployment. Frequently Asked Questions By utilizing Salesforce Sandboxes, your team can ensure thorough development, testing, and training processes, leading to better performance and greater confidence in your Salesforce projects. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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July 8, 2024in Salesforce
Aura Components
06Jul

Aura Components Summer 24

Aura components are fundamental building blocks of an application, designed for reusability and encapsulation of functionality within the Salesforce platform. They can range in scope from a single UI element to an entire application module. Key Points: In essence, Aura components empower developers to create modular, scalable applications within Salesforce, leveraging prebuilt components and adhering to the principles of encapsulation and event-driven architecture. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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July 6, 2024in Salesforce
Sales CRM - Do You Need It
05Jul

Sales CRM – Do You Need It

Every sale is a story of connecting needs with solutions and questions with answers. A sales customer relationship management (CRM) system is essential for facilitating these connections. It helps track customer interactions and creates meaningful engagements that drive business forward. However, many sales organizations are not fully utilizing this powerful, game changing tool. According to the latest State of Sales report, two-thirds of sales professionals feel overwhelmed by too many sales applications, and only 37% believe their organizations fully leverage their CRM systems. Let’s explore how a sales CRM can improve productivity and streamline operations to enhance every customer interaction. What is a Sales CRM? A sales CRM is software designed to help sales teams manage their interactions with customers and streamline pipeline management. It securely stores customer data, leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to automate key tasks and generate content, and optimizes sales processes to increase efficiency and revenue. Why is a Sales CRM Important? The State of Sales report indicates that 69% of sales professionals need efficient tools to manage job complexity. A sales CRM helps teams stay organized by storing customer details in one place, making it easier to track past interactions, follow up on leads, and close deals. This reduces time spent on administrative tasks, allowing salespeople to focus more on connecting with customers and closing sales. Today’s CRMs are more than just databases. With AI capabilities, sales teams can access and analyze customer information and automate tasks such as drafting sales emails and prioritizing tasks, transforming them into a highly efficient revenue-generating unit. How Does a CRM Help Increase Sales? A CRM assists sales representatives in suggesting products or services that meet customer needs, following up on leads, and reconnecting at the right time. For example, if a customer has expressed interest in a product, the CRM records this interaction. When that product becomes available at a discount, the salesperson can reach out with a personalized offer. CRMs can also automate follow-up reminders, encouraging customers toward a purchase. Here’s how a CRM can be applied at each stage of the sales cycle: 5 CRM Best Practices A CRM system is most effective when it supports a well-defined sales strategy. Here are some tips to enhance CRM use: Does Your Company Need a Sales CRM? To determine the need for a sales CRM, evaluate current sales processes and future goals. A CRM is particularly beneficial for business if: Tips for Choosing the Best CRM Selecting the right CRM involves considering your unique business needs. What will you gain? What will it cost? How will you implement it? How will you train sales teams to use it? Key factors include: Use Your CRM to Tell More Sales Success Stories A sales CRM serves as a comprehensive record with 360 degree views of customer interactions, helping improve productivity, foster meaningful customer engagement, and craft better success stories for your business. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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July 5, 2024in Artificial Intelligence, Data, Salesforce

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