Box - gettectonic.com - Page 4
Winter 25 Release Announcements
13Sep

Winter 25 Release Announcements

Important Information for Winter 25 Release The 5-minute release window applies only to major release upgrades to non-hyperforce orgs. System maintenance windows haven’t changed. ResourcesFor easy reference to this information, bookmark status.salesforce.com. To learn more about our new Winter ’25 features, see Winter ’25 Preview Release Notes and Release Notes Changelog. 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

Read More
September 13, 2024in Hyperforce, Salesforce
Boostr and Salesforce
12Sep

Boostr and Salesforce

Boostr’s Automated OMS and Salesforce Media Cloud Aim to Deliver an AI-Powered Full-Service Advertising Management Solution NEW YORK, Sept. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Boostr, a leading advertising management platform for media companies, today announced that it’s teaming up with Salesforce, the #1 AI CRM, on a new integration that aims to transform the way media and entertainment companies manage their customer data and streamlines advertising sales operations. By integrating Boostr’s Order Management System (OMS) directly with Salesforce’s Media Cloud, together, the companies will provide mutual customers with faster time to value, better ROI, and more efficient ad campaign execution. Boostr’s OMS is reshaping media operations from proposal generation through planning, buying, reconciliation, and billing. By providing AI-powered proposal recommendations with Proposal-IQ, real-time inventory visibility, and more than 50 out-of-the-box workflow automations, Boostr’s OMS streamlines media operations for Ad Sales and Ad Ops teams. The goal of the collaboration is to provide mutual customers with a comprehensive end-to-end advertising sales solution for media companies of all sizes, including broadcasters selling across linear TV, digital, and streaming inventory, as well as retail media networks and digital publishers managing multiple sales channels. It will eliminate dual data entry by automating the opportunity-to-order process, providing delivery data back to Media Cloud and keep all master data in sync automatically across both platforms. “We’re excited to collaborate with Boostr to offer media & entertainment companies a comprehensive platform to help their teams simplify and automate converged advertising operations.” – Christopher Dean, SVP and GM for Communications, Media & Entertainment at Salesforce.Post this “We are thrilled to integrate with Salesforce’s Media Cloud on behalf of our mutual customers,” said Patrick O’Leary, CEO of Boostr. “This integration is a significant upgrade as Media Cloud and Boostr’s data model are highly aligned resulting in a more turnkey, faster time to value solution.” “In today’s increasingly fragmented advertising ecosystem, media and entertainment companies are looking to automate advertising sales and campaign management processes to enhance operational efficiency across their monetization streams,” said Christopher Dean, SVP and GM for Communications, Media & Entertainment at Salesforce. “We’re excited to collaborate with Boostr to offer media & entertainment companies a comprehensive platform to help their teams simplify and automate converged advertising operations.” For more information, please visit: http://www.boostr.com. Salesforce, Media Cloud, and others are trademarks of Salesforce, inc. *Disclaimer: Any unreleased services or features referenced here aren’t currently available and may not be delivered on time or at all. Customers should make their purchase decisions based upon features that are currently available. About Boostr:Boostr is the leading provider of advertising management platforms for publishers and media companies. Boostr’s unified platform streamlines sales, finance, ad ops, and RevOps workflows, enabling businesses to close deals faster, automate tasks, and gain real-time financial transparency. For more information about Boostr, go to http://www.boostr.com. 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

Read More
September 12, 2024in Salesforce Media Cloud
Agentforce to the Team
12Sep

Agentforce to the Team

Salesforce has introduced the Agentforce Atlas Reasoning Engine, a platform designed to perform tasks autonomously with minimal human intervention. Agentforce to the Team changes everything about AI. Businesses can feed the engine data, assign tasks, and step away, as the system is capable of completing work independently. This launch closely follows OpenAI’s recent advancements in artificial intelligence, highlighting the ongoing collaboration between Salesforce and Sam Altman’s firm. Agentforce to the Team-makes me hear “Honey, I’m home”, coming from the front door. The Agentforce Atlas Reasoning Engine is designed to analyze data, make decisions, and execute tasks with high reliability and accuracy, echoing the features of OpenAI’s latest AI model. Salesforce positions this as part of the “Third Wave of AI,” where intelligent agents go beyond assisting humans to actively driving business outcomes without frequent oversight. According to Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, these agents are deeply integrated into customer workflows, anticipating needs and improving growth by taking proactive action at every touchpoint. Benioff emphasized the revolutionary nature of Agentforce, which he claims will surpass existing AI platforms by offering highly accurate, low-hallucination results. It integrates seamlessly across Salesforce’s ecosystem, benefiting users from industries such as financial services, healthcare, and government. Early adopters, such as Wiley, report a 40% increase in case resolution, with Agentforce handling routine customer service tasks more efficiently than previous chatbots. Disney also saw improved results, noting that Atlas delivered twice the accuracy of other AI tools they had benchmarked. However, the autonomous nature of these agents raises concerns about job displacement, particularly for workers involved in repetitive, low-impact tasks. While Salesforce advocates for reskilling workers to transition into higher-value roles, many organizations struggle to effectively implement such initiatives. The time required to upskill workers may not align with the rapid adoption of AI technologies like Agentforce. Agentforce aims to address common enterprise challenges by offering out-of-the-box solutions for sales, marketing, and customer service roles. The low-code platform allows businesses to customize their AI agents without extensive technical expertise, ensuring that they can scale capacity and improve efficiency. Salesforce plans to showcase Agentforce at its upcoming Dreamforce conference, aiming to onboard 1,000 customers to the platform. The launch signifies Salesforce’s strategic push to dominate the enterprise AI landscape, leveraging its vast data and platform to deliver more value to its customers. Despite its potential, Agentforce introduces new risks, especially in areas like data privacy and ethical AI deployment. Salesforce emphasizes its commitment to addressing these issues by incorporating ethical guardrails, such as toxicity filters. Industry analysts remain cautiously optimistic, noting that while the technology holds promise, the real test will come as more organizations adopt it and integrate it into their workflows. In summary, Salesforce’s Agentforce Atlas Reasoning Engine represents a significant leap in enterprise AI, moving beyond basic AI copilots to fully autonomous agents. While it offers substantial benefits in productivity and efficiency, its impact on the workforce and the challenges of widespread AI adoption will require ongoing attention. By Tectonic’s Shannan Hearne, Solutions Architect 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

Read More
September 12, 2024in Salesforce
Salesforce AI Agents Explained
09Sep

Salesforce AI Agents Explained

Salesforce’s AI Agents: Revolutionizing Enterprise Sales and Service for the Future In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), Salesforce continues to lead the charge, transforming enterprise operations with cutting-edge AI agents. With the introduction of Agentforce, Salesforce is not just enhancing sales and service departments but reshaping business processes across sectors. This comprehensive exploration highlights how Salesforce’s AI agents are changing the game, offering enterprise-level executives insights into their revolutionary potential. Salesforce AI Agents Explained. AI Agents: Beyond Autonomous Vehicles A fitting analogy to grasp the progression of AI agents is the evolution of autonomous vehicles. Just as self-driving cars advance from basic driver assistance to full autonomy, AI agents evolve from simple automation to more complex decision-making. Salesforce’s Chief Product Officer, David Schmaier, draws this comparison: “In the autonomous driving world, we have levels of autonomy, from level zero to level five. AI agents for enterprises follow a similar path.” At the core of this evolution is what Salesforce defines as the “agentic” phase of AI. Unlike generative AI that follows instructions to create content, agentic AI autonomously determines and takes actions based on broader goals. Schmaier notes, “We’re at the point where AI not only creates content but takes strategic actions. It’s like having an infinite pool of interns handling mundane tasks so human employees can focus on higher-value activities.” Agentforce: Salesforce’s Next-Generation AI Platform Agentforce is the latest addition to Salesforce’s AI arsenal, unveiled during their Q2 ’25 earnings call and now positioned as a significant milestone in AI development. With Agentforce, organizations can build and manage autonomous agents for tasks across various business functions—not just customer service. This versatility is highlighted by Marc Benioff, Salesforce’s CEO, who described the energy around Agentforce during a recent briefing as “palpable.” Agentforce builds on Salesforce’s data management, security, and customization expertise, uniting these capabilities into an AI framework. Schmaier explains, “It’s about creating trusted, enterprise-ready agents, not just deploying a large language model. We’ve developed over 100 out-of-the-box use cases, from sales account summaries to service reply recommendations, all customizable and easy to deploy.” Agentforce “In Every App” A key announcement is the integration of Agentforce in every app across Salesforce’s product suite, including Sales, Service, Marketing, and Commerce Agents. The Atlas reasoning engine, Agent Builder, and a partner network were also introduced to further enhance its capabilities. The Atlas Reasoning Engine acts as the “brain” behind Agentforce, autonomously generating plans and refining them based on actions it needs to perform, such as running business processes or engaging customers through preferred channels. What Makes an AI Agent? Salesforce AI Agents Explained Building an AI agent with Agentforce requires five key elements: These components leverage existing Salesforce infrastructure, making it easier for businesses to deploy agents through Agent Builder, which is part of the new Agentforce Studio. Agents vs. Chatbots Unlike traditional chatbots, which provide pre-programmed responses, Salesforce’s AI agents use large language models (LLMs) and generative AI to interpret and autonomously execute customer requests based on CRM data. This distinction allows AI agents to perform tasks that go beyond simple queries, driving efficiency in customer service, sales, and other business areas. Practical Applications: Sales, Service, and Marketing Salesforce’s AI agents offer tangible business benefits. For instance, Sales Agent, available as both a Sales Development Representative (SDR) and Sales Coach, automates lead nurturing and inquiry management. It utilizes CRM data to deliver personalized pitches, handle objections, and even suggest meeting times—freeing sales teams to focus on more strategic tasks. In customer service, AI agents manage routine inquiries, allowing human representatives to address more complex customer needs. In marketing, AI agents generate data-driven insights to personalize campaigns, improving customer engagement and conversion rates. The Security and Trust Foundation Security and trust remain core to Salesforce’s approach to AI. The Einstein Trust Layer ensures that data protection, privacy, and ethical guidelines are maintained throughout AI interactions. Schmaier emphasizes, “Our platform defines what data agents can access and how they use it, adhering to strict data integrity standards.” The Trust Layer also prevents AI from training on customer data without consent, ensuring transparency and security. A Partnership Between Humans and AI-Salesforce AI Agents Explained Salesforce’s vision emphasizes the synergy between human employees and AI agents. As Schmaier points out, “AI agents handle routine tasks and deliver insights, allowing employees to focus on more creative and strategic work.” This human-AI partnership boosts productivity and innovation, ultimately improving business outcomes. The Future of AI in Business As AI technology advances, Salesforce is already working on next-generation capabilities for Agentforce, including predictive analytics and more sophisticated autonomous agents. Schmaier forecasts, “These agents will handle a wider range of tasks and provide deeper insights and recommendations.” With Agentforce launching in October 2024, businesses can expect significant returns on investment, thanks to its cost-efficient model starting at $2 per conversation. In summary, Salesforce’s Agentforce is a game-changing innovation, blending AI and human intelligence to transform sales, service, and marketing. As more details unfold, it’s clear that Agentforce will redefine the future of business operations—driving efficiency, personalization, and strategic success. 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

Read More
September 9, 2024in Agentforce Platform, Generative AI, Technology
EU AI Act
07Sep

EU AI Act

The EU AI Act is a complex piece of legislation, packed with various sections, definitions, and guidelines, making it challenging for organizations to navigate. However, understanding the EU AI Act is crucial for companies aiming to innovate with AI while staying compliant with both legal and ethical standards. Arnoud Engelfriet, chief knowledge officer at ICTRecht, an Amsterdam-based legal services firm, specializes in IT, privacy, security, and data law. As the head of ICTRecht Academy, he is responsible for educating others on AI legislation, including the AI Act. In his book AI and Algorithms: Mastering Legal and Ethical Compliance, published by Technics, Engelfriet explores the intersection of AI legislation and ethical AI development, using the AI Act as a key example. He emphasizes that while new AI guidelines can raise concerns about creativity and compliance, it’s quite necessary for organizations to grasp the current and future legal landscape to build trustworthy AI systems. Balancing Compliance and Innovation As of August 2024, the much-anticipated AI Act is in effect, with implementation timelines extending from six months to over a year. Many businesses worry that the regulations might slow down AI innovation, especially given the rapid pace of technological advancements. Engelfriet acknowledges this tension, noting that “compliance and innovation have always been somewhat at odds.” However, he believes the act’s flexible, tiered approach offers space for businesses to adapt. For instance, the inclusion of regulatory sandboxes allows companies to test AI systems safely, without releasing them into the market. Engelfriet suggests that while innovation might slow down, the safety and trustworthiness of AI systems will improve. Ensuring Trustworthy AI The AI Act aims to promote “trustworthy AI,” a term that became central to discussions after its inclusion in the first draft of the act in 2019. Although the concept remains somewhat undefined, the act outlines three key characteristics of trustworthy AI: legality, technical robustness, and ethical soundness. Engelfriet underscores that trust in AI systems is ultimately about trusting the humans behind them. “You cannot really trust a machine,” he explained, “but you can trust its designers and operators.” The AI Act requires transparency around how AI systems function, ensuring they reliably perform their intended tasks, such as making automated decisions or serving as chatbots. Ethics has gained even more prominence with the rise of generative AI. Engelfriet highlights the fragmented nature of AI ethics guidelines, which address everything from data protection to bias prevention. The EU’s Assessment List for Trustworthy AI provides a framework to guide organizations in applying ethical standards, though Engelfriet notes that it may need to be tailored to specific industry needs. The Role of AI Compliance Officers Given the complexity of AI regulations, organizations may find it overwhelming to manage compliance efforts. To meet this growing need, Engelfriet recommends appointing AI compliance officers to help companies integrate AI responsibly into their operations. ICTRecht has also developed a course, based on AI and Algorithms, to teach employees how to navigate AI compliance. Participants from various roles—particularly those in data, privacy, and risk functions—attend the course to expand their knowledge in this increasingly important area. Salesforce is developing Trailblazer content to address these challenges as well. As with GDPR, Engelfriet believes the AI Act will set the tone for future AI regulations. He advises businesses to proactively engage with the AI Act to ensure they are prepared for the evolving regulatory landscape. To get assistance exploring your EU risks, contact Tectonic today. 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 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 Top Ten Reasons Why Tectonic Loves the Cloud The Cloud is Good for Everyone – Why Tectonic loves the cloud You don’t need to worry about tracking licenses. Read more

Read More
September 7, 2024in Generative AI
Strong AI Scalability
06Sep

Strong AI Scalability

The rapid pace of digital transformation has made scalability essential for any business looking to remain competitive. The stakes are high—without the ability to scale, businesses risk falling behind as customer demands and market conditions shift. So, what does it take to build a scalable business that can grow without compromising performance or customer satisfaction? In this Tectonic insight, we’ll cover key steps to future-proof your operations, avoid common pitfalls, and ensure your business doesn’t just keep pace with the market, but leads it. Master Scalability with Scale Center Scalability doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Salesforce’s Scale Center, available on Trailhead, provides a comprehensive learning path to help you optimize your scalability strategy. Why Scalability Is a Must-Have Scalability is critical to long-term success. As your business grows, so will the demands on your applications, infrastructure, and resources. If your systems aren’t prepared, you risk performance issues, outages, lost revenue, and dissatisfied customers. Unexpected spikes in demand—from increased customer activity or internal changes like onboarding large numbers of employees—can push systems to their limits, leading to overloads or downtime. A strong scalability plan helps prevent these issues. Here are three best practices to help scale your operations smoothly and sustainably. 1. Prioritize Proactive Scale Testing Scale testing should be a key part of your application lifecycle. Many businesses wait until performance issues arise before addressing them, which can result in maintenance headaches, poor user experiences, and challenges in supporting growth. Proactive steps to take: 2. Use the Right Tools for Seamless Scalability Choosing the right technology is crucial when scaling your business. Equip your team with tools that support growth management, and follow these tips for success: By integrating the right tools and technologies, you’ll not only stay ahead of the curve but also build a culture ready to scale. 3. Focus on Sustainable Growth Strategies Scaling requires a long-term approach. From development to deployment, a strategy that emphasizes scalability from the outset can help you avoid costly fixes down the road. Key practices include: DevOps Done Right Building secure, scalable AI applications and agents requires bridging the gap between tools and skills. Focus on crafting a thoughtful DevOps strategy that supports scalability. Scalability: A Marathon, Not a Sprint Scaling effectively is an ongoing process. Customer needs and market conditions will continue to change, so your strategies should evolve as well. Scalability is about more than just handling increased demand—it’s about ensuring stability and performance across the board. Consider these steps to enhance your approach: Committing to Scalability Scalability isn’t a one-time achievement—it’s a continuous commitment to growing smarter and stronger across all areas of your business. By embedding best practices into your day-to-day operations, you’ll ensure that your systems meet demand and prepare your business for future breakthroughs. As you develop your scalability strategy, remember that customer experience and trust should always guide your decisions. Tackling scalability proactively ensures your business can thrive no matter how market conditions change. It’s more than just a bonus feature—it’s a critical element of a smoother user experience, reduced costs, and the flexibility to pivot when necessary. By embracing these strategies, you’ll not only avoid potential challenges but also build lasting trust with your customers. In a world where loyalty is earned through exceptional experiences, a strong scalability plan is your key to long-term success. 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

Read More
September 6, 2024in Data, Hyperforce, Salesforce, Technology
Converting 15-Character IDs to 18-Character in Salesforce
02Sep

Converting 15-Character IDs to 18-Character in Salesforce

In Salesforce, every record is assigned a unique Record ID, which is essential for managing data, writing formulas, and referencing records as an admin or developer. There are two types of Record IDs: a 15-character version and an 18-character version, each suited for different scenarios. Converting 15-character IDs to 18-character ones can be time-consuming when done manually, but several tools and methods can simplify the process, allowing for instant conversion with just a click. Understanding Salesforce Record IDs 15-Character Record ID The 15-character Record ID is case-sensitive and typically used in Salesforce’s user interface for tasks like editing records and generating reports. However, its case sensitivity can create issues with systems that do not recognize differences between uppercase and lowercase letters. 18-Character Record ID To mitigate case sensitivity issues, Salesforce offers an 18-character ID, which is used in APIs and tools such as Data Loader. This ID adds three additional characters to the 15-character version and is always returned by these tools during data exports. When to Use Each ID For consistency, the 18-character ID is preferable, especially when working with external systems. It’s best practice to use the 18-character ID in formulas, API calls, or any data comparisons to avoid errors caused by case sensitivity. Converting IDs Using a Formula Field in Salesforce Salesforce recommends creating a formula field with the CASESAFEID(Id) function to convert the 15-character ID to an 18-character ID. Here are some key points to consider: Implementation Steps: Once completed, this formula field will display the 18-character ID on relevant records. APIs and Software DevelopmentIf you need a more scalable or efficient solution, consider using Salesforce APIs or third-party tools for ID conversion. While online tools may suffice for small tasks, they can become unwieldy when handling hundreds or thousands of records in a CSV or Excel file. Streamlining ID Conversion with Xappex Tools Imagine the frustration of manually copying and pasting IDs! That’s where the XL-Connector and G-Connector from Xappex come into play. These tools work directly in Excel or Google Sheets, simplifying the ID conversion process. Instead of juggling multiple tools or navigating complex processes, you can seamlessly convert Salesforce IDs within your spreadsheet, saving significant time and effort. Using XL-Connector for ID Conversion in Excel Using G-Connector (Google Sheets) for ID Conversion G-Connector is Xappex’s integration tool for Google Sheets and Salesforce. If you haven’t installed it yet, do so and log in to your Salesforce org. The sheet will automatically update with the new 18-character IDs and provide links to open the records directly in Salesforce. Conclusion In summary, managing Salesforce Record IDs doesn’t have to be a hassle. While converting 15-character IDs to 18-character IDs is crucial for consistency, doing it manually can be tedious. With XL-Connector and G-Connector, you can streamline ID conversion with just a click in Excel or Google Sheets, making your workflow much more efficient. 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

Read More
September 2, 2024in Data, Google, Salesforce
Salesforce Holiday Forecast
28Aug

Salesforce Holiday Forecast

Value-conscious consumers are increasingly opting for lower-cost options, waiting strategically for discounts, and turning to budget-friendly Chinese shopping apps, leading to a projected 2% year-over-year (YoY) growth in holiday sales both in the U.S. and globally, according to the Salesforce Shopping Index. This index analyzes data from over 1.5 billion global consumers on retail sites. The Salesforce Holiday Forecast isn’t necessarily bleak, but it will leave some merchants feeling glum. In 2023, holiday sales grew by 3% YoY, reaching $1.17 trillion. However, Salesforce forecasts that global sales for November through December 2024 will only reach .19 trillion, with the U.S. contributing $277 billion. This modest projection aligns with Salesforce consumer surveys, which indicate that while 47% of shoppers plan to spend the same amount as in 2023, 40% intend to spend less this year. “The global economy remains fraught with risks, despite inflation stabilizing,” said Rob Garf, VP and General Manager of Consumer Goods at Salesforce, during a recent briefing. “Interest rates are still high, global conflicts are disrupting supply chains, and we see consumers transferring inflationary costs to debt.” Indeed, a Salesforce survey conducted earlier this month revealed that 37% of consumers are using credit cards more frequently than last year, 32% are turning to buy now, pay later (BNPL) services, and 43% are carrying more monthly debt. Rising Popularity of Chinese Shopping Apps Consumers seeking value are gravitating towards deep-discount Chinese shopping apps like Temu, Shein, and increasingly, TikTok. According to Salesforce’s August 2024 survey, 63% of consumers have made a purchase through these apps in the past six months, and 50% plan to use them during the holiday season. These figures are even higher among Gen Z and millennial consumers, with 80% having purchased from these apps in the past six months and nearly 70% planning to do so during the holidays. Overall, Salesforce predicts that Chinese shopping apps will account for just over 21% of holiday purchases! “Temu and Shein lead the pack, but TikTok is gaining traction, up 24% since April, making it the third most popular app,” said Caila Schwartz, Director of Consumer Insights and Strategy at Salesforce. Consumers cite value as the primary reason for using these apps (58%), far ahead of fast shipping (28%). Consumers Plan to Wait for Cyber Week Deals Many shoppers intend to stretch their budgets by holding off on purchases until Cyber Week, the period around Thanksgiving that includes Black Friday and Cyber Monday. “In 2023, price-conscious consumers waited for Cyber Week to make purchases, and we expect this trend to be even stronger this year,” Schwartz noted. Salesforce data shows that 67% of shoppers are delaying “splurge” purchases until Cyber Week. Salesforce forecasts that global discount rates will briefly rise in October, likely coinciding with the fall edition of Amazon Prime Day, when many retailers run promotions to capture the holiday season’s momentum. Discount rates are expected to peak at an average of 28% globally during Cyber Week, with U.S. discounts forecasted to reach 30%. Shorter Season Highlights BOPIS Importance With only 27 days between Thanksgiving (Nov. 28) and Christmas this year, retailers with strong buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) offerings will have a significant advantage. Salesforce predicts that BOPIS will account for one-third (33%) of global online orders during the week before Christmas and Boxing Week. The compressed season will increase the pressure on retailers to execute BOPIS effectively, as failing to meet customer expectations could have serious reputational costs. “Retailers can extend the digital shopping season with BOPIS, but the real winners will be those who can deliver on it,” Garf emphasized. “Store associates are already feeling the strain, especially during the holidays, and some retailers have scaled back their BOPIS offerings, citing increased anxiety among both staff and customers.” Holiday Strategy: Prioritize Customer Acquisition To capture a share of what may be a smaller holiday “pie,” retailers should focus on customer acquisition—and the sooner, the better. With the 2024 elections in the U.S. and many other countries, advertising costs and space availability will be at a premium, making it harder for brands to reach consumers. “Online traffic is cheaper now than it will be in a few months, when political ad spending ramps up,” said David Oksman, VP of Marketing and DTC at Samsonite, who joined Garf and Schwartz at the briefing. “Acquisition costs will rise even more than we’ve seen before.” One additional challenge of holiday sales in an election year. Oksman recommends tried-and-true tactics for driving acquisition and gathering customer data: “Fall is a great time for sweepstakes and giveaways. The old playbooks still work, and customer acquisition is gold.” A sweepstakes prize like a shopping spree or offering exclusive early access to products or deals can incentivize consumers to share their email addresses with a brand. “Loyalty programs are another strong value proposition in the consumer’s mind,” Schwartz added. “Even if you’re not offering points, benefits like free returns or shipping can encourage shoppers to sign up.” Right now is the best time to engage in reactivation campaigns to old customers and prospects. 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

Read More
August 28, 2024in Marketing Automation, Salesforce Optimization
Winter 25 Release Developer Enhancements
25Aug

Winter 25 Release Developer Enhancements

Developer Enhancements Salesforce Flow Enhancements Flow Orchestrator Enhancements How to Access and Use Key Salesforce Features View the Automation Lightning App: Manage Steps in an Orchestration Stage: Customize the Flow Orchestration Work Guide Component: Customize SMS One-Time Password Delivery for Experience Cloud Sites: Control Authenticated Callouts Permissions: Improve Data Transmission Speed and Security with TLS 1.3: Enable LWC Stacked Modals: Additional Enhancements: Salesforce Mobile App Enhancements Resolve Sync Issues with Offline Drafts: Access Hyperlinks in Enhanced Reports: Messaging in the Salesforce Mobile App: Seller-Focused Sales Mobile Experience: Stay Informed About Upcoming Releases: Check Out Resources: 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

Read More
August 25, 2024in Salesforce Shield
Winter 25 Salesforce Release
22Aug

Get Ready for Winter 25 Salesforce Release

Salesforce Winter 25 Release notes are here. Salesforce Overall Learn about new features and enhancements that affect your Salesforce experience overall. August 8: Get early access by signing up for a Pre-Release org Admins can sign up for a pre-release Developer Edition environment, which is full of all the Winter ’25 features to explore to your heart’s content. Developer environments are stand-alone environments where you can learn, build, and get comfortable with features and functionality. If you already had a pre-release org for Summer ’24, you can log back into that one. August 14: Review the Release Notes Search the products you use for release updates in the Release Notes section of Salesforce Help. The notes will go live August 14 and we will share the link here. Get help from the community! With each release, there are a number of blogs by community members who break it down. Check out the Release Readiness Trailblazer Community Group where you can continue to get updates, share your favorite features, and ask questions about the upcoming release. August 19: Be Release Ready with Winter ’25 features for Admins Starting on August 19th, we’ll begin publishing blog posts on the Admin Blog to help you Be Release Ready with Winter ’25 features. Get ready to dive into blog posts featuring Winter ’25 user access highlights and more! As blog posts and more release resources become available, we’ll be updating the Be Release Ready page with all the resources and information you need to get started with Winter ’25. August 29 before 5 p.m. PT: Be sure to refresh your Sandbox Once you’ve explored the pre-release org and reviewed the Release Notes for features that are important to you, it’s time to try out features related to your customizations in your sandbox. This is a great time to evaluate how specific features may be useful or impact the way your organization uses Salesforce. During each release, there is a group of sandboxes slated to remain on the non-preview instance (i.e. the current release) while there is another group of sandboxes that will upgrade to the preview instance. Use the Salesforce Sandbox Preview Guide to determine the plan for your sandbox instance(s). Use the tool where you can search by sandbox instance and then specify what you want to do with your sandbox — stay on the non-preview or move to preview. It will then instruct you to refresh your sandbox to get to the desired instance or inform you that there is no action needed because your sandbox is slated for the desired instance. Contact Tectonic today if you need assistance getting Salesforce release ready. 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

Read More
August 22, 2024in Snowflake
Salesforce End User Training
20Aug

Salesforce End User Training

Preparing Training Materials: How to Create an End-User Training Document Drafting a user-friendly training document, whether it’s a Training Manual or Training Guide, is as crucial as conducting the training itself. This document, which can be formatted as a PDF, presentation, or other formats, should provide clear instructions and visuals that help users navigate the Salesforce application effectively. Below are key strategies for crafting an effective end-user training document. 1. Understand the End-User Before drafting the document, it is important to assess the users’ technical skills and familiarity with Salesforce. This helps in identifying knowledge gaps and tailoring the training material to suit their needs, ensuring the content is accessible and comprehensible. 2. Break Down the Training into Smaller Procedures Organize the document into smaller sections, each focused on specific tasks or procedures. This not only makes the content less overwhelming but also allows users to easily refer to specific instructions without sifting through lengthy explanations. 3. Organize the Document Logically Align the content with the natural flow of business processes, avoiding unnecessary jumps between different features. A well-structured, hyperlinked table of contents makes navigation easier and more intuitive. 4. Include Screenshots Visual aids like screenshots are essential in guiding users through Salesforce. Ensure the screenshots are focused on relevant elements, and blur any unnecessary or sensitive information. Clear, well-annotated images enhance understanding and make the document more engaging. 5. Keep Instructions Clear and Concise Ensure that each step is succinct and to the point. Overly detailed instructions can confuse users, so focus on delivering clear, actionable guidance. How to Record Video Tutorials Sometimes, written instructions may not fully convey how to use Salesforce features effectively. In such cases, video tutorials are a great supplement. These can be comprehensive guides or broken into shorter segments based on specific functions. Supplementary Materials Additional resources like FAQs, cheat sheets, glossaries, and links to official Salesforce documentation can provide valuable support for users. These materials encourage independent learning and build confidence in using Salesforce. Training Delivery Methods There are multiple ways to deliver end-user training. Below are the most effective: Structuring the Salesforce End-User Training Whether the users are new to Salesforce or have some familiarity, it’s important to structure the training content in a way that reflects real-world processes. Rather than teaching isolated features, organize the material based on the actual workflow users will encounter. To make virtual training engaging, live demonstrations of features are recommended rather than simply reading through the training document. Short breaks can help prevent information overload, while interactive exercises in a Salesforce sandbox can enhance hands-on learning. Post-Training Follow-up After training, make the materials available in a shared folder for users to reference as needed. Gathering feedback is essential for improving the training experience. Adjust the training documents and video tutorials based on this feedback to ensure they remain clear and useful. Additionally, collecting feedback from the client on the effectiveness of the training session itself helps to refine future training efforts. By focusing on clarity, structure, and real-world application, training documents and sessions will empower users to fully leverage Salesforce’s capabilities. 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

Read More
August 20, 2024in Salesforce
benefits of salesforce flow automation
15Aug

Benefits of Salesforce Flow Automation

Salesforce Flow Automation offers robust tools to streamline operations, enhance productivity, and improve accuracy. Whether you’re new to Salesforce or refining existing workflows, here are five top tips for maximizing the benefits of Salesforce Flow Automation. 1. Define Clear Objectives Before creating any flows, clearly define your automation goals, whether it’s reducing manual data entry, accelerating approval processes, or ensuring consistent customer follow-ups. Having specific objectives will keep your flow design focused and help you measure the impact of your automation. 2. Leverage Pre-Built Flow Templates Salesforce provides a range of pre-built flow templates tailored to common business needs, saving time and effort. Start with these templates and customize them to suit your unique requirements, allowing you to implement efficient solutions without building from scratch. 3. Optimize Decision Elements Decision elements in Salesforce Flow enable branching logic based on set conditions. Use them to direct the flow according to specific criteria, such as routing different approval paths based on deal value or service type. This targeted approach ensures each scenario is handled effectively. 4. Thoroughly Test Before Deployment Testing is a critical part of the automation process. Before launching a new flow, test it in a sandbox environment to catch any issues. Cover a range of scenarios and edge cases to confirm that the flow works as expected, helping avoid disruptions and ensuring a smooth transition into live use. 5. Monitor and Continuously Improve Automation is an evolving process. After deploying flows, monitor their performance to ensure they’re achieving desired outcomes. Use Salesforce’s reporting tools to track metrics like completion rates and processing times. With this data, you can fine-tune your flows to boost efficiency and adapt to changing business needs. By following these tips, you can unlock the full potential of Salesforce Flow Automation, leading to streamlined processes and better business outcomes. Embrace automation to reduce manual work and keep focus on driving core business growth. 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

Read More
August 15, 2024in Data, Salesforce, Salesforce Implementation Services, Salesforce Optimization

Subscribe to our mailing list. Join our mail list to receive our newsletter

We'll keep you up to date with our latest news, insights, free resources, and much more.
Don't worry, we won't spam you.
gettectonic.com