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Salesforce Underwriting Solutions

Salesforce Underwriting Solutions

Merchant Cash Advance Solutions: Enhancing Underwriting with Salesforce In today’s fast-paced financial services industry, efficient and effective underwriting is more crucial than ever. Merchant cash advances (MCAs) have emerged as a popular alternative funding option for businesses that might not qualify for traditional loans. This insight explores how integrating Salesforce with MCA software can streamline underwriting, strengthen lender-borrower relationships, and boost overall operational efficiency. Understanding Merchant Cash Advances Merchant cash advances offer businesses upfront capital in exchange for a portion of future sales. Unlike traditional loans, MCAs are often easier to secure and come with flexible repayment options tied to daily credit card receipts. However, the unique structure of MCAs brings challenges to underwriting, due to the diversity in business models and cash flow patterns. The Role of Underwriting in MCA Underwriting is a vital step in the lending process, assessing the risk associated with providing funds to a borrower. For MCAs, underwriting involves evaluating a business’s revenue streams, creditworthiness, and overall financial health. Traditional underwriting methods can be cumbersome and slow, often causing delays in funding. Challenges in Traditional Underwriting Methods The Power of Salesforce in Streamlining Underwriting Salesforce offers powerful solutions that integrate seamlessly with MCA software, effectively addressing these challenges: Benefits of Integrating MCA Software with Salesforce Key Features to Look for in MCA Software Integrated with Salesforce When choosing an MCA solution integrated with Salesforce, consider features such as: Conclusion Integrating merchant cash advance solutions with Salesforce offers a transformative approach to streamlining underwriting processes in this niche financing sector. By automating workflows, centralizing data management, enhancing communication channels, and improving overall efficiency—all while ensuring compliance—lenders can gain a competitive edge and deliver exceptional service to their clients. If you are searching for a Merchant Cash Advance, Underwriting, or financial services solution 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 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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Salesforce Email Deliverability Settings

Salesforce Email Deliverability Settings

Salesforce Email Deliverability Settings: Managing Communication in Sandboxes Salesforce provides administrators with control over the types of emails that can be sent from their environments, especially within sandbox environments used for development and testing. These email deliverability settings ensure that sensitive or erroneous emails don’t reach actual users during development. Below, we’ll dive into the details of these settings and explain their impact. Email Deliverability Settings in Salesforce Where to Find Deliverability Settings: Note: If Salesforce has restricted your ability to change these settings, they may not be editable. Three Access Levels for Email Deliverability Salesforce offers three key deliverability settings that control email access in your organization: The Importance of the “System Email Only” Setting The System Email Only setting is particularly valuable in sandbox environments. When testing workflows, triggers, or automations in a sandbox, this setting ensures only critical system emails (e.g., password resets) are sent, preventing development or test emails from reaching real users. New Sandboxes Default to System Email Only Since Salesforce’s Spring ’13 release, new and refreshed sandboxes default to the System Email Only setting. This helps prevent accidental email blasts during testing. For sandboxes created before Spring ’13, the default setting is All Email, but it’s recommended to switch to System Email Only to avoid sending test emails. Example: If you’re testing a custom email alert in a sandbox for a retail company, this setting allows you to safely test without worrying about sending emails to actual customers. Bounce Management in Salesforce Bounce management helps you track and manage email deliverability issues, particularly for emails sent via Salesforce or through an email relay. Key Points for Managing Bounces: Creating Custom Bounce Reports in Lightning Experience If the standard bounce reports aren’t available in your organization, or if you’re using Salesforce Lightning, you can create custom reports using the Email Bounced Reason and Email Bounced Date fields. To create a report in Lightning: By configuring Salesforce email deliverability settings and managing bounces, administrators can ensure smooth, secure communication across their organization—especially when working in sandbox environments. These tools help maintain control over outbound emails, protecting users from erroneous communication while providing valuable insights into email performance. 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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AI-Powered Contact Center Landscape

AI-Powered Contact Center Landscape

Navigating the AI-Powered Contact Center Landscape: A Roadmap for Success With thousands of solutions in the contact center ecosystem, each claiming to offer “AI-powered, next-generation technology,” it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Many of these claims are valid, as AI and machine learning are transforming contact centers and improving customer experiences. But with so many options and combinations of AI-powered solutions, how can you be sure you’re making the right decision? The answer is that it’s almost impossible without help. Trying to research and evaluate every solution on your own could take months or even years—by which time, the technology will have evolved. Plus, if you rely solely on information from manufacturers or software providers, you may only get a one-sided perspective that leads to “CCaaS FOMO” (Fear of Missing Out). A More Objective Approach to the Contact Center Journey While we can’t claim to be 100% unbiased, we take a unique approach. We start with your business, understanding your specific needs, culture, and processes before introducing solutions that fit. Not every top-rated solution is right for your business, and the roadmap below outlines how we help you navigate this complex landscape. 1. Involving Key Stakeholders The first step is ensuring you have the right people involved—those with a vested interest in the contact center‘s success. It’s helpful to break these roles into three categories: Having clear roles and expectations helps streamline the process and ensures everyone is on the same page. 2. Conducting a Contact Center Assessment This discovery phase is crucial for identifying the key drivers behind your business needs. Each contact center is different, even within the same industry. That’s why a one-size-fits-all scorecard won’t work. It’s beneficial to bring in a third-party consultant with broad industry knowledge to conduct an assessment, offering valuable insights that help create a clear vision. 3. Creating a Unique Scorecard Once you’ve completed your assessment, stakeholders can work together to establish a customized scorecard that reflects your business objectives. Whether customer service is your primary focus or you’re more telemarketing-heavy, this scorecard ensures that your solution is tailored to your specific needs. It’s also important to involve contributors and advocates in the process to gain widespread buy-in. 4. Scheduling Solution Demonstrations With a solid scorecard in hand, it’s time to identify and evaluate vendors. A contact center consultant can help streamline this process. Scoring each solution based on how well it aligns with your goals keeps the focus on substance over flash, ensuring the right solution for your business. 5. Analyzing Scorecard Data When reviewing the scorecard data, stakeholders should ask key questions: This analysis ensures that decisions are data-driven and aligned with business goals. 6. Finalizing Vendor Selection-AI-Powered Contact Center Landscape Once the data is compiled and a consensus is reached, it’s time to move forward with a contract proposal. Beyond the solution itself, discuss critical details like implementation timelines, ongoing support, and maintenance to set clear expectations and ensure accountability. Financial Modeling: Justifying the Investment Looking at your goals through a financial lens helps quantify the benefits of your contact center investment. For example, reducing average handling time by just 12 seconds across the company might result in cost-neutral savings. Similarly, reducing call abandonment by even half a percentage point can have a significant impact. These financial considerations help justify ROI and set expectations. Partnering with Tectonic: Expertise You Can Trust At Tectonic, we live and breathe contact centers. Our team of experts comes directly from this world, so we understand the challenges and opportunities. We’re here to help you navigate the complexities of the contact center ecosystem and bring clarity to your CCaaS journey. Contact us today to get started! For more resources, visit our blog or explore our AI solutions to elevate your customer experience. 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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Agentforce Advances Copilot and Prompt Builder

Agentforce Advances Copilot and Prompt Builder

Agentforce was the highlight of the week in San Francisco during Salesforce’s annual Dreamforce conference—and for good reason! Agentforce Advances Copilot and Prompt Builder and that is truly exciting. Agentforce represents a groundbreaking solution that promises to transform how individuals and organizations interact with their CRM. However, as with any major product announcement, it raises many questions. This was evident during Dreamforce, where admins and developers, eager to dive into Agentforce, had numerous queries. Here’s an in-depth look at what Agentforce is, how it operates, and how organizations can leverage it to automate processes and drive value today. Agentforce Advances Copilot and Prompt Builder Many Dreamforce attendees who anticipated hearing more about Einstein Copilot were surprised by the introduction of Agents just before the event. However, understanding the distinctions between the legacy Einstein Copilot and the new Agentforce is crucial. Agentforce Advances Copilot and Prompt Builder. Agentforce Agents are essentially a rebranding of Copilot Agents but with an essential enhancement: they expand the functionality of Copilot to create autonomous agents capable of tasks such as summarizing or generating content and taking specific actions. Here are some key changes in terminology: Just like Einstein Copilot, Agents use user input—an “utterance”—entered into the Agentforce chat interface. The agent translates this utterance into a series of actions based on configurable instructions, and then executes the plan, providing a response. Understanding Agents: Topics A key difference between Einstein Copilot and Agentforce is the addition of “Topics.” Topics allow for greater flexibility and support a broader range of actions. They organize tasks by business function, helping Agents first determine the appropriate topic and then identify the necessary actions. This topic layer reduces confusion and ensures the correct action is taken. With this structure, Agentforce can support many more custom actions compared to Copilot’s 15-20, significantly expanding capabilities. Understanding Agents: Actions Actions in Agentforce function similarly to those in Einstein Copilot. These are the tasks an agent executes once it has identified the right plan. Out-of-the-box actions are available right away, providing a quick win for organizations looking to implement standard actions like opportunity summarization or sales emails. For more customized use cases, organizations can create bespoke actions using Apex, Flows, Prompts, or Service Catalog items (currently in beta). Understanding Agents: Prompts Whenever an LLM is used, prompts are necessary to provide the right input. Thoughtfully engineered prompts are essential for getting accurate, useful responses from LLMs. This is a key part of leveraging Agent Actions effectively, ensuring better results, reducing errors, and driving productive agent behavior. Prompt Builder plays a crucial role, allowing users to build, test, and refine prompts for Agent Actions, creating a seamless experience between generative AI and Salesforce workflows. How Generative AI and Agentforce Enhance CRM GenAI tools like Agentforce offer exciting enhancements to Salesforce organizations in several ways: However, these benefits are realized only when CRM users adopt and adapt to AI-assisted workflows. Organizations must prioritize change management and training, as most users will need to adjust to this new AI-powered way of working. If your company has already embraced AI, then you are halfway there. If AI hasn’t been introduced to the workforce you need to get started yesterday. Getting Started with Agentforce With all the buzz around Dreamforce, it’s no surprise that many organizations are eager to start using Agentforce. Fortunately, there are immediate opportunities to leverage these tools. The recommended approach is to begin with standard Agent actions, testing out-of-the-box features like opportunity summarization or creating close plans. From there, organizations can make incremental tweaks to customize actions for their specific needs. We have all come to expect that just as quickly as we include agentic ai into our processes and flows, Salesforce will add additional features and capabilities. As teams become more familiar with developing and deploying Agent actions, more complex use cases will become manageable, transforming the traditional point-and-click Salesforce experience into a more intelligent, agent-driven platform. Already I find myself asking, “is this an agent person or an ai-agent”? The day is coming, no doubt, when the question will be reversed. Tectonic’s AI Experts Can Help Interested in learning more about Agentforce or need guidance on getting started? Tectonic specializes in AI and analytics solutions within CRM, helping organizations unlock significant productivity gains through AI-based tools that optimize business processes. We are excited to enable you to enable Agentforce to Advance Copilot and Prompt Builder By Tectonic’s Solutions Architect, Shannan Hearne 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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Salesforce Channel Order App

Salesforce Channel Order App

Salesforce’s platform powers over 4.2 million apps, and Salesforce AppExchange offers more than 4,000 solutions. These numbers highlight Salesforce’s extensive ecosystem, with the Salesforce Channel Order App (COA) playing a crucial role for businesses managing complex partner relationships and order processes. This insight looks into the Salesforce Channel Order App, exploring its purpose, when and why you should use it, core features, who benefits from it, and best practices to maximize its potential. What is the Salesforce Channel Order App? The Salesforce Channel Order App is designed to streamline and automate order management across various sales channels, whether direct, through distribution partners, or a reseller network. It simplifies what would typically be a labor-intensive process by centralizing data, automating tasks, and providing real-time visibility into orders. This results in tighter control over order workflows and enhanced partner collaboration. When to Use the Salesforce Channel Order App The Salesforce Channel Order App is most effective for businesses that manage high volumes of orders from multiple channels. It’s especially useful in industries like technology, consumer goods, and manufacturing, where multi-channel sales are integral to operations. Key Use Cases: Core Features of the Salesforce Channel Order App Who Benefits from Salesforce Channel Order App? The Salesforce Channel Order App is particularly beneficial for industries where managing orders from multiple partners is crucial. Key beneficiaries include: Best Practices for Using Salesforce Channel Order App To get the most out of Salesforce Channel Order App, consider the following best practices: Final Take The Salesforce Channel Order App is an essential tool for businesses relying on channel partners to drive sales. By automating and streamlining the order management process, COA helps businesses improve efficiency, reduce errors, and ensure orders are fulfilled accurately and on time. Whether you’re a manufacturer, technology provider, or consumer goods company, adopting COA enables better order management and strengthens relationships with partners—setting your business up for 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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Bye Klarna

Bye Klarna

Fintech firm Klarna is cutting ties with two major enterprise software providers, opting to automate its services using AI, and hints that more cuts could follow. Klarna co-founder and CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski discussed the move during a recent conference call, as reported by Seeking Alpha. The company has already stopped using Salesforce, a platform that helps businesses manage sales and marketing data, and has also removed Workday, an HR and hiring platform, from its tech stack, according to a spokesperson from Klarna. This shift towards AI-driven automation is part of a larger strategy at Klarna. “We have multiple large-scale initiatives combining AI, standardization, and simplification that will allow us to eliminate several SaaS providers,” a company spokesperson said, though they did not specify which providers or services might be next. Founded in 2005, Klarna provides payment processing for e-commerce and reports over 150 million active users worldwide. Despite posting a net loss of $241 million last year—down from nearly $1 billion in 2022—the company reported a reduced loss of $32 million for the first half of 2024. With reports suggesting that Goldman Sachs has been tapped to underwrite Klarna’s potential IPO, the company’s focus on AI could strengthen its profitability prospects. This isn’t Klarna’s first AI initiative. Earlier in 2024, the company introduced an AI-powered customer service assistant in collaboration with OpenAI, which reportedly handled 2.3 million interactions in its first month and replaced the work of 700 agents. Klarna was among the early adopters of OpenAI’s enterprise ChatGPT package, and the company claims that 90% of its employees use the tool daily for process automation. Klarna’s decision to drop Salesforce and Workday is part of a broader effort to replace third-party SaaS solutions with internally developed applications, likely built on OpenAI’s infrastructure. Siemiatkowski stated in the August call, “We are shutting down a lot of our SaaS providers as we are able to consolidate.” However, not everyone is convinced. HR technology analyst Josh Bersin questioned whether Klarna could successfully replace a robust platform like Workday. “Workday systems have decades of workflows and complex data structures, including payroll and attendance,” he told Inc.. Bersin warned that developing an in-house system could lead Klarna into a “black hole of features,” with a poor user experience as a result. Many in the tech world share Bersin’s skepticism, with some suggesting the move is more of a PR tactic as Klarna gears up for its IPO. Investors and executives voiced doubts on social media, with financial insights account BuccoCapital posting on X, “Is it actually the best use of capital to rebuild in-house? Feels like a massive distraction,” while Ryan Jones, CEO of Flighty, called the move “free marketing.” Critics also point out that Klarna has downsized its workforce significantly, reducing its headcount by 1,200 over the past year, and Siemiatkowski has hinted at further reductions, suggesting the company could benefit from cutting staff from 3,800 to 2,000 employees. Siemiatkowski remains adamant that AI will allow Klarna to maintain growth despite these cuts. Bersin also noted that many tech giants have struggled to build their own HR platforms, citing examples like Google, which recently abandoned its internally developed HR software, and Amazon, which undergoes similar cycles regularly. “Microsoft,” Bersin added, “spends money on their own products but partners with SAP for HR software.” If Klarna does succeed in developing an in-house HR platform, it would be an achievement where even some of the biggest tech companies have fallen short. 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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Collaborative Business Intelligence

Collaborative Business Intelligence

Collaborative Business Intelligence: Connecting Data and Teams In today’s data-driven world, the ability to interact with business intelligence (BI) tools is essential for making informed decisions. Collaborative business intelligence (BI), also known as social BI, allows users to engage with their organization’s data and communicate with data experts through the same platforms where they already collaborate. While self-service BI empowers users to generate insights, understanding the data’s context is critical to avoid misunderstandings that can derail decision-making. Collaborative BI integrates BI tools with collaboration platforms to bridge the gap between data analysis and communication, reducing the risks of misinterpretation. Traditional Business Intelligence Traditional BI involves the use of technology to analyze data and present insights clearly. Before BI platforms became widespread, data scientists and statisticians handled data analysis, making it challenging for non-technical professionals to digest the insights. BI evolved to automate visualizations, such as charts and dashboards, making data more accessible to business users. Previously, BI reports were typically available only to high-level executives. However, modern self-service BI tools democratize access, enabling more users—regardless of technical expertise—to create reports and visualize data, fostering better decision-making across the organization. The Emergence of Collaborative BI Collaborative BI is a growing trend, combining BI applications with collaboration tools. This approach allows users to work together synchronously or asynchronously within a shared platform, making it easier to discuss data reports in real time or leave comments for others to review. Whether it’s through Slack, Microsoft Teams, or social media apps, users can receive and discuss BI insights within their usual communication channels. This seamless integration of BI and collaboration tools offers a competitive edge, simplifying the process of sharing knowledge and clarifying data without switching between applications. Key Benefits of Collaborative Business Intelligence Leading Collaborative BI Platforms Here’s a look at some of the top collaborative BI platforms driving innovation in the market: Conclusion Collaborative BI empowers organizations by improving decision-making, democratizing data access, optimizing data quality, and ensuring data security. By integrating BI tools with collaboration platforms, businesses can streamline their operations, foster a culture of data-driven decision-making, and enhance overall efficiency. Choosing the right platform is key to maximizing the benefits of collaborative BI. 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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Apple New AI

Apple New AI

Apple Unveils New AI Features at “Glowtime” Event In typical fashion, Apple revealed its latest product updates on Monday with a pre-recorded keynote titled “Glowtime,” referencing the glowing ring around the screen when Apple Intelligence is activated. Though primarily a hardware event, the real highlight was the suite of AI-powered features coming to the new iPhone models this fall. The 98-minute presentation covered updates to iPhones, AirPods, and the Apple Watch, with Apple Intelligence being the thread tying together user experiences across all devices. MacRumors has published a detailed list of all announcements, including the sleep apnea detection feature for the Apple Watch and new hearing health tools for AirPods Pro 2. Key AI Developments for Brand Marketers Apple Intelligence was first introduced at its WWDC event in June, focusing on using Apple’s large language model (LLM) to perform tasks on-device with personalized results. It draws from user data in native apps like Calendar and Mail, enabling AI to handle tasks like image generation, photo searches, and AI-generated notifications. The keynote also introduced a new “Visual Intelligence” feature for iPhone 16 models, acting as a native visual search tool. By pressing the new “camera control” button, users can access this feature to perform searches directly from their camera, such as getting restaurant info or recognizing a dog breed. Apple’s AI-powered visual search offers a strategic opportunity for brands. The information for local businesses is pulled from Apple Maps, which relies on sources like Yelp and Foursquare. Brands should ensure their listings are well-maintained on these platforms and consider optimizing their digital presence for visual search tools like Google Lens, which integrates with Apple’s search. The Camera as an Input Device and the Rise of Spatial Content The camera’s role as an input device has been expanding, with Apple emphasizing photography as a key feature of its new iPhones. This year, the iPhone 16 introduces a new camera control button, offering enhanced haptic feedback for smoother control. Third-party apps like Snapchat will also benefit from this addition, giving users more refined camera capabilities. More importantly, iPhone 16 models can now capture spatial content, including both photos and audio, optimized for the Vision Pro mixed-reality headset. Apple’s move to integrate spatial content aligns with its goal to position the iPhone as a professional creator tool. Brands can capitalize on this by exploring augmented reality (AR) features or creating immersive user-generated content experiences. Apple’s Measured Approach to AI While Apple is clearly pushing AI, it is taking a cautious, phased approach. Though the new iPhones will hit the market soon, the full range of Apple Intelligence features will roll out gradually, starting in October with tools like the AI writing assistant and photo cleanup. More advanced features will debut next spring. This measured approach allows Apple to fine-tune its AI, avoiding rushed releases that could compromise user experience. For brands, this offers a lesson in pacing AI adoption: prioritize quality and customer experience over speed. Rather than rushing to integrate AI, companies should take time to understand how it can meaningfully enhance user interactions, focusing on trust and consistency to maintain customer loyalty. By following Apple’s lead and gradually introducing AI capabilities, brands can build trust, sustain anticipation, and ensure they offer technology that genuinely improves the customer experience. 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, 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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Visualforce Pages in Salesforce

Visualforce Pages in Salesforce

Visualforce Pages in Salesforce Visualforce Pages in Salesforce function as custom web pages that you can design to present data and functionality tailored to your organization’s needs. They offer a way to create and display information in a format that fits your specific requirements. Why Visualforce Pages Matter Visualforce Pages enable you to showcase data in unique ways, making them ideal for presenting information that doesn’t fit into the standard Salesforce interface. By customizing the layout and behavior of these pages, you can ensure the data and features are displayed in a way that best supports your organization’s goals. How Visualforce Pages Function Visualforce Pages are developed using a combination of HTML, Apex, and Visualforce components: Common Use Cases Visualforce Pages can be utilized for: Example of a Visualforce Page Here’s a basic example of a Visualforce Page: htmlCopy code<apex:page controller=”MyController”> <h1>Welcome to My Custom Page</h1> <apex:outputText value=”{!customMessage}” /> <apex:commandButton action=”{!doSomething}” value=”Click Me” /> </apex:page> Writing Apex CodeIn this example, the page displays a title, a custom message from the server using Apex, and a button that performs a server-side action when clicked. Visualforce Pages offer a robust method for enhancing and personalizing your Salesforce experience. They enable you to create user-friendly interfaces, display customized data, and integrate external services, providing tailored solutions that address your organization’s specific needs. 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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ChatGPT for Keywords

ChatGPT for Keywords

Maximizing SEO on a Budget: A Guide for Business Owners For business owners working within tight budgets, stretching every marketing dollar is crucial. While hiring expensive SEO experts can be tempting, there’s a wealth of untapped keywords that are already working for your competitors. The key is to uncover them and use them to your advantage. No need for costly SEO tools—there are simple ways to spy on competitors’ keywords and create engaging content, all with free resources like ChatGPT. 1. Analyze Competitor Content Using ChatGPT That blog post from a competitor ranking above yours? It holds valuable keyword insights. By copying the link and asking ChatGPT to analyze it, you can easily discover the keywords they’re targeting. Simply ask: “ChatGPT, based on this content, what keywords is my competitor targeting?” ChatGPT will break down the keywords, providing insights you can use to optimize your own content. 2. Spy on Competitors’ Sitemaps A website’s sitemap is like a blueprint, showing how everything is organized. To access a competitor’s sitemap, simply add /sitemap.xml to the end of their URL. For example, if your competitor’s site is example.com, you would visit example.com/sitemap.xml. Once you access their sitemap, copy the URLs and ask ChatGPT to extract relevant keywords for you. This method is a goldmine for discovering what content your competitors are focusing on. 3. Use Search Operators for Targeted Research Search operators are powerful tools that let you search a competitor’s site with precision. For example, typing site:competitor.com SEO in Google will display all the SEO-related content from that competitor. To make keyword extraction even easier, use a tool like the SERP Snippet Extractor from the Chrome Web Store. Once you’ve gathered the titles, paste them into ChatGPT to extract keywords. 4. Check Keyword Volume with Google Keyword Planner Once you’ve gathered a list of keywords, head over to Google Keyword Planner (create a free Google Ads account if you don’t already have one). Use the “Get Search Volume” option to see search volumes and competition levels for your keywords. Pay close attention to suggested related keywords, as they can offer additional opportunities. Checking trends for seasonal patterns can also help you time your content for maximum impact. Final Thoughts Leveraging free tools like ChatGPT can help business owners on a budget optimize their SEO strategies without breaking the bank. By analyzing competitor content, spying on sitemaps, and using search operators, you can uncover valuable keywords and improve your website’s ranking—all without costly investments. 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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Vonage Premier for Salesforce Service Cloud Voice

Vonage Premier for Salesforce Service Cloud Voice

HOLMDEL, N.J., Sept. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Vonage, a global leader in cloud communications helping businesses accelerate their digital transformation and a part of Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), is one of the first contact center providers to join Salesforce’s Bring Your Own Channel for Contact Center as a Service (BYOC for CCaaS) pilot program. With BYOC for CCaaS, Vonage Premier for Salesforce Service Cloud Voice customers will have the ability to integrate Vonage omnichannel and AI-powered capabilities into their existing contact center solutions, including voice, SMS, chat, social messaging apps like WhatsApp, and more – delivering faster resolution times and creating a more native, personalized and meaningful experience for customers by connecting with them on their channel of choice. “We are very excited to have Vonage, a leading Salesforce Service Cloud Voice partner, take this very important step to expand its deep Salesforce integration through BYOC for CCaaS, delivering the omnichannel capabilities – and the APIs to enable them – that create the kind of customer experiences that drive meaningful engagement,” said Tony Flores, Senior Director of Product Management for Salesforce. With BYOC for CCaaS, Vonage Premier for Service Cloud Voice customers will now be able to connect with customers across various communications channels, as well as access data insights and AI-based agent productivity tools, to create a better overall customer journey and a more productive and efficient agent experience. The solution’s single routing and agent capacity model also increases contact center capacity, leading to more customer interactions being resolved better and faster. Workforce Engagement Management (WEM) is also provided through Vonage’s seamless integrations with leading WEM solutions Verint, Calabrio Teleopti, Playvox and injixo, ensuring optimum planning, scheduling, tracking, and management of the contact center workforce. “Today’s contact center agents play a vital role in support of the businesses they represent and in meeting the increasing demands of tech-savvy customers who want to connect from anywhere, on their preferred communications channels,” said Reggie Scales, Acting Head of Applications for Vonage. “These agents are also frequently working from anywhere and need the tools to access critical information to troubleshoot common customer issues and provide real-time customer support. Having all of these capabilities in a single user interface – omnichannel modes of communication coupled with a 360 view of customer information and key knowledge bases – this is the contact center of the future.” A key differentiator for Vonage as a pilot partner in this program is its ability to source a single AI-based Virtual Agent solution for self-service automations across voice and digital channels using Vonage AI studio – while also leveraging Salesforce for all Live Agent Assist and Analytics needs. Vonage can also integrate its own Vonage Communications APIs to power pre-built programmable capabilities for voice, SMS, social and chat, directly into the contact center – all on one combined Salesforce and Vonage platform. This singular view also enhances efficiency by keeping agents and supervisors in a single Salesforce desktop to eliminate application switching and the need to toggle between screens. “Modern contact centers are experiencing increasing pressure and demand to deliver better, more personalized, omnichannel interactions, as well as quicker and more accurate responses to customer issues,” said Jim Lundy, CEO, Founder & Lead Analyst, Aragon Research. “With BYOC for CCaaS, Vonage aims to address the increasing demand for a unified and customizable customer experience across all communication channels, leveraging existing Salesforce platforms and AI-powered insights and automation.” Vonage Premier for Service Cloud Voice is currently available on the Salesforce AppExchange with Salesforce BYOC for CCaaS integrated capabilities now available for customers to pilot. To find out more about Vonage Premier for Service Cloud Voice, visit www.vonage.com. Salesforce, AppExchange, Service Cloud Voice, Einstein and others are among the trademarks of Salesforce, inc. About Vonage Vonage, a global cloud communications leader, helps businesses accelerate their digital transformation. Vonage’s Communications Platform is fully programmable and allows for the integration of Video, Voice, Chat, Messaging, AI and Verification into existing products, workflows and systems. The Vonage conversational commerce application enables businesses to create AI-powered omnichannel experiences that boost sales and increase customer satisfaction. Vonage’s fully programmable unified communications, contact center and conversational commerce applications are built from the Vonage platform and enable companies to transform how they communicate and operate from the office or remotely – providing the flexibility required to create meaningful engagements. Vonage is headquartered in New Jersey, with offices throughout the United States, Europe, Israel and Asia and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), and a business area within the Ericsson Group called Business Area Global Communications Platform. To follow Vonage on X (formerly known as Twitter), please visit twitter.com/vonage. To follow on LinkedIn, visit linkedin.com/company/Vonage/. To become a fan on Facebook, go to facebook.com/vonage. To subscribe on YouTube, visit youtube.com/vonage. SOURCE Vonage 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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Salesforce and OpenAI Advances in AI

Salesforce and OpenAI Advances in AI

With investor enthusiasm for AI beginning to fade, Salesforce is shifting focus to its next AI wave, “Agentforce,” which will be showcased at the Dreamforce customer conference. This announcement comes at a time when Salesforce stock has underperformed, with revenue growth slowing and expectations building that AI-related revenue may not materialize until 2025. Salesforce and OpenAI Advances in AI. The Agentforce platform will be featured at Dreamforce, running from Sept. 17 to Sept. 19, and aims to automate routine business tasks while offering real-time insights and guidance. CEO Marc Benioff noted in a Sept. 12 briefing that Agentforce represents the third wave of AI, moving beyond conversational chatbots to more autonomous agents. Early adopters of the platform include Walt Disney, Kaiser Permanente, Fossil, Wiley, and OpenTable. Meanwhile, Salesforce faces stiff competition. Microsoft is hosting its own AI event, Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 2, which focuses on business productivity features powered by generative AI. Like Salesforce, Microsoft’s AI tools have yet to demonstrate significant revenue impact, as customers are still testing the technologies. Salesforce is pushing Agentforce as an evolution of its previous Einstein copilot, which integrates conversational AI within its apps. Agentforce aims to take this further by reducing human oversight and improving efficiency in sales, marketing, and customer service roles. The product is scheduled for an October rollout, with a pricing model based on usage—potentially $2 per interaction for complex queries. Analysts have mixed opinions on Agentforce’s potential. Truist Securities sees the AI platform driving future subscription growth, while Barclays believes it could gain more traction than previous AI tools due to its fully autonomous nature. However, others, like Monness Crespi Hardt & Co., remain cautious, noting concerns about Salesforce’s slowing revenue growth in a challenging macroeconomic environment. Salesforce Agentforce PlatformIn its second-quarter earnings call, Salesforce shared promising results from an Agentforce trial, where the platform resolved 90% of patient inquiries for a large healthcare customer. Analysts like Morgan Stanley’s Keith Weiss see Agentforce as a key differentiator for Salesforce, enabling customers to leverage AI at scale with reduced complexity and cost. Despite this optimism, Salesforce still faces challenges. Competitors such as Meta’s AI Studio and ServiceNow are also advancing AI agent technologies. ServiceNow, for instance, emphasizes the need for strict human oversight of AI actions, a sentiment echoed by Salesforce’s chief ethical and humane use officer, Paula Goldman. As the tech industry races to enhance AI autonomy, concerns about the technology’s limitations—such as bias, hallucinations, and decision-making risks—remain central. Experts warn that while AI agents hold great potential, they must be carefully regulated to prevent unintended consequences. 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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Salesforce Free AI Training

Salesforce Free AI Training

Salesforce Expands Access to Free AI Training to Address Global Skills Gap SAN FRANCISCO — September 18, 2024 – Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the #1 AI-powered CRM, has announced a significant expansion of its AI skilling initiatives. Starting today, Salesforce will offer its premium AI courses and certifications free of charge to anyone via its online learning platform, Trailhead, through the end of 2025. This initiative aims to help bridge the growing AI skills gap by providing accessible education for individuals across industries. To further support these efforts, Salesforce will open new physical training spaces at its San Francisco headquarters, including a pop-up AI Center offering in-person community courses and a dedicated AI skilling floor for employees. This investment, valued at over $50 million, is designed to empower the workforce with essential AI skills as the demand for AI talent surges globally. Research from Slack highlights a growing urgency among executives to integrate AI into business operations, with interest increasing sevenfold in the last six months. However, more than two-thirds of workers have yet to engage with AI tools, and only 15% feel they possess the necessary training to use them effectively. “The advent of AI and agents represents the biggest technological shift of our generation and will radically change how people work,” said Brian Millham, President and Chief Operating Officer at Salesforce. “We need to ensure everyone has the skills to succeed in this new AI-driven world.” Expanding AI Training Opportunities Salesforce has already helped thousands of professionals acquire technical skills through premium, instructor-led training and certifications. With these new offerings, the company aims to reach an additional 100,000 learners, empowering every Trailblazer to become an “Agentblazer” in this evolving AI landscape. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars in AI education for yourself or your workforce. Salesforce has it at your fingertips for free. Trailhead now offers a wide range of AI-specific courses, covering topics like AI fundamentals, ethical AI use, and prompt engineering. Since June 2023, learners have earned over 2.6 million AI and data badges, helping unlock critical skills for the future of work. Creating Spaces for Hands-on AI Learning In addition to expanding its online offerings, Salesforce is building AI training spaces around the globe. After launching its first AI Center in London, the company will open a pop-up AI Center at its San Francisco headquarters in 2025, with plans for additional locations in Chicago, Tokyo, and Sydney. These centers will host in-person Trailhead courses and bring together experts, partners, and customers to advance AI innovation. Introducing Agentforce — A Groundbreaking AI Suite As part of its ongoing AI revolution, Salesforce is also upskilling its 72,000-strong workforce through quarterly AI learning days and immersive experiences at the newly created AI Knowledge Center in San Francisco. The centerpiece of this initiative is Agentforce, an innovative suite of AI agents designed to enhance productivity in service, sales, marketing, and commerce. By automating repetitive tasks, these agents allow employees to focus on higher-value work. Since the launch of Slack AI in February, Salesforce employees have saved nearly 3 million work hours through AI-driven tools that summarize information, find answers, and generate new ideas. Nearly 40% of the AI and data badges earned on Trailhead belong to Salesforce employees, demonstrating the company’s commitment to internal skilling and innovation. “AI will transform the workforce, creating new roles and opportunities. It’s our responsibility as employers to provide training that prepares workers for the future,” said Nathalie Scardino, President and Chief People Officer at Salesforce. “Grounded in our values, we’re leveraging Salesforce’s full power to help everyone succeed in this AI-driven era.” Related Resources For more information about Salesforce, visit www.salesforce.com or call 1-800-NO-SOFTWARE. About SalesforceSalesforce is the world’s leading AI-powered CRM, helping organizations of all sizes reimagine their business for the AI age. Powered by its trusted platform, Agentforce, Salesforce brings humans and AI agents together to drive customer success through data-driven insights and actions. Salesforce is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices globally, and trades on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “CRM.” 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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CXM

CXM

XM Software Providers Set to Replace Point Solutions with Multifunction Suites By 2028, Enterprises Will Transition to Comprehensive CXM Solutions, According to New ISG Research According to new research from Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), companies are expected to shift from various customer experience (CX) point solutions to comprehensive, cross-functional suites by 2028. This transition aims to manage CX at the enterprise level more effectively. Keith Dawson, Director of Customer Experience Research at ISG, explains, “Enterprises recognize the need for platforms that manage the entire customer lifecycle. We are witnessing the rise of tools that integrate communication components with analytic assessments of customer value, loyalty, and intent, marking a significant shift in the marketplace.” The ISG Buyers Guide™ for Customer Experience Management (CXM) defines CXM as a suite of applications on a unified platform that provides a comprehensive view of customer activity and enables management of that activity across departments. The report notes that the mix of applications in a software provider’s suite often reflects their historical expertise and origins. CXM addresses the limitations of traditional Customer Resource Management (CRM) software, which has been more departmental and application-centric. In contrast, CXM focuses on the customer journey and interactions across all channels. The report highlights challenges in comparing similar offerings from different providers due to their varied origins and expertise. The range of functionality across CXM products often reflects their diverse components, users, and use cases. ISG identifies five core areas of platform functionality in CXM software: knowledge management, resource management, automation, analytics, and customer journey management. However, CXM software is still developing, and it is uncommon to find a single solution that excels in all five areas. Many providers start with their core strengths and expand their capabilities over time. The ISG Buyers Guide evaluates CXM software providers based on support for analytics, customer journey management, knowledge management, CRM platform support, operational resource management, and process control and optimization. To be included in the CXM Buyers Guide, products must cover at least three of the four areas: resource management, automation, analytics, and customer journey management. Separate guides on Customer Journey Management (CJM) and Knowledge Management (KM) are available for more specific analysis. For its 2024 Buyers Guides, ISG assessed 19 providers, including Adobe, eGain, Emplifi, Freshworks, Genesys, HubSpot, Microsoft, Nextiva, NICE, Oracle, Qualtrics, Salesforce, SAP, ServiceNow, Sprinklr, SugarCRM, Verint, Zendesk, and Zoho. The top three software providers in each category are: Mark Smith, Partner at ISG Software Research, notes, “Managing customer experience is crucial for every organization, yet many lack the technology to orchestrate the customer journey across channels. The Buyers Guide for CXM offers insights to help businesses understand, optimize, and select software providers that move beyond the limitations of traditional CRM systems.” The ISG Buyers Guides for CXM, CJM, and KM are based on over a year of market research. The research is independent and not influenced by software providers, aiming to help enterprises optimize their software investments. For more details, visit the ISG Buyers Guides to read executive summaries and request full reports. About ISG Software Research ISG Software Research, formerly Ventana Research, delivers expert market research and analysis on business and IT software. The firm provides consulting, advisory, research, and education services for enterprises, software and service providers, and investment firms. For more information and to join the community, visit Ventana Research. About ISG ISG (Information Services Group) (Nasdaq: III) is a global technology research and advisory firm specializing in digital transformation services. With a client base of over 900 organizations, ISG helps clients achieve operational excellence and growth. The firm’s expertise spans AI and automation, cloud and data analytics, sourcing advisory, and more. Founded in 2006 and based in Stamford, Conn., ISG employs 1,600 professionals in over 20 countries. For more information, visit ISG. 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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