Cloud Archives - gettectonic.com
Conga and Salesforce
19Feb

Conga Strengthens Partnership with Salesforce

Conga has enhanced its Revenue Lifecycle Management solution by integrating with Salesforce Foundations, a free add-on available to all Salesforce CRM customers. What is Salesforce Foundations? Salesforce Foundations is a no-cost upgrade designed to bring powerful cross-departmental capabilities to every Salesforce customer. It includes features spanning: Additionally, Foundations offers access to thousands of prebuilt third-party extensions and integrations via Salesforce AppExchange, including extended free trials of Conga products at no extra cost. What This Partnership Means for Customers With Conga’s integration into Salesforce Foundations, customers can: Executive Perspectives Brian Landsman, Executive Vice President of Partnerships at Salesforce, stated: “I am thrilled to have one of our top ISV partners like Conga collaborating with us on Salesforce Foundations. Our launch partner apps provide customers with key functionality and enhance their experience through thousands of pre-built third-party extensions and integrations.” Noel Goggin, CEO and Culture Leader at Conga, shared: “We’re excited to collaborate with Salesforce, offering customers seamless access to third-party apps like Conga to enhance their systems and better automate processes across their organizations. By integrating Conga’s solutions, businesses can streamline operations, increase productivity, and drive greater customer engagement, ultimately fueling growth. Conga’s products empower customers to optimize their revenue processes and stay competitive in an evolving market.” The Bigger Picture This collaboration underscores Conga’s commitment to empowering Salesforce customers with tools that simplify processes and enhance operational efficiency. By integrating its solutions with Salesforce Foundations, Conga helps businesses unlock greater value, improve customer engagement, and drive growth in an ever-changing marketplace. 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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February 19, 2025in Data, Salesforce Foundations0 Comments
deepseek deep dive
15Feb

DeepSeek iOS App Poses Major Privacy Risks

Security Alert: DeepSeek iOS App Poses Major Privacy Risks Cybersecurity researchers at NowSecure have issued a stark warning about the iOS version of DeepSeek, currently the third most popular app on the App Store. Their analysis reveals serious security flaws, making the app a major privacy risk that users should delete immediately. According to NowSecure’s findings, DeepSeek: Additionally, DeepSeek relies on ByteDance’s Volcano Engine, tying it to TikTok’s parent company, further raising privacy and regulatory concerns. For personal devices, this poses a significant security risk. For company-owned iPhones, the risks are even greater, especially regarding data privacy and compliance. US Regulators Take Action DeepSeek’s security risks have drawn scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers concerned about national security and data privacy. Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Darin LaHood (R-IL) have introduced the No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act, seeking to ban the app from government-issued phones. While the full text of the bill is not yet available, legislators cite research indicating that DeepSeek’s code is “directly linked to the Chinese Communist Party” and capable of transmitting user data to China Mobile, a Chinese state-owned telecom firm sanctioned by the U.S. For those concerned about data security, the safest approach is to remove DeepSeek from your device and, if necessary, switch to a locally-run model that does not transmit data externally. HPE Warns Employees of Data Breach Meanwhile, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has notified employees of a nation-state attack that may have compromised personal data. In a letter sent to staff, HPE disclosed that an unauthorized party accessed its cloud email environment, potentially exposing employee information. While the impact appears limited—only ten employees were affected, according to Massachusetts’ data breach report—the breach raises concerns about targeted cyberattacks on enterprise tech firms. HPE had previously disclosed a similar attack in January 2024, attributing it to Russia’s Cozy Bear hacking group, which is known for infiltrating high-profile networks. Reports suggest this latest breach also targeted Microsoft Office 365 accounts, highlighting ongoing threats to corporate cloud environments. Takeaway From DeepSeek’s security risks to HPE’s cyberattack, these incidents underscore the importance of data privacy, secure app usage, and robust enterprise security measures. Whether for personal or corporate security, staying informed and taking proactive steps is critical in today’s evolving digital landscape. 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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February 15, 2025in Data, Enterprise, Laws0 Comments
agentforce digital workforce
13Feb

How Agentforce Works

Salesforce Agentforce: Everything You Need to Know Salesforce Agentforce represents a paradigm shift from generative AI to agentic AI—a new class of AI capable of autonomous action. Since its launch at Dreamforce in September 2024, Agentforce has redefined the conversation around AI, customer service, and experience management. To meet skyrocketing demand, Salesforce announced plans to hire more than 1,000 employees shortly after the launch. What is Salesforce Agentforce? Agentforce is a next-generation platform layer within the Salesforce ecosystem. While its bots leverage generative AI capabilities, they differ significantly from platforms like ChatGPT or Google Gemini. Agentforce bots are designed not just to generate responses but to act autonomously within predefined organizational guardrails. Unlike traditional chatbots, which follow scripted patterns, Agentforce AI agents are trained on proprietary data, enabling flexible and contextually accurate responses. They also integrate with Salesforce’s Data Cloud, enhancing their capacity to access and utilize customer data effectively. Agentforce combines three core tools—Agent Builder, Model Builder, and Prompt Builder—allowing businesses to create customized bots using low-code tools. Key Features of Agentforce The platform offers ready-to-deploy AI agents tailored for various industries, including: Agentforce officially became available on October 25, 2024, with pricing starting at $2 per conversation, and volume discounts offered for enterprise customers. Salesforce also launched the Agentforce Partner Network, enabling third-party integrations and custom agent designs for expanded functionality. How Agentforce Works Salesforce designed Agentforce for users without deep technical expertise in AI. As CEO Marc Benioff said, “This is AI for the rest of us.” The platform is powered by the upgraded Atlas Reasoning Engine, a component of Salesforce Einstein AI, which mimics human reasoning and planning. Like self-driving cars, Agentforce interprets real-time data to adapt its actions and operates autonomously within its established parameters. Enhanced Atlas Reasoning Engine In December 2024, Salesforce enhanced the Atlas Reasoning Engine with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and advanced reasoning capabilities. These upgrades allow agents to: Seamless Integrations with Salesforce Tools Agentforce is deeply integrated with Salesforce’s ecosystem: Key Developments Agentforce Testing Center Launched in December 2024, the Testing Center allows businesses to test agents before deployment, ensuring they are accurate, fast, and aligned with organizational goals. Skill and Integration Library Salesforce introduced a pre-built library for CRM, Slack, Tableau, and MuleSoft integrations, simplifying agent customization. Examples include: Industry-Specific Expansion Agentforce for Retail Announced at the NRF conference in January 2025, this solution offers pre-built skills tailored to retail, such as: Additionally, Salesforce unveiled Retail Cloud with Modern POS, unifying online and offline inventory data. Notable Agentforce Customers Looking Ahead Marc Benioff calls Agentforce “the third wave of AI”, advancing beyond copilots into a new era of autonomous, low-hallucination intelligent agents. With its robust capabilities, Agentforce is positioned to transform how businesses interact with customers, automate workflows, and drive 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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February 13, 2025in Agentforce Platform, Agentic AI, Data, Enterprise, Generative AI, Google, Mulesoft, Salesforce, Salesforce Einstein0 Comments
B2B Customer Service with Agentforce
12Feb

B2B Customer Service with Agentforce

Simplify and Transform B2B Customer Service with Agentforce B2B customer service is inherently complex. It involves managing layered relationships, high-value transactions, and specialized support needs—all of which require heightened attention to detail. With fewer but larger customers, the stakes are high. In fact, our research shows that 88% of customers are more likely to remain loyal with exceptional service, underscoring the importance of consistently delivering excellence. Enter Agentforce, an AI-powered solution designed to tackle these challenges. By complementing your service reps, Agentforce handles intricate B2B cases autonomously and within your predefined parameters. This ensures reliable 24/7 support for even the toughest queries, reducing rep burnout and enhancing customer satisfaction. Here’s how Agentforce can redefine B2B customer service and take it to the next level: What You’ll Learn What Is B2B Customer Service? B2B customer service focuses on providing personalized support and expertise to other businesses, addressing their unique needs and challenges. This service model aims to build lasting relationships by boosting loyalty, driving repeat business, and encouraging referrals. What Are AI Agents? AI agents like Agentforce are advanced systems capable of understanding and responding to customer inquiries without human involvement. Unlike basic chatbots, Agentforce uses natural language processing (NLP), machine learning, and contextual understanding to provide intelligent, conversational, and personalized support. At the heart of Agentforce is the Atlas Reasoning Engine, which simplifies complex queries, retrieves precise information from your Data Cloud, and creates accurate, reliable action plans—all within your company’s guardrails. Agentforce’s multi-modal understanding allows it to interpret inputs like text, images, and audio, making it a versatile tool for engaging customers. Crucially, Agentforce continuously learns and adapts, ensuring it evolves with your customers’ needs for more accurate, efficient support. Why AI Agents Are Ideal for B2B Customer Service B2B support often involves managing: Agentforce rises to these challenges by providing scalable, round-the-clock support that accommodates time zone differences, personalizes interactions, and resolves intricate inquiries with ease. Top Benefits of AI Agents in B2B Customer Service Use Cases for Agentforce in B2B Customer Service Challenges of Implementing AI Agents—and How to Solve Them 5 Best Practices for Success Ready to Elevate Your B2B Customer Service? Agentforce empowers your business to deliver consistent, reliable, and scalable support—around the clock. By handling complex interactions and reducing workload on service reps, it builds stronger customer relationships and positions your company 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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February 12, 2025in Data, Salesforce0 Comments
Rule-Based vs. Machine Learning Deduplication Approaches
06Feb

Rule-Based vs. Machine Learning Deduplication Approaches

Choosing the Right Tool for Salesforce Deduplication: Rule-Based vs. Machine Learning Approaches When you browse Salesforce AppExchange for a deduplication solution, you’re presented with two primary options: rule-based deduplication tools or machine learning-powered applications. Both have their strengths, but understanding their methods will help you make an informed decision. Below, we’ll explore these approaches and their pros and cons to guide your choice. Why Salesforce’s Built-in Deduplication Falls Short Salesforce, while a powerful CRM, doesn’t excel at large-scale deduplication. Its native tools are limited to basic, rule-based matching, which may struggle with complexities like typos, inconsistent formatting, or unstructured data. Additionally, Salesforce’s deduplication features lack the scalability required for organizations dealing with large datasets or multiple data sources (e.g., third-party integrations, legacy systems). Businesses often need supplemental tools to address overlapping records or inconsistencies effectively. How Rule-Based Deduplication Works Popular rule-based tools on AppExchange, such as Cloudingo, DemandTools, DataGroomr, and Duplicate Check, require users to create filters that define what constitutes a duplicate. For example: Ultimately, the user manually defines the rules, deciding how duplicates are identified and handled. Benefits of Rule-Based Deduplication Drawbacks of Rule-Based Deduplication How Machine Learning-Based Deduplication Works Machine learning (ML)-powered tools rely on algorithms to identify patterns and relationships in data, detecting duplicates that may not be apparent through rigid rules. Key Features of ML Deduplication Techniques Used Benefits of ML-Based Deduplication Drawbacks of ML-Based Deduplication When to Choose Rule-Based vs. Machine Learning Deduplication Choose Rule-Based Deduplication If: Choose Machine Learning-Based Deduplication If: Selecting the Right Deduplication Tool When evaluating tools on AppExchange, consider these factors: Tectonic’s Closing Thoughts Rule-based and machine learning-based deduplication each serve distinct purposes. The right choice depends on your data’s complexity, the resources available, and your organization’s goals. Whether you’re seeking a quick, transparent solution or a powerful, scalable tool, AppExchange offers options to meet your needs and help maintain a clean Salesforce data environment. 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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February 6, 2025in Data, Salesforce0 Comments
AI evolves with tools like Agentforce and Atlas
03Feb

Salesforce Atlas

Salesforce Atlas: The Brainpower Behind AI-Driven Transformation A New Era of AI for Enterprise AI is reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace, and agentic AI—AI that can think, plan, and act autonomously—is at the forefront of this revolution. Salesforce is leading the charge with Agentforce, a low-code platform that allows businesses to build, refine, and deploy autonomous AI agents across multiple business functions. At the core of this innovation is Salesforce Atlas, the reasoning engine that empowers Agentforce to tackle complex decision-making tasks just like a human. But Atlas goes further—it continuously learns, adapts, and evolves, setting a new standard for AI-driven enterprises. Let’s explore how Atlas works, its capabilities, and why it’s a game-changer for businesses. Salesforce Atlas: The Reasoning Engine Powering Agentforce Atlas is the intelligent decision-making engine that powers Agentforce’s AI agents. Rather than simply following predefined rules, Atlas evaluates data, refines its approach, and continuously learns from outcomes. When an AI agent encounters a decision point, Atlas asks: ➡️ Do I have enough data to ensure accuracy?✔ If yes, it proceeds with a decision.❌ If no, it seeks additional data or escalates the issue. This iterative learning process ensures that AI agents become more reliable, context-aware, and autonomous over time. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff teased the potential of Atlas, revealing that: 📊 “We are seeing 90-95% resolution on all service and sales issues with the new Atlas.” That’s a staggering success rate, demonstrating how AI-driven reasoning can transform enterprise efficiency and customer engagement. How Salesforce Atlas Works: The “Flywheel” Process Atlas operates using a structured flywheel process that enables self-improvement and adaptability. Here’s how it works: 1️⃣ Data Retrieval – Atlas pulls structured and unstructured data from the Salesforce Data Cloud.2️⃣ Evaluation – It analyzes the data, generates a plan of action, and assesses whether the plan will drive the desired outcome.3️⃣ Refinement – If the plan isn’t strong enough, Atlas loops back, refines its approach, and iterates until it’s confident in its decision. This cycle repeats continuously, ensuring AI agents deliver accurate, data-driven outcomes that align with business goals. Once a task is completed, Atlas learns from the results, refining its approach to become even smarter over time. The Core Capabilities of Salesforce Atlas Atlas stands out because of its advanced reasoning, adaptive learning, and built-in safeguards—all designed to deliver trustworthy, autonomous AI experiences. 1. Advanced Reasoning & Decision-Making Atlas doesn’t just execute tasks; it thinks critically, determining the best way to approach each challenge. Unlike traditional AI models that follow rigid scripts, Atlas: 🔍 Analyzes real-time data to determine the most effective course of action.📊 Refines its decisions dynamically based on live feedback.🌍 Adapts to changing circumstances to optimize outcomes. At Dreamforce 2024, Marc Benioff demonstrated Atlas’s power by showcasing how it could optimize theme park experiences in real time, analyzing: 🎢 Ride availability👥 Guest preferences🚶 Park flow patterns This real-time decision-making showcases the game-changing potential of agentic AI. 2. Advanced Data Retrieval Atlas leverages Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to pull highly relevant, verified data from multiple sources. This ensures: ✔ More accurate responses✔ Minimized AI hallucinations✔ Reliable, data-driven insights For example, Saks Fifth Avenue uses Atlas to personalize shopping recommendations for millions of customers—tailoring experiences with precision. 3. Built-in Guardrails for Security & Compliance Salesforce recognizes the importance of AI governance, and Atlas includes robust safeguards to ensure responsible AI usage. 🔐 Ethical AI protocols – Ensures compliance with evolving regulations.🚨 Escalation capabilities – AI knows when to seek human intervention for complex issues.🌍 Hyperforce security – Provides enterprise-grade privacy and security standards. These protections ensure Atlas operates securely, responsibly, and at scale across global enterprises. 4. Reinforcement Learning & Continuous Improvement Atlas doesn’t just process data—it learns from outcomes. 🔄 Refines decisions based on real-world results📈 Optimizes performance over time⚡ Becomes increasingly efficient and tailored to business needs Whether it’s increasing sales conversions, resolving service issues, or optimizing workflows, Atlas ensures AI agents grow smarter with every interaction. Why Salesforce Atlas is a Game-Changer Salesforce Atlas isn’t just another AI tool—it’s the brain behind Salesforce’s next-generation AI ecosystem. With Atlas, businesses can: ✅ Automate complex tasks with AI-driven decision-making.✅ Deliver hyper-personalized customer experiences with confidence.✅ Scale AI-powered workflows across sales, service, and operations.✅ Ensure compliance and trust with built-in governance measures.✅ Adapt AI capabilities to meet evolving business needs. Marc Benioff envisions Atlas as the core of a future where AI and humans collaborate to drive innovation and efficiency. By combining advanced reasoning, dynamic adaptability, and enterprise security, Atlas empowers organizations to work smarter, faster, and more effectively—unlocking the full potential of agentic AI. The future of AI-driven enterprise has arrived. With Salesforce Atlas, businesses can build AI agents that don’t just follow instructions—they think, learn, and evolve. 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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February 3, 2025in Agentforce Platform, Agentic AI, Data, Enterprise, Hyperforce, Salesforce, Salesforce Data Cloud0 Comments

Einstein Service Agent

It’s been a little over a year since the global surge in GenAI chatbots, sparked by the excitement around ChatGPT. Since then, numerous vendors, both large and mid-sized, have invested heavily in the technology, and many users have already adopted AI-powered chatbots. The competition is intensifying, with CRM giant Salesforce releasing its own GenAI chatbot software, Einstein Service Agent. Einstein Service Agent, built on the Einstein 1 Platform, is Salesforce’s first fully autonomous AI agent. It interacts with large language models (LLMs) by analyzing the context of customer messages to determine the next actions. Utilizing GenAI, the agent generates conversational responses grounded in a company’s trusted business data, including Salesforce CRM data. Salesforce claims that service organizations can now significantly reduce the number of tedious inquiries that hinder productivity, allowing human agents to focus on more complex tasks. For customers, this means getting answers faster without waiting for human agents. Additionally, the service promises 24/7 availability for customer communication in natural language, with an easy handoff to human agents for more complicated issues. Businesses are increasingly turning to AI-based chatbots because, unlike traditional chatbots, they don’t rely on specific programmed queries and can understand context and nuance. Alongside Salesforce, other tech leaders like AWS and Google Cloud have released their own chatbots, such as Amazon Lex and Vertex AI, continuously enhancing their software. Recently, AWS updated its chatbot with the QnAIntent capability in Amazon Lex, allowing integration with a knowledge base in Amazon Bedrock. Similarly, Google released Vertex AI Agent Builder earlier this year, enabling organizations to build AI agents with no code, which can function together with one main agent and subagents. The AI arms race is just beginning, with more vendors developing software to meet market demands. For users, this means that while AI takes over many manual and tedious tasks, the primary challenge will be choosing the right vendor that best suits the needs and resources of their business. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more 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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January 31, 2025in Data, Einstein 1 Platform, Google, Salesforce, Technology0 Comments
AI Agents and Digital Transformation
30Jan

AI Agents Help Streamline Customer Service

AI Agents Help Fisher & Paykel Streamline Customer Service Through Expanded Salesforce Partnership Fisher & Paykel, the New Zealand-based luxury appliance manufacturer, is leveraging AI agents to automate customer service tasks, such as answering frequently asked questions and scheduling service appointments. This initiative is designed to free up employee time for more value-added tasks, enhancing the overall customer service experience. In collaboration with Salesforce, Fisher & Paykel is using autonomous agents that integrate seamlessly with its CRM system, providing agents with greater visibility into customers’ interaction histories. This enables more efficient, data-driven interactions and allows the company to proactively resolve issues, such as freezer temperature irregularities, by automatically notifying customers and helping them schedule necessary appointments. For instance, AI agents can diagnose appliance issues, alert the service team, and assist customers in scheduling repair appointments. These agents also support on-site technicians by providing critical information, such as appointment locations and appliance age, while offering helpful articles and generating post-service summaries. Additionally, the integration of AI agents will enhance collaboration with Fisher & Paykel’s retail, builder, and designer partners. These partners will benefit from more efficient access to inventory information, accurate quotes for multiple products, and streamlined order placement and tracking. Enhancing Automation-Ready Environments This initiative builds on existing capabilities from the partnership, combining AI, data, and CRM functions such as subscription management and consolidated customer engagement data. The results have been impressive: Fisher & Paykel saw a 206% increase in unique email opens and a 112% rise in unique clicks in 2023. They also reduced manual effort by 30 minutes per order and saved up to 3,300 hours through automation in the B2B side of their business, according to Salesforce. In addition to service automation, Fisher & Paykel is tapping into AI-driven automated journeys based on consumer buying signals and cloud-based customer service support that automates appointment confirmations. Rudi Khoury, Chief Digital Officer at Fisher & Paykel, emphasized that customer expectations for efficiency and personalized service align perfectly with the brand’s luxury offerings, highlighting the importance of AI in meeting these demands. 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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January 30, 2025in Salesforce0 Comments
Unstructured Data
27Jan

Unstructured Data

Ultimately, combining the semantic depth of embeddings with the precision of structured retrieval methods will create more intelligent, robust AI systems—ones that understand the full context of the data and can deliver more precise, relevant results.

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January 27, 2025in Data, Generative AI0 Comments
agetnforce for nonprofits
25Jan

Empowering Nonprofits with Salesforce Technology

Nonprofit organizations face unique challenges, from managing donor relationships and tracking donations to optimizing operations and driving impactful campaigns. AgentForce by Salesforce is an AI-powered solution designed to address these needs, helping nonprofits streamline workflows, enhance donor engagement, and amplify their mission impact. Why Choose AgentForce for Nonprofit Organizations? AgentForce simplifies nonprofit operations by integrating donor management, program tracking, and fundraising tools into a single platform. This allows organizations to focus on what matters most—fulfilling their mission. Powered by AI and automation, AgentForce strengthens donor relationships, improves transparency, and supports data-driven decision-making. Key Benefits of AgentForce for Nonprofits Key Features of AgentForce for Nonprofits Why Partner with Tectonic? At Tectonic, we specialize in empowering nonprofits by implementing AgentForce to meet their unique needs. With a team of Salesforce-certified experts, we ensure seamless integration that maximizes the platform’s capabilities, helping you achieve your goals efficiently. How We Help Nonprofits Real-World Impact of AgentForce in Nonprofits Ready to Transform Your Nonprofit Operations? Empower your team, engage supporters, and amplify your mission impact with AgentForce by Salesforce. Contact Tectonic Today Schedule a free meeting to learn how AgentForce can revolutionize your nonprofit’s operations and help you achieve your goals. Let’s work together to make the world a nicer place! 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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January 25, 2025in Data, Salesforce, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Technology0 Comments
Public Sector Spring 25 Advances
24Jan

Public Sector Spring 25 Advances

The Salesforce Spring ’25 Release: Transforming Public Sector Operations The Salesforce Spring ’25 release has arrived, bringing transformative updates to public sector workflows, including faster document generation, AI-powered household insights, and smarter grantmaking processes. At Tectonic, we’re passionate about driving digital transformation for our clients. Here’s a deep dive into the key enhancements and how they can elevate your public sector operations. 1. Faster, More Flexible Document Generation OmniStudio Document Generation 2.0 introduces significant improvements in speed and flexibility for public sector workflows. With higher batch limits, support for custom fonts, and a document previewer, teams can generate documents more efficiently and accurately. Whether you’re managing applications, approvals, or citizen communications, this update reduces processing times and enhances overall workflows. This transition also improves performance by moving PDF generation from client-side to server-side, ensuring a seamless upgrade with minimal regression impact. The enhanced functionality makes it easier to handle high-demand periods and large document volumes. Pro Tip: Transition to OmniStudio Document Generation 2.0 before Document Generation 1.0 is retired in July 2025. Use the preview tool to refine templates during peak times. 2. AI-Powered Household Overviews for Caseworkers Salesforce Generative AI introduces a new household overview feature, empowering caseworkers with detailed insights into benefit applicants’ households. This tool streamlines eligibility assessments, enabling faster and more accurate decisions. It even automates energy savings calculations for Clean Energy Programs, aligning citizen support with sustainability goals. By simplifying data collection and decision-making, caseworkers can focus on high-priority cases, ensuring faster and more equitable approvals. Pro Tip: Pair this feature with Energy Cloud insights to enhance decision-making and allocate resources more effectively for citizens in need. 3. Supercharge Grantmaking with Stage Management Stage Management automates key grantmaking tasks, ensuring compliance and improving efficiency. Grant managers can bulk-assign reviews, reducing manual workload and freeing up time for high-priority tasks. This feature provides better control by defining each stage of the grant process, enabling faster and more accurate progress. With automated workflows and robust progress tracking, Stage Management ensures timely execution of grant operations. Pro Tip: Use automated workflows to manage multiple grants simultaneously, ensuring deadlines are met and every stage is completed on time. 4. Empower Employees with Personalized Care Plans Spring ’25 introduces personalized care plans, a game-changer for public sector organizations. These plans allow agencies to create and assign tailored growth and well-being strategies for employees. By setting customizable goals and aligning benefits with individual needs, organizations can foster a supportive work environment that drives employee engagement and retention. This targeted approach enhances morale and supports professional development, making it invaluable for workforce motivation and talent retention. Pro Tip: Use personalized care plans during onboarding to set new hires up for success or integrate them into professional development initiatives for ongoing growth and engagement. 5. Unified Voice Routing for Seamless Citizen Interaction (Beta) Unified Voice Routing consolidates communication channels in Salesforce, streamlining citizen interactions. By routing voice calls based on skills or specific representatives, public sector teams can reduce wait times and deliver more effective service. This feature also introduces a new Reassign button, enabling teams to transfer work between queues, service reps, AI agents, skills, or Omni-Channel flows. Reassigned tasks are automatically routed to the correct destination. Pro Tip: Combine Unified Voice Routing with Amazon Connect to route calls to the most qualified representatives, ensuring quick and effective resolutions. Conclusion The Salesforce Spring ’25 updates are a game-changer for public sector organizations, enabling teams to deliver faster, more efficient, and more impactful services. From AI-powered household insights to smarter grantmaking and seamless communication, these tools empower organizations to better serve their communities. At Tectonic, we’re excited to help you leverage these updates to optimize your operations and make a greater impact in your community. Want to learn more about how these tools can transform your workflows? Contact us today, and let’s explore the possibilities together! 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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January 24, 2025in Data, Generative AI, Salesforce0 Comments
AI Market Heat
23Jan

AI Market Heat

Alibaba Feels the Heat as DeepSeek Shakes Up AI Market Chinese tech giant Alibaba is under pressure following the release of an AI model by Chinese startup DeepSeek that has sparked a major reaction in the West. DeepSeek claims to have trained its model—comparable to advanced Western AI—at a fraction of the cost and with significantly fewer AI chips. In response, Alibaba launched Qwen 2.5-Max, its latest AI language model, on Tuesday—just one day before the Lunar New Year, when much of China’s economy typically slows down for a 15-day holiday. A Closer Look at Qwen 2.5-Max Qwen 2.5-Max is a Mixture of Experts (MoE) model trained on 20 trillion tokens. It has undergone supervised fine-tuning and reinforcement learning from human feedback to enhance its capabilities. MoE models function by using multiple specialized “minds,” each focused on a particular domain. When a query is received, the model dynamically routes it to the most relevant expert, improving efficiency. For instance, a coding-related question would be processed by the model’s coding expert. This MoE approach reduces computational requirements, making training more cost-effective and faster. Other AI vendors, such as France-based Mistral AI, have also embraced this technique. DeepSeek’s Disruptive Impact While Qwen 2.5-Max is not a direct competitor to DeepSeek’s R1 model—the release of which triggered a global selloff in AI stocks—it is similar to DeepSeek-V3, another MoE-based model launched earlier this month. Alibaba’s swift release underscores the competitive threat posed by DeepSeek. As the world’s fourth-largest public cloud vendor, Alibaba, along with other Chinese tech giants, has been forced to respond aggressively. In the wake of DeepSeek R1’s debut, ByteDance—the owner of TikTok—also rushed to update its AI offerings. DeepSeek has already disrupted the AI market by significantly undercutting costs. In 2023, the startup introduced V2 at just 1 yuan ($0.14) per million tokens, prompting a price war. By comparison, OpenAI’s GPT-4 starts at $10 per million tokens—a staggering difference. The timing of Alibaba and ByteDance’s latest releases suggests that DeepSeek has accelerated product development cycles across the industry, forcing competitors to move faster than planned. “Alibaba’s cloud unit has been rapidly advancing its AI technology, but the pressure from DeepSeek’s rise is immense,” said Lisa Martin, an analyst at Futurum Group. A Shifting AI Landscape DeepSeek’s rapid growth reflects a broader shift in the AI market—one driven by leaner, more powerful models that challenge conventional approaches. “The drive to build more efficient models continues,” said Gartner analyst Arun Chandrasekaran. “We’re seeing significant innovation in algorithm design and software optimization, allowing AI to run on constrained infrastructure while being more cost-competitive.” This evolution is not happening in isolation. “AI companies are learning from one another, continuously reverse-engineering techniques to create better, cheaper, and more efficient models,” Chandrasekaran added. The AI industry’s perception of cost and scalability has fundamentally changed. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, previously estimated that training GPT-4 cost over $100 million—but DeepSeek claims it built R1 for just $6 million. “We’ve spent years refining how transformers function, and the efficiency gains we’re seeing now are the result,” said Omdia analyst Bradley Shimmin. “These advances challenge the idea that massive computing power is required to develop state-of-the-art AI.” Competition and Data Controversies DeepSeek’s success showcases the increasing speed at which AI innovation is happening. Its distillation technique, which trains smaller models using insights from larger ones, has allowed it to create powerful AI while keeping costs low. However, OpenAI and Microsoft are now investigating whether DeepSeek improperly used their models’ data to train its own AI—a claim that, if true, could escalate into a major dispute. Ironically, OpenAI itself has faced similar accusations, leading some enterprises to prefer using its models through Microsoft Azure, which offers additional compliance safeguards. “The future of AI development will require stronger security layers,” Shimmin noted. “Enterprises need assurances that using models like Qwen 2.5 or DeepSeek R1 won’t expose their data.” For businesses evaluating AI models, licensing terms matter. Alibaba’s Qwen 2.5 series operates under an Apache 2.0 license, while DeepSeek uses an MIT license—both highly permissive, allowing companies to scrutinize the underlying code and ensure compliance. “These licenses give businesses transparency,” Shimmin explained. “You can vet the code itself, not just the weights, to mitigate privacy and security risks.” The Road Ahead The AI arms race between DeepSeek, Alibaba, OpenAI, and other players is just beginning. As vendors push the limits of efficiency and affordability, competition will likely drive further breakthroughs—and potentially reshape the AI landscape faster than anyone anticipated. 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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January 23, 2025in Data, Enterprise, Technology0 Comments
Agentforce for Retail
21Jan

Agentforce for Retail

Salesforce Introduces Agentforce for Retail: A Sector-Specific Skills Library for AI Innovation Salesforce has unveiled Agentforce for Retail, an industry-specific skills library designed to empower retailers to develop AI agents tailored to their unique business needs. This release provides tools for retailers to enhance customer service, assist store associates, and engage customers in innovative ways. For example, AI agents can now automate and streamline processes like order management, guided shopping, and appointment scheduling. While Salesforce had previously launched 100 preconfigured, industry-specific AI agents for the core Agentforce platform, this new retail-focused release represents a shift toward providing specialized tools that enable retailers to build AI agents with greater precision and flexibility. Driving Seamless, Unified Retail Experiences Nitin Mangtani, SVP & GM of Retail at Salesforce, described the vision behind Agentforce for Retail: “Salesforce is helping retailers deliver seamless, unified shopping experiences across both the physical and digital realms of retail, driving productivity advancements and business growth across their entire enterprise.” This move aligns with Salesforce’s broader commitment to delivering sector-specific AI innovations, expanding the Agentforce offering into targeted solutions that meet the distinct demands of industries like retail. Agentforce for Retail: Core Capabilities Commerce Skills for Order Management These skills empower retailers to offer self-service order support, helping reduce costs while boosting customer loyalty. Customers can: Commerce Skills for Guided Shopping Using natural language, customers can receive personalized product recommendations based on behavior, inventory, and operational data. They can also: Field Service Skills for Appointment Scheduling Service representatives can use AI-powered tools to streamline the scheduling of deliveries, installations, or consultations. Real-time availability updates improve efficiency and enhance customer satisfaction. Marketing Skills for Loyalty Promotion Creation Marketers can use conversational prompts informed by shopper data, point-of-sale (POS) insights, and segmentation to design loyalty campaigns. These tools also assist in creating personalized email content and subject lines to drive higher engagement. Retail Cloud with Modern POS: A Complementary Innovation In addition to Agentforce for Retail, Salesforce announced the Retail Cloud with Modern POS, a cloud-based point-of-sale solution designed to unify online and offline shopping experiences. Key features include: The POS system also incorporates AI capabilities such as: Shoppers benefit from flexible fulfillment options, including buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS) and omni-exchanges. Each cart item can have unique fulfillment methods, optimizing supply chain costs while enhancing convenience. Mangtani noted, “Together, AI-fueled digital labor and a modern POS can unlock a new scale of operational capacity for retailers.” The Evolution of Agentforce: A Platform for Digital Labor In late 2024, Salesforce launched Agentforce 2.0, branding it as “The Digital Labor Platform.” This expanded version introduced enhanced capabilities aimed at helping businesses streamline operations and adopt AI-driven automation on a larger scale. Agentforce for Retail builds on this foundation, offering retailers the tools to reimagine customer engagement, boost efficiency, and drive 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 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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January 21, 2025in Agentforce Platform, Data, Enterprise, Salesforce0 Comments

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