Cloud Archives - gettectonic.com

30Aug

Detecting the Hot Chatbot

All the tech giants are eager to prove their chatbot is the hottest in the market. Like wild stallions fighting over the mares, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI are competing to show that their AI models have the most momentum. Companies with built-in AI like Salesforce occupy a broader sector. Detecting the Hot Chatbot is the challenge for the consumer. Why Detecting the Hot Chatbot Matters These companies have poured immense resources—both talent and money—into developing their models and adding new features. Now, they’re keen to showcase that these investments are yielding results. What’s Happening In the past few dayss, several major players have released new usage statistics: The Big Picture Generative AI is still in its early stages, and the entire industry faces the challenge of proving that these products deliver real value—whether by capturing market share from the lucrative search industry or by helping companies save money through increased productivity. How are you Detecting the Hot Chatbot. In the short term, however, everyone is eager to show they’re leading the pack. TV commercials for generative AI are now common, with Meta, Google, and Microsoft all airing spots, although the effectiveness of these ads varies. Some companies even boast that their commercials were created using AI—not necessarily the most convincing selling point. Between the Lines The competition isn’t just about consumer popularity; it’s also spilling over into the battle to secure business customers. On Wednesday’s earnings call, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff made a point of distinguishing Salesforce’s new Agentforce AI sales assistant from Microsoft’s Copilot offerings. “This is not Copilot,” Benioff said. “So many customers are disappointed with what they bought from Microsoft Copilot because they’re not getting the accuracy and response they want. Microsoft has let down many customers with AI.” Microsoft quickly responded in a comment to CNBC. “We are hearing something quite different from our Copilot for Microsoft 365 customers,” said corporate VP Jared Spataro. “When I talk to CIOs directly, and if you look at recent third-party data, organizations are betting on Microsoft for their AI transformation.” The Bottom Line The competition is heating up as tech giants vie to prove they have the upper hand in the AI race and the Hot Chatbot. Customers will ultimately decide. 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

29Aug

Connected Vehicles

Revolutionizing the Automotive Industry: Salesforce’s Connected Car App The automotive industry has always been a beacon of innovation, consistently pushing the boundaries to enhance the driving experience. From the iconic Model T and the assembly line to today’s electric and autonomous vehicles, the evolution of automobiles has been driven by an unyielding pursuit of progress. I actually purchased a new-to-me car today, and with the connected vehicle on the horizon I’m kind of glad I’ll be able to upgrade in a couple years. Bluetooth and back up cameras are great. But a car that can tell the dealership to get me on the horn before some automotive calamity occurs? The future is here, my friends. Connected Vehicles for Better Experiences Now, as digital transformation reshapes industries, a new chapter is emerging in automotive innovation: the connected car. Leading this charge is Salesforce, a global powerhouse in customer relationship management (CRM), with the introduction of its groundbreaking Connected Car App, poised to redefine in-car experiences for both drivers and passengers. From my personal buying experience today, the car business could use some customer relationship management! The Future of In-Car Connectivity Salesforce’s Connected Car App is more than just a technological enhancement; it represents a fundamental shift in how we interact with our vehicles. By leveraging Salesforce’s Customer 360 platform, this app creates personalized, engaging experiences that go far beyond traditional automotive features. The Connected Car App is designed to make every journey more intuitive and efficient, offering real-time insights and services tailored to the unique needs of each driver. Whether it’s maintenance alerts, optimized route suggestions based on traffic, or personalized entertainment options, the app transforms the car into a truly smart companion on the road. A GPS feature? I guess I can plan on deleting Waze off my phone in the near future! Powered by Salesforce Customer 360 At the heart of the Connected Car App is Salesforce’s Customer 360 platform, which delivers a comprehensive, 360-degree view of each customer. This integration ensures that the app provides tailored experiences based on a deep understanding of the driver’s preferences, habits, and history. It isn’t going to just know you by a vehicle loan number, a VIN number, or even just an email address. For instance, a driver who frequently takes long road trips might receive customized recommendations for rest stops, dining options, and attractions along their route. Meanwhile, commuters could benefit from real-time updates on traffic, weather, and parking availability. The app’s ability to anticipate and respond to the driver’s needs in real time distinguishes it from traditional in-car systems. I can just hear my car now, advising me it has been one hour since I stopped for coffee, and she’s worried about my sanity. Enhancing Customer Loyalty and Satisfaction with Connected Vehicles The Connected Car App offers significant potential to boost customer loyalty and satisfaction. By delivering a personalized driving experience, automakers can strengthen relationships with customers, transforming each driving journey into an opportunity to build brand loyalty. If Toyota is suddenly going to treat me like Shannan Hearne instead of customer # xxxxx would be ecstatic. Additionally, the app’s capability to collect and analyze data in real time opens new avenues for automakers to engage with their customers. Predictive maintenance reminders, targeted promotions, and special offers are just a few examples of how the app fosters a deeper connection between the brand and the driver. Oh, yeah. My connected vehicle app is DEFINITELY going to be talking to me about changing my oil (I’m not exactly diligent), how great the latest model of Toyota is (I drove a Corolla for 18 years and have also owned a Tacoma, a Tundra, and a Prius), and if it would add coffee coupons I would be golden. A New Era of Automotive Innovation Salesforce’s Connected Car App marks a pivotal moment in the automotive industry’s digital transformation. As vehicles become increasingly connected, the opportunities for innovation are boundless. Salesforce is at the forefront with a solution that not only enhances the driving experience but also empowers automakers to build stronger, more meaningful relationships with their customers. In a world where customer expectations are constantly growing, the Connected Car App is a game-changer. Customers, even car owners, expect their brands to know them and recognize them. By integrating Salesforce’s CRM capabilities directly into vehicles, the app creates a seamless, personalized experience that stands out. As we look ahead, it’s clear that the Connected Car App is just the beginning of an exciting new era of automotive innovation. As a marketer at heart and a technologist by trade, I’m really excited about the potential here. Connected Vehicle: A Unified Digital Foundation Salesforce’s Connected Vehicle platform provides automakers with a unified, intelligent digital foundation, enabling them to reduce development time and roll out features and updates faster than ever before. This platform allows seamless integration of vehicle, Internet of Things (IoT), driver, and retail data from various sources, including AWS IoT FleetWise and Snapdragon® Car-to-Cloud Connected Services Platform, to enhance driver experiences and ensure smooth vehicle operation. Can you imagine a smart app like the Connected Vehicle talking to your loyalty apps for gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores? I would be driving down the interstate and the app will tell me there is a Starbucks ahead AND I have a 10% off coupon. Automakers and mobility leaders like Sony Honda Mobility are already exploring the use of Connected Vehicle to deliver better experiences for their customers. The platform’s ability to access and integrate data from any source in near real time allows automakers to personalize driver experiences, in-car offers, and safety upgrades. Why It Matters By 2030, every new vehicle sold will be connected, and the advanced, tech-driven features they provide will be increasingly important to consumers. A recent Salesforce survey revealed that drivers already consider connected features to be nearly as important as a car’s brand. Connected Vehicle accelerates this evolution, enabling automakers to immediately deliver branded, customized experiences tailored to

August 29, 2024in Salesforce Implementation Services, Salesforce Managed Services, Salesforce Manufacturing Automotive Energy

29Aug

Salesforce Climbs on Back of AI

Shares of Salesforce (CRM.N) climbed approximately 4% on Thursday as investors responded positively to the customer relationship management software maker’s strong quarterly performance and its strategic focus on artificial intelligence to fuel growth. Salesforce has been making significant investments to integrate AI technologies into its existing products, including its messaging platform Slack, to enhance functionality and attract more customers. “We continue to see Salesforce as an underappreciated AI winner due to its unique data and early success in developing and deploying GenAI agents,” noted Goldman Sachs analyst Kash Rangan. Despite concerns from Wall Street that reduced cloud spending might impact Salesforce in a challenging economy, the software-as-a-service (SaaS) company exceeded expectations with better-than-anticipated revenue, profit, and margins in the second quarter. Additionally, Salesforce raised its profit forecast for the fiscal year ending January 2025, as margins continue to improve, largely due to restructuring efforts undertaken last year. The stock is currently trading at 24.49 times Wall Street’s profit expectations, compared to 52.11 for SaaS peer ServiceNow and 13.30 for cloud contact center firm Five9 (FIVN.O), according to LSEG data. If the gains hold, Salesforce could add about billion to its market capitalization, bringing its valuation to 8 billion as of Wednesday’s close. However, Barclays analyst Raimo Lenschow cautioned, “We think these results alone are not sufficient to drive a sustainable rally from here. For that, we need additional catalysts, which could come with the new AI solutions,” set to be unveiled at Dreamforce and launched in October. Some analysts suggest that ongoing growth in the coming quarters may be driven by Salesforce’s customer support platform, Agentforce, which has yet to be commercially released. 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

August 29, 2024in Salesforce

28Aug

AI Capabilities for Nonprofit Cloud

Nonprofit organizations must ensure that every dollar they raise is not only accounted for but also allocated in ways that best support their mission. With its ability to streamline processes, optimize outcomes, and enhance data transparency, AI is poised to significantly impact the nonprofit sector. Salesforce has introduced new AI capabilities for Nonprofit Cloud designed to help organizations harness AI-driven decision-making and maximize their impact. AI-Powered Proposals and Summaries The latest AI and data enhancements in Nonprofit Cloud are designed to boost efficiency, personalize donor engagement, and ultimately increase fundraising opportunities. Built on the Einstein 1 Platform, Salesforce has introduced the following features: Closing Thoughts “Every nonprofit wants to provide the best experience for donors, volunteers, board members, staff — and most importantly, the people and causes they serve,” says Lori Freeman, VP & Global GM of Nonprofit at Salesforce. “But they have a lot to accomplish with limited resources. With industry-specific AI and data tools, Salesforce is helping nonprofits boost productivity by augmenting staff with AI, using data more effectively to build deeper relationships with their stakeholders, and ultimately, raising the funds needed to meet their mission.” The nonprofit sector stands to gain significantly from GenAI. By building on its existing Nonprofit Cloud, Salesforce addresses key challenges within the industry. What’s particularly noteworthy about these updates is the duality of outcomes supported by GenAI: it not only simplifies the tracking and sharing of campaign metrics, enabling better-informed decision-making, but it also enhances the personalization of donor engagement. While the ultimate goal is to increase funding, these advancements also underscore GenAI’s flexibility and its potential to rapidly transform organizational operations. Availability 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

August 28, 2024in Einstein 1 Platform, Salesforce for Nonprofits, Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud

28Aug

MCG and Salesforce Health Cloud

Independent Publisher of Evidence-Based Guidance Integrates with Salesforce Health Cloud to Enhance Chronic Disease Care SEATTLE, Aug. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — MCG Health, a member of the Hearst Health network and a leader in evidence-based clinical guidance, announces a new integration with Salesforce Health Cloud. This partnership aims to improve the management of patients with chronic conditions and those transitioning to different care settings, such as ambulatory care, recovery facilities, or home care. The integration combines Salesforce Health Cloud, the leading AI-powered CRM, with MCG Health’s trusted, evidence-based guidelines to support better patient outcomes. “This integration deepens our collaboration with MCG and delivers greater return on investment for our Health Cloud customers by emphasizing patient-focused and evidence-based disease management,” said Amit Khanna, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Health at Salesforce. Enhanced Care Planning with Salesforce Health Cloud Salesforce Health Cloud’s Integrated Care Management (ICM) feature now incorporates MCG Health’s industry-leading, evidence-based guidelines for Chronic Care and Transitions of Care. This interactive integration simplifies and optimizes care planning for patients’ post-acute journeys. The solution includes tools for identifying patient needs related to social determinants of health (SDOH) and offers branching logic tailored to individual patient situations. This enhancement significantly reduces administrative burdens for hospital and health plan staff while supporting evidence-based care management for populations with chronic conditions and those needing transition management. Additionally, patient education materials from MCG Health can now be easily distributed from within Salesforce Health Cloud, providing patients with enhanced information on their diagnosis and treatment. “MCG’s collaboration with Salesforce Health Cloud provides a powerful, evidence-based tool for managing chronic disease,” said Jon Shreve, President and CEO of MCG Health. “Through this new integration, we can help Salesforce’s healthcare customers streamline their care planning and disease management programs. This solution enhances hospitals’ and health plans’ ability to adhere to evidence-based practices, improving clinical workflows and benefiting both healthcare organizations and, most importantly, patients.” A Strategic Partnership for Better Patient Outcomes “Salesforce is excited to partner with MCG to integrate their trusted, evidence-based guidance into Health Cloud, advancing the care of patients with chronic and complex diseases,” said Amit Khanna, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Health at Salesforce. “This integration strengthens our ongoing collaboration with MCG and delivers more value to our Health Cloud customers by focusing on patient-centered and evidence-based disease management.” Interested parties can request a demo from MCG via this link: Schedule a Demo. About MCG Health MCG Health, part of the Hearst Health network, provides unbiased clinical guidance that empowers healthcare organizations to deliver patient-centered care with confidence. MCG’s AI-driven technology, combined with clinical expertise, enables clients to prioritize and simplify their work. MCG’s world-class customer service ensures clients maximize the benefits of MCG solutions, resulting in improved clinical and financial outcomes. For more information, visit MCG Health. Salesforce, Health Cloud, and related marks are trademarks of Salesforce, Inc. 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

August 28, 2024in Salesforce Health Cloud

26Aug

Salesforce Transforming Nonprofit Operations with AI

Salesforce Enhances Nonprofit Cloud with Generative AI Capabilities On August 6, 2024, Salesforce announced that its Nonprofit Cloud is now equipped with generative AI capabilities powered by the Einstein 1 Platform. This integration represents the first time Salesforce’s Industry Cloud portfolio has incorporated the Einstein 1 Platform, signaling a broader commitment to embedding AI tools across its product offerings. The update aims to revolutionize nonprofit operations by providing AI-powered tools for personalized donor engagement, operational efficiency, and funding discovery. Key features include AI-generated fundraising proposals and program summaries, which provide concise insights into grant details, donor histories, and program outcomes. Transforming Nonprofit Operations with AI The integration of generative AI into Nonprofit Cloud aligns with Salesforce’s strategy to empower nonprofits to navigate challenges such as donor fatigue, increased operational costs, and rising service demands. Notable enhancements include: Additionally, Salesforce launched Data Cloud for Nonprofits, enabling a unified, real-time view of donor, volunteer, and program data. This innovation breaks down data silos, empowering nonprofits to create tailored outreach strategies and assess program performance effectively. Four Pillars of AI Success Salesforce’s enhancements to Nonprofit Cloud embody its “four-pillar” approach to enterprise AI success: Key Innovations in Nonprofit Cloud Salesforce introduced three groundbreaking innovations to address nonprofit-specific challenges: These features, coupled with Nonprofit Cloud Einstein 1 Edition (which bundles Nonprofit Cloud, Data Cloud, Einstein, Experience Cloud, and Slack), provide nonprofits with comprehensive tools to drive impact. Nonprofit Adoption and Impact Nonprofits are already experiencing the transformative potential of AI. According to Salesforce’s Nonprofit Trends Report, organizations leveraging these AI tools have seen: Julie Fleshman, CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, shared her organization’s success with Nonprofit Cloud: “Salesforce has been instrumental in helping us connect patients with specialized healthcare providers and clinical trials, advancing our mission and saving valuable time.” Nonprofit Cloud vs. NPSP While Nonprofit Cloud offers a unified, scalable platform with AI-driven insights and advanced donor management tools, the Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) serves as a free, open-source solution for smaller organizations. Here’s a quick comparison: Feature Nonprofit Cloud NPSP Functionality Comprehensive CRM with advanced tools Free app with basic CRM functionality Integration Seamless with other Salesforce products Requires additional configuration Ease of Use User-friendly and designed for nonprofits May require technical expertise Cost Subscription-based Free with optional paid add-ons Scalability Built for growing organizations Requires customization for growth Ideal Users Large and mid-sized nonprofits Small nonprofits Maximizing Fundraising with Nonprofit Cloud Nonprofit Cloud offers nonprofits flexibility and efficiency in managing their fundraising efforts, helping them overcome challenges like donor fatigue and retention. Its advanced features include: By leveraging these tools, nonprofits can improve engagement, strengthen donor relationships, and make data-driven decisions, ultimately amplifying their impact. The Tectonic Role Tectonic has been instrumental in implementing Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud for multiple organizations, ensuring they harness its full potential to optimize operations, engage donors, and achieve their missions. With Salesforce’s AI-driven enhancements and Tectonic’s expertise, nonprofits are poised to navigate challenges, unlock new opportunities, and amplify their societal impact. 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

August 26, 2024in AI Tools, Data, Einstein 1 Platform, Enterprise, Generative AI, Salesforce, Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud

25Aug

Winter 25 Release Developer Enhancements

Developer Enhancements Salesforce Flow Enhancements Flow Orchestrator Enhancements How to Access and Use Key Salesforce Features View the Automation Lightning App: Manage Steps in an Orchestration Stage: Customize the Flow Orchestration Work Guide Component: Customize SMS One-Time Password Delivery for Experience Cloud Sites: Control Authenticated Callouts Permissions: Improve Data Transmission Speed and Security with TLS 1.3: Enable LWC Stacked Modals: Additional Enhancements: Salesforce Mobile App Enhancements Resolve Sync Issues with Offline Drafts: Access Hyperlinks in Enhanced Reports: Messaging in the Salesforce Mobile App: Seller-Focused Sales Mobile Experience: Stay Informed About Upcoming Releases: Check Out Resources: Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more 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

August 25, 2024in Salesforce Shield

25Aug

AI Services and Models Security Shortcomings

Orca Report: AI Services and Models Show Security Shortcomings Recent research by Orca Security reveals significant security vulnerabilities in AI services and models deployed in the cloud. The “2024 State of AI Security Report,” released in 2024, underscores the urgent need for improved security practices as AI technologies advance rapidly. AI Services and Models Security Shortcomings. AI usage is exploding. Gartner predicts that the AI software market will grow19.1% annually, reaching 8 billion by 2027. In many ways, AI is now inthe stage reminiscent of where cloud computing was over a decade ago. Orca’s analysis of cloud assets across major platforms—AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, and Alibaba Cloud—has highlighted troubling risks associated with AI tools and models. Despite the surge in AI adoption, many organizations are neglecting fundamental security measures, potentially exposing themselves to significant threats. The report indicates that while 56% of organizations use their own AI models for various purposes, a substantial portion of these deployments contain at least one known vulnerability. Orca’s findings suggest that although most vulnerabilities are currently classified as low to medium risk, they still pose a serious threat. Notably, 62% of organizations have implemented AI packages with vulnerabilities, which have an average CVSS score of 6.9. Only 0.2% of these vulnerabilities have known public exploits, compared to the industry average of 2.5%. Insecure Configurations and Controls Orca’s research reveals concerning security practices among widely used AI services. For instance, Azure OpenAI, a popular choice for building custom applications, was found to be improperly configured in 27% of cases. This lapse could allow attackers to access or manipulate data transmitted between cloud resources and AI services. The report also criticizes default settings in Amazon SageMaker, a prominent machine learning service. It highlights that 45% of SageMaker buckets use non-randomized default names, and 98% of organizations have not disabled default root access for SageMaker notebook instances. These defaults create vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit to gain unauthorized access and perform actions on the assets. Additionally, the report points out a lack of self-managed encryption keys and encryption protection. For instance, 98% of organizations using Google Vertex have not enabled encryption at rest for their self-managed keys, potentially exposing sensitive data to unauthorized access or alteration. Exposed Access Keys and Platform Risks Security issues extend to popular AI platforms like OpenAI and Hugging Face. Orca’s report found that 20% of organizations using OpenAI and 35% using Hugging Face have exposed access keys, heightening the risk of unauthorized access. This follows recent research by Wiz, which demonstrated vulnerabilities in Hugging Face during Black Hat USA 2024, where sensitive data was compromised. Addressing the Security Challenge Orca co-founder and CEO Gil Geron emphasizes the need for clear roles and responsibilities in managing AI security. He stresses that security practitioners must recognize and address these risks by setting policies and boundaries. According to Geron, while the challenges are not new, the rapid development of AI tools makes it crucial to address security from both engineering and practitioner perspectives. Geron also highlights the importance of reviewing and adjusting default settings to enhance security, advocating for rigorous permission management and network hygiene. As AI technology continues to evolve, organizations must remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding their systems and data. In conclusion, the Orca report serves as a critical reminder of the security risks associated with AI services and models. Organizations must take concerted action to secure their AI deployments and protect against potential vulnerabilities. Balance Innovation and Security in AI Tectonic notes Salesforce was not included in the sampling. Content updated September 2024. 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

August 25, 2024in AI Tools, Data, Google, Technology

24Aug

Education Cloud Recruitment and Admissions

Today’s prospective students and learners expect a seamless, connected online experience throughout their higher education journey. The days of relying on phone calls and postal mail for application processes are behind us. Faculty and staff require a complete, unified view of each learner—no more data scattered across departments. Education Cloud recruitment and admissions enables your institution to operate efficiently and effectively in the digital age. At its very heart, recuitment and admissions is only a variation on any other marketing process that has been improved with automation. No one knows automation like Salesforce. And no one knows how to build a engaging portal in Education Cloud to cator to your students than Tectonic. At the core of the recruitment and admissions process in Education Cloud is an online portal that allows learners to: This learner portal captures and records all relevant information directly in Salesforce. However, managing the multitude of interactions and documents can be challenging. That’s where the Recruiting and Admissions Consoles come in, serving as a centralized hub for faculty and staff to manage their tasks and monitor progress. The Recruitment & Admissions Consoles offer several key benefits: 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

August 24, 2024in Salesforce

19Aug

SaaS Data Protection from Own

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Own, the industry leader for SaaS data protection and activation, today announced the release of Continuous Data Protection for Salesforce customers, further strengthening its product offering to include unprecedented recovery and analysis capabilities. In an industry-first approach, Own Continuous Data Protection provides a turn-key solution that delivers significant value to customers that have mission-critical, frequently changing, or highly valuable data within Salesforce. Own is the only SaaS data protection platform that proactively detects and stores data changes in Salesforce by leveraging platform events to prevent data loss. “This innovative approach to Continuous Data Protection will provide our Salesforce customers with an unparalleled advantage for capturing every change to their data ” said Adrian Kunzle, Chief Technology Officer at Own. “From the company’s inception almost 10 years ago, it has been our goal to ensure that no company operating in the cloud loses their data. At Own, we are the first to reimagine Continuous Data Protection for greater data resilience and scalability, and to ensure business continuity. This new solution offers true continuous data protection, and equips our customers with the most complete dataset to enable greater data fidelity to power AI models.” Own’s release of Continuous Data Protection (CDP) is a groundbreaking development in data protection and activation. Traditionally, backup and recovery solutions that specialize in protecting SaaS application data leverage a high-frequency model that provides multiple snapshots per week or day. Continuous Data Protection from Own pushes data changes to a backup as they happen, allowing businesses to capture changes in their data in near real-time. In addition to creating a more resilient and scalable approach, the higher-fidelity datasets this offering creates will enable organizations to unlock new ways of leveraging analytics and AI models across their vital information. “This innovative approach to Continuous Data Protection will provide our Salesforce customers with an unparalleled advantage for capturing every change to their data,” said Adrian Kunzle, Chief Technology Officer at Own. “From the company’s inception almost 10 years ago, it has been our goal to ensure that no company operating in the cloud loses their data. At Own, we are the first to reimagine Continuous Data Protection for greater data resilience and scalability, and to ensure business continuity. This new solution offers true continuous data protection, and equips our customers with the most complete dataset to enable greater data fidelity to power AI models.” Continuous Data Protection is a step forward in the world of SaaS data protection, enabling Own Recover for Salesforce customers to recover rapidly changing, mission-critical data faster, enhancing data resiliency and scalability. Continuous Data Protection provides the ability to: The Continuous Data Protection offering will be generally available on August 19, 2024. About Own Own is the industry leader in SaaS data protection and activation, trusted by thousands of organizations to ensure the availability, security, and compliance of mission-critical data, while unlocking new ways to gain deeper insights faster. Own ensures data resiliency and empowers organizations to bring historical context to life for predictive insights and inspiration. By partnering with some of the world’s largest SaaS ecosystems such as Salesforce, ServiceNow and Microsoft Dynamics 365, Own enables customers around the world to truly own their data and transform their business. It’s their platform. It’s your data. Own it. 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

August 19, 2024in Salesforce

19Aug

Generative AI Overview

Editor’s Note: AI Cloud, Einstein GPT, and other cloud GPT products are now Einstein. For the latest on Salesforce Einstein The Rise of Generative AI: What It Means for Business and CRM Generative artificial intelligence (AI) made headlines in late 2022, sparking widespread curiosity and questions about its potential impact on various industries. What is Generative AI? Generative AI is a technology that creates new content—such as poetry, emails, images, or music—based on a set of input data. Unlike traditional AI, which focuses on classifying or predicting, generative AI can produce novel content with a human-like understanding of language, as noted by Salesforce Chief Scientist Silvio Savarese. However, successful generative AI depends on the quality of the input data. “AI is only as good as the data you give it, and you must ensure that datasets are representative,” emphasizes Paula Goldman, Salesforce’s Chief Ethical and Humane Use Officer. How Does Generative AI Work? Generative AI can be developed using several deep learning approaches, including: Other methods include Variational Autoencoders (VAEs) and Neural Radiance Fields (NeRFs), which generate new data or create 2D and 3D images based on sample data. Generative AI and Business Generative AI has captured the attention of global business leaders. A recent Salesforce survey found that 67% of IT leaders are focusing on generative AI in the next 18 months, with 33% considering it a top priority. Salesforce has long been exploring generative AI applications. For instance, CodeGen helps transform simple English prompts into executable code, and LAVIS makes language-vision AI accessible to researchers. More recently, Salesforce’s ProGen project demonstrated the creation of novel proteins using AI, potentially advancing medicine and treatment development. Ketan Karkhanis, Salesforce’s Executive VP and GM of Sales Cloud, highlights that generative AI benefits not just large enterprises but also small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) by automating proposals, customer communications, and predictive sales modeling. Challenges and Ethical Considerations Despite its potential, generative AI poses risks, as noted by Paula Goldman and Kathy Baxter of Salesforce’s Ethical AI practice. They stress the importance of responsible innovation to ensure that generative AI is used safely and ethically. Accuracy in AI recommendations is crucial, and the authoritative tone of models like ChatGPT can sometimes lead to misleading results. Salesforce is committed to building trusted AI with embedded guardrails to prevent misuse. As generative AI evolves, it’s vital to balance its capabilities with ethical considerations, including its environmental impact. Generative AI can increase IT energy use, which 71% of IT leaders acknowledge. Generative AI at Salesforce Salesforce has integrated AI into its platform for years, with Einstein AI providing billions of daily predictions to enhance sales, service, and customer understanding. The recent launch of Einstein GPT, the world’s first generative AI for CRM, aims to transform how businesses interact with customers by automating content creation across various functions. Salesforce Ventures is also expanding its Generative AI Fund to $500 million, supporting AI startups and fostering responsible AI development. This expansion includes investments in companies like Anthropic and Cohere. As Salesforce continues to lead in AI innovation, the focus remains on creating technology that is inclusive, responsible, and sustainable, paving the way for the future of CRM and business. The Future of Business: AI-Powered Leadership and Decision-Making Tomorrow’s business landscape will be transformed by specialized, autonomous AI agents that will significantly change how companies are run. Future leaders will depend on these AI agents to support and enhance their teams, with AI chiefs of staff overseeing these agents and harnessing their capabilities. New AI-powered tools will bring businesses closer to their customers and enable faster, more informed decision-making. This shift is not just a trend—it’s backed by significant evidence. The Slack Workforce Index reveals a sevenfold increase in leaders seeking to integrate AI tools since September 2023. Additionally, Salesforce research shows that nearly 80% of global workers are open to an AI-driven future. While the pace of these changes may vary, it is clear that the future of work will look vastly different from today. According to the Slack Workforce Index, the number of leaders looking to integrate AI tools into their business has skyrocketed 7x since September 2023. Mick Costigan, VP, Salesforce Futures In the [still] early phases of a major technology shift, we tend to over-focus on the application of technology innovations to existing workflows. Such advances are important, but closing the imagination gap about the possible new shapes of work requires us to consider more than just technology. It requires us to think about people, both as the customers who react to new offerings and as the employees who are responsible for delivering them. Some will eagerly adopt new technology. Others will resist and drag their feet. 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

August 19, 2024in AI Tools, Artificial Intelligence, Data, Enterprise, Generative AI, Salesforce, Salesforce Einstein, Technology

19Aug

Salesforce Data Snowflake and You

Unlock the Full Potential of Your Salesforce Data with Snowflake At Tectonic, we’ve dedicated years to helping businesses maximize their Salesforce investment, driving growth and enhancing customer experiences. Now, we’re expanding those capabilities by integrating with Snowflake.Imagine the power of merging Salesforce data with other sources, gaining deeper insights, and making smarter decisions—without the hassle of complex infrastructure. Snowflake brings this to life with a flexible, scalable solution for unifying your data ecosystem.In this insight, we’ll cover why Snowflake is essential for Salesforce users, how seamlessly it integrates, and why Tectonic is the ideal partner to help you leverage its full potential. Why Snowflake Matters for Salesforce Users Salesforce excels at managing customer relationships, but businesses today need data from multiple sources—e-commerce, marketing platforms, ERP systems, and more. That’s where Snowflake shines. With Snowflake, you can unify these data sources, enrich your Salesforce data, and turn it into actionable insights. Say goodbye to silos and blind spots. Snowflake is easy to set up, scales effortlessly, and integrates seamlessly with Salesforce, making it ideal for enhancing CRM data across various business functions.The Power of Snowflake for Salesforce Users Enterprise-Grade Security & GovernanceSnowflake ensures that your data is secure and compliant. With top-tier security and data governance tools, your customer data remains protected and meets regulatory requirements across platforms, seamlessly integrating with Salesforce. Cross-Cloud Data SharingSnowflake’s Snowgrid feature makes it easy for Salesforce users to share and collaborate on data across clouds. Teams across marketing, sales, and operations can access the same up-to-date information, leading to better collaboration and faster, more informed decisions. Real-Time Data ActivationCombine Snowflake’s data platform with Salesforce Data Cloud to activate insights in real-time, enabling enriched customer experiences through dynamic insights from web interactions, purchase history, and service touchpoints. Tectonic + Snowflake: Elevating Your Salesforce Experience Snowflake offers powerful data capabilities, but effective integration is key to realizing its full potential—and that’s where Tectonic excels. Our expertise in Salesforce, now combined with Snowflake, ensures that businesses can maximize their data strategies. How Tectonic Helps: Strategic Integration Planning: We assess your current data ecosystem and design a seamless integration between Salesforce and Snowflake to unify data without disrupting operations. Custom Data Solutions: From real-time dashboards to data enrichment workflows, we create solutions tailored to your business needs. Ongoing Support and Optimization: Tectonic provides continuous support, adapting your Snowflake integration to meet evolving data needs and business strategies. Real-World Applications Retail: Integrate in-store and e-commerce sales data with Salesforce for real-time customer insights. Healthcare: Unify patient data from wearables, EMRs, and support interactions for a holistic customer care experience. Financial Services: Enhance Salesforce data with third-party risk assessments, enabling quicker, more accurate underwriting. Looking Ahead: The Tectonic Advantage Snowflake opens up new possibilities for Salesforce-powered businesses. Effective integration, however, requires strategic planning and hands-on expertise. Tectonic has a long-standing track record of helping clients get the most out of Salesforce, and now, Snowflake adds an extra dimension to our toolkit. Whether you want to better manage data, unlock insights, or enhance AI initiatives, Tectonic’s combined Salesforce and Snowflake expertise ensures you’ll harness the best of both worlds. Stay tuned as we dive deeper into Snowflake’s features, such as Interoperable Storage, Elastic Compute, and Cortex AI with Arctic, and explore how Tectonic is helping businesses unlock the future of data and AI. Ready to talk about how Snowflake and Salesforce can transform your business? 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

August 19, 2024in Data, Enterprise, Salesforce, Salesforce Data Cloud, Snowflake

18Aug

Role of Salesforce Data Cloud

Will Salesforce Data Cloud Drive Value for Your Business? What is Salesforce Data Cloud? The role of Salesforce Data Cloud as an innovative platform designed to help businesses fully leverage their customer data. As a trusted Salesforce partner, we are committed to helping you explore the potential of this powerful tool to transform customer relationships and fuel significant business growth. While Data Cloud may not be suitable for every business, we’re here to help you determine if it can drive value for yours. How Salesforce Data Cloud Elevates Your Business Key Features of Salesforce Data Cloud Let us help you discover what Salesforce Data Cloud is for and if it can drive value for your business. 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

August 18, 2024in Salesforce Data Cloud

17Aug

Boost Service Rep Productivity

Tips to Boost Service Rep and Field Service Tech Productivity Serviceblazer Allie Lawler shares top tactics for improving the productivity of service reps and field technicians. With over a decade of experience in the customer service industry, she has firsthand knowledge of how the landscape has changed, becoming more demanding and complex. Increased caseloads, rising customer expectations, and the pressure to generate revenue are placing significant stress on service teams. Research shows that 65% of service reps and 66% of mobile workers report that cases have become more complex. This complexity, combined with the rise of autonomous AI and heightened customer demands, can lead to burnout. Lawler explains that 69% of decision-makers in the service industry say that service rep attrition is a moderate to major challenge, which underscores the need for strategic solutions. Here are her top three strategies to boost productivity using Service Cloud and Salesforce Field Service, helping service teams thrive in today’s challenging environment. 1. Simplify Disjointed Processes One of the biggest productivity challenges for service reps and field techs is disjointed workflows. Although we picture service professionals actively engaging with customers, studies show that 61% of their day is spent on administrative tasks, internal meetings, and navigating fragmented systems. These disjointed processes slow down response times, increase the likelihood of errors, and hurt the customer experience. Streamline User Experience: A better-designed user experience can significantly reduce the time spent on non-customer-facing tasks. For instance, using Salesforce Lightning pages with Related Record and Dynamic Related List Components allows service reps to access all relevant information — from case details to account data — in one place. Quick-access buttons for workflows and automation further cut down the time spent searching for information, improving efficiency and customer satisfaction. Improve Accessibility: Enhanced accessibility benefits the entire team. Features like clear labeling and visual icons on Lightning Pages improve usability for everyone. These small changes can make navigating the system easier, especially for reps with visual impairments or those looking for a more intuitive experience. Make Pages Dynamic: Instead of overwhelming reps with unnecessary fields, conditional visibility can simplify the interface. By only displaying relevant fields at the right time, reps can focus on what’s important, reducing distractions and improving workflow efficiency. For mobile field technicians, ensuring they only see actionable information—like work order details or scheduling notes—can help them serve customers faster without wading through irrelevant data. 2. Empower Reps and Technicians to Make Decisions Autonomy is key to increasing both productivity and job satisfaction. Giving reps the ability to make decisions without needing constant managerial approval empowers them to solve issues faster and reduces customer wait times. Enable Exception-Based Approvals: One way to grant reps more decision-making power is through exception-based approvals. For example, allowing service reps to offer small discounts or credits without needing manager approval increases efficiency. Setting approval thresholds — such as allowing reps to approve discounts under 2%, but requiring approval for anything higher — strikes a balance between empowering reps and managing risk. Expand Field Technicians’ Roles: Field technicians can be given the ability to upsell services or renew contracts while they’re onsite, further enhancing productivity. With Field Service Mobile extensions, techs can access tools that allow them to complete tasks, upsell services, or even renew contracts directly from their mobile devices. This not only speeds up service but also contributes to revenue generation. 3. Use Metrics to Drive Motivation Keeping service reps and technicians motivated is crucial for maintaining productivity. Lawler suggests using both individual and team metrics to create a culture of accountability and improvement. Build a Leaderboard: A leaderboard that highlights top performers encourages healthy competition and gives reps something to strive toward. Recognition of their efforts helps create a motivated and engaged workforce. Provide Access to Personal Metrics: Giving reps access to their own performance metrics fosters a sense of ownership and encourages continuous improvement. For example, Lawler recommends using dynamic dashboards on the service reps’ homepages, showing them key metrics like case closures and current caseloads. Field technicians can also view their performance metrics by using deep links from the Field Service app to the Salesforce mobile app. This allows them to track their appointments, customer satisfaction scores, and overall performance, creating a sense of pride and motivation to improve. Boosting Productivity: A Summary By making small but impactful changes to the user experience, granting autonomy, and recognizing achievements, service organizations can significantly enhance productivity. Streamlining workflows, empowering decision-making, and motivating with metrics will help both service reps and field techs thrive — leading to happier customers and more successful teams. 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

August 17, 2024in Data

16Aug

Barriers to Healthcare Data Exchange

As of 2022, 96% of hospitals were involved in some form of electronic public health data exchange, according to a blog post by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). Yet Barriers to Healthcare Data Exchange Despite this high engagement, barriers to effective data exchange remain. About three-quarters of hospitals reported facing at least one obstacle to public health reporting. The most frequent challenge was the perception that public health authorities (PHAs) could not receive information electronically. Additionally, hospitals cited technical complexities and exchange costs as significant barriers. ONC data also revealed lower rates of electronic public health reporting among small, rural, independent, and critical access hospitals. Similarly, office-based physicians encounter difficulties in public health data exchange due to limited EHR integration. The 2022 National Physician Health IT Survey indicated that less than half of primary care physicians (41%) used their EHR systems to access immunization data from outside their organizations. Several initiatives are underway to address these public health reporting challenges and improve interoperability between healthcare providers and PHAs: Additionally, a proposed rule from ONC seeks to enhance public health data exchange further. The Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Certification Program Updates, Algorithm Transparency, and Information Sharing (HTI-2) proposed rule builds on existing certification criteria by: According to the ONC blog, “Together, these efforts will help address persistent challenges to public health data sharing by investing in public health infrastructure, establishing a governing approach for nationwide health information exchange, and advancing standards to support seamless electronic exchange.” 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

August 16, 2024in Salesforce Health and Life Sciences Solutions, Salesforce Health Cloud

Cloud

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