Commerce Archives - gettectonic.com

14Mar

AI-Driven Salesforce Explained

AI-driven Salesforce refers to the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Salesforce’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform to enhance its capabilities, automate processes, and deliver smarter, data-driven insights. Salesforce has embedded AI into its ecosystem through Salesforce Einstein, its proprietary AI technology. Here’s a breakdown of how AI drives Salesforce: 1. What is AI-Driven Salesforce? AI-driven Salesforce leverages machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), predictive analytics, and automation to help businesses make smarter decisions, improve customer experiences, and streamline operations. It transforms raw data into actionable insights and automates repetitive tasks, enabling teams to focus on strategic activities. 2. Key Features of AI-Driven Salesforce a) Salesforce Einstein Einstein is the AI layer built into Salesforce that powers intelligent features across the platform. Key capabilities include: b) AI-Powered Insights c) Personalization d) Automation e) Predictive Intelligence 3. Benefits of AI-Driven Salesforce a) Enhanced Customer Experience b) Increased Efficiency c) Data-Driven Decision Making d) Improved Sales Performance e) Scalability 4. Use Cases of AI-Driven Salesforce a) Sales b) Marketing c) Customer Service d) Commerce 5. The Future of AI in Salesforce In summary, AI-driven Salesforce empowers businesses to work smarter, not harder, by leveraging data and automation to deliver better customer experiences and drive growth. It’s a game-changer for sales, marketing, service, and beyond! Content updated January 2025. 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

March 14, 2025in Artificial Intelligence, Data, Salesforce, Salesforce Einstein, Technology0 Comments

10Mar

Predictive Analytics for Business Potential

Maximizing Business Potential with Predictive Analytics Every business generates vast amounts of data daily, yet not all leverage it effectively. Predictive analytics transforms raw data into actionable insights, enabling companies to forecast demand, reduce operational costs, and enhance customer engagement. Whether through AI-powered models, machine learning algorithms, or cloud-based analytics, predictive analytics is reshaping business strategies. Organizations that integrate predictive analytics into decision-making can anticipate challenges, seize new opportunities, and outperform competitors. This insight explores the significance of predictive analytics and how businesses can harness its power to gain a competitive edge. The Expanding Influence of Predictive Analytics Predictive analytics is revolutionizing industries, driving innovation, and transforming data into strategic advantages. Transforming Industries with Predictive Analytics Predictive analytics is now a cornerstone of modern industries, facilitating smarter decision-making through data-driven insights. By analyzing historical data, businesses can forecast trends, anticipate customer behaviors, and optimize operations. Sectors such as healthcare, retail, and finance are leveraging predictive tools to maintain competitiveness. For example: As industries adopt these solutions, predictive analytics continues to redefine efficiency and innovation. Key Trends in Predictive Analytics Adoption The widespread adoption of predictive analytics is fueled by advancements in AI, big data, and machine learning. Businesses are capitalizing on these trends to sharpen their competitive edge. Notable developments include: As predictive analytics tools become more sophisticated, they are becoming integral to business strategies, helping companies unlock untapped potential. Overcoming Implementation Challenges Despite its benefits, implementing predictive analytics poses challenges, such as data silos, integration complexities, and skill gaps. To address these issues, organizations should: By overcoming these barriers, businesses can fully harness predictive analytics to drive efficiency, innovation, and growth. Predictive Data Modeling for Smarter Decision-Making Predictive data modeling transforms raw data into strategic insights, improving forecasting and operational decision-making. Understanding Predictive Data Modeling Predictive data modeling employs statistical techniques and machine learning algorithms to analyze historical data and predict future trends. Its core components include: By applying these models, businesses can refine their strategies with data-backed insights, improving efficiency and competitiveness. The Role of Data Quality in Predictive Accuracy The effectiveness of predictive models depends on data quality. Inconsistent or outdated data can lead to unreliable predictions, affecting decision-making. Key steps to ensure high data quality include: High-quality data enhances predictive models, enabling businesses to make informed, confident decisions. Enhancing Forecasting with Predictive Data Modeling Predictive data modeling improves forecasting accuracy by analyzing historical trends and projecting future outcomes. Benefits include: Retailers optimize inventory, while manufacturers align production with demand fluctuations, demonstrating the strategic value of predictive modeling. Driving Business Growth with Predictive Analytics Why Businesses Should Adopt Predictive Analytics Now In today’s competitive landscape, predictive analytics is essential for staying ahead. By leveraging data, algorithms, and machine learning, businesses can anticipate risks and opportunities, optimizing strategies while reducing uncertainty. Retailers, for instance, use predictive insights to forecast seasonal demand spikes, ensuring optimal stock levels. As AI advances, predictive analytics is more accessible than ever, making now the ideal time for adoption. Enhancing Decision-Making and Efficiency Predictive analytics eliminates guesswork, empowering leaders with data-backed decisions. Benefits include: These advantages drive sustainable growth and competitive advantage across industries. Seamlessly Integrating Predictive Analytics into Business Workflows To maximize impact, predictive analytics must integrate into existing workflows. Steps for successful adoption include: By embedding predictive analytics into workflows, businesses enhance agility and decision-making capabilities. AI-Powered Predictive Analytics for Competitive Advantage Why AI Predictive Analytics is Transformative AI-powered predictive analytics delivers insights beyond traditional methods, processing vast datasets rapidly to identify complex patterns and trends. Applications include: With AI continuously learning and refining predictions, businesses gain a dynamic advantage. Enhancing Accuracy with AI AI refines predictions by analyzing diverse data sources, including text, images, and videos. Examples include: Advanced AI techniques, such as natural language processing and neural networks, ensure businesses derive actionable insights, driving smarter strategies and better results. Machine Learning’s Role in Predictive Analytics Machine learning (ML) is foundational to predictive analytics, continuously improving model accuracy. Examples include: By leveraging ML, businesses enhance their predictive capabilities, ensuring long-term competitive success. Enhancing Enterprise Solutions with Predictive Analytics Transforming SAP Systems with Predictive Analytics SAP systems integrated with predictive analytics unlock actionable insights from vast datasets. Benefits include: By embedding predictive capabilities, SAP users can optimize operations and drive proactive decision-making. Empowering Salesforce with Predictive Insights Salesforce predictive analytics enhances decision-making across marketing, sales, and customer service. Key capabilities include: With Salesforce Einstein, businesses can streamline operations, boost performance, and foster deeper customer engagement. Predictive analytics is a game-changer, reshaping industries, optimizing operations, and unlocking new growth opportunities. Businesses that embrace predictive analytics today will be well-positioned to navigate future challenges and lead in the data-driven economy. 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

March 10, 2025in Data, Enterprise, Salesforce, Salesforce Einstein0 Comments

06Mar

Google and Salesforce Expand Partnership

Google and Salesforce Expand Partnership to Enhance AI Agent Capabilities Google and Salesforce are deepening their collaboration to provide customers with greater flexibility in AI agent deployment. This expanded partnership will integrate Google Gemini within Salesforce’s Agentforce platform, enabling AI agents to process images, audio, and video with advanced multimodal capabilities. Enhanced AI Functionality with Gemini Through this integration, AI agents will gain access to Gemini’s powerful models, allowing them to handle complex tasks with extended context windows and leverage real-time insights from Google Search via Vertex AI. This collaboration aims to empower businesses with AI solutions that are not limited to a single model provider, offering crucial flexibility in AI customization. Srini Tallapragada, Salesforce’s President and Chief Engineering and Customer Success Officer, emphasized that the integration offers customers the ability to choose the applications and models that best suit their needs. “Salesforce offers a complete enterprise-grade agentic AI platform that makes it easy to deploy new capabilities quickly and realize business value fast. Google Cloud is a pioneer in enterprise agentic AI, offering some of the most powerful models, agents, and AI development tools on the planet. Together, we are creating the best place for businesses to scale with digital labor.” Key Benefits of the Integration The partnership is set to deliver significant advantages for businesses, as outlined in the official announcement: Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, highlighted the benefits of this collaboration: “Our mutual customers have asked for seamless integration across Salesforce and Google Cloud. This expanded partnership enables them to accelerate AI transformations with state-of-the-art AI models, agentic AI, and advanced data analytics.” Strengthening Customer Service Integrations The partnership will also enhance the connection between Salesforce Service Cloud and Google Cloud’s Customer Engagement Suite, providing AI-driven improvements to customer support. Key upcoming features include: Expanding AI-Powered Decision-Making Beyond Gemini, Agentforce will integrate Google Search through Vertex AI, leveraging secure connections between Salesforce Data Cloud and Google BigQuery. This will enable AI agents to access real-time information for improved accuracy and decision-making. For example, in supply chain management, AI can track shipments, monitor inventory in Salesforce Commerce Cloud, and anticipate disruptions using real-time data on weather, port congestion, and geopolitical events. Additionally, joint customers will be able to utilize Salesforce’s unified platform—including Agentforce, Data Cloud, and Customer 360—on Google Cloud’s AI-optimized infrastructure. This integration ensures enhanced security through dynamic grounding, zero data retention, and toxicity detection via the Einstein Trust Layer. Businesses will also soon have the option to purchase Salesforce products via the Google Cloud Marketplace. More AI Innovations from Google and Salesforce Google recently announced the development of a personalized AI-powered chatbot that will be integrated into its devices, including smartphones, laptops, and tablets. This tool will automatically answer calls, process requests, and respond on behalf of users. Meanwhile, Salesforce’s Service Assistant—formerly known as Salesforce Service Planner—has launched on Service Cloud. Designed to support live agents, it generates step-by-step plans for resolving customer inquiries by analyzing intent, case history, and customer context. For optimal performance, Salesforce recommends integrating it with Data Cloud and the contact center knowledge base. With this expanded partnership, Google and Salesforce are setting the stage for businesses to leverage cutting-edge AI technology, driving innovation and operational efficiency across industries. 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

March 6, 2025in Agentforce Platform, Agentic AI, Data, Enterprise, Google, Salesforce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Salesforce Data Cloud, Salesforce Service Cloud, Technology0 Comments

04Mar

Salesforce Marketing Cloud Growth Edition for Personalization

Why Personalized Marketing Matters Personalized marketing is a game-changer for inceased customer engagement and business growth. According to a recent study, it can boost ROI by up to 20%. Yet, many marketers struggle to execute effective personalization due to fragmented data and lack of alignment across teams. To overcome these challenges, marketers must build a solid data foundation, leverage AI-driven segmentation, and utilize dynamic content strategies. This Tectonic insight outlines the essential steps to achieving personalized marketing at scale. Step 1: Build a Unified Data Foundation Marketers today have access to more data than ever before—from CRM and sales data to digital advertising, ERP, transactional, and accounting data. The challenge is unifying these sources to create a single operational customer profile. Without this, analyzing customer behavior and delivering personalized experiences is nearly impossible. How to Get Your Data in Order: Centralize customer data across teams using Marketing Cloud Growth and Advanced Editions, built on the Salesforce platform. Leverage AI-powered insights to optimize real-time personalization. Establish a “single source of truth” to align marketing, sales, and service teams. A strong data foundation not only fuels better AI-driven personalization but also enhances analytics and campaign performance. Step 2: Use AI to Segment with Precision Segmentation is the backbone of personalized marketing, allowing marketers to tailor campaigns based on customer behavior, demographics, and engagement levels. Traditionally, segmentation was a manual, time-consuming process. However, AI has revolutionized this process by enabling natural language-based segment creation. How AI Improves Segmentation: Eliminates the need for SQL expertise, making segmentation accessible to all marketers. Generates precise audience segments based on engagement and fit scores. Leverages harmonized operational profiles to build complex, data-driven segments. With AI-driven segmentation, marketers can create hyper-targeted campaigns that resonate with their audience, increasing engagement and conversion rates. Step 3: Implement Engagement and Fit Scoring One of the most effective ways to enhance personalization is by scoring leads and contacts based on their engagement and fit with your ideal customer profile. This approach helps prioritize high-value prospects and ensures marketing efforts are focused on the right audience. Understanding Engagement Scoring: Engagement Scoring evaluates how actively leads and contacts interact with your marketing campaigns. This includes actions like email clicks, form submissions, and website visits. Key Metrics Used in Engagement Scoring: Email Engagement (e.g., Click, Unsubscribe) Website Engagement (e.g., Form Submission, Button Click) Message Engagement (e.g., Subscribe, Unsubscribe) Understanding Fit Scoring: Fit Scoring assesses how well a lead or contact aligns with your ideal customer profile. This includes demographic, firmographic, and behavioral data. Key Fit Scoring Criteria: Demographics: Age, gender, income level Firmographics: Industry, company size, revenue Behavioral Patterns: Purchase history, product usage Geographics: Location-based targeting Technographics: Technology stack compatibility Step 4: Use Dynamic Content Blocks for Hyper-Personalization Once your data is structured and segments are refined, the next step is delivering personalized content. Marketing Cloud Growth and Advanced Editions offer powerful tools like Cross-Object Merge Fields and Rule-Based Dynamic Content. How to Leverage These Tools: Cross-Object Merge Fields: Pull data from operational customer profiles to create more personalized messages (e.g., referencing a webinar attended or service case status). R ule-Based Dynamic Content: Display targeted text and images based on complex customer attributes (e.g., showing a specific image to customers in New York who attended a liveevent). These tools allow marketers to go beyond basic personalization, creating highly relevant and engaging experiences for their audience. Step 5: Combine Engagement and Fit Scoring for Optimal Results By integrating Engagement and Fit Scoring, marketers can create an overall marketing score that prioritizes the most valuable prospects. This score considers both interaction levels and alignment with the ideal customer profile. How to Implement Overall Scoring: Default weighting assigns 50% to Engagement Score and 50% to Fit Score. Scores range from 0 to 100, ensuring a balanced approach to prioritization. Customization allows businesses to adjust weighting based on their specific needs. This holistic scoring model ensures marketing efforts are directed toward leads that are both highly engaged and a great fit for your business. The Future of Personalized Marketing Personalization is no longer optional—it’s essential. Businesses that embrace advanced personalization techniques see a 10-30% increase in sales and customer retention rates. By implementing the strategies outlined in this guide, marketers can: Build a strong data foundation for AI-driven personalization. Use engagement and fit scoring to prioritize high-value leads. Deliver hyper-personalized content with dynamic marketing tools. With the right foundation, tools, and AI-driven insights, marketers can unlock the full potential of personalized marketing, driving stronger customer relationships and higher ROI. Now is the time to take action and position your business for sustained success in an increasingly competitive marketplace. incorporate this. Meet the all-new Salesforce Marketing Cloud Growth edition! Recently unveiled, this platform is designed specifically to empower small businesses by seamlessly integrating CRM, AI, and data within Salesforce’s trusted customer platform – Einstein. It promises to redefine marketing automation across sales, service, and commerce. Let’s explore how Marketing Cloud Growth is set to revolutionize the way small businesses approach marketing, enabling them to drive growth and efficiency like never before. Salesforce Marketing Cloud Growth Edition On February 20, 2024, Salesforce launched the Marketing Cloud Growth edition, aimed at empowering small businesses specifically with B2B marketing needs. With advanced marketing automation tools, powered by Einstein’s Generative AI and Data Cloud, this new edition simplifies marketing tasks, allowing businesses to concentrate on strategic growth. Salesforce Marketing Cloud Growth Edition integrates seamlessly with the core Salesforce platform, known as the Einstein 1 platform to provide users with easy access to all the robust features of Marketing Cloud within the broader Salesforce ecosystem. With the Marketing Cloud Growth edition, teams can efficiently: Unify various data sources via Data Cloud Create and deliver compelling content with Digital Experiences Automate complex customer journeys using Flow Builder Improve decision-making using Einstein’s intelligent analytics and predictions Marketing Cloud Growth edition is user-friendly and built directly on the Salesforce platform, eliminating the need for external connectors. However, it does not include some advanced features found in Marketing

March 4, 2025in AI Tools, Data, Einstein 1 Platform, Enterprise, Generative AI, Marketing Automation, Salesforce, Salesforce Flow, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Technology0 Comments

03Mar

It is Time to Implement Data Cloud

With Salesforce Data Cloud you can: With incomplete data your 360-degree customer view is limited and often leads to multiple sales reps working on the same lead. Slow access to the right leads at the right time leads to missed opportunties and delayed closings. If your team cannot trust the data due to siloes and inaccuracies, they avoid using it. It is Time to Implement Data Cloud. Unified Connect and harmonize data from all your Salesforce applications and external data systems. Then activate your data with insights and automation across every customer touchpoint. Powerful With Data Cloud and Agentforce, you can create the most intelligent agents possible, giving them access to the exact data they need to deliver any employee or customer experience. Secure Securely connect your data to any large language model (LLM) without sacrificing data governance and security thanks to the Einstein 1 trust layer. Open Data Cloud is fully open and extensible – bring your own data lake or model to reduce complexity and leverage what’s already been built. Plus, share out to popular destinations like Snowflake, Google Ads, or Meta Ads. Salesforce Data Cloud is the only hyperscale data engine native to Salesforce. It is more than a CDP. It goes beyond a data lake. You can do more with Data Cloud. Your Agentforce journey begins with Data Cloud. Agents need the right data to work. With Data Cloud, you can create the most intelligent agents possible, giving them access to the exact data they need to deliver any employee or customer experience. Use any data in your organization with Agentforce in a safe and secure manner thanks to the Einstein 1 Trust Layer. Datablazers are Salesforce community members who are passionate about driving business growth with data and AI powered by Data Cloud. Sign up to join a growing group of members to learn, connect, and grow with Data Cloud. Join today. The path to AI success begins and ends with quality data. Business, IT, and analytics decision makers with high data maturity were 2x more likely than low-maturity leaders to have the quality data needed to use AI effectively, according to our State of Data and Analytics report. “What’s data maturity?” you might wonder. Hang tight, we’ll explain in chapter 1 of this guide. Data-leading companies also experience: Your data strategy isn’t just important, it’s critical in getting you to the head of the market with new AI technology by your side. That’s why this Salesforce guide is based on recent industry findings and provides best practices to help your company get the most from your data. Tectonic will be sharing a focus on the 360 degree customer view with Salesforce Data Cloud in our insights. Stay tuned. It is Time to Implement Data Cloud 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

March 3, 2025in Data, Einstein 1 Platform, Einstein Insights, Google, Salesforce, Salesforce Data Cloud, Salesforce Implementation Services, Snowflake, Technology0 Comments

27Feb

Agentforce and Commerce Cloud

SharkNinja, a global product design and technology company, is implementing Salesforce’s Agentforce and Commerce Cloud to enhance its global customer service operations. The company, known for its Shark and Ninja brands of household products, aims to scale support across more than 30 markets using autonomous agents. Agentforce will create an AI-powered digital workforce available 24/7 to assist customers with buying processes, product inquiries, troubleshooting, and returns management. This implementation will allow human agents to focus on high-impact interactions while providing tailored support based on customer data and purchase history. The integration of Commerce Cloud will enable SharkNinja to consolidate customer data from multiple sources into a unified view, facilitating more personalized shopping experiences and better tracking of customer engagement across their global customer base. Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the world’s #1 AI CRM, today announced that SharkNinja, a global product design and technology company, is implementing Agentforce and other Salesforce products, including Commerce Cloud, to drive global growth by scaling its personalized customer service approach with autonomous agents. SharkNinja is a global leader in indoor and outdoor household products, transforming how people cook, clean, and live in homes around the world. As the innovation powerhouse behind two multi-billion-dollar brands — Shark and Ninja — SharkNinja is renowned for its diversified portfolio of cutting-edge products, including Shark vacuum cleaners and beauty tools, as well as Ninja kitchen appliances, such as blenders, air fryers, and ice cream makers. To support its rapid, global growth, SharkNinja is embracing solutions that will scale support and service more efficiently across more than 30 markets while delivering a seamless consumer shopping experience. Agentforce, a new layer on the Salesforce Platform, will enable SharkNinja to easily build and deploy AI agents that can autonomously take action across any business function. With Agentforce, SharkNinja will have an always-on, digital workforce available 24/7 to guide customers through the buying process, answer product questions, troubleshoot issues, and manage returns — streamlining human agent workloads so they can focus on meaningful, high-impact interactions. “Innovation is the driver behind every product SharkNinja creates across our vast portfolio, so it was really important to find a tool that could give us the capabilities needed to be just as innovative across every consumer interaction,” said Velia Carboni, CIO, SharkNinja. “We believe Agentforce is this key to helping us build a community that keeps consumers coming back as we continue to grow and develop new problem-solving innovations that positively impact people’s lives in homes around the world.” “SharkNinja prioritizes quality, innovation, and an exceptional customer experience,” said Adam Evans, EVP & GM of Salesforce AI Platform. “By integrating customer data with service and support functions, Agentforce enables SharkNinja to deliver an exceptional experience at every touchpoint — building customer loyalty and keeping them coming back time and time again.” Agentforce will also help SharkNinja enhance brand loyalty through tailored support interactions that deliver targeted solutions and recommendations based on insights from customer data from previous purchases and service history. SharkNinja will also leverage Commerce Cloud, enabling the company to consolidate customer data from multiple sources into a single, unified view. This integration will enable the delivery of more personalized shopping experiences for each customer. At the same time, having unified touchpoints will allow SharkNinja to more effectively track engagement across its global customer base. 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

February 27, 2025in Agentforce Platform, Data, Salesforce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Technology0 Comments

Five9 Deepens Salesforce Partnership

Five9 Deepens Salesforce Partnership to Advance AI-Powered Contact Centers Five9 is strengthening its collaboration with Salesforce to help mutual customers streamline service environments and implement AI-powered agents that enhance customer interactions. A Strategic Partnership in AI & Customer Service The announcement comes as Five9 celebrates a 17% year-over-year (YoY) revenue growth, with Chairman & CEO Mike Burkland crediting the company’s expanding partner network for driving success. While acknowledging partnerships with Microsoft, Google, ServiceNow, and Verint, Burkland highlighted Five9’s deepening relationship with Salesforce, emphasizing: “Salesforce and Five9 share a vision where AI agents and human agents work together to elevate customer experiences.” A key focus of this partnership is enhancing integration between Five9 and Agentforce, Salesforce’s platform for autonomous AI agents. This marks the first CCaaS vendor integration with Agentforce, opening up new opportunities for intelligent, industry-specific AI applications. Industry-Specific AI Agents: A Game Changer By embedding Agentforce capabilities within the Five9-Salesforce CCaaS-CRM ecosystem, businesses can automate critical customer service workflows. Some examples include: These are just a few use cases demonstrating how AI-driven automation can transform customer engagement across industries. CCaaS vs. CRM: Who Will Lead AI in Contact Centers? As AI reshapes customer service, industry analysts have questioned whether businesses will favor their CRM provider over their CCaaS vendor for AI-driven automation. Burkland dismissed this as a false choice, explaining: “It’s going to be a mix. Even if an organization chooses Salesforce for their AI, they still need access to all the contextual data in our platform. Salesforce knows they need us, and we welcome that relationship. Our goal is to do what’s best for the customer.” The Future of AI-Powered Customer Engagement By deepening its Salesforce integration and leading the way in AI-driven service automation, Five9 is positioning itself as a key player in the evolution of intelligent contact centers. As businesses increasingly seek to blend human expertise with AI efficiency, this partnership paves the way for seamless, personalized, and automated customer experiences at scale. 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

February 26, 2025in Data, Google, Salesforce0 Comments

24Feb

Salesforce and Google Announcement

Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) has entered into a deal with Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) to offer its customer relations management software, Agentforce artificial intelligence assistants, and Data Cloud offerings through Google Cloud, the companies announced today. Google and Salesforce already have many of the same clients, and this new deal will allow for more product integration between Google Workspace and Salesforce’s customer relationship management and AI offerings. Salesforce already uses Amazon (AMZN) Web Services for much of its cloud computing. “Our mutual customers have asked us to be able to work more seamlessly across Salesforce and Google Cloud, and this expanded partnership will help them accelerate their AI transformations with agentic AI, state-of-the-art AI models, data analytics, and more,” said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud. The deal is expected to total $2.5B over the next seven years, according to a report by Bloomberg. Salesforce and Google today announced a major expansion of their strategic partnership, delivering choice in the models and capabilities businesses use to build and deploy AI-powered agents. In today’s constantly evolving AI landscape, innovations like autonomous agents are emerging so quickly that businesses struggle to keep pace. This expanded partnership provides crucial flexibility, empowering customers to develop tailored AI solutions that meet their specific needs, rather than being locked into a single model provider. Google Cloud is at the forefront of enterprise AI innovation with millions of developers building with Google’s cutting-edge Gemini models and on Google Cloud’s AI-optimized infrastructure. This expanded partnership will empower Salesforce customers to build Agentforce agents using Gemini and to deploy Salesforce on Google Cloud. This is an expansion of the existing partnership that allows customers to use data from Data Cloud and Google BigQuery bi-directionally via zero-copy technology—further equipping customers with the data, AI, trust, and actions they need to bring autonomous agents into their businesses. Additionally, this integration empowers Agentforce agents with the ability to reference up-to-the-minute data, news, current events, and credible citations, substantially enhancing their contextual awareness and ability to deliver accurate, evidence-backed responses. For example, in supply chain management and logistics, an agent built with Agentforce could track shipments and monitor inventory levels in Salesforce Commerce Cloud and proactively identify potential disruptions using real-time data from Google Search, including weather conditions, port congestion, and geopolitical events. Availability is expected in the coming months. AI: Unlocking the Power of Choice and Flexibility with Gemini and Agentforce Businesses need the freedom to choose the best models for their needs rather than be locked into one vendor. In 2025, Google’s Gemini models will also be available for prompt building and reasoning directly within Agentforce. With Gemini and Agentforce, businesses will benefit from: For example, an insurance customer can submit a claim with photos of the damage and an audio voicemail from a witness. Agentforce, using Gemini, can then help the insurance provider deliver better customer experiences by processing all these inputs, assessing the claim’s validity, and even using text-to-speech to contact the customer with a resolution, streamlining the traditionally lengthy claims process. Availability is expected this year. Trust: Salesforce Platform deployed on Google Cloud Customers will be able to use Salesforce’s unified platform (Agentforce, Data Cloud, Customer 360) on Google Cloud’s highly secure, AI-optimized infrastructure, benefiting from features like dynamic grounding, zero data retention, and toxicity detection provided by the Einstein Trust Layer. Once Salesforce products are available on Google Cloud, customers will also have the ability to procure Salesforce offerings through the Google Cloud Marketplace, opening up new possibilities for global businesses to optimize their investments across Salesforce and Google Cloud and benefiting thousands of existing joint customers. Action: Enhanced Employee Productivity and Customer Service with AI-Powered Integrations Millions use Salesforce and Google Cloud daily. This partnership prioritizes choice and flexibility, enabling seamless cross-platform work. New and deeper connections between platforms like Salesforce Service Cloud and Google Cloud’s Customer Engagement Suite, as well as Slack and Google Workspace, will empower AI agents and service representatives with unified data access, streamlined workflows, and advanced AI capabilities, regardless of platform. Salesforce and Google Cloud are deeply integrating their customer service platforms—Salesforce Service Cloud and Google Cloud’s Customer Engagement Suite—to create a seamless and intelligent support experience. Expected later this year, this unified approach empowers AI agents in Service Cloud with: Salesforce and Google Cloud are also exploring deeper integrations between Slack and Google Workspace, boosting productivity and creating a more cohesive digital workspace for teams and organizations. The companies are currently exploring use cases such as: Expanding Partnership Capabilities and Integrations This partnership goes beyond core product integrations to deliver a more connected and intelligent data foundation for businesses. Expected availability throughout 2025: This landmark partnership between Salesforce and Google represents a strategic paradigm shift in enterprise AI deployment, emphasizing infrastructure innovation, AI capability enhancement, and enterprise value. The integration of Google Search grounding provides a unique competitive advantage, offering real-time, factual responses backed by the world’s most comprehensive search engine. The companies are committed to ongoing innovation and deeper collaboration to empower businesses with even more powerful solutions. 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

February 24, 2025in Agentic AI, Artificial Intelligence, Data, Enterprise, Google, Salesforce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Salesforce Service Cloud, Technology0 Comments

21Feb

Businesses Face New Challenges

Businesses Face New Challenges: AI as the Key to Better Customer Experiences and EfficiencyModern businesses are under growing pressure to deliver exceptional customer experiences while boosting operational efficiency. To meet these demands, companies are turning to AI-powered solutions at an unprecedented pace. According to Capgemini’s 2024 Report on Harnessing the Value of Generative AI, 82% of organizations plan to integrate autonomous agents into their operations within the next one to three years. Agentforce: Salesforce’s Groundbreaking SolutionDriving this transformation is Salesforce’s Agentforce, launched in late 2024. This cutting-edge platform empowers businesses to build autonomous applications capable of handling customer interactions, automating operational tasks, and enabling employees to focus on strategic priorities. Beyond Chatbots: What Sets Agentforce Apart Unlike traditional chatbots or systems reliant on manual input, Agentforce acts autonomously. It retrieves relevant data, devises actionable plans, and executes tasks seamlessly. Equipped with real-time data capabilities, it adapts dynamically while maintaining compliance with secure, customizable guidelines. Agentforce not only performs tasks efficiently but also ensures contextually relevant and insightful interactions. It transitions tasks to human employees when necessary, providing summarized interactions and actionable recommendations to ensure smooth handoffs. Revolutionizing Customer Service: 24/7 Availability Without Delays Agentforce elevates customer service by engaging with users across various communication channels using natural language. It draws from trusted sources such as CRM systems, internal knowledge bases, and external platforms to deliver accurate and timely responses. For example, customers can use Agentforce to track orders, reschedule appointments, or resolve issues via platforms like WhatsApp or Apple Business Chat. By managing routine inquiries, Agentforce allows human agents to focus on complex, high-empathy issues requiring critical thinking. Supporting Sales Teams: From Lead Nurturing to Closing Deals Sales teams often face time constraints, and Agentforce addresses this by autonomously managing repetitive tasks such as answering product questions, scheduling meetings, and following up with leads. This allows sales professionals to concentrate on high-value deals. Agentforce can also act as an AI sales coach, using CRM data to simulate role-playing scenarios tailored to specific opportunities. This enables sales teams to refine skills like negotiation and objection handling. Notably, organizations that invest in sales coaching report a 16.7% revenue increase, even with minimal managerial input. With Agentforce, this process becomes scalable, offering real-time insights and actionable feedback to enhance performance. Transforming E-Commerce: Personalized Shopping Experiences Agentforce reshapes e-commerce by delivering personalized shopping experiences. Buyer Agents assist customers with natural-language product searches, offering tailored recommendations and enabling conversational reorders via mobile platforms. For returning customers, this creates a seamless, convenient experience. For larger-scale operations, Merchant Agents leverage conversational interfaces to create promotions, analyze store performance, and recommend strategies for improving key metrics. Streamlining Marketing Campaigns with Agentforce Agentforce’s Campaign Agent redefines marketing by automating every stage of the campaign lifecycle. From generating campaign briefs and audience segments to creating personalized content and building customer journeys in Salesforce Flow, the Campaign Agent accelerates workflows with unmatched precision. Using real-time analytics, the Campaign Agent monitors performance and identifies underperforming areas, offering proactive recommendations to optimize campaigns. This eliminates reliance on manual adjustments and ensures campaigns remain agile and effective. Focusing on Strategic Work A key advantage of Agentforce is its ability to handle repetitive tasks, freeing employees to focus on more complex and strategic activities. Whether addressing intricate customer needs, negotiating major deals, or developing innovative strategies, employees can dedicate their energy to driving long-term success. By automating routine processes and providing actionable insights, Agentforce not only enhances operational efficiency but also boosts employee satisfaction. Salesforce’s Bold Vision Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff shared the company’s ambitious goal: “Our vision is to empower one billion agents with Agentforce by the end of 2025. This is what AI is meant to be.” This statement underscores Salesforce’s commitment to delivering transformative AI solutions with tangible impact for businesses worldwide. 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

February 21, 2025in Agentic AI, Data, Generative AI, Salesforce, Salesforce Flow0 Comments

21Feb

Scale Your Marketing with Agentforce

Scale Your Marketing with Agentforce: AI-Powered Automation for Modern Campaigns Traditional marketing systems struggle to keep pace with today’s demand for precision, personalization, and scale. With marketing teams managing complex, multi-platform campaigns, repetitive work quickly becomes a challenge—41% of employee time is spent on low-impact tasks, and 65% of desk workers believe AI will help them focus on more strategic work. Enter Agentforce for Marketers, built with the Atlas Reasoning Engine. These AI-powered agents help businesses scale their workforces on demand, analyzing data, making decisions, and taking proactive action on tasks like answering customer inquiries and qualifying leads. If you’re ready to embrace a new level of efficiency, this Tectonic insight explores how Agentforce can revolutionize your marketing efforts. What is Agentforce for Marketing? Introduced at Dreamforce 2024, Agentforce represents Salesforce’s next evolution in AI. Powered by the Atlas Reasoning Engine, it enhances automation with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and contextual decision-making. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff calls Agentforce “the third wave of AI—moving beyond copilots to highly accurate, low-hallucination customer service agents that actively drive success.” For marketers, this means automation that analyzes vast datasets, connects customer interactions across teams, and provides real-time insights—all while optimizing campaigns, streamlining workflows, and generating personalized content. The Core of Agentforce: Agentforce combines Agent Builder, Model Builder, and Prompt Builder, allowing marketers to: These tools enable seamless, personalized experiences while reducing manual effort. Key Autonomous AI Agents in Agentforce Agentforce’s AI-powered agents cover a wide range of marketing and sales functions, including: Core Features of Agentforce for Marketing Agentforce transforms marketing by delivering AI-driven insights, automating workflows, and personalizing customer experiences at scale. 1. AI-Driven Campaign Insights Agentforce integrates Salesforce Data Cloud and Marketing Cloud Intelligence to analyze customer behavior patterns, optimize targeting strategies, and improve campaign performance. 💡 Only 32% of marketers say they effectively use customer data for personalization. Agentforce closes this gap by providing real-time, actionable insights. 2. Real-Time Data Integration By consolidating insights from CRM records, external platforms, and unstructured sources, Agentforce ensures AI-driven recommendations power marketing automation and personalization. ✅ Example: OpenTable used Agentforce’s data-driven insights to boost customer engagement and increase case resolution rates. 3. Automated Campaign Workflows Agentforce eliminates repetitive tasks like email follow-ups, social media posts, and ad placements, allowing teams to focus on strategy. 💡 Marketers can set up automated email sequences that trigger based on customer behavior—without manual intervention. Use Cases: How Marketers Leverage Agentforce 1. Personalized Email Campaigns Agentforce analyzes customer interactions to send hyper-targeted emails based on past purchases, browsing history, and engagement. ✅ Example: An online retailer sends tailored product recommendations based on recent searches, increasing conversion rates. 2. Omnichannel Campaign Management Agentforce synchronizes messaging across email, social media, and ads, ensuring consistency across platforms like Marketing Cloud and Facebook Ads Manager. ✅ Example: A product launch campaign can automatically schedule email announcements, social media posts, and search ads—all aligned in messaging. 3. Advanced Audience Segmentation Using AI-powered behavioral analysis, Agentforce creates refined audience segments to deliver hyper-personalized marketing. ✅ Example: A luxury retailer identifies VIP customers likely to attend exclusive events and sends personalized invitations. 4. Performance Tracking & Optimization Agentforce continuously monitors engagement metrics, offering AI-driven recommendations for campaign improvements. 💡 This allows marketers to adjust strategies in real time, maximizing impact. Challenges & Considerations 1. Adapting to AI-Powered Marketing Many professionals feel unprepared for AI-driven tools. Organizations should invest in training programs to ease adoption and leverage Salesforce’s low-code tools for a smoother transition. 2. Ethical & Sustainable AI Implementation Responsible AI use is critical. Agentforce includes features to:✅ Mitigate bias in AI-driven processes.✅ Reduce environmental impact by optimizing hardware usage.✅ Ensure accuracy with real-time, dynamic data. 💡 Salesforce’s AI Red Teaming and Ethical AI Maturity Model help businesses implement AI responsibly. The Future of Marketing with Agentforce Agentforce is redefining marketing automation, eliminating repetitive tasks, enhancing personalization, and driving smarter decision-making. If you’re ready to scale your marketing with AI-powered efficiency, Agentforce is your next competitive advantage. 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

February 21, 2025in Data, Marketing Automation, Salesforce, Salesforce Data Cloud0 Comments

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

February 19, 2025in Data, Salesforce Foundations0 Comments

10Feb

AI and Related Tools Boost Holiday Sales

AI Drives Holiday Sales in 2024: A Record-Breaking Shopping Season with Rising Returns Artificial intelligence (AI) played a transformative role in shaping the 2024 holiday shopping season, with Salesforce reporting that AI-powered tools influenced $229 billion, or 19%, of global online sales. Based on data from 1.5 billion global shoppers and 1.6 trillion page views, AI tools such as product recommendations, targeted promotions, and customer service significantly boosted sales, marking a 6% year-over-year increase in engagement. Generative AI features, including conversational agents, saw a 25% surge in usage during the holiday period compared to earlier months, further highlighting their role in shaping consumer behavior. Mobile commerce amplified AI’s influence, with nearly 70% of global online sales being placed via smartphones. On Christmas Day alone, mobile orders accounted for 79% of transactions, showcasing the shift toward mobile-first shopping. “Retailers who have embraced AI and conversational agents are already reaping the benefits, but these tools will become even more critical in the new year as retailers aim to minimize revenue losses from returns and reengage with shoppers,” said Caila Schwartz, Salesforce’s Director of Consumer Insights. Record-Breaking Sales and Rising Returns Online sales hit .2 trillion globally and 2 billion in the U.S. during the holiday season, but returns surged to $122 billion globally—a 28% increase compared to 2023. Salesforce attributed this spike to evolving shopping habits like bracketing (buying multiple sizes to ensure fit) and try-on hauls (bulk purchasing for social media content), which have become increasingly common. The surge in returns presents a challenge to retailers, potentially eroding profit margins. To address this, many are turning to AI-powered solutions for streamlining returns processes. According to Salesforce, 75% of U.S. shoppers expressed interest in using AI agents for returns, with one-third showing strong enthusiasm for such tools. The Role of AI in Enhancing the Holiday Shopping Experience AI-powered chatbots saw a 42% year-over-year increase in usage during the holiday season, supporting customers with purchases, returns, and product inquiries. These conversational agents, combined with AI-driven loyalty programs and targeted promotions, were instrumental in engaging customers and increasing conversion rates. AI’s influence extended to social commerce, with platforms like TikTok Shop and Instagram driving 20% of global holiday sales. Personalized recommendations and advertisements, powered by AI algorithms, significantly boosted social media referral traffic, which grew by 8% year-over-year. Mobile Commerce and AI Synergy Mobile devices were the dominant force in holiday shopping, generating 2 billion in global online sales and 5 billion in the U.S. Orders placed via smartphones peaked on Christmas Day, with mobile accounting for 79% of all transactions. This mobile-first trend highlights the growing importance of integrating AI into mobile commerce to enhance the shopping experience. AI Integration Expands Across Retail Operations In the UK, retailers are increasingly leveraging AI to optimize operations and improve personalization. A study by IMRG and Scurri revealed that 57% of UK online retailers used generative AI for content creation in 2024, while 31% implemented AI-informed product search tools. By 2025, 75% of UK retailers plan to adopt AI for marketing efforts, and 42% aim to use AI-powered product information management systems to streamline processes. Tesco, for example, uses AI to analyze Clubcard data, enabling tailored product recommendations, healthier purchasing choices, and waste reduction. Meanwhile, Must Have Ideas, a homeware retailer, has launched an AI-driven TV shopping channel powered by proprietary software, Spark, which automates programming schedules based on real-time stock levels and market trends. Looking Ahead The 2024 holiday season underscored the transformative potential of AI in retail. While AI-powered tools drove record sales and engagement, the rise in returns presents a challenge that retailers must address to protect their bottom line. As AI continues to evolve, its role in shaping consumer behavior, streamlining operations, and enhancing customer experiences will become even more integral in the retail 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

February 10, 2025in AI Tools, Artificial Intelligence, Data, Generative AI, Salesforce0 Comments

03Feb

Mastering Sales Forecasting

Mastering Sales Forecasting: The Art and Science Behind Predicting Revenue Building a sales forecast is both a strategic art and a data-driven science. Accurate sales predictions ensure business stability, keep leadership informed, and enable better decision-making. This guide explores the essentials of sales forecasting, equipping you with the knowledge to create precise revenue projections and align expectations effectively. A Comprehensive Guide to Sales Forecasting Drawing from over 20 years of experience in sales solutions, we’ve structured this guide around the most pressing questions sales teams face in forecasting. If you’re a seasoned sales leader familiar with the basics, you can skip ahead to sections on designing a forecasting strategy and leveraging tools to enhance forecast accuracy. For insights on handling unpredictable market conditions, explore the section on adapting forecasts during uncertainty. Insights from 7,700 Sales Professionals Our latest report unveils how sales professionals drive productivity and efficiency through data-driven forecasting. Understanding Sales Forecasting What Is a Sales Forecast? A sales forecast estimates expected sales revenue over a specific period, such as a quarter or year. The most effective forecasts are highly accurate and rely on data-driven insights. Sales forecasts address two fundamental questions: Achieving these projections requires careful analysis of key factors: By balancing factual data with industry expertise, sales teams improve forecasting precision over time. The Importance of Sales Forecasting Sales forecasting plays a vital role in business operations, influencing everything from inventory management to hiring decisions. Consider these examples: Accurate forecasting enables businesses to plan effectively, ensuring smooth operations and sustained growth. When forecasts align with actual sales, companies can make strategic investments, such as expanding teams or launching new initiatives. Who Is Responsible for Sales Forecasting? Different teams contribute to sales forecasting, including: Ultimately, sales leadership is accountable for the final forecast, ensuring transparency and accuracy throughout the process. Who Uses Sales Forecasts? Sales forecasts impact multiple business functions: At every level, accurate forecasts enhance strategic decision-making and operational efficiency. Objectives of Sales Forecasting The primary goal of sales forecasting is to predict revenue with precision. When forecasts align with actual performance, companies can optimize internal operations and maintain strong external relationships. Key objectives include: A reliable forecast fosters a positive work environment, boosting morale and collaboration. How to Design a Sales Forecasting Plan Sales forecasting is an ongoing process that evolves with business needs. A strong forecasting plan includes: Adapting Sales Forecasts in Uncertain Times Market fluctuations, economic shifts, and global events can disrupt sales forecasts. When uncertainty arises, sales and finance leaders must quickly assess: Leveraging CRM solutions ensures real-time visibility into deal statuses, allowing businesses to pivot strategies as needed. Accurate data collection and analysis enable informed decision-making, mitigating risks in volatile conditions. Sales Forecast Accuracy Based on extensive industry research, most sales leaders achieve forecast accuracy within 10%. Achieving a 5% variance or lower is rare but signifies exceptional forecasting capabilities. Tools for Sales Forecasting The Role of CRM in Forecasting Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, such as Salesforce, enhance forecast accuracy by providing: CRM-driven forecasting consolidates opportunities into a structured framework, improving precision through collaborative insights and AI-powered recommendations. How AI Enhances Forecasting AI-powered tools, like Salesforce Einstein, analyze historical data to identify trends and anomalies. AI-driven alerts highlight potential risks, improving forecast reliability and efficiency. Why CRM Outperforms Traditional Methods While spreadsheets suffice for early-stage businesses, scaling companies require CRM solutions for accurate sales forecasting. CRM systems streamline data integration, improving decision-making and revenue predictions. Conclusion Sales forecasting is a critical business function that blends analytical precision with industry expertise. By leveraging CRM tools and AI-driven insights, organizations can refine their forecasting strategies, optimize resource allocation, and drive sustained growth. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how data-driven forecasting can elevate your sales strategy. 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

February 3, 2025in Data, Salesforce, Salesforce Einstein

31Jan

Here Comes Salesforce Spring 25

The Spring ’25 release helps you increase productivity with new innovations, including Agentforce 2.0, where humans with agents drive customer success 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

January 31, 2025in Data, Enterprise, Generative AI, Google, Hyperforce, Life Sciences Cloud, Mulesoft, Public Sector Solutions, Salesforce, Salesforce Flow, Salesforce for Nonprofits, Snowflake

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

January 21, 2025in Agentforce Platform, Data, Enterprise, Salesforce

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