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Adopting Salesforce Security Policies

Adopting Salesforce Security Policies

Data breaches reached an all-time high in 2023, affecting more than 234 million individuals, and there’s no sign of the trend slowing down. At the center of this challenge is how organizations allocate resources to safeguard customer data. One of the most critical systems for managing this data is CRM platforms like Salesforce, used by over 150,000 U.S. businesses. However, security blind spots within Salesforce continue to pose significant risks. To address these concerns, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) offers a strategic framework for Salesforce security teams. In February 2024, NIST released Version 2.0 of its Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), marking the first major update in a decade. Key improvements include the introduction of a new “Govern” function, streamlining of categories to simplify usability, and updates to the “Respond” function to enhance incident management. This framework now applies across all industries, not just critical infrastructure. For Salesforce security leaders, these changes will significantly affect how they manage security, from aligning Salesforce practices with enterprise risk strategies to strengthening oversight of third-party apps. Here’s how these updates will influence Salesforce security going forward. What is the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0? The NIST Cybersecurity Framework, first launched in 2014, was developed after an executive order by President Obama, aiming to provide a standardized set of guidelines to improve cybersecurity across critical infrastructure. The framework’s objectives include: The newly updated NIST CSF 2.0, released in 2024, expands on the original framework, providing organizations with structured, yet flexible, guidance for managing cybersecurity risks. It revolves around three core components: the CSF Core, CSF Profiles, and CSF Tiers. Key Components of NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 These components help organizations understand, assess, and improve their cybersecurity posture, forming the basis for risk-informed strategies that align with organizational needs and the evolving threat landscape. Key Updates in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 and Their Impact on Salesforce Security The 2024 updates to NIST CSF offer insights that Salesforce security leaders can use to align their strategies with evolving cybersecurity risks. Implementation Strategies for Salesforce Security Leaders To incorporate CSF 2.0 into Salesforce security operations, leaders should: Conclusion: Embracing NIST CSF 2.0 to Strengthen Salesforce Security The 2024 NIST Cybersecurity Framework updates offer crucial insights for Salesforce security leaders. By adopting these practices, organizations can enhance data protection, strengthen incident response capabilities, and ensure business continuity—critical for those relying on Salesforce for managing sensitive customer data. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Citizen Development

Citizen Development

As we progress through the era of digital transformation, citizen development has emerged as a key trend in the business landscape. This approach empowers end-users to create their applications, streamlining workflows and reshaping corporate operations. However, like any innovation, citizen development presents both advantages and challenges. In this article, we will explore the benefits, pros and cons of citizen development, and strategies to effectively leverage it within your organization. 1. The Rise of Citizen Development The popularity of citizen development is on the rise, as reflected by Statista, which reports a remarkable 24.6% growth in this sector since 2020. The increasing demand for software solutions in the corporate environment has made the traditional model of IT departments solely managing application development unsustainable. By enabling non-technical personnel to develop their applications, businesses can relieve pressure on IT teams, speed up solution delivery, and cultivate a more agile business model. Furthermore, investing in citizen development platforms fosters an inclusive and innovative workplace, allowing diverse perspectives to generate unique applications that meet specific workflow needs. 2. Benefits of Citizen Development for Companies 2.1 Accelerated Pace and Flexibility Citizen development tools facilitate rapid prototyping and quicker application rollouts. Non-technical personnel can design, modify, and launch applications according to immediate needs, enhancing agility and responsiveness. 2.2 Boosted Creativity Empowering your staff to create applications unlocks a wealth of untapped potential. Citizen development nurtures a culture of innovation, leading to tailored solutions that address specific business challenges. 2.3 Tailored App Design Citizen developers, as end-users, possess an in-depth understanding of their workflow requirements. This perspective enables them to develop applications that align closely with user needs, improving adoption and utility. 2.4 Heightened Productivity By reducing the back-and-forth between IT departments and end-users, citizen development streamlines operations, leading to enhanced efficiency. 2.5 Cost-Effectiveness Citizen development significantly cuts costs associated with traditional application development, such as hiring professional developers or outsourcing tasks. Rapid application rollouts also help seize business opportunities quickly, optimizing ROI. 2.6 Reduced Workload for IT Staff Enabling non-technical personnel to handle minor application development tasks lightens the load on IT teams, allowing them to focus on high-priority projects. 2.7 Enhanced Visibility and Accountability Many citizen development platforms include built-in analytics and reporting features, offering insights into application usage and performance. This transparency helps businesses track initiatives, make data-driven decisions, and continuously improve processes. 3. Implementing Citizen Development with Salesforce Solutions Given its extensive benefits, citizen development is a strategy many businesses are eager to adopt. Salesforce provides a powerful platform to effectively harness citizen development. Salesforce’s platform caters to both professional and citizen developers, offering a comprehensive suite of user-friendly tools for building applications and managing workflows. With built-in safeguards for data security and regulatory compliance, Salesforce for Public Sector and Tribal Governments ensures a smooth and secure citizen development process. Their clear deployment roadmap and thorough training programs equip businesses for success in their citizen development journey. 4. Partnering with Tectonic for Public Sector and Tribal Government Solutions Consider Tectonic as your trusted partner for PSS solutions. Tectonic is a distinguished provider of technology solutions with extensive expertise in Salesforce and process management. With a proven track record of successful projects, Tectonic has earned the trust of clients globally. Tectonic maintains a close partnership with Salesforce, ensuring a deep understanding of its advanced features, including process automation. As a Salesforce partner, Tectonic keeps clients updated on the latest advancements, delivering cutting-edge solutions tailored to their specific needs. By selecting Tectonic as your implementation partner for public sector Salesforce, you benefit from their vast experience and specialized knowledge. Tectonic provides a dedicated public sector team that excels in implementing secure and efficient solutions, working closely with our clients to address their unique challenges. Tectonic offers a comprehensive range of services, from initial implementation to ongoing support and maintenance. Their offerings include process modeling, application design, automation implementation, and roles management. With Tectonic’s expertise, you can ensure seamless integration of automation into your pss projects. To learn more about Tectonic’s public sector services, visit our services page, where you can explore their offerings, including Salesforce Managed Services. Tectonic’s Managed Services provide full support to ensure your public sector environment runs smoothly, covering automation management, data governance, and performance optimization. 5. Final Thoughts While citizen development presents both advantages and challenges, the benefits largely outweigh the potential drawbacks. Although there are concerns about data security and the need for proper governance, the positive impact of citizen development makes it a vital component of the digital transformation narrative. Successful implementation hinges on selecting the right platform and tools that align with your business model and workflow needs. Salesforce Public Sector Solution excels in this regard, offering a user-friendly suite of tools with a clear roadmap for deployment and top-notch support. Brining your public sector tech into the 21st century is an imperative. To fully realize the benefits of citizen development, businesses must strike a balance between empowerment and control. Establishing an environment that fosters innovation and efficiency, while also implementing a governance structure to mitigate risks, is essential. With careful planning, the right tools, and a culture of collaboration, the rewards of citizen development can be substantial. Whether you’re looking to enhance speed and agility, optimize costs, or cultivate a culture of innovation, citizen development offers a promising pathway forward. Embrace citizen development in Salesforce PSS, and set your business on the road to success. If you have any questions about implementing Salesforce Public Sector Solutions and its benefits, feel free to contact us to discuss your project. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud

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Detecting the Hot Chatbot

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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Introducing the New Nonprofit Cloud

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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Salesforce Thematic Personalization

Salesforce Thematic Personalization

Thematic Personalization Made Simple with Salesforce Leverage the power of thematic personalization to tailor your messaging and creative assets for each target audience directly within Salesforce. If you’re a Faraday user, integrating thematic personalization predictions into your CRM is a seamless way to elevate your outreach. With predictions accessible in Salesforce, you can shape your content to better resonate with your leads and contacts. This integration helps you understand what appeals to your audience, ensuring your communications are more relevant and impactful—all while working within the tools you already know. It’s an effortless way to enhance personalization and make the most of your data. Step-by-Step Integration Guide Step 1: Connect Your Data SourcesUse the link below to connect Salesforce to Faraday. Alternatively, you can skip this step and upload your data using CSV files to get started.👉 Connect to Salesforce Step 2: Ingest Data into Event StreamsStream your data into Faraday to enable the platform to interpret its meaning. Follow the link below for guidance on setting up event streams to power this template.👉 Ingest Data Step 3: Organize Your Customer DataGroup your data into cohorts—key building blocks in Faraday. These cohorts enable you to predict customer behavior with precision.👉 Define Cohorts Step 4: Declare Your Prediction ObjectivesOnce your cohorts are ready, instruct Faraday to predict the behaviors you care about. Follow the documentation using the link below.👉 Set Prediction Goals Step 5: Build and Deploy Your Personalization PipelineCreate a content personalization pipeline and deploy it to Salesforce to use predictions for shaping creative and messaging.👉 Deploy Content Personalization Step 6: Finalize Deployment to SalesforceComplete your setup by creating a deployment target within Salesforce or, if preferred, export your results as a CSV file.👉 Deploy to Salesforce Why Integrate Thematic Personalization?This integration empowers you to seamlessly incorporate predictive insights into your CRM workflow, enabling more personalized, effective communications. With minimal effort, you can connect with your audience on a deeper level, enhance engagement, and achieve better results. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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When The Customers Prefer Self-Service

When The Customers Prefer Self-Service

Assistance is crucial for complex issues, but for simpler problems, customers typically prefer the convenience of self-service tools like account portals, FAQs, and chatbots. This preference is especially strong among digital natives, such as millennials and Gen Z. However, deploying self-service tools requires careful planning. For instance, over two-thirds of customers abandon a company’s chatbot after a single negative experience, underscoring the importance of a positive initial interaction. Statistics show that 72% of customers use self-service portals, and 55% engage with self-service chatbots. The willingness of nearly half of all customers, including 60% of millennials, to pay more for superior customer service highlights the importance of customer experience in an era of price sensitivity. Customers expect instant responses, creating a scalability challenge for service teams but also an opportunity to offer premium service. Instant responses can set a company apart, as even well-regarded brands often struggle to maintain quick and seamless connections between customers and agents. Self-service platforms must be easily adjustable, not only to address areas needing improvement but also to adapt to changing market demands. Customers now expect proactive service rather than the traditional reactive approach. Despite this, customer service is often perceived as reactive. The time and effort customers spend resolving service issues are significant, especially when service teams are inconsistently trained and equipped, leading to a perception that quality service is a matter of luck. Consistency across channels, devices, and departments is highly valued but often lacking. Many customers find themselves repeating information to different representatives, indicating a fragmented information environment. Poorly integrated technology and processes leave 55% of customers feeling as if they interact with separate departments rather than a unified company. Disconnected experiences are a major source of frustration. Prompt resolution of issues is a top priority for customers, and many find it quicker to search for answers themselves than to contact the company. Self-service not only facilitates quick problem-solving but also empowers customers to address issues at their own pace and learn as much or as little as they wish. In terms of preferences, over 67% of customers prefer some form of self-service over speaking with a representative. Additionally, 73% prefer using the company’s website for support rather than relying on social media, SMS, or live chat apps. Don’t always assume the “latest and greatest” solutions available are the best solutions for your customers. A self-service strategy involves providing customers with tools to resolve their needs independently, reducing the need for representative assistance. Reduce staffing needs and increase speed to answers for customers. Its a win win. However, implementing self-service can face challenges, such as confusing navigation, lack of ongoing attention, inflexibility, failure to incorporate feedback, constraints on users, extra work, lack of human interaction, difficulty in personalization, and the need for continuous analysis and monitoring. Successful self-service integration requires addressing these factors to meet customer expectations. Contact Tectonic for assistance bringing your self-service solutions to your customers. 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 Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more Top Ten Reasons Why Tectonic Loves the Cloud The Cloud is Good for Everyone – Why Tectonic loves the cloud You don’t need to worry about tracking licenses. Read more

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Demandbase One for Sales iFrame

Demandbase One for Sales iFrame

Understanding the Demandbase One for Sales iFrame in Salesforce The Demandbase One for Sales iFrame (formerly known as Sales Intelligence) allows sales teams to access deep, actionable insights directly within Salesforce. This feature provides account-level and people-level details, including engagement data, technographics, intent signals, and even relevant news, social media posts, and email communications. By offering this level of visibility, sales professionals can make informed decisions and take the most effective next steps on accounts. Key Points: Overview of the Demandbase One for Sales iFrame The iFrame is divided into several key sections: Account, People, Engagement, and Insights tabs. Each of these provides critical information to help you better understand and engage with the companies and people you’re researching. Account Tab People Tab Engagement Tab Final Notes: The Demandbase One for Sales iFrame is a powerful tool that provides a complete view of account activity, helping sales teams make informed decisions and drive results. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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guide to RAG

Tectonic Guide to RAG

Guide to RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) has become increasingly popular, and while it’s not yet as common as seeing it on a toaster oven manual, it is expected to grow in use. Despite its rising popularity, comprehensive guides that address all its nuances—such as relevance assessment and hallucination prevention—are still scarce. Drawing from practical experience, this insight offers an in-depth overview of RAG. Why is RAG Important? Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT can be employed for a wide range of tasks, from crafting horoscopes to more business-centric applications. However, there’s a notable challenge: most LLMs, including ChatGPT, do not inherently understand the specific rules, documents, or processes that companies rely on. There are two ways to address this gap: How RAG Works RAG consists of two primary components: While the system is straightforward, the effectiveness of the output heavily depends on the quality of the documents retrieved and how well the Retriever performs. Corporate documents are often unstructured, conflicting, or context-dependent, making the process challenging. Search Optimization in RAG To enhance RAG’s performance, optimization techniques are used across various stages of information retrieval and processing: Python and LangChain Implementation Example Below is a simple implementation of RAG using Python and LangChain: pythonCopy codeimport os import wget from langchain.vectorstores import Qdrant from langchain.embeddings import OpenAIEmbeddings from langchain import OpenAI from langchain_community.document_loaders import BSHTMLLoader from langchain.chains import RetrievalQA # Download ‘War and Peace’ by Tolstoy wget.download(“http://az.lib.ru/t/tolstoj_lew_nikolaewich/text_0073.shtml”) # Load text from html loader = BSHTMLLoader(“text_0073.shtml”, open_encoding=’ISO-8859-1′) war_and_peace = loader.load() # Initialize Vector Database embeddings = OpenAIEmbeddings() doc_store = Qdrant.from_documents( war_and_peace, embeddings, location=”:memory:”, collection_name=”docs”, ) llm = OpenAI() # Ask questions while True: question = input(‘Your question: ‘) qa = RetrievalQA.from_chain_type( llm=llm, chain_type=”stuff”, retriever=doc_store.as_retriever(), return_source_documents=False, ) result = qa(question) print(f”Answer: {result}”) Considerations for Effective RAG Ranking Techniques in RAG Dynamic Learning with RELP An advanced technique within RAG is Retrieval-Augmented Language Model-based Prediction (RELP). In this method, information retrieved from vector storage is used to generate example answers, which the LLM can then use to dynamically learn and respond. This allows for adaptive learning without the need for expensive retraining. Guide to RAG RAG offers a powerful alternative to retraining large language models, allowing businesses to leverage their proprietary knowledge for practical applications. While setting up and optimizing RAG systems involves navigating various complexities, including document structure, query processing, and ranking, the results are highly effective for most business use cases. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more Alphabet Soup of Cloud Terminology As with any technology, the cloud brings its own alphabet soup of terms. This insight will hopefully help you navigate Read more

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Contribute to Net Zero

Contribute to Net Zero

How Everyone Can Contribute to a Net Zero Future The increasing frequency and unpredictability of extreme weather events highlight that climate change spares no part of the world. Addressing this crisis urgently requires smart, innovative solutions. Every organization, government, and individual has a role to play, asserts Linda Saunders, Salesforce’s Director of Solutions Engineering Africa. Contribute to Net Zero. Let’s face it, if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the pollution! The Path to a Net Zero Future For companies, taking tangible climate action is crucial for maintaining their brand, reputation, and financial stability. Plus, who doesn’t want to be known as the eco-friendly company that saves the planet? To avoid the most severe impacts of climate change and meet critical climate goals for a 1.5-degree future, it is not enough to merely reduce emissions. We must also remove significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and oceans. Public and private sectors need to invest in scaling and deploying clean energy technologies, such as renewable energy, and support organizations leading the clean energy transition to ensure economic and environmental prosperity for all communities. Think of it as the ultimate “spring cleaning” for our planet! Land-based methods of carbon reduction include afforestation, reforestation, agricultural practices that sequester carbon in soils (carbon farming), bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), and direct air capture combined with storage. There are also CDR methods that use oceans and other water bodies. Salesforce has made three major climate investments to expedite a just energy transition. The company has joined Frontier, an advanced market commitment (AMC) to collectively purchase more than billion worth of permanent carbon removal by 2030. As part of this initiative, Salesforce has pledged million to accelerate, scale, and commercialize the most promising carbon removal technologies. Because sometimes, you’ve got to put your money where your mouth is—or in this case, where your carbon isn’t. Combining Long-Term Strategy with Short-Term Action The primary goal on the journey to net zero must be reducing emissions. Each organization should set a 1.5-degree target aligned with science-based goals, focusing on significantly reducing its absolute scope one, two, and three emissions. Achieving these targets requires long-term systemic changes, which take time to implement. So while you’re busy planning your eco-friendly future, you might as well start making a difference now. High-quality carbon credits, when properly made and used, can play a critical role in a comprehensive climate strategy. Businesses aiming for long-term emission reductions can supplement their efforts with high-quality carbon credits. Projects may include: Or as we like to call it, the environmental bingo card. Closing the Sustainability Talent Gap To achieve a net-zero future, all roles should integrate sustainability. We need a diverse workforce of qualified individuals, from carbon accountants to scientists to ecopreneurs. Imagine being able to introduce yourself as a “carbon wrangler” at your next party! Despite the pressure to meet ambitious climate goals, businesses face a severe shortage of sustainability talent. Upskilling existing workers who want to transition into sustainability careers can help fill hard-to-find roles and align employees’ work with their passions. Understanding Personal and Corporate Sustainability As sustainability remains a priority for stakeholders, business leaders must combine short-term solutions with long-term operational changes. By re-evaluating how to create, hire, and retain sustainability roles and providing the necessary tools and training, companies can ensure everyone contributes to the movement towards a net zero future. After all, saving the planet isn’t just a job—it’s an adventure! Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Education Cloud Support Programs

Education Cloud Support Programs

Model Support Programs with Education Cloud The Education Cloud Student Success and Mentoring apps empower educational institutions to design, plan, and deliver non-scholastic services that support each learner’s journey. From career counseling to mentoring, these apps provide the tools needed to manage a wide range of support programs effectively. Defining and Managing Support Programs Educational institutions often run various support programs to enhance learners’ experiences, such as a job placement program that offers career counseling, resume workshops, aptitude assessments, mock interviews, and corporate connect events. With the Student Success and Mentoring apps, Education Cloud provides robust program management features that allow institutions to scale these initiatives efficiently. For more information, see Get Started with Program Management. Through these apps, directors and facilitators can model programs and define the associated benefits. When an advisor adds these benefits to a learner’s care plan, the learner is automatically enrolled in the respective programs. Mentoring facilitators can also connect learners with mentors. Available benefit types include: Note: It’s essential to define the unit of measure for each benefit type to avoid errors when creating benefits. For guidance, see Define Units of Measure for Program Management. Creating and Managing Support Programs In the Student Success and Mentoring apps, you can easily create programs, enroll learners, and manage benefits through workflows accessible from the dropdown navigation menu. For a deeper understanding of the program management process, see Program Management Workflow. To create a support program: An advising program might include an advising benefit. When a learner enrolls, they are automatically assigned to an advising benefit, allowing them to schedule an appointment with a success team member. The system updates the benefit disbursement status based on the appointment. Automating Program Enrollment Processes Education Cloud offers integration procedures, flows, and invocable actions to automate program enrollment processes. For example: Note: A program enrollment record can be created regardless of the program’s status. Implement restrictions as needed in your org. Creating Assessments for Program Enrollment To understand learners’ requirements during program enrollment, create assessment questions: Setting Up Advising Programs Create an advising program that runs an assessment when learners enroll from the portal: Learners can schedule appointments with assigned case team members directly through the learner portal, ensuring they receive the support they need. By leveraging Education Cloud’s Student Success and Mentoring apps, institutions can create, manage, and scale support programs that effectively address the unique needs of each learner. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Salesforce to Boost Productivity and Customer Interaction

Salesforce to Boost Productivity and Customer Interaction

Vonage, a global leader in cloud communications and a part of Ericsson, has announced that Endress+Hauser, a Swiss-based supplier of process and laboratory instrumentation and automation, has selected Vonage Contact Center for Service Cloud Voice to deliver consistent and personalized customer experiences across all channels. Salesforce to Boost Productivity and Customer Interaction With nearly 17,000 employees worldwide, Endress+Hauser sought to revolutionize their customer interactions. Vonage Contact Center for Service Cloud Voice seamlessly integrates with their existing Salesforce CRM, enhancing automation, intelligence, and engagement capabilities on a global scale. Salesforce to Boost Productivity and Customer Interaction Vonage is a trusted partner for Salesforce, offering a platform that enables businesses to manage, deploy, and consolidate multiple communication solutions for increased efficiency. Leveraging Vonage’s AI capabilities, such as real-time transcription and omnichannel routing solutions, Endress+Hauser can create deeper connections with customers and enhance agent experiences with a more informed view of the customer. Rob MacKenzie, Corporate Director of Sales Excellence at Endress+Hauser, expressed the importance of integrating communication channels to improve the customer experience, ensuring seamless interactions and capturing vital insights. Thomas Plack, SVP and Head of Industry at Salesforce Germany, highlighted how Service Cloud Voice empowers agents to handle calls and resolve issues seamlessly, enabling Endress+Hauser to adopt a proactive and personalized approach with their customers. Savinay Berry, Executive Vice President of Product and Engineering at Vonage, emphasized that Vonage solutions are tailored to organizations like Endress+Hauser, aiming to deepen customer engagement and enhance agent satisfaction. With Vonage Contact Center for Service Cloud Voice, integration with Salesforce optimizes efficiency and leverages AI-based capabilities to deliver a consistent and personalized customer experience. Like1 Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Salesforce Agentforce Platform

Salesforce Agentforce Platform

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has hinted at the upcoming launch of a new AI and automation platform geared towards customer support. Salesforce Agentforce Platform. In anticipation of September’s Dreamforce event, Benioff used X, formerly Twitter, to offer a sneak peek into the platform, specifically highlighting its customer-facing “Einstein Service Agent.” In his post, Benioff underscores the essential features of the virtual agent, emphasizing how it will seamlessly blend digital and human-assisted support to expedite case resolutions. This blended experience appears to build upon the technology integrated into Salesforce following its acquisition of Airkit.ai in 2023. Airkit.ai provides a low- to no-code bot-building platform that empowers businesses to orchestrate AI-driven conversational experiences. Primarily used for service automation, Airkit enables firms to design and automate complex cross-platform workflows, enhancing automated customer interactions across Salesforce applications. The Einstein Service Agent, positioned within Salesforce’s broader Einstein 1 vision, leverages Data Cloud to create a unified, cross-functional data ecosystem. Benioff hints at the agent’s capability to span service, sales, marketing, and commerce functionalities, underscoring its pivotal role within the Salesforce ecosystem. Expanding on Airkit.ai’s foundational capabilities, Salesforce has integrated Mulesoft to enable insights triggering cross-platform automations, alongside real-time data harmonization within Data Cloud. Moreover, the platform now incorporates generative AI (GenAI), enhancing its ability to interpret text, images, and audio/video for diverse customer engagement scenarios. Despite these advancements, Benioff acknowledges that no virtual agent, even with GenAI augmentation, can resolve every customer query alone. Salesforce ensures omnichannel transfers and human handoffs to address more complex issues effectively. In an era where many vendors offer similar conversational AI capabilities, Salesforce distinguishes itself through ecosystem integration and orchestration. Benioff emphasizes the value of low- to no-code workflow orchestration, democratizing AI technology for non-programmers and fostering an inclusive AI revolution. Expect Benioff to elaborate further on these themes and unveil more details about the Agentforce Platform during his keynote at the 2024 Dreamforce event. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Data Cloud - Facts and Fiction

Data Cloud – Facts and Fiction

Salesforce Data Cloud: Debunking Myths and Unveiling Facts If you’ve been active on LinkedIn, attending recent Salesforce events, or even watching a myriad of sporting events, you’ve likely noticed that Salesforce has evolved beyond just CRM. It’s now CRM + DATA + AI. Although Salesforce has always incorporated these elements, with Einstein AI and data being integral to CRM, the latest innovation lies in the Data Cloud. Data Cloud – Facts and Fiction Data Cloud, formerly known as Salesforce Genie, represents Salesforce’s latest evolution, focusing on enabling organizations to scale and grow in an era where data is the new currency. It is the fastest-growing product in Salesforce’s history, pushing new boundaries of innovation by providing better access to data and actionable insights. As Data Cloud rapidly develops, potential clients often have questions about its function and how it can address their challenges. Here are some common myths about Data Cloud and the facts that debunk them. Myth: Data Cloud Requires MuleSoft Fact: While MuleSoft Anypoint Platform can accelerate connecting commonly used data sources, it is not required for Data Cloud. Data Cloud can ingest data from multiple systems and platforms using several out-of-the-box (OOTB) connectors, including SFTPs, Snowflake, AWS, and more. Salesforce designs its solutions to work seamlessly together, but Data Cloud also offers connector options for non-Salesforce products, ensuring flexibility and integration capabilities beyond the Salesforce ecosystem. Myth: Data Cloud Will De-Duplicate Your Data Fact: Harmonizing data in Data Cloud means standardizing your data model rather than de-duplicating it. Data Cloud maps fields to a common data model and performs “Identity Resolution,” using rules to match individuals based on attributes like email, address, device ID, or phone number. This process creates a Unified Individual ID without automatically de-duplicating Salesforce records. Salesforce intentionally does not function as a Master Data Management (MDM) system. Myth: Data Cloud Will Create a Golden Record Fact: Data Cloud does not create a single, updated record synchronized across all systems (a “golden record”). Instead, it retains original source information, identifies matches across systems, and uses this data to facilitate engagements, known as the Data Cloud Key Ring. For instance, it can recognize an individual across different systems and provide personalized experiences without overwriting original data. Myth: You Can’t Ingest Custom Objects from Salesforce Fact: During the data ingestion process, you can select which objects to ingest from your Salesforce CRM Org, including custom objects. The system identifies the API names of the objects and fields from the data source. Ensuring the Data Cloud integration user has access to the necessary information (similar to assigning Permission Sets) allows you to ingest and map custom objects accordingly. Myth: Data Cloud Requires a Data Scientist and Takes a Long Time to Implement Fact: While implementing Data Cloud involves ingesting, mapping data, running identity resolution, and generating insights, it does not necessarily require a data scientist. Skilled Salesforce Admins can often manage data integration from third-party applications. Effective Data Cloud implementation requires thorough planning and preparation, akin to prepping a room before painting. Identifying use cases and understanding data sources in advance can streamline the implementation process. Myth: Data Cloud is Expensive Fact: Data Cloud operates on a consumption-based pricing model. Engaging in strategic conversations with Salesforce Account Executives can help understand the financial implications. Emphasizing the value of a comprehensive data strategy and considering the five V’s of Big Data—Volume, Variety, Veracity, Value, and Velocity—ensures that your data supports meaningful business outcomes and KPIs. In Summary Salesforce Data Cloud represents a significant evolution in managing and leveraging data within your organization. It helps break down data silos, providing actionable insights to drive organizational goals. Despite initial misconceptions, implementing Data Cloud does not require extensive coding skills or a data scientist. Instead, thorough planning and preparation can streamline the process and maximize efficiency. Understanding the value of a comprehensive data strategy is crucial, as data becomes the new currency. Addressing the five V’s of Big Data ensures that your data supports meaningful business outcomes and KPIs. At Tectonic, our team of certified professionals is ready to assist you on this journey. We offer a Salesforce Implementation Solution package to help you get hands-on with the tool and explore its capabilities. Whether you need help understanding your data sources or defining use cases, our data practice can provide the expertise you need. Talk to Tectonic about Data Cloud and discover how our tailored solutions can help you harness the full potential of your data. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Salesforce Carbon Removal Technology

Salesforce Carbon Removal Technology

Salesforce Bets Big on Carbon Removal Technology Salesforce has revealed three major climate efforts, including a $25 million investment to advance carbon removal, to hasten the transition to a fair and sustainable energy system, including Salesforce has revealed three major climate efforts, including Salesforce carbon removal technology. Salesforce, the cloud software giant based in San Francisco, has committed $25 million to carbon dioxide removal technology through Frontier. This funding aims to support carbon removal startups, demonstrating demand for their products and accelerating industry growth. This initial investment is part of a larger pledge Salesforce made in 2022 to purchase $100 million worth of carbon dioxide removal credits by 2030. “This industry needs to scale. It needs investment early on so that today’s technologies can become commercially available to all buyers by 2030 and beyond,” says Jamila Yamani, Salesforce’s lead for carbon removal. The Need for Carbon Removal While many climate strategies focus on reducing emissions, carbon removal seeks to pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through various methods. This emerging technology has garnered both interest and criticism due to its current high costs and developmental stage. For instance, direct air capture—a form of carbon removal—costs about $600 to $1,000 per ton of CO2 removed, according to a 2023 estimate by a Boston Consulting Group executive. To be widely adopted, costs need to fall below $200 per ton. Frontier’s Role Frontier, a subsidiary of fintech company Stripe, aims to accelerate carbon removal technology development by creating a market for it. “Carbon removal has no intrinsic value, so there isn’t a natural customer like with energy,” explains Nan Ransohoff, head of climate at Stripe and Frontier. This lack of natural customers means fewer startups in the space, and those that exist offer high rates due to the lack of scale. Frontier’s funds become revenue for startups, not equity investments. To date, Frontier has over $1 billion committed, with around $230 million in contracted offtake agreements with specific companies. Expanding the Market “The idea with Frontier was to send a loud demand signal to entrepreneurs, investors, and researchers that there is a market for carbon removal technologies, especially those in early stages,” says Ransohoff. “This is now over a billion dollars of revenue for carbon removal companies.” Salesforce joins other major companies in Frontier, including Google parent company Alphabet, Meta, Stripe, Shopify, and McKinsey Sustainability. Frontier’s portfolio includes technologies like Lithos, which uses basalt to capture CO2, and Heirloom, which employs limestone as a carbon sink. The Advantage of Frontier Though companies like Salesforce could establish their own offtake agreements, Ransohoff notes that pooling resources through Frontier sends a “louder signal” to the market and allows for better vetting of startups. “We have six PhDs full-time on staff dedicated to finding and vetting the best companies,” she says. Salesforce’s Comprehensive Climate Strategy Carbon removal is just one part of Salesforce’s broader climate change mitigation strategy. Yamani highlights that Salesforce also focuses on grid decarbonization, nature restoration, sustainable aviation, decentralized renewable energy, and more. The company aims to cut its absolute emissions by 50% by 2030 and reach “near zero by 2040.” “It’s an all-of-the-above approach where we’re leveraging all tools to build a portfolio that can help decarbonize the planet. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution,” says Yamani. At the core, lies Salesforce Net Zero Cloud. In addition to the carbon removal commitment, Salesforce recently signed a 15-year virtual power purchase agreement with Qualitas Energy in Italy to expand its solar energy portfolio. “Corporate procurements can catalyze new renewable energy markets, providing clean electricity worldwide,” Yamani adds. With this move, Salesforce is demonstrating its commitment to achieving 100% renewable energy dependency and is making its first step into virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs) in Europe. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Hollywood's Fear of AI

Hollywood’s Fear of AI

For the past 18 months, there has been a focus on why Generative AI (GenAI) poses a disruptive threat to Hollywood. Hollywood’s Fear of AI is entirely reasonable. This insight, most recently detailed in an investor presentation, highlights how GenAI will democratize high production-value video creation and exacerbate the low-end disruption of Hollywood already underway by creator content. The exploration now turns to another angle: why it will be challenging for major studios to capitalize on these tools, particularly AI video generators like Sora, Veo, and Runway Gen-3. Hollywood’s Fear of AI. Key Points: Early Adoption Outside Major Studios: The most promising early use cases for AI video generators will be outside major Hollywood studios. These include empowering independent creators and producers, as well as applications in advertising, music videos, and educational or corporate videos. AI won’t replace Hollywood but poses a bigger risk of disrupting it, requiring a disruptive innovation and incumbents who can’t respond effectively. Detailed Analysis: Sora’s Impact: AI has been part of the TV and film production process for a long time. Many studios use AI for concept art, localization services, and post-production work. However, AI video generators like Sora represent a new way to create video, potentially replacing much of the principal photography. The announcement of Sora was a watershed moment, showcasing radical improvements in temporal coherence, character consistency, and video length. Hollywood’s Fear of AI Legal Quagmire: Hollywood’s extensive legal framework complicates the adoption of GenAI. Studios need clear legal resolutions before extensively using GenAI in principal photography. The primary concerns are: Technical Limitations: AI video generators still fall short of professional standards. Issues include limited training sets, lack of understanding of physics, history, and geography, and insufficient control over video production elements like camera angles, lighting, and film stock. Near-Term Use Cases: Conclusion: While AI video generators won’t replace traditional Hollywood production soon, they have the potential to significantly disrupt the industry. The early adoption of these tools will likely occur outside the major studios, empowering independent creators and other sectors like advertising and education. The evolution of AI video generators continues to pose both challenges and opportunities for Hollywood. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more Top Ten Reasons Why Tectonic Loves the Cloud The Cloud is Good for Everyone – Why Tectonic loves the cloud You don’t need to worry about tracking licenses. Read more

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