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Viewing All Hard and Soft Credits for Household Accounts

Viewing All Hard and Soft Credits for Household Accounts

Subject: Inquiry About Viewing All Hard and Soft Credits for Household Accounts What’s the best way to view a complete list of all hard and soft credits associated with a household account? I understand that the NPSP customizable rollups allow us to aggregate soft credit totals based on the Opportunity Contact Roles for each contact in a household, which is useful but can sometimes be inaccurate due to data entry errors in assigning the correct roles. Additionally, filtered opportunity-related lists on the contact page can show different soft and hard credits assigned to individual contacts. While helpful, this can be confusing for users who prefer to see all information at the household account level and may overlook the contact details. What I’m looking for is a comprehensive list at the account level that includes all opportunities linked to every contact in a household, regardless of the Opportunity Contact Roll type. Essentially, I need to see every soft and hard credit received by all household members. I came across a post by Megan Moorehead from over three years ago titled “Soft Credit Opportunities Related List on Household.” She replied to her own post a couple of months later (on September 10, 2021), but I only partially understand her solution. Before I delve deeper into her suggestions, I wanted to check if there are any simpler or more recent out-of-the-box options added to NPSP. I’m flexible regarding how to obtain this full list of all hard and soft credits related to household members—it could be through a related list or a report. I believe this is a common need among many organizations, so any suggestions on how you’re generating this type of list would be greatly appreciated. Response: You’re correct that this isn’t available out of the box. The challenge arises because opportunities aren’t always directly tagged to the household. You might consider using a screen flow to gather opportunities from household members and display them on the account page in a data table. Alternatively, you could create a custom field on opportunities (populated by a record-triggered flow) called “Household,” which would link opportunities back to the household based on the contact’s association at the time of creation. This would allow for a separate related list on the account page. One thing to keep in mind: since soft credits are only assigned via Contact Roles, if the issue is that Contact Roles are missing, then Megan’s Mass Action Scheduler solution—or any solution—won’t help. Those opportunities will not appear in the household list, except for those where someone in the household received hard credit. 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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AI and Digital Transformation

AI and Digital Transformation

The buzz around AI has become the latest trend, but there’s a deeper truth behind it. While some may joke that AI’s rise means no longer needing to discuss Digital Transformation, the reality is quite the opposite. Communication Service Providers (CSPs) and infrastructure companies that have embraced Digital Transformation are now reaping the rewards of AI. But what exactly is Digital Transformation, and how has it paved the way for AI? Let’s explore. The Digital Transformation Journey Digital transformation is about more than just adopting new technologies. It involves integrating digital technology into every aspect of a business, fundamentally altering how operations are conducted and how value is delivered to customers. This transformation requires a cultural shift, pushing organizations to challenge the status quo, experiment with new ideas, and embrace the possibility of failure. For CSPs that have successfully undergone digital transformation, the benefits are clear: streamlined operations, enhanced customer experiences, and valuable data insights. This transformation has created the ideal environment for AI to thrive, as AI relies on vast amounts of data, particularly structured data. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the pace of digital transformation, especially for CSPs. As companies adapted to new ways of working and serving customers, the need for robust digital infrastructure became more apparent. The surge in demand for digital services—driven by remote work, e-learning, and online communication—highlighted the importance of digital agility and the ability to leverage AI to meet rapidly changing customer needs. The pandemic not only pushed CSPs to advance their digital transformation efforts but also to innovate more quickly, ensuring they remain competitive in a fast-evolving digital landscape. The AI and Data Dilemma AI is revolutionizing industries by enabling smarter decision-making, process automation, and personalized customer experiences. However, AI’s effectiveness is heavily dependent on data—clean, well-organized, and easily accessible data. This is where digital transformation becomes crucial. CSPs that have invested in digital transformation have the necessary infrastructure to effectively collect, store, and analyze data, providing the fuel that powers AI. The Consequences of Falling Behind CSPs that have not embraced digital transformation face significant challenges in the AI race. Without a solid digital foundation, these companies struggle to harness AI’s potential. Their data is often siloed, outdated, or simply unusable. Many organizations still operate with multiple billing systems and customer care platforms for each line of business, all functioning in silos without any cross-functional intelligence. Attempting to implement AI on a weak digital foundation is akin to building the house on the sand—it’s doomed to fail. Without digital transformation, companies lack the infrastructure needed to support AI initiatives, resulting in missed opportunities for efficiency gains, cost savings, and competitive advantages. This is a common reason why enterprises fail in AI adoption, with Gartner reporting that over 80% of enterprises struggle with data quality or quantity issues. Real-World Examples Companies like Amazon and Netflix have successfully undergone digital transformation and are now leveraging AI to enhance their services. Amazon uses AI for personalized recommendations and optimizing its supply chain, while Netflix utilizes AI to analyze viewer preferences and recommend content that keeps users engaged. Conversely, companies slow to adopt digital transformation face significant challenges. Traditional retailers, for example, struggle to compete with e-commerce giants. Without the ability to leverage AI for personalized marketing and inventory management, they are losing market share. The Role of IFS IFS, through its flagship product IFS Cloud, offers a unified platform with a consistent data layer, ensuring that all data is clean, well-organized, and accessible. IFS also applies “Industrial AI,” embedding AI into applications where and when it makes sense. This approach ensures that AI evolves with the product and that the necessary AI governance is embedded. By integrating AI in a way that aligns with CSP operations, IFS not only supports AI implementation but also guides organizations through their digital transformation journey in a symbiotic manner. The Path Forward The key takeaway is clear: If an organization hasn’t started its digital transformation journey, the time to begin is now. Embracing change, investing in technology, and fostering a culture that values innovation will position companies to fully leverage AI and maintain a competitive edge. Starting with AI without a strong data foundation can lead to costly investments that fail to deliver the expected efficiencies. Digital transformation is not a one-time project but an ongoing process. Companies must remain open to advances, continuously experiment, and not fear failure. Remember Edison never said he failed. He just discovered another way not to create a light bulb. The future belongs to those who are willing to adapt and evolve. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more 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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Anthropic’s New Approach to RAG

Anthropic’s New Approach to RAG

advanced RAG methodology demonstrates how AI can overcome traditional challenges, delivering more precise, context-aware responses while maintaining efficiency and scalability.

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Transforming Fundraising for Nonprofits

Transforming Fundraising for Nonprofits

Tectonic’s Expertise in Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud: Transforming Fundraising for Nonprofits Salesforce’s Nonprofit Cloud (NPC) is revolutionizing how organizations manage their fundraising, offering tools specifically designed to meet the unique needs of the nonprofit sector. A standout feature of Nonprofit Cloud is its comprehensive fundraising functionality, which goes beyond simple transaction management to support the entire lifecycle of donor engagement. Central to understanding this functionality is the “three P’s” concept—Pursuit, Promise, and Payment. These three stages enable nonprofits to effectively track and manage donor relationships and contributions. Pursuit: Tracking the Opportunity The first “P” in Salesforce’s Nonprofit Cloud Fundraising process is Pursuit. This refers to the opportunity record, where the organization is actively seeking donations but no financial transaction has occurred yet. For example, a nonprofit might be pursuing a major donation of $500,000 from a corporate sponsor. At this stage, fundraisers track their progress through various phases of the opportunity, whether they win or lose the donation bid. The focus here is on relationship-building and securing commitments rather than managing financial transactions. This early-stage tracking lays the foundation for a more organized approach as the process advances. Promise: Earninging the Commitment Once a donor—whether an individual or a corporation—has committed to contributing, the Promise phase begins. Here, the Opportunity record transforms into a Gift Commitment in Salesforce. For instance, when the company officially pledges the $500,000 donation, this formalizes their promise. The Gift Commitment record is dynamic and can be modified over time to reflect changes, such as adjusting the amount to $400,000 or setting up recurring donations. This flexibility enables nonprofits to track pledges over time and maintain accurate records of what has been promised versus what has been received. Financial teams especially benefit from this capability, as it aids in reporting and financial planning. Payment: Completing the Financial Act The final “P” is Payment, capturing the financial transaction. This is where the Gift Transaction record comes into play, reflecting the completion of the financial act. For example, once the company has paid $250,000 of the promised $400,000, the Payment record updates to reflect this. Payment records can either stand alone for one-time donations or be linked to Gift Commitments or a Gift Commitment Schedule for installment payments or recurring donations. This structure gives nonprofits the flexibility to track all stages of financial fulfillment and adjust their fundraising strategies accordingly. Leveraging the Three P’s for Success The Pursuit, Promise, and Payment framework provides nonprofits with a clear, structured approach to managing the entire donor lifecycle. This system also eases the transition from Salesforce’s legacy Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) to the new Nonprofit Cloud framework. By effectively tracking donation pursuits, managing gift commitments, and documenting payments, nonprofits can maintain a comprehensive, real-time view of their fundraising efforts. This streamlined process not only improves data management but also enhances transparency, fostering trust with donors. The Future of Fundraising with Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud Salesforce’s Nonprofit Cloud Fundraising functionality, anchored by the three P’s, represents a significant evolution in nonprofit technology. By offering tools that manage every stage of donor engagement—from pursuit to payment—Salesforce empowers nonprofits to maximize their fundraising potential. Organizations can cultivate stronger donor relationships, track commitments more accurately, and ensure financial transactions are completed and documented efficiently. This holistic approach enables nonprofits to make informed decisions, boost donor trust, and drive their missions forward. Want to learn more about how Tectonic can help streamline donation processes, track total payments, maintain a full 360° history of the donation cycle, and create funder-worthy visualizations? Contact us at [email protected]. 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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AI Agents and Work

AI Agents and Work

With AI tools becoming increasingly prevalent in workplaces worldwide, the focus has shifted from their novelty to optimizing productivity and effectiveness. AI Agents and Work. At Dreamforce 2024, AI agents were a hot topic, particularly with the launch of Salesforce’s new Agentforce platform. However, Slack also made its mark in the AI space, keen to demonstrate its role in transforming the future of work. TechRadar Pro sat down with Slack CEO Denise Dresser to explore how AI is reshaping the platform and why businesses should embrace this transformation. “Work is Broken” “Work, fundamentally, is broken,” Dresser stated, explaining that many workers spend too much time on what she describes as “the work of work.” This often involves switching between disconnected enterprise apps and navigating through data silos just to access the basic information needed to perform their jobs. Dresser emphasized that AI is poised to relieve much of this burden. She highlighted the “incredible wave” of AI adoption across industries, with over 13,000 AI-powered apps built on Slack. “We’re really investing in ensuring AI works for every worker, driving more productivity,” she said, noting that we’re in one of the most significant periods of change in the workplace, full of both opportunity and questions. Slack’s AI-Powered Enhancements With the support of its parent company, Salesforce, Slack has fully embraced AI, offering a broad range of tools designed to improve productivity. Dresser pointed to Slack’s summarization tools, which streamline workflows by surfacing important items from channels and conversations—tools she finds invaluable in her own workday. In addition, Slack’s Huddles—quick, impromptu meetings—now come with AI enhancements, including a new canvas sidebar that generates summaries, notes, and action items in real-time from a live transcript. Slack AI is also integrated into Workflow Builder, allowing users to automate processes using natural language, eliminating the resistance that some workers may feel toward adopting AI. “Slack is the natural place for work,” Dresser said, explaining that the future of work will involve searching, collaborating, and taking action all within the flow of daily tasks. “That vision has never been more true, and never been more real, because this moment is here.” The Era of AI Agents AI agents represent another major step forward for Slack. Dresser noted that third-party integrations with tools like Adobe, Box, and Workday will help facilitate seamless conversations across multiple apps without the need to switch between them. “The era of agents is a big idea, and it’s happening now,” she remarked. However, Dresser stressed the importance of ensuring a smooth transition, noting that onboarding customers effectively will be key to fulfilling this vision. “We think that’s the future.” Looking Ahead: AI at the Core of Work With the technology now in place, the responsibility lies with workers and managers to leverage AI to enhance their daily routines. “What we focus on is making sure we build a product that people love,” Dresser said, adding, “there’s really no one in the world that can offer the breadth of product that can operate across your entire business at the scale we can.” Dresser concluded with optimism about the future of work: “We’re really excited about this innovation meeting this moment. I don’t think there could be a better time for us, and we’re very optimistic about what’s ahead.” Slack’s AI-powered future is designed to break down barriers, streamline workflows, and make work more efficient for everyone. 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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AI evolves with tools like Agentforce and Atlas

AI Evolves With Agentforce and Atlas

Not long ago, financial services companies were still struggling with the challenge of customer data trapped in silos. Though it feels like a distant issue, this problem remains for many large organizations unable to integrate different divisions that deal separately with the same customers. Salesforce AI evolves with tools like Agentforce and Atlas. The solution is a concept known as a “single source of truth.” This theme took center stage at Dreamforce 2024 in San Francisco, hosted by Salesforce (NYSE). The event showcased Salesforce’s latest AI innovations, including Agentforce, which is set to revolutionize customer engagement through its advanced AI capabilities. Agentforce, which becomes generally available on October 25, enables businesses to deploy autonomous AI agents to manage a wide variety of tasks. These agents differ from earlier Salesforce-based AI tools by leveraging Atlas, a cutting-edge reasoning engine that allows the bots to think like human beings. Unlike generative AI models, which might write an email based on prompts, Agentforce’s AI agents can answer complex, high-order questions such as, “What should I do with all my customers?” The agents break down these queries into actionable steps—whether that’s sending emails, making phone calls, or texting customers—thanks to the deep capabilities of Atlas. Atlas is at the heart of what makes these AI agents so powerful. It combines multiple large language models (LLMs), large action models (LAMs), and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) modules, along with REST APIs and connectors to various datasets. This robust system processes user queries through multiple layers, checking for validity and then expanding the query into manageable chunks for processing. Once a query passes through the chit-chat detector—which filters out non-relevant inputs—it enters the evaluation phase, where the AI determines if it has enough data to provide a meaningful answer. If not, the system loops back to the user for more information in a process Salesforce calls the agentic loop. The fewer loops required, the more efficient the AI becomes, making the experience seamless for users. Phil Mui, Senior Vice President of Salesforce AI Research, explained that the AI agents created via Agentforce are powered by the Atlas reasoning engine, which makes use of several key tools like a re-ranker, a refiner, and a response synthesizer. These tools ensure that the AI retrieves, ranks, and synthesizes relevant information to generate high-quality, natural language responses for the user. But Salesforce’s AI agents don’t stop at automation—they also emphasize trust. Before responses reach users, they go through additional checks for toxicity detection, bias prevention, and personally identifiable information (PII) masking. This ensures that the output is both accurate and safe. The potential of Agentforce is massive. According to Wedbush, Salesforce’s AI strategy could generate over $4 billion annually by 2025. Wedbush analysts recently increased their price target for Salesforce stock to $325, reflecting the strong customer reception of Agentforce’s AI ecosystem. While some analysts, such as Yiannis Zourmpanos from Seeking Alpha, have expressed caution due to Salesforce’s high valuation and slower revenue growth, the company’s continued focus on AI and multi-cloud solutions places it in a strong position for the future. Robin Fisher, Salesforce’s head of growth markets for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, highlighted two major takeaways from Dreamforce for African businesses: the Data Cloud and AI. Data Cloud provides a 360-degree view of the customer, consolidating data into a single source of truth without requiring full data migration. Meanwhile, Agentforce’s autonomous AI agents will drive operational efficiency across industries, especially in markets like Africa. Zuko Mdwaba, Salesforce’s managing director for South Africa, added that the company’s decade-long AI journey is culminating in its most advanced AI offerings yet. This new wave of AI, he said, is transforming not just customer engagement but also internal operations, empowering employees to focus on more strategic tasks while AI handles repetitive ones. The future is clear: as AI evolves with tools like Agentforce and Atlas, businesses across sectors, from banking to retail, are poised to harness the transformative power of autonomous technology and data-driven insights, finally breaking free from the silos of the past. 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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Ingest Salesforce Data to Microsoft Fabric

Ingest Salesforce Data to Microsoft Fabric

I’m using Dataflow Gen 2 in Microsoft Fabric to ingest data from Salesforce via the Salesforce Objects connector, which is authenticated through an Organizational Account (OAuth 2.0). However, unlike Azure Synapse’s SalesforceV2 type, this connector doesn’t offer fields to input a client ID, client secret, or environment URL. Here are the key concerns: 1. Reauthentication Requirement Will reauthentication be required regularly (e.g., after access tokens expire), and how often will that occur? What factors contribute to the frequency of reauthentication? With OAuth 2.0, the system typically provides an access token (short-lived, often around 1 hour) and a refresh token, which can last longer. Reauthentication is necessary when both expire. While Dataflow Gen 2 does not allow manual token management, it should handle refreshing access tokens automatically. The reauthentication frequency depends largely on: 2. Cons of Using an Organizational Account What are the potential downsides of using an Organizational Account for this connection, particularly in a production setting where automation and stability are critical? Potential drawbacks: To mitigate these risks, I recommend using a service account (rather than individual accounts) to centralize and secure access. 3. Workaround for Client Credentials Flow Is it possible to implement a client credentials flow (i.e., providing a client ID, client secret, and environment URL) to prevent frequent reauthentication, similar to Azure Synapse or Data Factory? If not, what options are available for maintaining a stable, long-term data connection from Salesforce? Currently, there doesn’t appear to be support for client credentials flow in Dataflow Gen 2. You may want to reach out to Microsoft support for confirmation. As an alternative, you could explore: 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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Marketing Cloud and Generative AI

Marketing Cloud and Generative AI

Generative AI and Salesforce: Revolutionizing Digital Marketing with Einstein AI Generative AI is a form of Artificial Intelligence that learns from existing content to generate new, creative outputs. Salesforce has long been at the forefront of AI innovation, primarily through its Einstein assistant, which has evolved to offer increasingly sophisticated solutions over time. Artificial Intelligence: Key Concepts Before diving into Salesforce’s AI capabilities, let’s clarify some foundational concepts. Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the creation of intelligent systems that can learn and reason autonomously. Within AI, Machine Learning (ML) plays a crucial role by enabling computers to learn from data and improve over time without explicit programming. ML models fall into two broad categories: Deep Learning and Neural Networks A more advanced subset of ML is Deep Learning, which uses neural networks to process large amounts of data and make autonomous decisions. Deep Learning powers technologies like voice assistants (e.g., Alexa or Siri), which can recognize speech and execute tasks. A specific application within Deep Learning is Generative AI, capable of autonomously creating new content based on learned patterns from vast datasets. Another critical AI system is the Foundational Model, which is trained on enormous amounts of unstructured data from across the web, including text, images, and videos. These models offer a wide range of capabilities, such as generating text, answering questions, creating designs, or solving complex problems. Salesforce Marketing Cloud and AI Salesforce has utilizeded AI through its Einstein platform, which has evolved over time to offer a variety of data-driven tools. For example, Sent Time Optimization uses customer data to determine the best time to send emails to maximize engagement. AI Tools in Salesforce Marketing Cloud Salesforce offers several AI-powered tools for Marketing Cloud to help businesses leverage data for personalization and efficiency: The Einstein Trust Layer: AI in Salesforce CRM Einstein is the first generative AI model integrated into a CRM, and Salesforce refers to its AI process as the Einstein Trust Layer. Here’s how it works: Marketing Applications of Salesforce AI Tools Salesforce’s AI tools can be applied across omnichannel marketing campaigns to hyper-personalize communication, increasing conversion rates and customer engagement. Predictive analytics also allow businesses to optimize cross-selling and upselling, offering tailored product recommendations based on customer behavior. Chatbots powered by AI further enhance productivity by interacting in natural language, collecting leads, suggesting products, and resolving customer inquiries. Salesforce’s Commitment to AI in Digital Marketing Salesforce has been a pioneer in AI, continually expanding its capabilities through Einstein. With the latest AI tools for Marketing Cloud, businesses can now interact with customers more precisely, boost engagement, and optimize purchase predictions—paving the way for a new era in digital marketing. 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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Spotlight on Agentforce

Spotlight on Agentforce

Agentforce stole the spotlight at Dreamforce, but it’s not just about replacing human workers. Equally significant for Service Cloud was the focus on how AI can be leveraged to make agents, dispatchers, and field service technicians more productive and proactive. During the Dreamforce Service Cloud keynote, GM Kishan Chetan emphasized the dramatic shift over the past year, with AI moving from theoretical to practical applications. He challenged customer service leaders to embrace AI agents, highlighting that AI-driven solutions can transform customer service from delivering “good” benefits to achieving exponential growth. He noted that AI agents are capable of handling common customer requests like tech support, scheduling, and general inquiries, as well as more complex tasks such as de-escalation, billing inquiries, and even cross-selling and upselling. In practice, research by Valoir shows that most Service Cloud customers are still in the early stages of AI adoption, particularly with generative AI. While progress has accelerated recently, most companies are only seeing incremental gains in individual productivity rather than the exponential improvements highlighted at Dreamforce. To achieve those higher-level returns, customers must move beyond simple automation and summarization to AI-driven transformation, powered by Agentforce. Chetan and his team outlined four key steps to make this transition. Deploy AI agents across channelsAgentforce Service Agent is more than a chatbot—it’s an autonomous AI agent capable of handling both simple and complex requests, understanding text, video, and audio. Customers were invited to build their own Service Agents during Dreamforce, and many took up the challenge. Service-related agents are a natural fit, as research shows Service Cloud customers are generally more prepared for AI adoption due to the volume and quality of customer data available in their CRM systems. Turn insights into actionLaunching in October 2024, Customer Experience Intelligence provides an omnichannel supervisor Wall Board that allows supervisors to monitor conversations in real time, complete with sentiment scores and organized metrics by topics and regions. Supervisors can then instruct Service Agent to dive into root causes, suggest proactive messaging, or even offer discounts. This development represents the next stage of Service Intelligence, combining Data Cloud, Tableau, and Einstein Conversation Mining to give supervisors real-time insights. It mirrors capabilities offered by traditional contact center vendors like Verint, which also blend interaction, sentiment, and other data in real time—highlighting the convergence of contact centers and Service Cloud service operations. Empower teams to become trusted advisorsSalesforce continues to navigate the delicate balance between digital and human agents, especially within Service Cloud. The key lies in the intelligent handoff of customer data when escalating from a digital agent to a human agent. Service Planner guides agents step-by-step through issue resolution, powered by Unified Knowledge. The demo also showcased how Service Agent can merge Commerce and Service by suggesting agents offer complimentary items from a customer’s shopping cart. Enable field teams to be proactiveSalesforce also announced improvements in field service, designed to help dispatchers and field service agents operate more proactively and efficiently. Agentforce for Dispatchers enhances the ability to address urgent appointments quickly. Asset Service Prediction leverages AI to forecast asset failures and upcoming service needs, while AI-generated prework briefs provide field techs with asset health scores and critical information before they arrive on site. Setting a clear roadmap for adopting Agentforce across these four areas is an essential step toward helping customers realize more than just incremental gains in their service operations. Equally important will be helping customers develop a data strategy that harnesses the power of Data Cloud and Salesforce’s partner ecosystem, enabling a truly data-driven service experience. Investments in capabilities like My Service Journeys will also be critical in guiding customers through the process of identifying which AI features will deliver the greatest returns for their specific needs. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more 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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Marketing Cloud Enhancements 2024

Marketing Cloud Enhancements 2024

Salesforce has introduced several important feature enhancements over the past year, enhancing the capabilities of Marketing Cloud and other tools. Marketing Cloud Enhancements 2024. Here’s an overview of the most impactful updates: Generative AI for Marketing Cloud Generative AI can now be integrated into Marketing Cloud to create brand-specific content that resonates with your audience. This technology allows businesses to project their unique voice and style while reducing the time spent on content creation. Using Einstein generative AI, you can craft subject lines and body copy directly within Einstein Copy Insights and Content Builder. In Copy Insights, you can test, copy, and download AI-generated content, while Content Builder enables seamless content creation for marketing messages. You can also leverage the Typeface integration to generate on-brand images alongside the text, further enhancing your content strategy. Salesforce’s Einstein Trust Layer ensures data privacy and security, preventing potential data breaches while using generative AI features, providing a safer alternative to external AI platforms. Enabling Einstein Generative AI To get started with Einstein generative AI, enable both Einstein Copy Insights and the generative AI features in Marketing Cloud Setup. You can customize content based on your organization’s brand identity by using Brand Center to define personalities like “Professional” or “Casual” or create up to 10 custom personalities. This allows you to ensure all AI-generated content aligns with your brand’s voice. Crafting Subject Lines and Body Copy With Einstein generative AI, you can quickly generate and test up to five subject line or body copy options for a given message. The system allows you to test, copy, and download selected options while ensuring content is protected from bias and privacy risks via the Einstein Trust Layer. Additionally, the AI-generated content is never stored, safeguarding sensitive data. Typeface Content Block for Image Creation Create visually engaging and on-brand content using the Typeface Content Block in Content Builder. The AI-powered image editor allows for quick adjustments, like adding text or swapping backgrounds, without the need for advanced design tools. You can generate creative variations for targeted campaigns and optimize performance through multivariate testing. Error Messaging for CloudPages Custom Domains Marketers can now customize error messages for CloudPages custom domains. These friendly error messages can guide customers when they encounter issues such as wrong URLs or unpublished pages. Content Recovery in Content Builder Content management is now more efficient, with the ability to restore deleted items from the Recycle Bin in Content Builder. This feature, accessible to users with delete permissions, ensures smoother content recovery processes without needing support intervention. Journey Builder Performance Optimization The new System Optimization Dashboard helps you monitor journey performance and identify inefficiencies. With real-time data, you can pinpoint issues that affect processing speed and implement recommendations for optimizing journeys. Recent Journey Builder Enhancements Several updates in Journey Builder boost productivity: Data Management Updates in Contact Builder Improvements in Contact Builder include the ability to restore deleted data extensions within 30 days and two new dashboard columns for better data retention insights. The row limit for data retention has also been increased to 500 million, offering greater scalability. Accurate Distinct Contact Counts Salesforce has improved the accuracy of Total Distinct Contact counts in Marketing Cloud. This update ensures duplicate contact records across different data sources are automatically deduplicated, providing a more accurate count of unique contacts. Marketing Cloud Enhancements 2024 These feature enhancements are designed to help businesses work more efficiently while delivering more personalized and secure customer experiences. 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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Onboarded AI-Powered Compliance

Onboarded AI-Powered Compliance

Onboarded Launches AI-Powered Compliance Solution for Salesforce, Redefining Staffing and Recruiting Harnessing AI, Onboarded streamlines operations, enhances candidate experiences, and mitigates risks for staffing and recruiting firms Onboarded, a leader in compliance and onboarding technology, today announced the launch of Onboarded for Salesforce, a groundbreaking solution designed specifically for the staffing and recruiting industry. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241001526403/en/ The industry faces significant challenges with compliance management, leading to operational bottlenecks and high candidate churn. Onboarded for Salesforce directly addresses these issues by embedding an AI-enhanced compliance engine within Salesforce, automating and centralizing onboarding processes to drastically reduce manual work and ensure compliance. “There are tasks best left to AI, and then there’s the irreplaceable value of human connections,” said Mike Johnson, CEO of Onboarded. “Onboarded for Salesforce lets AI handle the tedious compliance work so recruiters can focus on people. The future belongs to companies that prioritize personal connections while leveraging AI to do the heavy lifting.” Explore the Future of Onboarding Discover how Onboarded for Salesforce can transform your staffing and recruiting operations. Visit www.onboarded.com/salesforce to schedule a demo and experience the future of compliance and onboarding today. Key Features and Benefits Impact on the Industry By expanding into Salesforce, Onboarded is set to transform how staffing and recruiting firms manage their compliance obligations. This solution not only mitigates risks but also significantly improves operational efficiency, offering a strategic advantage in a highly competitive market. Looking Ahead Onboarded is committed to ongoing innovation and plans to expand its offerings into additional ecosystems. The company is also enhancing its AI capabilities to ensure that its solutions continue to meet the evolving needs of enterprise clients. Future updates will focus on further simplifying compliance management and expanding the platform‘s capabilities to support broader market needs. About Onboarded Onboarded was founded with the mission to redefine labor compliance and onboarding. The platform transforms what was once a tedious, compliance-heavy task into a streamlined, engaging, and compliant experience. With a focus on AI innovation, security, and privacy, Onboarded empowers staffing and recruiting companies to onboard employees quickly and effectively within their existing systems. For more information, please visit www.onboarded.com. 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 and the AI Revolution

Salesforce and the AI Revolution

In the early 2000s, Salesforce made waves in the tech world with its bold “No Software” marketing campaign, symbolized by the iconic image of the word “software” crossed out in a red circle. While it was a bit misleading—Salesforce still delivered software, just in the cloud—the campaign invited people to rethink software delivery. This marked the dawn of the cloud era, and businesses were ready for a change. Then, enter Salesforce and the AI Revolution. Today, we’re witnessing a similar shift with AI. The word “SaaS” is the latest to be crossed out in red, as AI-native applications, where AI is the core rather than an add-on, promise to disrupt service delivery at an unprecedented speed—far faster than cloud displaced on-premise software. Even Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP), a leader in identifying emerging AI trends, admits to being caught off guard by the rapid rise of AI. In its State of the Cloud 2024 report, which aptly declares “The Legacy Cloud is dead—long live AI Cloud!”, BVP highlights how even the most optimistic predictions couldn’t fully capture the pace and scale of AI’s impact. The AI Revolution: Opportunities and Disruption The AI market is evolving at breakneck speed, and entrepreneurs are scrambling to stake their claim in this quickly shifting landscape. In the early cloud era, companies like Box, Docusign, HubSpot, and Shopify found success by targeting specific business use cases with subscription-based, cloud-powered solutions. Similarly, today’s AI opportunity lies in industries where manual, repetitive tasks are still prevalent. Major AI players like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Mistral are investing billions in building large-scale language models (LLMs), but there’s a gap in the market for entrepreneurs to focus on verticals where human labor is still largely manual—such as legal, accounting, and outsourcing services. Traditionally, investors have shied away from these industries due to their reliance on manual labor, high costs, and low profit margins. But AI changes the game. Tasks once done manually can now be automated, transforming labor-intensive processes into scalable, high-margin operations. Services businesses that were once unattractive to investors will now attract attention as AI boosts profitability and efficiency. The Shift to AI-Native Applications The impact of AI-native applications will go beyond improving revenue models; they will fundamentally change how we interact with software. In the current SaaS model, users spend hours in applications, manually entering data and querying systems for answers. In contrast, AI-native B2B applications will solve problems end-to-end without requiring human input for every step. Software will work for users in the background, allowing them to focus on building relationships and making strategic decisions. However, humans won’t be removed from the equation. AI trained on real human intelligence in specific verticals will perform better than purely machine-based intelligence. The combination of human expertise and AI-native applications will drive significant, tangible business results. Avoid the “X of AI” Hype With excitement around AI reaching fever pitch, many startups are branding themselves as the “X of AI”—for instance, the “Salesforce of AI.” These claims are often surface-level, wrapping an AI solution around an existing LLM without delivering true innovation. To identify genuine AI-native solutions, look for these key characteristics: Spotting the Next AI Success Stories The AI space is noisy and crowded, and as more AI-native startups emerge, it will become even harder to separate the winners from the hype. The true innovators will be those who bring untapped data into the digital fold and streamline workflows that have historically been manual. To succeed, founders need deep knowledge of their vertical and a clear understanding of how to implement AI for real-world results. Above all, they must have the vision and drive to realize the full potential of AI-native applications, transforming industries and redefining service delivery. 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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