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Loan Boarding and Approval
24Aug

Loan Boarding and Approval

Streamlining Loan Boarding and Approval Processes with Salesforce Technology The financial services industry is undergoing a rapid transformation, driven by the need for greater efficiency and improved customer experiences. One area where this shift is particularly evident is in the loan boarding and approval processes. Leveraging Salesforce technology, financial institutions can streamline these essential workflows, enhancing both speed and accuracy while delivering a superior borrower experience. Understanding Loan Boarding Loan boarding is the process of transitioning a loan from its origination phase into servicing. This involves several key steps, including data entry, document management, and compliance checks. Traditionally, this process has been manual, cumbersome, and prone to errors. However, Salesforce offers robust capabilities that allow organizations to automate and optimize these tasks, significantly reducing inefficiencies. Automating Data Entry Salesforce facilitates automated data entry through its customizable forms and integration capabilities. Tools like Salesforce Flow and Apex enable businesses to create workflows that automatically populate fields based on predefined criteria or data extracted from documents using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. This automation reduces manual errors and accelerates the loan boarding process. Efficient Document Management Effective document management is crucial in loan boarding. Salesforce provides a centralized platform for secure storage and easy access to all necessary documents. Features like Salesforce Files enable organizations to manage documentation efficiently, allowing for easy retrieval, sharing, and version control. This streamlined document management ensures that all relevant information is readily available throughout the loan lifecycle. Streamlining Handoff and Approval Processes After a loan is boarded, it must go through a series of approvals before disbursement. The handoff between departments such as underwriting and risk assessment can cause delays if not properly managed. Salesforce’s collaborative tools facilitate seamless communication among stakeholders, ensuring a smooth transition through the approval process. Customizable Approval Workflows Salesforce allows for the creation of customizable approval workflows, enabling organizations to define specific criteria for each stage of loan approval. This flexibility ensures that loans are reviewed by the appropriate personnel based on their complexity or risk profile. Automated alerts notify relevant team members when their input is needed, minimizing bottlenecks and keeping the process moving efficiently. Enhanced Visibility with Real-Time Dashboards One of Salesforce’s standout features is its ability to generate real-time dashboards that provide insights into various stages of the loan process. Stakeholders can monitor key metrics, such as the average time for approvals or the number of loans pending at each stage, through intuitive visualizations. This transparency promotes quicker decision-making and fosters accountability within the team. Seamless Disbursement Process Once loans are approved, the disbursement phase is the next critical step. Salesforce’s integration capabilities with payment processing systems, such as NACHA/ACH solutions, allow organizations to automate fund transfers directly within the platform, streamlining the disbursement process. Automating Payment Processing Automated triggers for payments can be set up within Salesforce, reducing the need for manual intervention. This automation speeds up the disbursement process and minimizes the risk of errors associated with manual data entry during fund transfers, ensuring a smooth and reliable process. Comprehensive Portfolio Management Managing a large loan portfolio requires meticulous tracking of various elements, including amortization schedules, repayments, interest accruals, and fees. Salesforce excels in these areas, offering tools to manage all aspects of a loan portfolio effectively. Dynamic Amortization and Repayment Schedules Salesforce enables the creation of dynamic amortization schedules tailored to individual borrower agreements, easily accessible via custom borrower portals. These portals enhance borrower engagement by providing real-time information about repayment obligations and remaining balances, improving transparency and customer satisfaction. Fee Automation Automating fee calculations within Salesforce reduces administrative burdens and ensures accurate billing according to agreed-upon terms. This feature helps avoid discrepancies and delays, providing a seamless experience for both the lender and the borrower. Risk Management and Collections In today’s volatile economic environment, effective risk management is essential for financial institutions. Salesforce’s advanced analytics and performance rating tools allow organizations to proactively identify potential risks before they escalate, enabling more informed lending decisions. Performance and Risk Ratings By analyzing historical data, Salesforce enables lenders to assign risk ratings based on borrowers’ past behaviors and external market conditions. This data-driven approach supports more accurate and strategic lending decisions, helping to mitigate risk. Effective Collections Strategies For overdue accounts, Salesforce’s task management features automate reminders and follow-ups, ensuring timely communication and effective debt recovery. Maintaining open communication channels with borrowers during the collections process is crucial for preserving relationships and achieving successful outcomes. Conclusion: Embracing Digital Transformation By embracing digital transformation through Salesforce technology, financial institutions can significantly streamline their loan boarding and approval processes. This not only enhances operational efficiency but also positions them competitively in a tech-driven marketplace, delivering the high-quality service that today’s consumers demand. Salesforce’s powerful tools enable institutions to meet the unique needs of their borrowers effectively, ensuring both efficiency and excellence in 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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August 24, 2024in Salesforce
Pulse for Salesforce
24Aug

Pulse for Salesforce

Salesforce Unveils Pulse for Salesforce: Integrating Tableau Analytics with CRM to Revolutionize Data-Driven Decision-Making In today’s data heavy business world, where data-driven decision-making is essential for success, the fusion of advanced analytics with customer relationship management (CRM) systems is more crucial than ever. Addressing this need, Salesforce has introduced Pulse for Salesforce, a groundbreaking tool that integrates Tableau’s powerful analytics directly into the Salesforce CRM environment. Meeting the Demand for Actionable Insights This launch aligns with a broader trend in the business intelligence (BI) market, where companies strive to make data analytics more accessible and actionable for non-technical users. Recent studies indicate that while 80% of business leaders view data as critical to decision-making, nearly one-third feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information available. Moreover, 91% of these leaders believe their organizations would significantly benefit from generative AI (Gen AI) technologies. Pulse for Salesforce marks a significant milestone in Salesforce’s ongoing strategy following its $15.7 billion acquisition of Tableau in 2019. Tableau, a leader in data visualization and BI since its founding in 2003, has been central to Salesforce’s mission of enhancing customer data management and analysis. The integration of Tableau’s capabilities within Salesforce’s CRM platform represents a major step forward in providing a comprehensive, data-driven solution. Ryan Aytay, President and CEO of Tableau, on the New Integration “Historically, sales leaders and teams have lacked personalized, accessible data insights in their daily flow of work, and analysts often spend considerable time on ad hoc requests and repetitive queries, slowing down decision-making and business growth,” says Ryan Aytay, CEO of Tableau. “By integrating Tableau Pulse’s AI-driven insights into Salesforce, we’re addressing these needs and enhancing data-driven decision-making to help businesses accelerate growth.” Boosting CRM Productivity with Salesforce’s AI Platform Pulse for Salesforce is built on Salesforce’s Einstein 1 AI Platform and leverages Gen AI to provide contextual metrics and insights directly within the Salesforce interface. This seamless integration streamlines decision-making for sales teams by reducing the need for manual data searches or reliance on analysts for ad-hoc queries. Key Features of Pulse for Salesforce Practical Applications and Data Security A practical application of Pulse for Salesforce is performance monitoring. Sales leaders can track team win rate trends directly from their homepage, quickly identifying areas or individuals needing additional support. Similarly, individual sales representatives can monitor their conversion rates and use natural language queries to analyze data by industry, potentially leading to more targeted sales efforts. The integration also addresses data security concerns, a critical issue in the age of AI-powered analytics. Pulse for Salesforce employs the Einstein Trust Layer, a secure AI architecture built into the Einstein 1 Platform, ensuring that customer data remains protected while benefiting from the advanced capabilities of generative AI. Collaboration Salesforce partnered with key industry players and partners to bring this innovative solution to market. With Pulse for Salesforce, organizations can now fully harness the power of integrated analytics and CRM to drive informed decision-making, enhance productivity, and ultimately accelerate business growth. Like1 Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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August 24, 2024in Einstein 1 Platform, Einstein Insights, Generative AI, Salesforce Development Services, Salesforce Einstein, Salesforce Optimization, Salesforce Tableau
Repayment Schedules With Salesforce
22Aug

Repayment Schedules With Salesforce

Simplifying Repayment Schedules: Elevating Borrower Experience with Salesforce In the rapidly changing financial services industry, managing loan repayment schedules efficiently is vital for both lenders and borrowers. A well-designed system can significantly enhance the borrower experience, streamline operations, and boost overall efficiency. Salesforce software emerges as a powerful solution that simplifies repayment schedules and fosters better communication between lenders and borrowers. This article explores how Salesforce can revolutionize repayment management with its comprehensive features. Understanding Repayment Schedules Repayment schedules define how a borrower will pay back their loan over time, detailing payment amounts, due dates, interest rates, and the total loan duration. A clear and well-structured repayment schedule not only helps borrowers manage their finances but also ensures that lenders receive timely payments. The complexity of repayment schedules can vary based on factors like loan terms, interest rates, and borrower profiles. Therefore, having an effective system to manage these variables is crucial for maintaining accuracy and transparency throughout the borrowing process. The Role of Salesforce in Loan Management Salesforce offers an extensive suite of tools designed to enhance customer relationship management (CRM) across various industries, including finance. By utilizing Salesforce’s capabilities, lenders can develop customized solutions that address key aspects of loan management, such as: 1. Automated Amortization SchedulesSalesforce enables the automated creation of amortization schedules tailored to individual loans. This feature minimizes manual errors and ensures accurate calculations from the start. Automation allows lenders to provide borrowers with clear payment plans, including details on principal reductions and interest accruals over time. 2. Custom Borrower PortalsOne of Salesforce’s major strengths is the ability to create custom borrower portals. These portals allow clients to access their repayment schedules anytime, view upcoming payments, track their balances in real-time, and even make payments through secure channels. This transparency builds trust between lenders and borrowers, enhancing overall satisfaction. 3. Document ManagementEffective document management is essential for maintaining organized records related to loans and repayments. Salesforce’s document management features enable lenders to securely store important documents—such as contracts, amendments, or communications—within each borrower’s profile. This accessibility simplifies audits and reviews while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Streamlined Communication with Automated Alerts A common challenge for borrowers is keeping track of payment deadlines and understanding when payments are due. Salesforce addresses this by offering automated alerts via email or text message, reminding borrowers of upcoming due dates or changes in payment schedules. These notifications help keep borrowers informed about their obligations without overwhelming them, balancing proactive communication with user-friendliness. Enhanced Reporting & Analytics Salesforce provides powerful reporting tools that allow lenders to effectively analyze repayment patterns across different portfolios. By identifying trends related to timely payments, defaults, or late fees, financial institutions can strategically tailor their offerings. Detailed dashboards also present key performance indicators (KPIs) related to collection efficiency, aiding in risk assessment and decision-making processes. Portfolio Management Integration Integrating portfolio management features within Salesforce allows lenders to monitor individual loans and gain insights into overall portfolio health. This includes tracking repayments received versus outstanding balances owed by all clients collectively. This holistic view supports decision-making around refinancing options for struggling clients and identifying growth opportunities based on historical data trends. This integration enhances lender profitability while improving borrower experiences. Conclusion: Transforming the Borrower Experience Integrating Salesforce software into loan repayment scheduling represents a significant advancement in enhancing borrower experiences in the financial services industry. From automating complex amortization calculations to providing personalized customer portals, Salesforce empowers both lenders and borrowers at every stage of the process. By embracing technology like Salesforce, lenders can streamline communication, reduce administrative burdens, and position themselves favorably against competitors. This buildss long-lasting relationships built on trust and reliability, ultimately benefiting all parties involved. Contact Tectonic today to explore lending solutions from Salesforce. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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August 22, 2024in Salesforce Financial Services Solutions, Salesforce Managed Services, Salesforce Optimization
Winter 25 Salesforce Release
22Aug

Get Ready for Winter 25 Salesforce Release

Salesforce Winter 25 Release notes are here. Salesforce Overall Learn about new features and enhancements that affect your Salesforce experience overall. August 8: Get early access by signing up for a Pre-Release org Admins can sign up for a pre-release Developer Edition environment, which is full of all the Winter ’25 features to explore to your heart’s content. Developer environments are stand-alone environments where you can learn, build, and get comfortable with features and functionality. If you already had a pre-release org for Summer ’24, you can log back into that one. August 14: Review the Release Notes Search the products you use for release updates in the Release Notes section of Salesforce Help. The notes will go live August 14 and we will share the link here. Get help from the community! With each release, there are a number of blogs by community members who break it down. Check out the Release Readiness Trailblazer Community Group where you can continue to get updates, share your favorite features, and ask questions about the upcoming release. August 19: Be Release Ready with Winter ’25 features for Admins Starting on August 19th, we’ll begin publishing blog posts on the Admin Blog to help you Be Release Ready with Winter ’25 features. Get ready to dive into blog posts featuring Winter ’25 user access highlights and more! As blog posts and more release resources become available, we’ll be updating the Be Release Ready page with all the resources and information you need to get started with Winter ’25. August 29 before 5 p.m. PT: Be sure to refresh your Sandbox Once you’ve explored the pre-release org and reviewed the Release Notes for features that are important to you, it’s time to try out features related to your customizations in your sandbox. This is a great time to evaluate how specific features may be useful or impact the way your organization uses Salesforce. During each release, there is a group of sandboxes slated to remain on the non-preview instance (i.e. the current release) while there is another group of sandboxes that will upgrade to the preview instance. Use the Salesforce Sandbox Preview Guide to determine the plan for your sandbox instance(s). Use the tool where you can search by sandbox instance and then specify what you want to do with your sandbox — stay on the non-preview or move to preview. It will then instruct you to refresh your sandbox to get to the desired instance or inform you that there is no action needed because your sandbox is slated for the desired instance. Contact Tectonic today if you need assistance getting Salesforce release ready. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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August 22, 2024in Snowflake
Why Choose Salesforce as Your Mortgage CRM?
22Aug

Banking Complaints to Profits

Tectonic: Elevating Complaint Management in Banking with Salesforce Customer satisfaction is key in banking, but complaints are unavoidable. Banking Complaints to Profits is not only learning from complaints but increasing revenue by them. Banking complaints also present a unique opportunity. Handled effectively, complaints can offer valuable insights that drive process improvements and ultimately strengthen customer relationships. Banking Complaints to Profits Banks need a robust, strategic complaint management system to capitalize on this opportunity. Such a system must go beyond simply documenting and resolving grievances. It must enable banks to proactively identify trends, assess root causes, and implement targeted solutions that address individual complaints and prevent future issues. Salesforce offers a comprehensive platform that can transform your complaint management process. Let’s explore how its key features align perfectly with the needs of a strategic approach. Streamlining Complaint Intake Salesforce simplifies and customizes the process of collecting customer complaints, aligning with your specific policies and regulatory needs. Its dynamic intake process ensures a smooth and compliant experience for your customers and your team. Efficient Complaint Lifecycle Management Salesforce streamlines the entire complaint management process, ensuring seamless routing to the right teams and individuals for swift resolution. Automated assignments, milestone tracking, and clear follow-up expectations (including Service Level Agreements) guarantee accountability and efficiency at every stage. Automated escalations expedite resolutions when needed, ensuring regulatory compliance and maximizing customer satisfaction. Securing Your Complaint Data Salesforce prioritizes data security with Shield and Financial Services Cloud’s Compliance Data Sharing Model to ensure the confidentiality of sensitive complaint information through robust access controls and permissions. This guarantees that only authorized personnel can view and interact with sensitive data, maintaining the highest levels of privacy and compliance. Centralizing and Unifying Your Data Beyond security, Salesforce eliminates information silos by centralizing complaint data from across your organization. This creates a single source of truth, providing a comprehensive and unified view of customer feedback. This holistic perspective enables deeper analysis, informed decision-making, and a more proactive and practical approach to complaint management. Harnessing Complaint Data for Continuous Improvement Financial Services Cloud’s Case Management and Data Processing Engines can give you a complete view of customer complaints and their lifecycle. By harnessing this case data within CRM Analytics, you can enhance the customer 360, proactively monitor trends, prioritize areas for improvement, and enhance the customer experience while effectively mitigating risk. The Future of Complaint Management: Salesforce as a Strategic Advantage In an increasingly competitive and regulated landscape, banks must be equipped to address customer complaints efficiently and leverage them for continuous improvement. By combining Salesforce’s power with a strategic, customer-centric approach, banks can turn complaints into a catalyst for growth, ensuring a more resilient and customer-focused future. At Tectonic, we’ve watched firsthand how a well-designed complaint management system can transform customer interactions from points of friction into opportunities for improvement. Our experience in the financial services sector has taught us that technology is only part of the equation. A comprehensive approach, encompassing data-driven insights, staff training, and ongoing process optimization, is essential for maximizing the benefits of any system. Chat with our financial services experts to learn how Salesforce can transform your complaint management process to deliver exceptional service and strengthen trusted customer relationships. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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August 22, 2024in Salesforce Financial Cloud, Salesforce Financial Services Solutions, Salesforce Optimization
Slack AI Exploit Prevented
22Aug

Slack AI Exploit Prevented

Slack AI Exploit Prevented. Slack has patched a vulnerability in its Slack AI assistant that could have been for insider phishing attacks, according to an announcement made by the company on Wednesday. This update follows a blog post by PromptArmor, which detailed how an insider attacker—someone within the same Slack workspace as the target—could manipulate Slack AI into sending phishing links to private channels that the attacker does not have access to. The vulnerability is an example of an indirect prompt injection attack. In this type of attack, the attacker embeds malicious instructions within content that the AI processes, such as an external website or an uploaded document. In this case, the attacker could plant these instructions in a public Slack channel. Slack AI, designed to use relevant information from public channels in the workspace to generate responses, could then be tricked into acting on these malicious instructions. While placing such instructions in a public channel poses a risk of detection, PromptArmor pointed out that an attacker could create a rogue public channel with only one member—themselves—potentially avoiding detection unless another user specifically searches for that channel. Salesforce, which owns Slack, did not directly reference PromptArmor in its advisory and did not confirm to SC Media that the issue it patched is the same one described by PromptArmor. However, the advisory does mention a security researcher’s blog post published on August 20, the same day as PromptArmor’s blog. “When we became aware of the report, we launched an investigation into the described scenario where, under very limited and specific circumstances, a malicious actor with an existing account in the same Slack workspace could phish users for certain data. We’ve deployed a patch to address the issue and have no evidence at this time of unauthorized access to customer data,” a Salesforce spokesperson told SC Media. How the Slack AI Exploit Could Have Extracted Secrets from Private Channels PromptArmor demonstrated two proof-of-concept exploits that would require the attacker to have access to the same workspace as the victim, such as a coworker. The attacker would create a public channel and lure the victim into clicking a link delivered by the AI. In the first exploit, the attacker aimed to extract an API key stored in a private channel that the victim is part of. The attacker could post a carefully crafted prompt in the public channel that indirectly instructs Slack AI to respond to a request for the API key with a fake error message and a URL controlled by the attacker. The AI would unknowingly insert the API key from the victim’s private channel into the URL as an HTTP parameter. If the victim clicks on the URL, the API key would be sent to the attacker’s domain. “This vulnerability shows how a flaw in the system could let unauthorized people see data they shouldn’t see. This really makes me question how safe our AI tools are,” said Akhil Mittal, Senior Manager of Cybersecurity Strategy and Solutions at Synopsys Software Integrity Group, in an email to SC Media. “It’s not just about fixing problems but making sure these tools manage our data properly. As AI becomes more common, it’s important for organizations to keep both security and ethics in mind to protect our information and keep trust.” In a second exploit, PromptArmor demonstrated how similar crafted instructions could be used to deliver a phishing link to a private channel. The attacker would tailor the instructions to the victim’s workflow, such as asking the AI to summarize messages from their manager, and include a malicious link. PromptArmor reported the issue to Slack on August 14, with Slack acknowledging the disclosure the following day. Despite some initial skepticism from Slack about the severity of the vulnerability, the company patched the issue on August 21. “Slack’s security team had prompt responses and showcased a commitment to security and attempted to understand the issue. Given how new prompt injection is and how misunderstood it has been across the industry, this is something that will take the industry time to wrap our heads around collectively,” PromptArmor wrote in their blog. New Slack AI Feature Could Pose Further Prompt Injection Risk PromptArmor concluded its testing of Slack AI before August 14, the same day Slack announced that its AI assistant could now reference files uploaded to Slack when generating search answers. PromptArmor noted that this new feature could create additional opportunities for indirect prompt injection attacks, such as hiding malicious instructions in a PDF file by setting the font color to white. However, the researchers have not yet tested this scenario and noted that workspace admins can restrict Slack AI’s ability to read files. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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August 22, 2024in Salesforce Slack
Salesforce and the Connected Car
21Aug

Salesforce and the Connected Car

The concept of the Connected Car has been a topic of discussion for years, often accompanied by ambitious predictions from consultants about its market potential. For example, McKinsey in 2021 projected that by 2030, Connected Cars would constitute 95% of all vehicles on the road. Central to the success of these vehicles is data, with each one generating approximately 25 GB of data per hour. That’s a lot of data. Like a whole truckload of data! Salesforce and the Connected Car is uniquely a perfect fit. However, this raises two critical questions. First, do consumers actually understand what a Connected Car is? Second, if they do, are they comfortable sharing their personal data with automakers to enhance their driving experience? In January, Salesforce conducted a study of 2,188 car owners in the U.S., revealing some unsettling insights. A significant portion of drivers—over two-thirds (65%)—are unfamiliar with the concept of a Connected Car. Even more telling, over a third (37%) had never heard the term before. As of now, two-thirds of respondents either don’t have connected features in their cars or are not using them if they do. This includes features like Apple CarPlay and others. Personally, while shopping for a car I look for all those connected bells and whistles. On the flip side, this presents a considerable opportunity for automakers. According to Salesforce’s data, drivers expressed a willingness to pay a premium for advanced features, such as driver assistance, touchscreens, and smartphone integration. When it comes to sharing personal data, however, there’s still work to be done. While over half of respondents (54%) are comfortable with cars collecting data on vehicle diagnostics or seatbelt usage (35%), fewer are okay with data collection on driving speed (34%) or route history (31%). The discomfort grows when it comes to more sensitive data like voice recordings (17%), biometrics (13%), or text messages (12%). There are incentives that could encourage data sharing. For example, over two-thirds of respondents (67%) would be willing to exchange personal data for better insurance rates. Other incentives include advanced driver personalization (43%), such as customized seat and mirror settings, and enhanced personal safety features like real-time health monitoring (36%). Introducing Salesforce Connected Vehicle Salesforce for the Automotive IndustryIn response to these trends, Salesforce has introduced Connected Vehicle, a new application within the Automotive Cloud, alongside new partnerships with Qualcomm and AWS. These innovations aim to help automakers create the cars of the future. According to Salesforce: With a single console and a ready-to-use set of industry-specific, low-code/no-code development tools, Connected Vehicle helps automakers roll out new services and features to drivers faster. It enables bidirectional, over-the-air (OTA) capabilities for data sharing and software updates between the cloud and the vehicle via wireless or cellular networks. Key features for automakers include: Connected Vehicle is available today, with additional features like Connected Vehicle Summary, Interaction Summary, Warranty Summary, and Sales Agreement expected to be generally available in the fall. Why Now? The Connected Car has been around in some form since 2005, but according to Achyut Jajoo, SVP & GM of Automotive at Salesforce, connectivity is just the beginning. He explains: “One big challenge for automakers was that once a car left the factory, it was difficult to update its software or add new capabilities. The car was limited to the features it shipped with, unless you took it back to the dealership. But today, the fundamental architecture of these vehicles is changing. I often describe it as a phone on wheels. With standardized chips and modules, data can now be pushed to the cloud, allowing for real-time control and updates.” This shift means that once a vehicle leaves the factory, its performance and features can evolve over time. This “software-defined vehicle” revolution allows for continuous enhancements and the deployment of new capabilities that weren’t possible before. While connectivity is an essential piece, this software-driven approach is the real game changer. As for Salesforce’s role and its partnerships with AWS and Qualcomm, Jajoo says: “We are known for taking data and creating customer experiences. When we looked at the automotive market, we saw how complicated it is. We heard horror stories and realized that by partnering with other tech powerhouses, we could provide an end-to-end solution. This approach was shaped by our discussions with customers who said they struggled with these challenges and would love for us to collaborate.” Final Thought We may not be close to McKinsey’s 95% prediction quite yet, but the trajectory is clear. With data being central to success—and consumer trust in how that data is used—Salesforce’s collaboration with AWS and Qualcomm seems like a smart move. Apparently I am the ideal customer as I want my vehicle connected! By Tectonic’s Senior Consultant, Shannan Hearne Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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August 21, 2024in Salesforce Automotive Cloud, Salesforce Development Services, Salesforce Manufacturing Automotive Energy, Salesforce Optimization
Apex Sharing Reasons
20Aug

Apex Sharing Reasons

Creating Apex Sharing Reasons Apex sharing reasons are essential for implementing Apex-managed sharing on custom objects. They define the purpose behind the sharing of records and streamline the process of managing sharing entries programmatically. By using Apex sharing reasons, you can: Why Use Apex Sharing Reasons? When Apex sharing reasons are configured, they appear in the Reason column of the sharing settings for a custom object record. This visibility helps users and administrators understand the intent behind each sharing entry. Key Considerations Steps to Create an Apex Sharing Reason Additional Information For more details about Apex-managed sharing, consult the Apex Developer Guide. This resource provides comprehensive insights into managing record sharing programmatically in Salesforce. By implementing Apex sharing reasons thoughtfully, you can enhance both the functionality and clarity of your record-sharing processes. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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August 20, 2024in Data, Salesforce
Collabrate With AI
20Aug

Collabrate With AI

Many artists, writers, musicians, and creators are facing fears that AI is taking over their jobs. On the surface, generative AI tools can replicate work in moments that previously took creators hours to produce—often at a fraction of the cost and with similar quality. This shift has led many businesses to adopt AI for content creation, leaving creators worried about their livelihoods. Yet, there’s another way to view this situation, one that offers hope to creators everywhere. AI, at its core, is a tool of mimicry. When provided with enough data, it can replicate a style or subject with reasonable accuracy. Most of this data has been scraped from the internet, often without explicit consent, to train AI models on a wide variety of creative outputs. If you’re a creator, it’s likely that pieces of your work have contributed to the training of these AI models. Your art, words, and ideas have helped shape what these systems now consider ‘good’ in the realms of art, music, and writing. AI can combine the styles of multiple creators to generate something new, but often these creations fall flat. Why? While image-generating AI can predict pixels, it lacks an understanding of human emotions. It knows what a smile looks like but can’t grasp the underlying feelings of joy, nervousness, or flirtation that make a smile truly meaningful. AI can only generate a superficial replica unless the creator uses extensive prompt engineering to convey the context behind that smile. Emotion is uniquely human, and it’s what makes our creations resonate with others. A single brushstroke from a human artist can convey emotions that might take thousands of words to replicate through an AI prompt. We’ve all heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” But generating that picture with AI often takes many more words. Input a short prompt, and the AI will enhance it with more words, often leading to results that stray from your original vision. To achieve a specific outcome, you may need hours of prompt engineering, trial, and error—and even then, the result might not be quite right. Without a human artist to guide the process, these generated works will often remain unimpressive, no matter how advanced the technology becomes. That’s where you, the creator, come in. By introducing your own inputs, such as images or sketches, and using workflows like those in ComfyUI, you can exert more control over the outputs. AI becomes less of a replacement for the artist and more of a tool or collaborator. It can help speed up the creative process but still relies on the artist’s hand to guide it toward a meaningful result. Artists like Martin Nebelong have embraced this approach, treating AI as just another tool in their creative toolbox. Nebelong uses high levels of control in AI-driven workflows to create works imbued with his personal emotional touch. He shares these workflows on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter, encouraging other creators to explore how AI can speed up their processes while retaining the unique artistry that only humans can provide. Nebelong’s philosophy is clear: “I’m pro-creativity, pro-art, and pro-AI. Our tools change, the scope of what we can do changes. I don’t think creative AI tools or models have found their best form yet; they’re flawed, raw, and difficult to control. But I’m excited for when they find that form and can act as an extension of our hands, our brush, and as an amplifier of our artistic intent.” AI can help bring an artist 80% of the way to a finished product, but it’s the final 20%—the part where human skill and emotional depth come in—that elevates the piece to something truly remarkable. Think about the notorious issues with AI-generated hands. Often, the output features too many fingers or impossible poses, a telltale sign of AI’s limitations. An artist is still needed to refine the details, correct mistakes, and bring the creation in line with reality. While using AI may be faster than organizing a full photoshoot or painting from scratch, the artist’s role has shifted from full authorship to that of a collaborator, guiding AI toward a polished result. Nebelong often starts with his own artwork and integrates AI-generated elements, using them to enhance but never fully replace his vision. He might even use AI to generate 3D models, lighting, or animations, but the result is always driven by his creativity. For him, AI is just another step in the creative journey, not a shortcut or replacement for human effort. However, AI’s ability to replicate the styles of famous artists and public figures raises ethical concerns. With platforms like CIVIT.AI making it easy to train models on any style or subject, questions arise about the legality and morality of using someone else’s likeness or work without permission. As regulations catch up, we may see a future where AI models trained on specific styles or individuals are licensed, allowing creators to retain control over their works in the same way they license their traditional creations today. The future may also see businesses licensing AI models trained on actors, artists, or styles, allowing them to produce campaigns without booking the actual talent. This would lower costs while still benefiting creators through licensing fees. Actors and artists could continue to contribute their talents long after they’ve retired, or even passed on, by licensing their digital likenesses, as seen with CGI performances in movies like Rogue One. In conclusion, AI is pushing creators to learn new skills and adapt to new tools. While this can feel daunting, it’s important to remember that AI is just that—a tool. It doesn’t understand emotion, intent, or meaning, and it never will. That’s where humans come in. By guiding AI with our creativity and emotional depth, we can produce works that resonate with others on a deeper level. For example, you can tell artificial intelligence what an image should look like but not what emotions the image should evoke. Creators, your job isn’t disappearing. It’s

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August 20, 2024in Generative AI
Salesforce End User Training
20Aug

Salesforce End User Training

Preparing Training Materials: How to Create an End-User Training Document Drafting a user-friendly training document, whether it’s a Training Manual or Training Guide, is as crucial as conducting the training itself. This document, which can be formatted as a PDF, presentation, or other formats, should provide clear instructions and visuals that help users navigate the Salesforce application effectively. Below are key strategies for crafting an effective end-user training document. 1. Understand the End-User Before drafting the document, it is important to assess the users’ technical skills and familiarity with Salesforce. This helps in identifying knowledge gaps and tailoring the training material to suit their needs, ensuring the content is accessible and comprehensible. 2. Break Down the Training into Smaller Procedures Organize the document into smaller sections, each focused on specific tasks or procedures. This not only makes the content less overwhelming but also allows users to easily refer to specific instructions without sifting through lengthy explanations. 3. Organize the Document Logically Align the content with the natural flow of business processes, avoiding unnecessary jumps between different features. A well-structured, hyperlinked table of contents makes navigation easier and more intuitive. 4. Include Screenshots Visual aids like screenshots are essential in guiding users through Salesforce. Ensure the screenshots are focused on relevant elements, and blur any unnecessary or sensitive information. Clear, well-annotated images enhance understanding and make the document more engaging. 5. Keep Instructions Clear and Concise Ensure that each step is succinct and to the point. Overly detailed instructions can confuse users, so focus on delivering clear, actionable guidance. How to Record Video Tutorials Sometimes, written instructions may not fully convey how to use Salesforce features effectively. In such cases, video tutorials are a great supplement. These can be comprehensive guides or broken into shorter segments based on specific functions. Supplementary Materials Additional resources like FAQs, cheat sheets, glossaries, and links to official Salesforce documentation can provide valuable support for users. These materials encourage independent learning and build confidence in using Salesforce. Training Delivery Methods There are multiple ways to deliver end-user training. Below are the most effective: Structuring the Salesforce End-User Training Whether the users are new to Salesforce or have some familiarity, it’s important to structure the training content in a way that reflects real-world processes. Rather than teaching isolated features, organize the material based on the actual workflow users will encounter. To make virtual training engaging, live demonstrations of features are recommended rather than simply reading through the training document. Short breaks can help prevent information overload, while interactive exercises in a Salesforce sandbox can enhance hands-on learning. Post-Training Follow-up After training, make the materials available in a shared folder for users to reference as needed. Gathering feedback is essential for improving the training experience. Adjust the training documents and video tutorials based on this feedback to ensure they remain clear and useful. Additionally, collecting feedback from the client on the effectiveness of the training session itself helps to refine future training efforts. By focusing on clarity, structure, and real-world application, training documents and sessions will empower users to fully leverage Salesforce’s capabilities. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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August 20, 2024in Salesforce
SaaS Data Protection from Own
19Aug

SaaS Data Protection from Own

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

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August 19, 2024in Salesforce
Generative AI Overview
19Aug

Generative AI Overview

Editor’s Note: AI Cloud, Einstein GPT, and other cloud GPT products are now Einstein. For the latest on Salesforce Einstein The Rise of Generative AI: What It Means for Business and CRM Generative artificial intelligence (AI) made headlines in late 2022, sparking widespread curiosity and questions about its potential impact on various industries. What is Generative AI? Generative AI is a technology that creates new content—such as poetry, emails, images, or music—based on a set of input data. Unlike traditional AI, which focuses on classifying or predicting, generative AI can produce novel content with a human-like understanding of language, as noted by Salesforce Chief Scientist Silvio Savarese. However, successful generative AI depends on the quality of the input data. “AI is only as good as the data you give it, and you must ensure that datasets are representative,” emphasizes Paula Goldman, Salesforce’s Chief Ethical and Humane Use Officer. How Does Generative AI Work? Generative AI can be developed using several deep learning approaches, including: Other methods include Variational Autoencoders (VAEs) and Neural Radiance Fields (NeRFs), which generate new data or create 2D and 3D images based on sample data. Generative AI and Business Generative AI has captured the attention of global business leaders. A recent Salesforce survey found that 67% of IT leaders are focusing on generative AI in the next 18 months, with 33% considering it a top priority. Salesforce has long been exploring generative AI applications. For instance, CodeGen helps transform simple English prompts into executable code, and LAVIS makes language-vision AI accessible to researchers. More recently, Salesforce’s ProGen project demonstrated the creation of novel proteins using AI, potentially advancing medicine and treatment development. Ketan Karkhanis, Salesforce’s Executive VP and GM of Sales Cloud, highlights that generative AI benefits not just large enterprises but also small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) by automating proposals, customer communications, and predictive sales modeling. Challenges and Ethical Considerations Despite its potential, generative AI poses risks, as noted by Paula Goldman and Kathy Baxter of Salesforce’s Ethical AI practice. They stress the importance of responsible innovation to ensure that generative AI is used safely and ethically. Accuracy in AI recommendations is crucial, and the authoritative tone of models like ChatGPT can sometimes lead to misleading results. Salesforce is committed to building trusted AI with embedded guardrails to prevent misuse. As generative AI evolves, it’s vital to balance its capabilities with ethical considerations, including its environmental impact. Generative AI can increase IT energy use, which 71% of IT leaders acknowledge. Generative AI at Salesforce Salesforce has integrated AI into its platform for years, with Einstein AI providing billions of daily predictions to enhance sales, service, and customer understanding. The recent launch of Einstein GPT, the world’s first generative AI for CRM, aims to transform how businesses interact with customers by automating content creation across various functions. Salesforce Ventures is also expanding its Generative AI Fund to $500 million, supporting AI startups and fostering responsible AI development. This expansion includes investments in companies like Anthropic and Cohere. As Salesforce continues to lead in AI innovation, the focus remains on creating technology that is inclusive, responsible, and sustainable, paving the way for the future of CRM and business. The Future of Business: AI-Powered Leadership and Decision-Making Tomorrow’s business landscape will be transformed by specialized, autonomous AI agents that will significantly change how companies are run. Future leaders will depend on these AI agents to support and enhance their teams, with AI chiefs of staff overseeing these agents and harnessing their capabilities. New AI-powered tools will bring businesses closer to their customers and enable faster, more informed decision-making. This shift is not just a trend—it’s backed by significant evidence. The Slack Workforce Index reveals a sevenfold increase in leaders seeking to integrate AI tools since September 2023. Additionally, Salesforce research shows that nearly 80% of global workers are open to an AI-driven future. While the pace of these changes may vary, it is clear that the future of work will look vastly different from today. According to the Slack Workforce Index, the number of leaders looking to integrate AI tools into their business has skyrocketed 7x since September 2023. Mick Costigan, VP, Salesforce Futures In the [still] early phases of a major technology shift, we tend to over-focus on the application of technology innovations to existing workflows. Such advances are important, but closing the imagination gap about the possible new shapes of work requires us to consider more than just technology. It requires us to think about people, both as the customers who react to new offerings and as the employees who are responsible for delivering them. Some will eagerly adopt new technology. Others will resist and drag their feet. Like1 Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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

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