Design Archives - gettectonic.com - Page 31
Contact Builder is responsible for aggregating customer data from multiple source into a single customer view, known as the contact model in marketing cloud. For more information refer to the official documentation. Audience Builder is a segmentation tool, that abstracts the traditional SQL process for building segments and allows marketers to build segments by dragging and dropping them. For more information, please refer to the the documentation. Contact Builder has been moved to the Audience Builder tab
31Jul

Audience Builder Contact Builder

Contact Builder, formerly known as Audience Builder, is a robust tool within Marketing Cloud designed to manage data associated with contacts, referred to as ‘people’ records. This platform provides access to both demographic and behavioral information, which is organized into ‘attribute groups’ (such as abandoned carts), ‘events,’ and ‘populations,’ allowing for efficient segmentation of data. The primary distinction between Audience Builder and Contact Builder lies in their functionalities within Marketing Cloud. While Audience Builder focuses on segmenting data, Contact Builder serves as the tool for defining the data model within the Marketing Cloud ecosystem. Contact Builder is integral to data management within Marketing Cloud and will continue to play a central role in the platform’s operations. Marketing Cloud Audience Builder has empowered marketers to create finely segmented audiences based on behavioral and demographic data. With its retirement, the question arises: “What comes next?” To address this, Marketing Cloud offers engagement marketing tools powered by AI, enabling marketers to activate their data and deliver personalized campaigns at scale to enhance customer lifetime value. These tools include: Email Marketing: Cross-Channel Analytics: “After adopting Salesforce Marketing Cloud and using it to hyper-target our audience, we are able to reduce the waste of our current marketing budget and become more efficient with spending on initiatives that deliver better results“ Kyall MaiSVP & Chief Innovation Officer, Esquire Contact Builder vs. Audience Builder Contact Builder serves as the central hub for managing attribute values associated with each contact within Marketing Cloud. It maintains a comprehensive database of contact information and facilitates the organization and linkage of data from various sources, including ERP systems, CRM systems, and POS systems. This tool offers a unified view of customer interactions with the brand, enabling personalized communication across channels such as email, SMS, and push notifications. Audience Builder, now known as Contact Builder, dynamically creates targeted audiences based on stored attribute and behavioral values of contacts. These audiences are generated according to specific rules and criteria defined by the user. Audience Builder helps marketers segment contacts effectively, allowing for precise targeting or exclusion from marketing activities within Marketing Cloud Engagement. Key Features and Functions: Contact Builder: Audience Builder: While both Contact Builder and Audience Builder are essential components of Marketing Cloud, Contact Builder takes precedence as the primary tool for managing contact data and enabling personalized customer interactions. Audience Builder, now integrated into Contact Builder, continues to play a vital role in audience segmentation and targeting within Marketing Cloud Engagement. Contact Builder is responsible for aggregating customer data from multiple source into a single customer view, known as the contact model in marketing cloud. For more information refer to the official documentation. Audience Builder is a segmentation tool, that abstracts the traditional SQL process for building segments and allows marketers to build segments by dragging and dropping them. For more information, please refer to the the documentation. Contact Builder has been moved to the Audience Builder tab. 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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July 31, 2023in Salesforce Marketing Cloud
Generative AI Regulations
17Jul

Salesforce, Data Science, and Generative AI

Is Salesforce utilized in the field of data science? Salesforce data science and Generative AI Data Science-as-a-Service (DSaaS) democratizes access to machine learning through the Salesforce Data Management Platform, enabling widespread adoption of data science capabilities. Utilizing Salesforce for Data Science Empowerment: The integration of Salesforce into data science represents a transformative endeavor aimed at democratizing machine learning through Data Science-as-a-Service (DSaaS). By leveraging the Salesforce Data Management Platform, the objective is to empower individuals across various domains with the potential of data science. Democratization of Data Science: DSaaS introduces a versatile workbench that capitalizes on machine learning to refine segmentation, enhance activation strategies, and uncover deeper insights. Through robust analytics tools, users can gain profound insights into individual customer behaviors. Supported by a formidable 20-petabyte analytics environment and a real-time big data infrastructure, data-driven analytics are taken to unprecedented levels. Harnessing Modeling Resources: Data owners enjoy the flexibility to harness their data, algorithms, and models either within the Salesforce Data Management Platform or within their independent environments. Spearheading this initiative is the Salesforce Unified Intelligence Platform (UIP) team, constructing a centralized data intelligence platform aimed at enriching business insights, enhancing user experience, improving product quality, and optimizing operational efficiency, all while upholding the core value of trust embedded in the Salesforce platform. Salesforce Data Science and Generative AI Emphasizing Security and Design: Security stands as a cornerstone of the Salesforce platform, with the UIP’s evolution tracing back to a transition from a colossal Hadoop cluster to UIP in public clouds. The architectural journey prioritized data classification early on, engaging in meticulous reviews with legal and security experts to classify data intended for storage within UIP. Adopting the “zero-trust infrastructure” principle, the architecture is fortified against both internal and external threats, ensuring robust defense mechanisms against potential data breaches. Unlocking Data Science Potential through DSaaS: DSaaS serves as a catalyst in democratizing machine learning through the Salesforce Data Management Platform, spotlighting the pivotal role of data science in fostering generative AI and cultivating trustworthy AI. Data scientists play a critical role in ensuring data quality and organization to steer clear of issues such as biased or irrelevant outcomes. Navigating Data Science Challenges: Despite the transformative potential of data science, businesses encounter various challenges including managing diverse data sources, scarcity of skilled professionals, data privacy and security concerns, data cleansing complexities, and effectively communicating findings to non-technical stakeholders. Proposed Solutions: Addressing these challenges involves leveraging data integration tools, investing in the upskilling and reskilling of data professionals, implementing robust data privacy measures, employing data governance tools for data cleansing, and honing communication skills for reporting findings to non-technical stakeholders. The success of generative AI hinges on well-organized data, and data science is pivotal in achieving this. Whether utilizing AI tools built with the expertise of data scientists or building a data science team, businesses can navigate the evolving landscape of AI and data science with confidence. Content updated March 2024. 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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July 17, 2023in AI Tools, Data, Generative AI, Salesforce, Salesforce Einstein, Salesforce Sales Cloud
Salesforce AI
14Jul

Salesforce Einstein and Social Studio

The digital era (sometimes considered the third industrial revolution) has transformed the dynamics of customer-business interactions, demanding a proactive approach to customer engagement across diverse channels. Navigating this ever-evolving world is essential for business success, and Social Studio is a valuable asset in this endeavor. Social Studio, in conjunction with Einstein AI, plays a pivotal role in achieving social media success. Recognizing the significance of social media in shaping brand identity and fostering customer relationships, marketers are tasked with maintaining an active and responsive presence across various social media platforms. This challenge is met by Social Studio, offering a centralized hub for comprehensive social media management. This platform facilitates content planning and publication, team collaboration, content approval, audience engagement, and performance analysis. Equipped with advanced scheduling tools, user-friendly content creation features, and customizable approval rules, Social Studio ensures the safeguarding of your brand’s integrity across multiple platforms and messaging. Notably, Social Studio seamlessly integrates with Salesforce Marketing Cloud, providing an all-encompassing solution for efficient social media management. Its capabilities extend to user role management, image classification through Einstein Vision, and process automation using macros. With Social Studio, users gain access to a unified platform for content creation, scheduling, and monitoring, audience interaction, and performance analysis. Whether collaborating within a team or managing multiple accounts, Social Studio streamlines social media efforts, empowering users to achieve their goals. Embrace the advantages of this robust tool for an enhanced social media experience! Social Studio is a one-stop solution to manage, schedule, create, and monitor posts. You can organize posts by brand, region, or multiple teams and individuals in a unified interface. Social Studio offers powerful real-time publishing and engagement. Social Studio offers powerful real-time publishing and engagement platform for content marketers, plus the comprehensive content performance by social network and time frame. A single interface offers a fully customizable team-based collaboration platform that analyzes channel and content performance. Analyze current trends and recommend new content ideas. With Social Studio you can: Social Studio Components Social Studio is made up of these components: Note: Salesforce will sundown Social Studio on November 18, 2024, but some users will lose access before then if their contract expires sooner.  Salesforce recommends retrieving your Social Studio data at least 90 days before the Order End Date of your Marketing Cloud Social Studio Product(s) or November 18, 2024, whichever is sooner.  The digital, or third industrial revolution is the shift from mechanical and analogue electronic technologies from the Industrial Revolution towards digital electronics which began in the latter half of the 20th century.  This was prompted with the adoption and evolution of digital computers. (source) 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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July 14, 2023in Salesforce Einstein, Salesforce Implementation Services, Salesforce Marketing Cloud
Salesforce Marketing Cloud Journey Builder
13Jul

Journey Builder Explained

In B2C marketing, the focus on Journey Builder within the Marketing Cloud framework is essential to take customers on journeys with personalized interactions depending on where they are at in the buying cycle. This tool empowers marketers to craft intricate marketing journeys that deliver personalized experiences to customers. Operating within Marketing Cloud, the journey tool orchestrates comprehensive customer journeys, facilitating interactions across multiple platforms such as email, mobile, advertising, and websites. It stands as a foundational element of Marketing Cloud, primarily tailored for B2C initiatives. Salesforce Journey Builder facilitates a deeper understanding of customers by triggering actions based on their unique behaviors and ensuring consistent messaging across channels. As consumers navigate seamlessly between platforms and devices, brands must offer personalized and seamless journeys to maximize customer lifetime value. To achieve this, marketers must address key questions: Answering these questions requires a comprehensive view of the customer journey, with actions aligned to evolving customer expectations. With Salesforce Marketing Cloud Journey Builder, marketers can attain a unified view of all customer interactions, optimizing end-to-end journeys. Journey Builder provides visibility into consumer interactions across marketing channels, including email, mobile, social ads, and more. By connecting these interactions, marketers gain insights for improved message crafting, campaign design, and automation, fostering seamless customer experiences and fostering loyalty. Interactions a customer may have with the brand throughout their journey include clicking on an ad, opening an email, making a purchase, conversing with customer support, and more. Journey Builder, as an event-driven tool, initiates conversations based on customer history, preferences, and real-time behavior, supporting visual mapping of simple or complex journeys. However, Journey Builder operates within Marketing Cloud and utilizes content and audiences from Email Studio, Mobile Studio, Advertising Studio, Content Builder, and Audience Builder. It leverages event-driven triggers to react to customer actions, such as downloading an app or leaving a shopping cart abandoned, thus enabling timely and relevant responses. Key features of Journey Builder include a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, entry and filter criteria for swift actions, and powerful add-ons for enhanced functionality. Ultimately, Salesforce Journey Builder facilitates a seamless customer experience by guiding journeys, ensuring consistent messaging, adapting to evolving needs, and maintaining brand consistency across channels. 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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July 13, 2023in Data, Google, Salesforce, Salesforce Marketing Cloud
data cloud and marketing cloud personalization
11Jul

What is the Difference in a Data Lake and a Data Warehouse

Is a Data Lake Necessary? Difference in a Data Lake and a Data Warehouse? Do I need both? Both Data Lakes and Data Warehouses play crucial roles in the data processing and reporting infrastructure. They are complementary approaches rather than substitutes. Relevance of Data Lakes: Data lakes are losing popularity compared to their previous standing. Advanced storage solutions like data warehouses are progressively taking their place. Can Data Lakes Replace Data Warehouses? Data lakes do not directly replace data warehouses; they serve as supplementary technologies catering to different use cases with some overlap. Organizations typically have both a data lake and a data warehouse. Distinguishing Between Data Lakes and Data Warehouses: Data lakes and data warehouses serve as storage systems for big data, utilized by data scientists, data engineers, and business analysts. Despite some similarities, their differences are more significant than their commonalities, and understanding these distinctions is vital for aspiring data professionals. Data Lake vs. Data Warehouse: Key Differences: Data lakes aggregate structured and unstructured data from multiple sources, resembling real lakes with diverse inflows. Data warehouses, on the other hand, are repositories for pre-structured data intended for specific queries and analyses. Exploring Data Lakes: A data lake is a storage repository designed to capture and store large amounts of raw data, whether structured, semi-structured, or unstructured. This data, once in the lake, can be utilized for machine learning or AI algorithms and later transferred to a data warehouse. Data Lake Examples: Data lakes find applications in various sectors, such as marketing, education, and transportation, addressing business problems by collecting and analyzing data from diverse sources. Understanding Data Warehouses: A data warehouse is a centralized repository and information system designed for business intelligence. It processes and organizes data into categories called data marts, allowing for structured data storage from multiple sources. Data Warehouse Examples: Data warehouses support structured systems and technology for diverse industries, including finance, banking, and food and beverage, facilitating secure and accurate report generation. Data Warehouses compared to Data Lakes: Data warehouses contain processed and sanitized structured data, focusing on business intelligence, while data lakes store vast pools of unstructured, raw data, providing flexibility for future analysis. Key Differences Between Warehouses and Lakes: Intended purpose, audience, data structure, access and update cost, access model, and storage and computing are crucial factors distinguishing data warehouses and data lakes. Choosing Between Data Warehouse and Data Lake: The decision depends on organizational needs, value extracted from data analysis, and infrastructure costs. Organizations may opt for agility with a data lake, a data warehouse for larger data quantities, or a combination for maximum flexibility. A data lake stores raw, unstructured data indefinitely, providing cost-effective storage, while a data warehouse contains cleaned, processed, and structured data, optimized for strategic analysis based on predefined business needs. Data Warehouse, Data Lake, and Data Hub Differences: Data warehouses and data lakes primarily support analytic workloads, whereas data hubs focus on data integration, sharing, and governance, serving different purposes in the data landscape. Salesforce Data Cloud is a powerful data warehouse solution that allows companies to effectively manage and analyze their data. It provides users with the ability to stream input data from Salesforce and other sources, making it a comprehensive platform for data integration. Content updated February 2024. 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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July 11, 2023in Data, Salesforce, Salesforce Data Cloud, Technology
08Jul

Is Prompt Engineering Dying?

The Rise and Fall of Prompt Engineering Prompt engineering is everywhere—it’s the hot topic in the AI world. The World Economic Forum, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and the Twitterverse can’t stop talking about it. My feeds are filled with ads promoting courses that promise to make you a fortune with minimal effort. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: prompt engineering is already facing its decline. Don Giannatti originally wrote on this topic in June of 2023. Whic got us thinking, is prompt engineering dying? Why Is Prompt Engineering Fading? Reason 1: AI Is Getting Smarter AI is advancing rapidly. Machines are starting to understand our words and phrases just like we do, similar to a child learning to talk. The need for finely tuned prompts is decreasing because AI is developing the ability to generate its own prompts simply by interpreting questions. It’s learning all the time. Reason 2: AI Crafts Its Own Prompts SDon already usea minimal nudge prompts, which AI then expands into detailed, contextually accurate prompts. GPT-4 can do this, and GPT-5 will have it even more integrated. While prompt engineering has been trendy among marketers and tech enthusiasts, its relevance is quickly waning. Reason 3: Prompts Are Limited in Versatility Prompts are tailored for specific AI models and versions, limiting their flexibility. AI can overcome these limitations more efficiently than humans. Machine learning excels in reducing input and friction, and AI is quickly learning and improving upon human-made prompts. The Future: Problem Formulation The enduring skill in the AI age is problem formulation—how we identify, analyze, and define problems. When we can clearly illustrate a problem, AI can provide efficient solutions. AI cannot identify unquantifiable problems that aren’t part of existing systems—that’s still a human strength, for now. Prompt Engineering vs. Problem Formulation Prompt engineering focuses on the words, sentence structure, and punctuation. Problem formulation is about defining the problem—seeing the bigger picture and broader strokes. Without a well-defined problem, even the best-crafted prompt is just a set of words. Why Problem Formulation Matters Problem formulation has been overshadowed by problem-solving. It’s not easy, isn’t taught in universities, and isn’t popularized by futurists. Yet, it’s essential. Executives often struggle with diagnosing problems—85% of them say so. To stay ahead, we need better problem formulation. Four Ways to Enhance Problem Formulation Embracing AI Wisely AI is evolving quickly. To leverage its potential, we must clearly identify problems. Once defined, AI can generate prompts to find solutions. A Take on AI While one can appreciate the educational and helpful capabilities of GPT and other language models, be cautious about the rapid integration of AI into our lives without adequate discussion or input from society. I trust AI more than the billionaires driving its adoption, but be wary of their motivations. 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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July 8, 2023in Salesforce Einstein
Salesforce Automation Guide
02Jul

Salesforce Automation Guide

Salesforce Automation Guide. I cannot lie. There was a time when I thought the greatest thing about Salesforce was that it prevented leads from falling through the cracks. I was a marketing opps person. There was a time I thought readily available information at your fingertips and integration with an email platform was the greatest thing. I was in sales management. Today, as a Solutions Architect, I think Salesforce Automation Guide is the best. Automation provides the tools necessary to automate repetitive processes and daily tasks for your business, such as creating follow-up tasks, sending reminder emails, or updating records. Automations help users save critical time and reduce errors by creating automated processes to complete repetitive tasks. Below, you’ll find resources to help you decide which automations to use depending on your needs. An Intro to Salesforce Automation Before determining which automation best suits your business’s needs, you must first understand what automation means. These resources will help paint a clear picture of what the automation of processes, approvals, and tasks can look like for your organization. They aren’t just time savers. They can be game changers. Why Should You Love Automation?Check out this article highlighting the positive global impact of automation across different industries and countries. Review the customer story on how automation helped digitize an approval process during a time of especially high-volume requests. After reading this, you will understand why automation is so beneficial! Intro to AutomationExplore this documentation to get a high-level overview of the different automation methods. Automation Tools Salesforce provides multiple automation tools depending on the level of complexity needed to achieve your goals. These resources will help you understand which automation tool will best help you reach your business objectives. Automation Tool: FeaturesScroll down within this article to check out the matrix for a breakdown of all the features and actions supported within each automation tool: Approvals, Flow Builder, Einstein Next Best Action, and Apex. Automation Tool: Which One to UseView this video from one of the leading cloud experts that walks you through each automation tool and when and why to use each one. Architect Decision GuideThe Architect Decision Guide will help you evaluate the pros and cons of the different automation tools. Get recommendations from Salesforce product teams on which tools best address different use cases. Automation Implementation A hands-on approach is the best way to learn how to implement automation tools. Dig right in by exploring guided Trailhead modules that will help you understand the steps to enable these tools. Flow BasicsGet to know Flow Builder, the primary tool for creating flows. Learn when to use flows to automate business processes. Automate ApprovalsLearn how you can automate simple approval processes using Flow Builder. Automation Deep Dive As you begin to think about your automation journey, it is useful to study use cases to help guide your automation strategy and energy. Check out these resources to learn how to take your automations even further than you imagined to streamline your business processes. Building a Simple FlowExplore this video to learn how to build a simple visual flow using Flow Builder for a donation request example via an input screen, fields, and choices to collect required customer information. Five Pro Tips for Salesforce FlowFollow these quick tips to get up and running with Salesforce Flow. Troubleshooting Resources Before rolling out your automations to users, make sure you validate and test them just like any other customization. Should you encounter a bug while validating, don’t worry! These resources will guide you through troubleshooting tips if you run into any blockers during the validation process. Troubleshooting Flow Errors Using the Debug ButtonCheck out this helpful Salesforce video on how to fix errors using the Debug button in Flow Builder. Flow TroubleshootingFurther your education with this Trailhead module to learn how to diagnose and fix common flow issues. Go Further with Automation Manage ProductivityDetermine how much time you’re saving your team with the Process Automation Tracker in Salesforce AppExchange. Flow OrchestrationStreamline complex workflows with Flow Orchestration. Our experts will guide you on rolling out multi-step processes that interact with multiple users. Join the Customer Success CommunityConnect with Salesforce experts and other Trailblazers like you. The community is a great place to ask questions, get answers, and share your experiences. Become a TrailblazerConsider blazing your own trail by completing the Trailhead superbadge on process automation. Automation Use Case StridePride makes comfortable sneakers, designed and customized for its customers. The company’s online retail business has grown rapidly in the past year domestically; as a result, they have decided to use Salesforce to help launch their sneakers in international markets. Linda Rosenson, StridePride’s admin, needed to quickly set up Salesforce to create sales processes for all of the additional international markets. As Linda was creating these processes, the Sales Leaders asked her to include a discount on the sneakers if certain criteria were met to help promote sales for the new markets. The tricky part was, each market had its unique set of criteria and rules before the discount could be applied. After mapping out each region’s unique criteria for the discounts, Linda determined that tracking this all manually or on a document for sales reps would be a logistical nightmare. Linda began thinking of automation. She was determined to find a more efficient way to automatically apply the discounts if criteria were met, lessening the chance for human error or missteps. Her goal was to make the process as seamless and efficient as possible. Because Linda had already reviewed the resources on choosing the right automation tool, she knew that Salesforce Flow made the most sense for her use case. This flow would help automate the discount by evaluating criteria based on customer inputs and then automatically applying the discount if applicable. She could even create or update records, create quotes, and send emails through flow elements. She teamed up with StridePride’s business analyst to create a Salesforce Flow. Together, they had it up and running

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July 2, 2023in Salesforce
Salesforce Field Service
01Jul

Understanding Salesforce Field Service

Salesforce Field Service is an expansive addition to Salesforce Service Cloud, offering a 360 degree perspective on workforce management, especially in scenarios where services extend beyond the office or work site into the field. This typically involves mobile employees such as service technicians, alongside service agents, dispatchers, and service managers. Let’s dive into the nuances of Salesforce Field Service, addressing key aspects like its definition, user roles, reporting, scheduling, optimization, and more. Salesforce Field Service is also a popular tool in public sector solutioning. Understanding Salesforce Field Service will help to decide if it is right for your service teams. Understanding Salesforce Field Service: Salesforce Field Service, formerly known as Field Service Lightning (FSL), is an extension of Service Cloud designed to provide a comprehensive workforce management view. It seamlessly manages services delivered in the field, such as a electrical installer arriving to fulfill a customer’s order. Field Service Lightning evolves with each Salesforce release, continually enhancing functionality. Salesforce Field Service enhances customer engagement with real-time personalization, optimization of field teams with a scheduling engine, and access to offline data. Components of Salesforce Field Service: Field Service comprises various components, including Service Appointments, Salesforce Service Cloud integration, Territory and Scheduling functionalities, the Field Service Dispatcher Console, and the Field Service Mobile App for Android and iOS with offline capabilities. A detailed data model diagram illustrates the relationship between Service Cloud and Field Service. Users of Salesforce Field Service: Salesforce Field Service is particularly valuable for organizations with mobile field technicians supporting customers. It excels in scenarios with intricate service delivery involving multiple individuals like dispatchers, field technicians, service agents, and service managers. Each user persona interacts with Salesforce Field Service in distinct ways, utilizing tools like the Dispatcher Console or Field Service Mobile App tailored to their roles. Use Cases for Salesforce Field Service: Field Service proves beneficial in diverse service scenarios, including repairs, maintenance, sales visits, and healthcare care visits. It facilitates efficient coordination among dispatchers, field technicians, service agents, and service managers, streamlining processes and enhancing customer satisfaction. Key Terms in Salesforce Field Service: Understanding key terms such as Work Orders, Service Appointments, Contracts, Entitlements, Work Types, Service Territories, Operating Hours, Resources, and Scheduling Policies is essential. These terms collectively form the foundation of Salesforce Field Service’s robust data model and optimized usability. Scheduling and Optimization: Scheduling in Salesforce Field Service is managed through the Dispatcher Console, empowering dispatchers to make informed decisions. Various methods, from manual to fully automated, enable the creation of service appointments, optimizing resource allocation and ensuring efficient service delivery. Forecasting and Planning: Use real-time data to quickly assess the impact of global or in-day optimization on travel time and resource utilization. Refine scheduling policies, get an instant view of optimization results, and KPI changes. Asset Service Management: Move from reactive to proactive service with real-time asset tracking. Monitor service outcomes and create preventive maintenance plans based on asset use, condition, age, and specific criteria. Service Territory Design: Service Territories, categorized as Primary, Secondary, and Relocation Territories, define where teams can perform work. Well-defined territories are crucial for efficient dispatcher satisfaction, requiring thoughtful initial design and ongoing maintenance. Field Service Mobile App: The Salesforce Field Service Mobile app is essential for on-the-move workforces, offering technicians essential information to optimize job execution. Offline capabilities ensure uninterrupted work, and the Visual Remote Assistant feature enables two-way video and audio communication between agents, technicians, and customers. Slack for Field Service: Empower your mobile workforce with seamless connectivity and timely assistance whenever it is needed. Mobilize for service appoints and tap into the expertise of colleagues throughout the organization with the user-friendly Slack interface. Reporting in Salesforce Field Service: Monitoring service efficiency and success involves leveraging Salesforce reports, list views, and other platform analytics. Work Order List Views and Field Service Report Types provide insights into service call-outs and overall performance. Enabling Field Service Lightning: Setting up Salesforce Field Service involves installing it as a Managed Package, assigning licenses to users, and configuring standard objects like Products, Assets, Service Contracts, and Entitlements. Creating records for Service Territories, Service Resources, and Operating Hours establishes the framework for the service model. Field Service Deployments: Deployments in Salesforce Field Service can be time-consuming due to its reliance on object data. Considerations for complex relational data movement between environments and potential risks, such as resistance to automation, require careful attention. Tectonic, as a Salesforce Consulting Partner, can assist your company in deploying Salesforce Field Service. Salesforce Field Service projects, while intricate, can be highly valuable when executed correctly providing a large ROI. Adequate planning, phased implementations, and a long-term perspective contribute to the success of organizations leveraging the capabilities of Salesforce Field Service. If you are looking for a more robust solution, consider Field Service Plus combining dispatch and technician functionality along with Service Cloud and Sales Cloud. Tectonic looks forward to helping your field service team utilize this Salesforce tool. Tectonic is please to announce Salesforce Service Cloud Implementation Solutions. Like2 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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July 1, 2023in Data, Salesforce, Salesforce Manufacturing Automotive Energy, Salesforce Public Sector Solutions, Salesforce Service Cloud
Migrating from Zoho to Salesforce
03Jun

Migrating from Zoho to Salesforce

Migrating from Zoho to Salesforce is a major undertaking that can significantly enhance a business’s CRM processes as it scales. To ensure a smooth transition, careful planning, data preparation, and execution are essential for accurate and efficient data transfer. In this guide, we’ll outline a step-by-step approach to migrating from Zoho to Salesforce, covering everything from pre-migration planning to post-migration follow-up. Step 1: Pre-Migration Planning 1. Evaluate Your Business RequirementsBegin by assessing your current and future CRM needs. Identify critical functionalities in Zoho that you depend on and determine which Salesforce features will either replace or enhance them. Consider: This evaluation ensures that Salesforce is configured to align with your business processes during the migration. 2. Assign a Project TeamForming a dedicated project team is crucial for a successful migration. Include stakeholders from various departments, designate a project manager to oversee the migration, and enlist CRM specialists familiar with both Zoho and Salesforce. You might also consider hiring a certified Salesforce consultant or partner to assist with technical aspects. 3. Backup Your DataBefore starting the migration, back up your data from Zoho. Export all relevant information, including: This backup ensures you have a complete copy in case any issues arise during the migration. Step 2: Preparing Salesforce for Migration 1. Customize Salesforce to Fit Your NeedsNow is the time to tailor Salesforce to reflect your existing business processes. Review the custom fields, objects, workflows, and automations in Zoho, replicating or enhancing them in Salesforce. Salesforce’s high customization level allows you to optimize your CRM for your team’s specific needs. 2. Set Up IntegrationsIf you’ve been using third-party tools integrated with Zoho, establish the corresponding integrations in Salesforce. The Salesforce AppExchange offers a range of integrations, from email marketing platforms to accounting systems. Ensure the necessary tools are connected before migrating your data. Step 3: Data Migration 1. Map Data FieldsTo facilitate accurate data transfer between Zoho and Salesforce, map your Zoho data fields to their Salesforce counterparts. For instance, “Account Name” in Zoho should correspond to “Account” in Salesforce. Create equivalent custom fields in Salesforce if they exist in Zoho. 2. Cleanse Your DataData cleansing is vital to ensure only relevant, accurate, and up-to-date information is migrated. Remove duplicates, outdated contacts, and incorrect data from Zoho. This step streamlines the migration process and enhances the quality of your Salesforce database. 3. Choose a Migration ToolSelect an appropriate tool for migrating data between CRMs, such as: Depending on your data’s complexity, choose a tool that provides additional support, such as mapping or automation features. 4. Perform a Test MigrationConduct a test migration using a subset of your data before proceeding with the full migration. This allows you to verify that everything transfers correctly and identify any issues with data formatting, relationships between objects, or custom fields. Adjust your mapping and migration processes based on the test results. Step 4: Full Data Migration Once you’re satisfied with the test migration results, proceed with the complete data migration from Zoho to Salesforce. This process may take time, depending on your data‘s size and complexity, so plan for downtime or staggered migrations to minimize disruptions to your team’s workflow. Step 5: Post-Migration Setup and Testing 1. Validate Your DataAfter the full migration, verify that all data has been transferred accurately. Check for discrepancies between Zoho and Salesforce records, ensuring that relationships (e.g., contacts linked to accounts) remain intact. 2. Recreate Automation and WorkflowsRe-establish any automations, workflows, or triggers that were functioning in Zoho within Salesforce. Utilize Salesforce’s automation tools, like Process Builder or Flow, to replicate these processes. Adjust them as necessary to leverage Salesforce’s advanced capabilities. 3. Train Your TeamSuccessful migration extends beyond data transfer; it’s crucial to ensure your team is equipped to use Salesforce effectively. Conduct training sessions focused on new features and workflows, providing documentation or cheat sheets to facilitate adjustment. 4. Monitor System PerformancePost-migration, monitor your Salesforce instance for any performance issues or data inconsistencies. Make necessary adjustments and ensure that integrations are functioning as expected. Step 6: Post-Migration Follow-Up 1. Run Parallel OperationsConsider operating both systems in parallel for a brief period to confirm Salesforce is fully functional before phasing out Zoho. This allows your team to continue using Zoho if critical issues arise in Salesforce during the transition. 2. Optimize Your Salesforce InstanceOver time, identify opportunities to further customize and optimize Salesforce to meet your evolving needs. Regularly review workflows, automations, and reporting to fully utilize Salesforce’s advanced features. Who Should You Work With A successful migration from Zoho to Salesforce involves key stakeholders from various departments to ensure the new CRM setup aligns with company processes. Typical Migration Timelines The duration of a Zoho to Salesforce migration typically depends on your data’s complexity and the required customizations. For smaller businesses with straightforward CRM setups, the process may take 4 to 6 weeks, encompassing planning, data mapping, testing, and training. However, larger organizations with extensive custom fields, workflows, and third-party integrations may require 3 to 6 months. Allow ample time for thorough testing and validation to ensure data accuracy and system functionality before going live. User training and post-migration follow-up are also critical for a smooth transition. Conclusion Migrating from Zoho to Salesforce is a growth step in enhancing your company’s CRM capabilities and positioning it for future growth. By meticulously planning your migration, cleansing your data, and configuring Salesforce to meet your business requirements, you can facilitate a smooth transition and leverage Salesforce’s powerful features from day one. With the right preparation and support, your business will be well-equipped to scale, streamline operations, and achieve long-term success using Salesforce. If you need assistance with your migration, don’t hesitate to contact Tectonic for a quote. Content updated September 2024. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented

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June 3, 2023in Data, Mulesoft, Salesforce
Slack and AI
01Jun

Just When You Thought We Were GPT’d Out, Here Comes Slack and Generative AI

Since its public introduction in 2014, Slack has transformed from its original concept, a searchable log of all conversation and knowledge, into a comprehensive productivity platform that has reshaped how work and co-working is conducted. Get ready! Here comes Slack and Generative AI! In a recent release, Salesforce Slack unveiled a next-generation platform. A platform designed to facilitate seamless automation and integration for users of all technical levels, regardless of coding proficiency. This platform simplifies the utilization of data within Slack, offering enhanced automation and intelligence, allowing for the creation of no-code workflows, custom integrations, and the incorporation of generative AI. Steve Wood, Slack’s SVP of Product and Platform, highlights the significance of placing automation and generative AI tools directly into users’ hands as a pivotal step in Slack’s journey to redefine not only how people work but also how machines and humans interact in the future. Wood delves into the unique features of the new Slack platform, emphasizing its modular architecture grounded in building blocks like functions, triggers, and workflows. These components are remixable, reusable, and seamlessly integrate with the data flow within Slack. The platform enables developers to create tailored solutions, such as integrating with Salesforce, fostering more efficient collaboration, and automating workflows across various business functions. The introduction of generative AI, like Slack GPT, further enhances the platform’s capabilities.  Slack GPT can use Einstein GPT to gain actionable data from Salesforce Customer 360 and Data Cloud.  Wood underscores the potential of this combination to revolutionize work interactions by simplifying automation into reusable building blocks, accessible to both humans and machines. He emphasizes the transformative power of pairing data with AI and automation, anticipating a significant shift in how technology is leveraged in the workplace. Slack and GPT Wood also explains the recent Slack GPT news, detailing its native integration into the Slack user experience. Slack GPT brings generative AI directly into the platform, allowing users to summarize conversations, catch up on missed messages, and edit content effortlessly. The integration of Einstein GPT into Slack expands the conversational interface to Customer 360, providing real-time customer insights directly in Slack. This can be used to automatically generate case summaries based on data from Service Cloud AND Slack. As AI evolves over time, Wood shares his excitement about observing how people utilize Slack GPT in real-world scenarios. The focus remains on empowering platform users through native generative AI and leveraging data and behaviors to enhance the product continuously. Historical Content Wood emphasizes the historical context stored within Slack, highlighting the collective past as a valuable resource for future decision-making. Integrating AI technologies into this rich dataset within Slack presents a substantial opportunity for improving workflows and tools. Regarding the integration of Slack with Salesforce Customer 360, Wood stresses the importance of having relevant information easily accessible in one place. Slack serves as the hub where work occurs, and by incorporating generative AI, the platform aims to enhance transparency, alignment, and effectiveness in decision-making. Drawing in and analyzing the data from Slack as well as the other Salesforce platforms provides vital customer information. In reflection on the rapid adoption of this technology, Wood acknowledges the unique challenges presented by the unknown behavior of generative AI. Stability, accuracy, and safety are top concerns, with ethical and responsible development practices crucial for building trust. The future, as Wood sees it, hinges on maintaining a commitment to ethical development, ensuring customers feel confident in trusting the transformative capabilities of generative AI in the workplace and the Slack platform. 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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June 1, 2023in Salesforce Data Cloud, Salesforce Hospitality Travel and Transportation, Salesforce Manufacturing Automotive Energy, Salesforce Slack
Flexpricer and Optional Salesforce Line Items
29May

Flexpricer and Optional Salesforce Line Items

If sales users are wasting time with the standard product selector while adding line items on Quotes and Opportunities in Salesforce, but treating them as optional, use Flexpricer’s Optional Line Items interface instead. Flexpricer and Optional Salesforce Line Items let users designate any line item for an opportunity or quote as optional. Flexpricer Benefits Flexpricer and Optional Salesforce Line Items What are Optional Line Items and Why are They Useful? In Sales Cloud, adding products to a Quote or Opportunity using the basic interface can be time-consuming and limited. Sales Cloud doesn’t offer functionality to easily mark products as additional or alternate. Flexpricer enhances Sales Cloud with Optional Line Items for Opportunities and Quotes. Sales Users can: Create Accurate Quotes in Salesforce Without specialized tools, creating quotes with optional line items is challenging and prone to pricing errors. Flexpricer’s Optional Line Items provides: Optional Line Items as Alternates Using the standard product selector in Sales Cloud, users struggle with adding line items for products that can be swapped out with others. With Flexpricer, selecting line items as alternates for upsell or replacements is easy: Standard Sales Cloud Objects Flexpricer uses standard Sales Cloud objects. Your Optional Line Items aren’t locked in custom objects requiring additional licenses. Optional Line Items are commonly used by companies to present alternate or additional line items on Quotes in Salesforce without contributing to the total amount. 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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May 29, 2023in Salesforce
Use Salesforce Data Protection Services
24May

Use Salesforce Data Protection Services

Ensuring Data Security in Salesforce: Use Salesforce Data Protection Services How is Data Protected in Salesforce? Salesforce.com employs cutting-edge Internet security technology, including Secure Socket Layer (SSL) with server authentication and data encryption, ensuring the protection of user information during access via supported web browsers. Why Use Salesforce Data Protection Services? Data Security is imperative to meet evolving privacy standards and safeguard sensitive information shared over the internet. Unauthorized access could pose significant risks to the entire organization, making data security a crucial aspect. Salesforce GDPR Certification: Yes, Salesforce is GDPR certified, as confirmed in Section 11 of the Data Processing Addendum, where Salesforce commits to providing reasonable assistance to customers. Salesforce CCPA Compliance with Customer 360: Salesforce 360 facilitates CCPA compliance by seamlessly connecting Marketing Cloud to Sales Cloud, ensuring a cohesive flow of customer data across the organization. Introduction to Salesforce Shield: Salesforce Shield comprises three security tools – Shield Platform Encryption, Event Monitoring, and Field Audit Trail – embedded into critical business applications to enhance trust, compliance, and governance. Data Protection and Privacy Regulations: Salesforce assists companies in complying with various data protection and privacy regulations, including GDPR, CCPA, PIPA, LGPD, PIPEDA, and more, offering guidance on common privacy principles. Guidance for Data Management and Privacy Compliance: Salesforce provides tools for efficient data management and privacy compliance, covering aspects such as data deletion, consent management, restriction of processing, data access and portability, and privacy center functionalities. Encryption of Data at Rest with Salesforce Shield Platform Encryption: Salesforce Shield Platform Encryption encrypts data at rest within servers, databases, search index files, and the file system, preserving functionality and ensuring secure storage. Use Salesforce Data Protection Services: To enable Data Privacy and Protection in Salesforce, users can navigate through Lightning Experience or Salesforce Classic, accessing the setup and entering “Data Protection and Privacy” in the Quick Find box. Various Data Security Settings in Salesforce: Salesforce offers multiple data security settings, including Object-Level Security through profiles, Permission Sets, Permission Set Groups, Ownership-Based Sharing Rules, Criteria-Based Sharing Rules, and Guest User Sharing Rules. Salesforce Data Ownership and Digital Chain of Custody: Salesforce Data Ownership involves maintaining a Digital Chain of Custody, ensuring meticulous tracking of data through each replication process. This guarantees data remains under control and protected at all times. Salesforce and DLP Functionality: Salesforce does not have built-in Data Loss Prevention (DLP) functionality. It relies on third-party apps like Nightfall to provide DLP capabilities, crucial for maintaining compliance with regulations such as HIPAA and PCI. 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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May 24, 2023in Salesforce, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Salesforce Sales Cloud, Salesforce Service Cloud, Salesforce Shield
Sales Cloud Innovation Driven by UX Design Principles
18May

Enhance UX With Keyboard Accessibility

Enhancing User Experience (UX) with Keyboard Accessibility Keyboard accessibility plays a crucial role in creating more inclusive and scalable products. While many individuals can navigate a computer using a mouse, there are those with mobility- or dexterity-related accessibility needs who rely on alternative devices like head wands or switch controls. The foundation of these alternative interactions is keyboard access. Enhance UX With Keyboard Accessibility for greater user experiences. In a world where approximately 16% of the population has at least one disability, prioritizing keyboard accessibility becomes paramount. Salesforce, a company committed to equality, incorporates this principle into its product design, ensuring that every user, regardless of their abilities, can effectively engage with their products. Enhance UX With Keyboard Accessibility But what does keyboard accessibility entail? Essentially, it means that any action achievable with a mouse should also be accomplishable with a keyboard. This foundational principle accommodates various user needs, such as screen readers for the blind or voice commands. The consistent factor across these diverse modes of interaction is the reliance on keyboard access. Let’s explore an alternative interaction pattern called “click to create” that serves as a keyboard-accessible substitute for drag-and-drop functionalities, addressing accessibility issues in the Email Builder of Marketing Cloud. This pattern allows users, including those with mobility challenges, to add content through keyboard strokes. By incorporating “click to create” into a new keyboard-accessible version of the Email Builder, Salesforce ensures compliance with keyboard accessibility standards and facilitates content creation for all users. To elevate keyboard accessibility during the product design process, consider these five key moments: By integrating keyboard accessibility considerations at each of these key moments, designers, product managers, and engineers can collaboratively contribute to creating products that are accessible to all users. The mantra “Can I do it with a keyboard?” serves as a constant reminder to prioritize inclusivity throughout the product development cycle, making accessibility a shared responsibility among all contributors. 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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May 18, 2023in Salesforce

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