The lightning-record-picker component enhances the record selection process in Salesforce applications, offering a more intuitive and flexible experience for users. With its ability to handle larger datasets, customizable fields, and strong validation features, it is a powerful tool for developers to incorporate into their Salesforce applications.
Three Key Generative AI Data Privacy and Security Concerns The rise of generative AI is reshaping the digital landscape, introducing powerful tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot into the hands of professionals, students, and casual users alike. From creating AI-generated art to summarizing complex texts, generative AI (GenAI) is transforming workflows and sparking innovation. However, for information security and privacy professionals, this rapid proliferation also brings significant challenges in data governance and protection. Below are three critical data privacy and security concerns tied to generative AI: 1. Who Owns the Data? Data ownership is a contentious issue in the age of generative AI. In the European Union, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) asserts that individuals own their personal data. In contrast, data ownership laws in the United States are less clear-cut, with recent state-level regulations echoing GDPR’s principles but failing to resolve ambiguity. Generative AI often ingests vast amounts of data, much of which may not belong to the person uploading it. This creates legal risks for both users and AI model providers, especially when third-party data is involved. Cases surrounding intellectual property, such as controversies involving Slack, Reddit, and LinkedIn, highlight public resistance to having personal data used for AI training. As lawsuits in this arena emerge, prior intellectual property rulings could shape the legal landscape for generative AI. 2. What Data Can Be Derived from LLM Output? Generative AI models are designed to be helpful, but they can inadvertently expose sensitive or proprietary information submitted during training. This risk has made many wary of uploading critical data into AI models. Techniques like tokenization, anonymization, and pseudonymization can reduce these risks by obscuring sensitive data before it is fed into AI systems. However, these practices may compromise the model’s performance by limiting the quality and specificity of the training data. Advocates for GenAI stress that high-quality, accurate data is essential to achieving the best results, which adds to the complexity of balancing privacy with performance. 3. Can the Output Be Trusted? The phenomenon of “hallucinations” — when generative AI produces incorrect or fabricated information — poses another significant concern. Whether these errors stem from poor training, flawed data, or malicious intent, they raise questions about the reliability of GenAI outputs. The impact of hallucinations varies depending on the context. While some errors may cause minor inconveniences, others could have serious or even dangerous consequences, particularly in sensitive domains like healthcare or legal advisory. As generative AI continues to evolve, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of its outputs will remain a top priority. The Generative AI Data Governance Imperative Generative AI’s transformative power lies in its ability to leverage vast amounts of information. For information security, data privacy, and governance professionals, this means grappling with key questions, such as: With high stakes and no way to reverse intellectual property violations, the need for robust data governance frameworks is urgent. As society navigates this transformative era, balancing innovation with responsibility will determine whether generative AI becomes a tool for progress or a source of new challenges. While generative AI heralds a bold future, history reminds us that groundbreaking advancements often come with growing pains. It is the responsibility of stakeholders to anticipate and address these challenges to ensure a safer and more equitable AI-powered world. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more Top Ten Reasons Why Tectonic Loves the Cloud The Cloud is Good for Everyone – Why Tectonic loves the cloud You don’t need to worry about tracking licenses. Read more
The Most Commonly Requested Salesforce Customizations Salesforce’s flexibility is one of its biggest strengths, allowing businesses to tailor the platform to meet their unique needs. Here are the most frequently requested types of customizations: 1. Declarative Customization Make adjustments using Salesforce’s built-in tools—no coding required. Examples: Ideal For:Businesses looking for straightforward changes to enhance usability without requiring programming expertise. 2. Integration Customization Connect Salesforce with third-party systems to streamline workflows and centralize data. Examples: Benefits:Boost operational efficiency by enabling seamless communication between systems. 3. Custom Code Development Go beyond standard functionality with tailored solutions using Apex, Visualforce, or Lightning Web Components. Examples: Best For:Organizations with advanced or highly specific requirements that declarative tools can’t fulfill. 4. User Interface (UI) Customization Adapt the look and feel of Salesforce to improve user experience and align with your brand. Examples: Goal:Create an intuitive, visually appealing interface that boosts productivity and user adoption. 5. Workflow Automation Save time by automating repetitive tasks and processes. Examples: Impact:Streamline operations, reduce manual workloads, and improve efficiency. 6. Reporting and Analytics Customization Provide actionable insights with tailored reports and dashboards. Examples: Advantage:Empower teams to make data-driven decisions with clear, relevant insights. 7. Mobile Optimization Ensure a seamless Salesforce experience for users on mobile devices. Examples: Purpose:Keep teams connected and productive, regardless of location. Conclusion Salesforce customization goes beyond CRM—it transforms the platform into a tailored solution that aligns with your unique business processes. Whether you’re looking for simple adjustments or advanced integrations, these customizations unlock Salesforce’s full potential to drive operational success. Ready to Get Started?Discover how our Salesforce customization services can help tailor the platform to your specific needs. Let’s work together to maximize your investment and achieve your business goals! 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
Protecting Your IP from AI Training: Poisoning Your Data As more valuable intellectual property (IP) becomes accessible online, concerns over AI vendors scraping content for training models without permission are rising. If you’re worried about AI theft and want to safeguard your assets, it’s time to consider “poisoning” your content—making it difficult or even impossible for AI systems to use it effectively. Key Principle: AI “Sees” Differently Than Humans AI processes data in ways humans don’t. While people view content based on context, AI “sees” data in raw, specific formats that can be manipulated. By subtly altering your content, you can protect it without affecting human users. Image Poisoning: Misleading AI Models For images, you can “poison” them to confuse AI models without impacting human perception. A great example of this is Nightshade, a tool designed to distort images so that they remain recognizable to humans but useless to AI models. This technique ensures your artwork or images can’t be replicated, and applying it across your visual content protects your unique style. For example, if you’re concerned about your images being stolen or reused by generative AI systems, you can embed misleading text into the image itself, which is invisible to human users but interpreted by AI as nonsensical data. This ensures that an AI model trained on your images will be unable to replicate them correctly. Text Poisoning: Adding Complexity for Crawlers Text poisoning requires more finesse, depending on the sophistication of the AI’s web crawler. Simple methods include: Invisible Text One easy method is to hide text within your page using CSS. This invisible content can be placed in sidebars, between paragraphs, or anywhere within your text: cssCopy code.content { color: black; /* Same as the background */ opacity: 0.0; /* Invisible */ display: none; /* Hidden in the DOM */ } By embedding this “poisonous” content directly in the text, AI crawlers might have difficulty distinguishing it from real content. If done correctly, AI models will ingest the irrelevant data as part of your content. JavaScript-Generated Content Another technique is to use JavaScript to dynamically alter the content, making it visible only after the page loads or based on specific conditions. This can frustrate AI crawlers that only read content after the DOM is fully loaded, as they may miss the hidden data. htmlCopy code<script> // Dynamically load content based on URL parameters or other factors </script> This method ensures that AI gets a different version of the page than human users. Honeypots for AI Crawlers Honeypots are pages designed specifically for AI crawlers, containing irrelevant or distorted data. These pages don’t affect human users but can confuse AI models by feeding them inaccurate information. For example, if your website sells cheese, you can create pages that only AI crawlers can access, full of bogus details about your cheese, thus poisoning the AI model with incorrect information. By adding these “honeypot” pages, you can mislead AI models that scrape your data, preventing them from using your IP effectively. Competitive Advantage Through Data Poisoning Data poisoning can also work to your benefit. By feeding AI models biased information about your products or services, you can shape how these models interpret your brand. For example, you could subtly insert favorable competitive comparisons into your content that only AI models can read, helping to position your products in a way that biases future AI-driven decisions. For instance, you might embed positive descriptions of your brand or products in invisible text. AI models would ingest these biases, making it more likely that they favor your brand when generating results. Using Proxies for Data Poisoning Instead of modifying your CMS, consider using a proxy server to inject poisoned data into your content dynamically. This approach allows you to identify and respond to crawlers more easily, adding a layer of protection without needing to overhaul your existing systems. A proxy can insert “poisoned” content based on the type of AI crawler requesting it, ensuring that the AI gets the distorted data without modifying your main website’s user experience. Preparing for AI in a Competitive World With the increasing use of AI for training and decision-making, businesses must think proactively about protecting their IP. In an era where AI vendors may consider all publicly available data fair game, implementing data poisoning should become a standard practice for companies concerned about protecting their content and ensuring it’s represented correctly in AI models. Businesses that take these steps will be better positioned to negotiate with AI vendors if they request data for training and will have a competitive edge if AI systems are used by consumers or businesses to make decisions about their products or services. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more Top Ten Reasons Why Tectonic Loves the Cloud The Cloud is Good for Everyone – Why Tectonic loves the cloud You don’t need to worry about tracking licenses. Read more
Treating AI Agents as Personas: Introducing the Era of Agent-Computer Interaction The UX landscape is evolving. While the design community has quickly adopted Large Language Models (LLMs) as tools, we’ve yet to fully grasp their transformative potential. With AI agents now deeply embedded in digital products, they are shifting from tools to active participants in our digital ecosystems. This change demands a new design paradigm—one that views AI agents not just as extensions of human users but as independent personas in their own right. The Rise of Agent-Computer Interaction AI agents represent a new class of users capable of navigating interfaces autonomously and completing complex tasks. This marks the dawn of Agent-Computer Interaction (ACI)—a paradigm where user experience design encompasses the needs of both human users and AI agents. Humans still play a critical role in guiding and supervising these systems, but AI agents must now be treated as distinct personas with unique goals, abilities, and requirements. This shift challenges UX designers to consider how these agents interact with interfaces and perform their tasks, ensuring they are equipped with the information and resources necessary to operate effectively. Understanding AI Agents AI agents are intelligent systems designed to reason, plan, and work across platforms with minimal human intervention. As defined during Google I/O, these agents retain context, anticipate needs, and execute multi-step processes. Advances in AI, such as Anthropic’s Claude and its ability to interact with graphical interfaces, have unlocked new levels of agency. Unlike earlier agents that relied solely on APIs, modern agents can manipulate graphical user interfaces much like human users, enabling seamless interaction with browser-based applications. This capability creates opportunities for new forms of interaction but also demands thoughtful design choices. Two Interaction Approaches for AI Agents Design teams must evaluate these methods based on the task’s complexity and transparency requirements, striking the right balance between efficiency and oversight. Designing Experiences Considering AI Agents Personas As AI agents transition into active users, UX design must expand to accommodate their specific needs. Much like human personas, AI agents require a deep understanding of their capabilities, limitations, and workflows. Creating AI Agent Personas Developing personas for AI agents involves identifying their unique characteristics: These personas inform interface designs that optimize agent workflows, ensuring both agents and humans can collaborate effectively. New UX Research Methodologies UX teams should embrace innovative research techniques, such as A/B testing interfaces for agent performance and monitoring their interaction patterns. While AI agents lack sentience, they exhibit behaviors—reasoning, planning, and adapting—that require careful study and design consideration. Shaping the AI Mind AI agents derive their reasoning capabilities from Large Language Models (LLMs), but their behavior and effectiveness are shaped by UX design. Designers have a unique role in crafting system prompts and developing feedback loops that refine LLM behavior over time. Key Areas for Designer Involvement: This work positions UX professionals as co-creators of AI intelligence, shaping not just interfaces but the underlying behaviors that drive agent interactions. Keeping Humans in the Loop Despite the rise of AI agents, human oversight and control remain essential. UX practitioners must prioritize transparency and trust in agent-driven systems. Key Considerations: Using tools like agentic experience maps—blueprints that visualize the interactions between humans, agents, and products—designers can ensure AI systems remain human-centered. A New Frontier for UX The emergence of AI agents heralds a shift as significant as the transition from desktop to mobile. Just as mobile devices unlocked new opportunities for interaction, AI agents are poised to redefine digital experiences in ways we can’t yet fully predict. By embracing Agent-Computer Interaction, UX designers have an unprecedented opportunity to shape the future of human-AI collaboration. Those who develop expertise in designing for these intelligent agents will lead the way in creating systems that are not only powerful but also deeply human-centered. 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
EnergyFlex Launches Clean Energy Transition Campaign in Partnership with Carat SA EnergyFlex, an Australian veteran-owned energy analytics and renewables education company, has joined forces with Carat SA to launch its first-ever brand campaign. This initiative is designed to accelerate Australia’s clean energy transition by equipping individuals and businesses with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to become “Renewables Ready.” Empowering Australians with Free Energy Tools Founded in 2021, EnergyFlex aims to put every Australian on the path to free and clean energy. The company’s free app, launched in May, helps users: The app, available on both iOS and Android, is part of EnergyFlex’s mission to make renewable energy adoption accessible and impactful for all Australians. Voices from the Partnership Garry Harding, CEO and Co-Founder of EnergyFlex, emphasized the campaign’s focus on financial, community, and environmental benefits: “We want to make it as easy as possible for Australians to understand the positive impact of the renewable energy transition. Partnering with Carat SA enables us to raise awareness and bring these tools and education to homes and businesses across the country.” Adele Gibb, Managing Director of Carat SA, highlighted the synergy between the campaign and Carat’s values: “Working with a forward-thinking brand like EnergyFlex aligns perfectly with dentsu’s B2B2S philosophy—creating solutions that are good for business, people, and society.” About Carat SA As a leading global media agency, Carat SA operates across 190+ offices in 135+ countries, bringing expertise and innovation to drive impactful campaigns. With this collaboration, EnergyFlex and Carat SA are poised to inspire a nationwide shift toward renewable energy adoption, helping Australia lead ,.the way in sustainability. 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
The new LOS will incorporate machine learning and automation to deliver real-time credit assessments, enabling faster loan processing and competitive interest rates, alongside improved credit risk insights. This strategic partnership underscores Mahindra Finance’s dedication to providing responsible financing solutions to India’s emerging MSME sector.
Salesforce Introduces Agentforce Accelerator to Empower Nonprofits Salesforce has unveiled the Salesforce Accelerator — Agents for Impact, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at helping nonprofits harness the power of Agentforce. This suite of AI-driven tools enables organizations to build and deploy autonomous AI agents that can perform critical tasks across various functions. Through a combination of technology, funding, and expertise, the accelerator aims to empower nonprofits to enhance operational efficiency and amplify their impact in an AI-driven future. Why It Matters Nonprofits often face challenges such as staffing shortages and burnout, limiting their ability to address pressing social and environmental issues. AI agents can play a transformative role by augmenting nonprofit teams, enabling them to: While the potential is significant, developing and implementing AI solutions often remains financially and technically inaccessible for many nonprofits. How the Accelerator Works The Salesforce Accelerator — Agents for Impact bridges this gap by providing a comprehensive support package: Nonprofits from all focus areas can apply for the accelerator starting October 29, 2024, with selected organizations notified by December. Track Record of Impact The Agents for Impact initiative builds on Salesforce’s broader accelerator program, which has provided million since 2022 to support innovative nonprofit solutions in areas like AI, education, and climate action. Scaling Nonprofit Potential With the launch of Salesforce Accelerator — Agents for Impact, nonprofits now have unprecedented opportunities to adopt AI-driven solutions that enhance efficiency and scale their missions. This program reflects Salesforce’s ongoing commitment to empowering organizations to drive meaningful change in an increasingly AI-powered world. 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
Salesforce’s new Data Cloud One is designed to extend cloud capabilities by allowing multiple departments—or orgs—to collaborate seamlessly on shared data. With Data Cloud One, each department maintains its own CRM and analytics interface, tailored to its specific needs, while accessing a unified database that serves as the single source of truth. The automated exchange of metadata between departments enables efficient, low-code linking and integration. Also within Data Cloud One, multiple Salesforce orgs can be connected and communicate. As your company grows, your business needs grow as well. You might create different Salesforce orgs for different departments, regions, or brands, or inherit them as part of an acquisition. And data about the same customer can end up stored in multiple orgs. It’s great to have all that data, but it’s more valuable if every part of your business can access a single view of each customer. Standard Salesforce CRM connections let you ingest data from many orgs into Data Cloud where it’s unified in the Data Cloud home org. The home org is the primary org where Data Cloud is provisioned and managed. But connected orgs can’t directly access unified data. To make use of unified data in connected orgs, you have to rely on data actions to trigger flows in connected orgs based on the Data Cloud data, or set up complicated custom-coded solutions. Or you have to provision, set up, and maintain a Data Cloud on every org. At the heart of Cloud One is the Home Org, where all data consolidates, and logical units are grouped into Data Spaces. Through automated metadata sharing, other departments (companion orgs) can directly access approved functions within their Cloud One application, creating a standardized network for CRM, data management, analytics, and security. New AI-powered features are also integrated. Role of Salesforce Data Cloud Data Cloud One makes accessing a single Data Cloud across multiple orgs a snap. Orgs connected through a Data Cloud One companion connection are called companion orgs. On top of ingesting data through a standard connection, users in companion orgs also have access to a subset of Data Cloud functionality in the Data Cloud One app. Companion org users can see a complete view of their customers from unified profiles, build custom flows on unified data, directly access calculated insights, and optimize business processes for their use case by powering CRM platform features with Data Cloud. Salesforce Data Cloud One When users set up Data Cloud One, they see a list of Data Spaces available to them. Once authenticated, they gain access to details on shared data, as well as analysis and CRM functionalities. Each user automatically receives three Companion Connections, included in the Salesforce Cloud package, with options to add more as needed. Data Cloud One Architecture In the past, each department worked with its own data set, configurations, users, and security protocols, making inter-departmental data sharing time-consuming and requiring custom code. Data Cloud One simplifies this by allowing companion orgs to connect through a streamlined, automated system, enabling smoother collaboration across departments. Benefits of Data Cloud One When connecting an org to Data Cloud, you can choose between a standard connection and a Data Cloud One companion connection. Let’s compare the access of orgs with each connection. Access Orgs with a Standard Connection Orgs with a Data Cloud One Companion Connection Access to Data Cloud data None Access to Data Cloud metadata, objects, and records in shared data spaces. Data spaces are logical partitions of data within Data Cloud. You can invest in enhanced data security by using Data Cloud data spaces to organize and govern shared data. Access to Data Cloud features None Access to some Data Cloud features in the Data Cloud One app, such as calculated insights and Data Explorer.Access to platform features powered by Data Cloud, such as Flows. Benefits of Data Cloud One Multi-org users of Data Cloud have long sought an easy way to access a unified Customer 360 and take action across multiple orgs. Now, with the general availability of Data Cloud One, that capability has arrived! Data Cloud One equips multiple orgs with a centralized customer profile and Data Cloud-powered features, all accessed through a single, central Data Cloud. This new tool simplifies the onboarding of multi-org teams, transforming how they collaborate within Data Cloud. A Unified Approach to Data Cloud for Multiple Orgs — with Low-Code Configuration So, what is Data Cloud One? It’s a much-anticipated feature designed to enhance multi-org functionality by connecting an entire organization through a single, centralized Data Cloud that serves as the ultimate source of truth. Here’s what Data Cloud One brings to the table: With Data Cloud One, multi-org teams can quickly and seamlessly adopt a comprehensive, shared customer view and Data Cloud-driven capabilities across departments, revolutionizing collaboration and data access. The quest to be data-driven will quickly become the quest to become Data-Cloud driven, and Tectonic is here to help. 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
Informed Decision-Making Through Data Visualization: Power BI vs. Tableau Today’s businesses need to make informed decisions by leveraging organized and analyzed data. Data visualization is a key method for extracting insights from this data, and Power BI and Tableau are two leading tools that often spark debate among experts. Both are highly regarded for their ability to visualize data, and CTOs frequently compare Power BI vs. Tableau to determine the best fit for their needs. Why Power BI and Tableau Stand OutBoth tools excel at data visualization, making them top choices for business intelligence (BI) solutions. They offer seamless integration with various platforms, can handle large volumes of data, and provide predictive analytics capabilities. To help CTOs and other decision-makers boost efficiency, let’s dive into a comparison of Power BI vs. Tableau and examine how each tool measures up. Power BI Microsoft’s Power BI is a leading BI tool designed to transform data from diverse sources into insightful visual reports. It allows users to create, share, and manage analytical reports, ensuring accessibility at all times. As part of the Microsoft ecosystem, Power BI is ideal for large organizations that already use Microsoft products. Tableau Tableau delivers powerful data visualization with flexible deployment options, allowing users to seamlessly access insights. With its integration into Salesforce Data Cloud, Tableau offers a fast and scalable way to work with customer data in real time. Its strong data-handling capabilities make it popular among larger organizations and data experts. Power BI vs. Tableau: Key Differences Let’s explore the key differences between Power BI and Tableau to guide your informed decision-making. Data Visualization and User Interface Data Integration and Connectivity for Informed Decision-Making Data Handling and Performance Ease of Learning Programming Tools Support Pricing Microsoft Power BI vs. Salesforce Tableau: Pros and Cons Power BI Pros Tableau Pros Which is Better: Power BI or Tableau? When comparing Microsoft Power BI vs. Tableau, the right choice depends on your organization’s size, technical expertise, and specific needs. For smaller businesses and those already using Microsoft tools, Power BI is often the best fit. On the other hand, larger organizations managing substantial datasets might favor Tableau for its advanced capabilities. Ultimately, the decision between Power BI vs. Tableau should be based on your unique business requirements and the level of technical expertise available within your team. 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
Salesforce Winter ’25 Release: 6 Key Enhancements to Experience Cloud The Salesforce Winter ’25 Release brings a fresh suite of updates to Experience Cloud, focusing on design customization, SEO optimization, and streamlined navigation for enhanced user engagement. We’ve summarized six major updates and additional enhancements that make this release a significant step forward for Experience Cloud sites. 1. Enhanced Design Options for LWR Sites Winter ’25 empowers site designers with more granular control over the look and feel of LWR (Lightning Web Runtime) sites. New customization options in the Experience Builder Theme panel now allow for specific styling of individual components like columns and buttons, offering a new level of precision in visual design. Additional features include a Scoped Header and Footer layout that allows fixed positioning for headers and footers, enhancing user experience with persistent navigation elements. Site admins can define unique color palettes for buttons across various states (default, hover, focus), and apply color schemes to individual columns, which can now be set in the Theme panel. Further text customizations for headings have also been added, allowing a personalized touch for every element on LWR sites. 2. SEO-Friendly URLs for Accounts and Contacts (Generally Available) To drive organic traffic, the Winter ’25 Release introduces SEO-friendly URL slugs for Account and Contact pages, replacing traditional record IDs with easily readable URLs. This enhancement allows search engines to better index content, making it easier for users to find your pages. Site managers can configure SEO-friendly URLs directly in the Administration panel and import slugs in bulk for faster setup. 3. Data Providers for LWR Sites (Beta) Experience Cloud now includes an option to configure data providers on LWR site pages, enabling seamless integration with data from various sources, including Apex and Record providers. Admins can specify data sources within Experience Builder, allowing for real-time data updates across components and pages, providing a more dynamic and responsive experience for users. 4. Revamped Navigation and New Components The Navigation Menu component has been revamped, allowing admins to design a more intuitive navigation experience for both desktop and mobile users. The beta Site Header component further enhances branding with logo placement and customizable headers, while the Grid component now ensures consistent cell height, improving the visual balance of page layouts. Tailored navigation menus for desktop and mobile screens can be customized for color, spacing, text styles, and more to provide an optimized experience across devices. 5. Expanded Data Cloud Integration for Event Tracking Winter ’25 expands Data Cloud integration to capture checkout, order, and cart events on enhanced LWR sites. Ecommerce-focused organizations can now record user interactions—like checkout initiation and address input—automatically, giving businesses richer insights into customer behavior. Data captured through these events can be viewed within Data Cloud, allowing admins to understand user engagement and optimize site design accordingly. 6. Salesforce File Linking for LWR Sites (Beta) The new File Upload Lightning Web Component enables file uploads directly from an LWR site to Salesforce, an option previously available only on Aura sites. This update streamlines the file transfer process, allowing guest users to upload files securely, which are then accessible within Salesforce. Additional Experience Cloud Enhancements In addition to the primary updates, Winter ’25 introduces several valuable, albeit smaller, features: Availability of Features Some Winter ’25 features will be accessible immediately after release, while others require setup by admins. Consider notifying users about these updates to ensure a smooth transition and to leverage the full potential of new functionalities. 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
10 Top AI Jobs in 2025 As we approach 2025, the demand for AI expertise is on the rise. Companies are seeking professionals with a strong background in AI, paired with practical experience. This insight explores 10 of the top AI jobs, the skills they require, and the industries that are driving AI adoption. If you are of the camp worrying about artificial intelligence replacing you, read on to see how you can leverage AI to upskill your career. AI is increasingly becoming an integral part of our lives, influencing various sectors from healthcare and finance to manufacturing, retail, and education. It is automating routine tasks, enhancing user experiences, and improving decision-making processes. AI is transitioning from data centers into everyday devices such as smartphones, IoT devices, and autonomous vehicles, becoming more efficient and safer thanks to advancements in real-time processing, lower latency, and enhanced privacy measures. The ethical use of AI is also at the forefront, emphasizing fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI models and decision-making processes. This proactive approach to ethics contrasts with past technological advancements, where ethical considerations often lagged behind. The rapid growth of AI translates to an increasing number of job opportunities. Below, we discuss the skills sought in AI specialists, the industries adopting AI at a fast pace, and a rundown of the 10 hottest AI jobs for 2025. Top AI Job Skills While many programmers are self-taught, the AI field demands a higher level of expertise. An analysis of 15,000 job postings found that 77% of AI roles require a master’s degree, while only 8% of positions are available to candidates with just a high school diploma. Most job openings call for mid-level experience, with only 12% for entry-level roles. Interestingly, while remote work is common in IT, only 11% of AI jobs offer fully remote positions. Being a successful AI developer requires more than coding skills; proficiency in core AI programming languages (like Python, Java, and R) is essential. Additional skills in communication, digital marketing strategies, effective collaboration, and analytical abilities are also critical. Moreover, a basic understanding of psychology is beneficial for simulating human behavior, and knowledge of AI security, privacy, and ethical practices is increasingly necessary. Industries Embracing AI Certain sectors are rapidly adopting AI technologies, including: 10 Top AI Jobs AI job roles are evolving quickly. Specialists are increasingly in demand over generalists, with a focus on deep knowledge in specific areas. Here are 10 promising AI job roles for 2025, along with their expected salaries based on job postings. As AI continues to evolve, these roles will play a pivotal part in shaping the future of various industries. Preparing for a career in AI requires a combination of technical skills, ethical understanding, and a willingness to adapt to new technologies. As we’ve seen with Salesforce a push for upskilling in artificial intelligence is here. 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
AI is revolutionizing the way we work, offering a wide range of tools beyond ChatGPT that can enhance efficiency, creativity, and productivity. Whether you’re working with data, code, marketing, videos, images, AI bots, or research, here are the top AI tools that can transform your workflow. Cool and New AI. Don’t get spooked. There will be a cornucopia more in November. 🌟 Code 1️⃣ GlideTurn spreadsheets into powerful mobile apps without writing a single line of code. Glide makes it easy for non-developers to create professional apps with minimal effort. 2️⃣ BubbleA visual programming platform that allows users to build web applications without any coding knowledge. Ideal for entrepreneurs and startups looking to launch digital products quickly. 3️⃣ AskCodiThis AI coding assistant speeds up coding tasks, offers helpful suggestions, and simplifies debugging for developers, making it a must-have tool for coding professionals. 🌟 Data 1️⃣ BasedLabsA robust data analytics platform designed for scientists and engineers. BasedLabs offers complex data processing and model building with exceptional precision. 2️⃣ Coral AIPerfect for data-driven professionals, Coral AI provides efficient edge AI tools for processing large datasets and delivering insights with on-device intelligence, speeding up tasks. 3️⃣ JuliusAn AI-powered tool for market researchers and data analysts, Julius streamlines data processes and offers powerful insights into market trends. 🌟 Marketing 1️⃣ Sprout SocialThis all-in-one social media management platform leverages AI to help marketers optimize their social presence, engage with audiences, and track detailed analytics. 2️⃣ AdCreative AIEnhance your marketing campaigns with AI-generated ads that convert. AdCreative AI allows marketers to design high-impact, creative ads effortlessly. 3️⃣ Jasper AIA top tool for content creators, Jasper AI assists in crafting high-conversion marketing copy, blogs, and ad texts at scale, making it indispensable for digital marketing. 🌟 Video 1️⃣ SynthesiaCreate professional videos without the need for cameras or actors. Synthesia’s AI avatars enable you to produce multilingual videos, making it ideal for corporate and educational content. 2️⃣ HeygenThis AI tool simplifies video production by allowing users to create AI-generated videos, perfect for marketing campaigns or training materials. 3️⃣ Opus ClipOpus Clip transforms long-form video content into short, engaging clips optimized for social media, helping creators repurpose content easily. 🌟 Image 1️⃣ Getimg.AIAutomate image creation with Getimg.AI, which enhances your visual content by generating high-quality images in minutes, speeding up the design process. 2️⃣ PicsartA versatile image editing and design platform with AI tools that make creating stunning visuals effortless, making it ideal for social media, advertising, and creative projects. 3️⃣ Leonardo AIA powerful AI-driven tool for creators, Leonardo AI helps generate high-quality images, illustrations, and graphics, making it an essential tool for designers and artists. 🌟 AI Bot 1️⃣ LiveChatAn AI-powered live chat solution that integrates seamlessly into websites to provide real-time customer support, enhancing business communication. 2️⃣ LandbotThis tool helps create conversational experiences with AI-powered chatbots for customer support, sales, and lead generation, automating client interactions. 3️⃣ CustomGPTA customizable GPT-powered AI chatbot tailored for specific industries and businesses, perfect for providing personalized customer support. 🌟 Research 1️⃣ ChatPDFTurn PDFs into interactive documents with ChatPDF, allowing users to easily navigate and extract information using an AI-based assistant. 2️⃣ VidIQVidIQ provides AI-powered tools to optimize YouTube content for better engagement and visibility, making it invaluable for content creators. 3️⃣ SemrushAn advanced SEO platform powered by AI, Semrush gives marketers and researchers deep insights into online visibility, helping boost content performance. AI extends far beyond ChatGPT. This diverse range of tools is designed to make your work more efficient and productive, whether you’re coding, marketing, creating content, or conducting research. Embrace these AI tools to unlock new levels of creativity and efficiency. 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
Don’t get spooked – OpenAI introduces Canvas—a fresh interface for collaborative writing and coding with ChatGPT, designed to go beyond simple conversation. Canvas opens in a separate window, enabling you and ChatGPT to work on projects side by side, creating and refining ideas in real time. This early beta provides an entirely new way of collaborating with AI—combining conversation with the ability to edit and enhance content together. Built on GPT-4o, Canvas can be selected in the model picker during the beta phase. Starting today, we’re rolling it out to ChatGPT Plus and Team users globally, with Enterprise and Education users gaining access next week. Once out of beta, Canvas will be available to all ChatGPT Free users. Enhancing Collaboration with ChatGPT While ChatGPT’s chat interface works well for many tasks, projects requiring editing and iteration benefit from more. Canvas provides a workspace designed for such needs. Here, ChatGPT can better interpret your objectives, offering inline feedback and suggestions across entire projects—similar to a copy editor or code reviewer. You control every aspect in Canvas, from direct editing to leveraging shortcuts like adjusting text length, debugging code, or quickly refining writing. You can also revert to previous versions with Canvas’s back button. OpenAI Introduces Canvas Canvas opens automatically when ChatGPT detects an ideal scenario, or you can prompt it by typing “use Canvas” in your request to begin working collaboratively on an existing project. Writing Shortcuts Include: Coding in Canvas Canvas makes coding revisions more transparent, streamlining the iterative coding process. Track ChatGPT’s edits more clearly and take advantage of features that make debugging and revising code simpler. OpenAI Introduces Canvas to a world of new possibilities for truly developing and working with artificial intelligence. Coding Shortcuts Include: Training the Model to Collaborate GPT-4o has been optimized to act as a collaborative partner, understanding when to open a Canvas, make targeted edits, or fully rewrite content. Our team implemented core behaviors to support a seamless experience, including: These improvements are backed by over 20 internal automated evaluations and refined with synthetic data generation techniques, allowing us to enhance response quality and interaction without relying on human-generated data. Key Challenges as OpenAI Introduces Canvas A core challenge was determining when to trigger Canvas. We trained GPT-4o to recognize prompts like “Write a blog post about the history of coffee beans” while avoiding over-triggering for simple Q&A requests. For writing tasks, we reached an 83% accuracy in correct Canvas triggers, and a 94% accuracy in coding tasks compared to baseline models. Fine-tuning continues to ensure targeted edits are favored over full rewrites when needed. Finally, improving comment generation required iterative adjustments and human evaluations, with the integrated Canvas model now outperforming baseline GPT-4o in accuracy by 30% and quality by 16%. What’s Next Canvas is the first major update to ChatGPT’s visual interface since launch, with more enhancements planned to make AI more versatile and accessible. Canvas is also integrated with 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 Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more Top Ten Reasons Why Tectonic Loves the Cloud The Cloud is Good for Everyone – Why Tectonic loves the cloud You don’t need to worry about tracking licenses. Read more
Sales Incentives That Actually Work Spooktacular Sales incentives to kick off your Halloween. Sales Incentives That Work are an essential tool to encourage and reward desired behaviors within a sales team. They serve as a motivational driver, helping teams achieve their goals while reinforcing the company’s objectives. Incentivizing a team goes beyond merely showing up for work—it involves sparking enthusiasm and a genuine drive to exceed expectations. With the right incentive program, companies can energize their teams, ensuring they come to work motivated and ready to achieve results. Below is a guide on different types of sales incentives, their impact on performance, and best practices for creating an effective incentive program. What Are Sales Incentives? Sales incentives are rewards offered to sales representatives in addition to their base pay for exceptional performance, typically when they meet or exceed sales targets. While monetary rewards such as bonuses are common, sales incentives can take many forms, all aimed at motivating the sales force toward specific goals. Types of Sales Incentives There are five main categories of sales incentives, each tailored to motivate different roles and sales activities: How Sales Incentives Motivate a Team Sales incentives work by reinforcing the behaviors a company wants its team to prioritize. For highly competitive reps, the prospect of a reward adds an extra layer of motivation. For others who may not be as driven by competition, incentives provide tangible goals to strive toward. Moreover, well-structured incentive programs can enhance job satisfaction, decrease turnover, and ensure top performers stay motivated. 10 Effective Sales Incentives While monetary rewards are often the most straightforward incentive, incorporating a mix of creative rewards can enhance a company’s incentive program. Some ideas include: Best Practices for Implementing Sales Incentives A well-designed sales incentive program ensures both clarity and motivation. Some best practices for implementation include: Measuring the Impact of Sales Incentives To gauge the success of a sales incentive program, companies should track key performance indicators (KPIs) like overall sales, new and returning customer numbers, program costs versus ROI, employee turnover, and employee satisfaction. Monitoring these metrics ensures that the program aligns with both sales goals and employee satisfaction. Tectonic’s Final Thoughts Sales incentives are an effective way to drive performance and boost morale. By designing a simple, clear, and motivating incentive program, companies can align their sales goals with individual motivation, ensuring both business success and employee satisfaction. If you need assistance utilizing sales incentives and your Salesforce platform, contact Tectonic today. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more 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
