Flow Builder Archives - gettectonic.com

10Apr

Key Signs Your Business Needs a Salesforce Support & Maintenance Partner

Salesforce is a powerful CRM platform, but simply implementing it doesn’t guarantee success. To maximize ROI, businesses need continuous optimization, expert guidance, and proactive maintenance—something an in-house team may struggle to provide alone. Discover the key signs your business needs a Salesforce support and maintenance partner. Many companies invest in Salesforce expecting high returns but end up facing: These challenges turn Salesforce into a cost center rather than a revenue-driving platform. If you’re noticing these issues, it’s time to consider a Salesforce support and maintenance partner. This insight explores the critical warning signs and how a managed services provider can help. What Is a Salesforce Support & Maintenance Partner? A Salesforce support and maintenance partner is a specialized provider that manages, optimizes, and secures your Salesforce org. They provide you: ✔ Proactive Monitoring – 24/7 performance checks to prevent downtime, security breaches, and data decay.✔ Expert Guidance – Certified professionals resolve feature stagnation (unused automation/AI tools) and boost user adoption.✔ Strategic Roadmaps – Align Salesforce with business goals for long-term success.✔ Elimination of Technical Debt – Reduce technology noise slowing down your org. Why Are They Crucial? ✅ Cost Efficiency – Avoid hiring full-time specialists.✅ Risk Mitigation – Ensure compliance, security, and data integrity.✅ ROI Maximization – Unlock advanced features and improve team efficiency. A trusted partner like Tectonic identifies warning signs early, preventing short- and long-term inefficiencies. 9 Key Signs You Need a Salesforce Support & Maintenance Partner 1. Declining User Adoption The Problem: Employees avoid Salesforce due to poor training, complex workflows, or inefficient processes.Why It Matters: Low adoption wastes your CRM investment. (Only 36% of agents upsell due to lack of training—Salesforce State of Service Report.)The Solution: 2. Security & Compliance Risks The Problem: Unclear GDPR/HIPAA compliance, outdated security settings, or unauthorized access attempts.Why It Matters: Data breaches lead to fines, legal risks, and lost trust. (Non-compliance costs $14.8M on average—Globalscape.)The Solution: 3. Rising Ticket Backlogs The Problem: IT teams are overwhelmed with unresolved requests, slowing operations.Why It Matters: Delays hurt sales cycles, employee morale, and customer satisfaction.The Solution: 4. Underutilized Salesforce Features The Problem: Only basic functions (leads/contacts) are used—AI, automation, and analytics are ignored.Why It Matters: Manual processes slow growth. (Only 49% of service orgs use AI—Salesforce.)The Solution: 5. Poor Data Quality & Duplicates The Problem: Duplicate leads, missing fields, and inaccurate reports lead to bad decisions.Why It Matters: Poor data costs $12.9M annually (Gartner).The Solution: 6. Increasing Downtime The Problem: Frequent crashes, slow reports, or integration failures.Why It Matters: Downtime = lost sales & productivity. (Meta lost $100M in 2 hours in 2024.)The Solution: 7. Lack of Strategic Roadmap The Problem: No clear upgrade plan, leading to disorganized workflows.Why It Matters: 30-70% of CRM projects fail due to poor planning.The Solution: 8. Unstable Customizations The Problem: Apex triggers, Flows, or Lightning components break after updates.Why It Matters: Patchwork fixes increase technical debt & admin workload.The Solution: 9. Slow Salesforce Performance The Problem: Reports load slowly, or users face “Service Unavailable” errors.Why It Matters: A 100ms delay can hurt conversions by 7% (Akamai).The Solution: Conclusion If you’re experiencing any of these issues, your Salesforce org needs expert care. A managed services partner like Tectonic helps:✔ Reduce downtime✔ Improve performance✔ Boost user adoption✔ Enhance security & compliance With 24/7 proactive support, strategic roadmaps, and advanced feature utilization, Tectonic ensures your Salesforce investment drives revenue—not costs. Need help optimizing Salesforce? Contact Tectonic today for a free assessment. Like1 Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

April 10, 2025in AI Tools, Data, Salesforce, Salesforce Managed Services, Salesforce Shield0 Comments

03Apr

Salesforce Summer ’25 Release: The Ultimate Flow Update

The Summer ’25 release is set to be the most powerful update yet for Salesforce Flow, packed with game-changing features that make automation smarter, faster, and easier to manage. Whether you’re an admin building screen flows or a developer orchestrating AI-powered processes, this release delivers next-level automation capabilities. Let’s look at the biggest highlights. 🚀 Top Flow Builder Enhancements 1. A Brand-New Flow Creation Experience 2. Smarter Debugging & Testing 3. Dynamic Screen Flows (GA) 4. Better Slack & Approval Integrations 🤖 AI & Agentforce Upgrades 1. Structured Agent Outputs 2. Custom App Integration 🎨 Screen Flow Modernization 1. Visual Pickers with Icons 2. Compact, Customizable Repeaters 3. Improved Email Actions 📅 Release Timeline 🔥 Why This Release Matters Summer ’25 makes Flow Builder more powerful than ever with:✅ AI-assisted development✅ Real-time interactive screens✅ Stronger debugging & testing✅ Seamless Slack & approvals✅ Smarter AI agent controls Ready to explore? Refresh your sandbox before May 9 to get early access! #Salesforce #FlowBuilder #CRM #Automation #AI #Summer25Release Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

April 3, 2025in Data, Salesforce, Salesforce Flow0 Comments

30Mar

Field Service Mobile Data Capture

Field Service Mobile Data Capture Using Discovery Framework Offline-Capable Dynamic Forms for Field Teams Transform field service operations with intelligent, structured data collection powered by Salesforce’s Discovery Framework. This solution enables: ✔ Offline functionality – Capture data without internet connectivity✔ Dynamic forms – Build responsive question flows in Flow Builder✔ Centralized question bank – Reuse and version assessment questions✔ Full audit trail – Track all form submissions and revisions Solution Capabilities Key Features Implementation Guide Prerequisites Setup Process Technical Considerations Supported Data Types Discovery Framework Type Flow Component Use Case Example Single-Select Picklist Radio Buttons Equipment Condition Multi-Select Picklist Checkbox Group Required Repairs Number Input Field Measurement Reading Date Date Picker Service Completion Text Text Area Customer Feedback Error Handling Mobile User Experience Field technicians can: Best Practices “Since implementing Discovery Framework forms, our first-time fix rate improved by 28% because technicians now capture complete information upfront,” reports Jessica Tan, Field Ops Director at Contoso Industrial. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

March 30, 2025in Data, Enterprise, Salesforce0 Comments

09Mar

Salesforce Flow Approval Orchestration

Salesforce Flow Approval Orchestration: A Winner for Approval Processes Approval Processes have long been a key feature in Salesforce, enabling professionals to implement structured, multi-step approvals for records. With the shift towards Salesforce Flow as the primary declarative automation tool, it was only a matter of time before approval functionality became natively integrated. Enter Flow Approval Orchestration—a new way to build and manage approvals entirely within Flow Builder at no additional cost. Introducing Flow Approval Orchestration Spring ’25 introduces Approval Orchestration Flow Types, expanding Flow’s capabilities beyond merely invoking an existing Approval Process. These new flows offer a robust solution for both simple and complex approval workflows, accommodating both internal and external users and systems. Approval Orchestration flows come in two types: Stages and Steps: The Core of Approval Orchestration Approval Orchestration relies on Stages and Steps to structure approvals. Stages contain multiple Steps that can execute sequentially or in parallel based on specified criteria. Within each Stage, two types of Steps are available: By default, a Stage is completed once all its Steps are finished, but this can be customized with additional conditions or an Evaluation Flow for more complex logic. Building an Approval Process in Flow Builder Approval Orchestration offers flexibility for various business scenarios. Let’s consider an example where an Opportunity requires approval upon creation, but only if the related Account is classified as a Customer Account. Steps to Implement: For opportunities over 500K, a secondary approver is required. The Decision Element in Flow allows navigation between different Stages, ensuring complex approval hierarchies are handled efficiently. Enhancing User Experience & Management To streamline approval management: Key Considerations Before transitioning to Flow Approval Orchestration, keep these in mind: Final Thoughts Bringing all approval-related automation into Flow Builder is a significant leap forward for Salesforce admins. Flow Approval Orchestration not only simplifies complex approval logic but also enhances visibility and control over approvals. Try it in a sandbox environment to explore its potential and tailor it to your specific business needs. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

March 9, 2025in Salesforce, Salesforce Flow

04Mar

Salesforce Marketing Cloud Growth Edition for Personalization

Why Personalized Marketing Matters Personalized marketing is a game-changer for inceased customer engagement and business growth. According to a recent study, it can boost ROI by up to 20%. Yet, many marketers struggle to execute effective personalization due to fragmented data and lack of alignment across teams. To overcome these challenges, marketers must build a solid data foundation, leverage AI-driven segmentation, and utilize dynamic content strategies. This Tectonic insight outlines the essential steps to achieving personalized marketing at scale. Step 1: Build a Unified Data Foundation Marketers today have access to more data than ever before—from CRM and sales data to digital advertising, ERP, transactional, and accounting data. The challenge is unifying these sources to create a single operational customer profile. Without this, analyzing customer behavior and delivering personalized experiences is nearly impossible. How to Get Your Data in Order: Centralize customer data across teams using Marketing Cloud Growth and Advanced Editions, built on the Salesforce platform. Leverage AI-powered insights to optimize real-time personalization. Establish a “single source of truth” to align marketing, sales, and service teams. A strong data foundation not only fuels better AI-driven personalization but also enhances analytics and campaign performance. Step 2: Use AI to Segment with Precision Segmentation is the backbone of personalized marketing, allowing marketers to tailor campaigns based on customer behavior, demographics, and engagement levels. Traditionally, segmentation was a manual, time-consuming process. However, AI has revolutionized this process by enabling natural language-based segment creation. How AI Improves Segmentation: Eliminates the need for SQL expertise, making segmentation accessible to all marketers. Generates precise audience segments based on engagement and fit scores. Leverages harmonized operational profiles to build complex, data-driven segments. With AI-driven segmentation, marketers can create hyper-targeted campaigns that resonate with their audience, increasing engagement and conversion rates. Step 3: Implement Engagement and Fit Scoring One of the most effective ways to enhance personalization is by scoring leads and contacts based on their engagement and fit with your ideal customer profile. This approach helps prioritize high-value prospects and ensures marketing efforts are focused on the right audience. Understanding Engagement Scoring: Engagement Scoring evaluates how actively leads and contacts interact with your marketing campaigns. This includes actions like email clicks, form submissions, and website visits. Key Metrics Used in Engagement Scoring: Email Engagement (e.g., Click, Unsubscribe) Website Engagement (e.g., Form Submission, Button Click) Message Engagement (e.g., Subscribe, Unsubscribe) Understanding Fit Scoring: Fit Scoring assesses how well a lead or contact aligns with your ideal customer profile. This includes demographic, firmographic, and behavioral data. Key Fit Scoring Criteria: Demographics: Age, gender, income level Firmographics: Industry, company size, revenue Behavioral Patterns: Purchase history, product usage Geographics: Location-based targeting Technographics: Technology stack compatibility Step 4: Use Dynamic Content Blocks for Hyper-Personalization Once your data is structured and segments are refined, the next step is delivering personalized content. Marketing Cloud Growth and Advanced Editions offer powerful tools like Cross-Object Merge Fields and Rule-Based Dynamic Content. How to Leverage These Tools: Cross-Object Merge Fields: Pull data from operational customer profiles to create more personalized messages (e.g., referencing a webinar attended or service case status). R ule-Based Dynamic Content: Display targeted text and images based on complex customer attributes (e.g., showing a specific image to customers in New York who attended a liveevent). These tools allow marketers to go beyond basic personalization, creating highly relevant and engaging experiences for their audience. Step 5: Combine Engagement and Fit Scoring for Optimal Results By integrating Engagement and Fit Scoring, marketers can create an overall marketing score that prioritizes the most valuable prospects. This score considers both interaction levels and alignment with the ideal customer profile. How to Implement Overall Scoring: Default weighting assigns 50% to Engagement Score and 50% to Fit Score. Scores range from 0 to 100, ensuring a balanced approach to prioritization. Customization allows businesses to adjust weighting based on their specific needs. This holistic scoring model ensures marketing efforts are directed toward leads that are both highly engaged and a great fit for your business. The Future of Personalized Marketing Personalization is no longer optional—it’s essential. Businesses that embrace advanced personalization techniques see a 10-30% increase in sales and customer retention rates. By implementing the strategies outlined in this guide, marketers can: Build a strong data foundation for AI-driven personalization. Use engagement and fit scoring to prioritize high-value leads. Deliver hyper-personalized content with dynamic marketing tools. With the right foundation, tools, and AI-driven insights, marketers can unlock the full potential of personalized marketing, driving stronger customer relationships and higher ROI. Now is the time to take action and position your business for sustained success in an increasingly competitive marketplace. incorporate this. Meet the all-new Salesforce Marketing Cloud Growth edition! Recently unveiled, this platform is designed specifically to empower small businesses by seamlessly integrating CRM, AI, and data within Salesforce’s trusted customer platform – Einstein. It promises to redefine marketing automation across sales, service, and commerce. Let’s explore how Marketing Cloud Growth is set to revolutionize the way small businesses approach marketing, enabling them to drive growth and efficiency like never before. Salesforce Marketing Cloud Growth Edition On February 20, 2024, Salesforce launched the Marketing Cloud Growth edition, aimed at empowering small businesses specifically with B2B marketing needs. With advanced marketing automation tools, powered by Einstein’s Generative AI and Data Cloud, this new edition simplifies marketing tasks, allowing businesses to concentrate on strategic growth. Salesforce Marketing Cloud Growth Edition integrates seamlessly with the core Salesforce platform, known as the Einstein 1 platform to provide users with easy access to all the robust features of Marketing Cloud within the broader Salesforce ecosystem. With the Marketing Cloud Growth edition, teams can efficiently: Unify various data sources via Data Cloud Create and deliver compelling content with Digital Experiences Automate complex customer journeys using Flow Builder Improve decision-making using Einstein’s intelligent analytics and predictions Marketing Cloud Growth edition is user-friendly and built directly on the Salesforce platform, eliminating the need for external connectors. However, it does not include some advanced features found in Marketing

March 4, 2025in AI Tools, Data, Einstein 1 Platform, Enterprise, Generative AI, Marketing Automation, Salesforce, Salesforce Flow, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Technology

31Jan

Here Comes Salesforce Spring 25

The Spring ’25 release helps you increase productivity with new innovations, including Agentforce 2.0, where humans with agents drive customer success together. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

January 31, 2025in Data, Enterprise, Generative AI, Google, Hyperforce, Life Sciences Cloud, Mulesoft, Public Sector Solutions, Salesforce, Salesforce Flow, Salesforce for Nonprofits, Snowflake

07Jan

Why Choose Salesforce as Your Mortgage CRM?

Centralized Data Storage & Management Salesforce Mortgage CRM consolidates all your mortgage data into a single platform, offering a unified view of client information, loan details, and transaction history. This eliminates the confusion of scattered data, ensuring brokers have quick access to crucial information. For instance, if a client calls with questions about their loan, brokers can immediately retrieve accurate details, enhancing trust and improving the client experience. Accurate Loan Forecasting With AI-driven data analytics, Salesforce provides actionable insights into future loan opportunities, potential risks, and projected income. By analyzing historical data, brokers can predict client behavior, such as the likelihood of refinancing. This proactive approach allows brokers to deliver tailored offers, increasing conversions and client satisfaction. Seamless Collaboration & Secure Data Sharing Effective communication within an organization is essential, and Salesforce Mortgage CRM excels at connecting team members across locations and devices. Features like document management ensure efficient workflows through version control, rights management, and advanced search capabilities. Brokers can also share select records or documents securely with external stakeholders by granting limited access, ensuring confidentiality while streamlining the lending process. Top-Notch Security Salesforce Mortgage CRM prioritizes data security with multi-level protocols, including multi-factor authentication, data encryption, 24/7 monitoring, and an advanced Trust Layer. These features ensure that sensitive client information, such as financial and personal data, is safeguarded, fostering confidence among potential borrowers. Personalized Client Interactions Every client’s journey is unique, and Salesforce empowers brokers to deliver personalized experiences. For example, if a client’s fixed-rate term is nearing its end, Salesforce can automate outreach with refinancing options. This level of personalization improves client satisfaction and strengthens retention strategies. In-Depth Analytics and Visualization Salesforce offers robust analytics tools to provide mortgage professionals with insights into client behavior, market trends, operational performance, and risk factors. Interactive dashboards and customizable reports enable brokers to visualize metrics like loan-to-value ratios, debt-to-income ratios, and delinquency rates. These insights help streamline operations, improve profitability, and mitigate risks. Automation and AI-Powered Assistance Salesforce integrates cutting-edge AI tools to automate routine tasks, segment clients, and deliver tailored recommendations. Brokers can use these tools to identify refinancing opportunities, streamline workflows, and increase efficiency. While advanced AI features may require premium subscriptions, Salesforce also provides no-code automation capabilities. Tools like Salesforce Flow allow users to create automated workflows for tasks such as data entry, follow-ups, and approvals. For complex workflows, Flow Orchestrator enables brokers to coordinate multi-step processes seamlessly. These automation features eliminate manual tasks, freeing brokers to focus on high-value activities. Streamline Your Lending Process with Salesforce Mortgage CRM Whether you’re looking to centralize your data, enhance client relationships, or improve operational efficiency, Salesforce Mortgage CRM offers a comprehensive solution. Its combination of AI, analytics, and automation ensures that your team can work smarter, not harder. Ready to transform your mortgage business? Let Salesforce help you achieve greater efficiency and client satisfaction today. Unlock the Full Potential of Mortgage Lending with Salesforce Mortgage CRM Automation Without AI Salesforce Mortgage CRM streamlines repetitive tasks through its no-code automation capabilities, removing the need for AI. Salesforce Flow allows brokers to create automated workflows triggered by specific events, such as follow-up tasks, reminders, or status updates. For more intricate workflows, Flow Orchestrator provides seamless coordination for multi-step processes, including approvals, ensuring a smooth lending experience. Whether sending monthly statements or routing documents between stakeholders in the approval process, Salesforce Mortgage CRM automates these tasks based on your predefined rules. For enterprises, Financial Services Cloud (FSC) offers pre-built templates to manage mortgage applications. For SMBs, building tailored flows from scratch can be a more efficient and cost-effective solution, offering greater customization without overpaying for unused FSC features. An excellent example of Salesforce’s versatility is integrating scheduling tools like Calendly with borrower portals built in Experience Cloud. These portals allow clients to book appointments while considering time zone differences and send automated reminders, ensuring seamless borrower engagement. Platform Customization and Scalability Salesforce is an agile platform that adapts to your business needs. Need custom fields for underwriting criteria? A new object to track loan pipeline opportunities? Or automated workflows to manage approvals? Salesforce’s intuitive point-and-click configuration tools empower you to customize your system without complex coding, making it a perfect fit for businesses of any size. Seamless Integration with Third-Party Tools Salesforce’s vast ecosystem, powered by the AppExchange, offers over 7,000 add-ons to enhance your CRM’s functionality. From digital signature solutions to mortgage rate comparison tools, these integrations eliminate the need for extensive custom development. If your unique needs aren’t met by existing options, Salesforce’s certified AppExchange partners can help create tailored solutions. Salesforce Products Tailored for Mortgage Lending Firms 1. Financial Services Cloud (FSC) FSC is purpose-built for the financial services industry, including mortgage lending. It provides a 360-degree view of clients, integrating their financial holdings, activities, and loan details. With FSC, lenders can offer personalized recommendations, streamline the underwriting process, and stay compliant with industry regulations using built-in risk management tools. 2. Marketing Cloud Account Engagement (Pardot) Pardot empowers lenders to engage potential borrowers effectively. For example, a mortgage firm targeting first-time homebuyers can use Pardot to create automated, personalized email campaigns, nurturing leads with tailored content about loans, interest rates, and homebuying tips.Real-time insights and Einstein-powered predictive lead scoring help mortgage professionals prioritize high-value leads and track engagement through detailed campaign performance metrics, such as Multi-Touch Attribution Reports. 3. Experience Cloud For mortgage firms looking to provide a self-service option, Experience Cloud allows for building custom portals and websites. Borrowers can use these portals to upload documents, track application statuses, and access loan details. The drag-and-drop design tools and pre-built templates make it easy to create branded, user-friendly interfaces without requiring extensive coding. 4. Service Cloud Customer service is critical in the mortgage process, and Salesforce Service Cloud enhances this experience with omnichannel support across email, chat, and phone. Borrowers can quickly get answers to questions about their applications, while automation retrieves and shares relevant data instantly. This improves response times, reduces manual effort, and ensures borrowers receive

January 7, 2025in AI Tools, Data, Enterprise, Salesforce, Salesforce Development Services, Salesforce Experience Cloud, Salesforce Financial Services Solutions, Salesforce Flow, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Salesforce Service Cloud

23Dec

Elevate Your Team’s Performance with Slack

AI and automation are reshaping the workplace. The new features unveiled at Dreamforce 2024 highlight how Slack and Salesforce are helping organizations work smarter, not harder. With these capabilities, teams can accelerate their performance and deliver better outcomes.

December 23, 2024in Agentforce Platform, AI Tools, Data, Salesforce, Salesforce Development Services, Salesforce Slack

Customization and Configuration in Salesforce

Salesforce Customization vs. Configuration: Choosing the Right Approach for Your Business Salesforce has become a top choice for businesses aiming to strengthen customer relationships and achieve their goals. Its flexibility to adapt to diverse needs through customization and configuration makes it stand out. While both approaches aim to tailor your Salesforce Org to meet specific business requirements, they differ in methodology and use cases. This insight will help you understand their differences and provide insights into when and how to choose between them. Let’s get the insight! What is Salesforce Customization? Salesforce customization involves enhancing your Salesforce Org by introducing tailored features, functionalities, and applications through coding. It goes beyond the out-of-the-box capabilities, enabling you to extend your platform to meet unique and complex business requirements. This approach requires expertise from a Salesforce developer who leverages tools such as Apex, Lightning Components, and the Salesforce Code Builder to create custom solutions. Examples of Customization: What is Salesforce Configuration? Salesforce configuration refers to adapting Salesforce’s native features to meet business needs without modifying the underlying code. By using tools such as drag-and-drop builders, configuration allows users—even those without technical expertise—to optimize the platform’s functionality. Examples of Configuration: Key Differences Between Customization and Configuration Basis Customization Configuration Level of Personalization High personalization, tailored to unique needs Limited to Salesforce’s native capabilities Implementation Requires coding expertise and detailed development Simpler, relies on drag-and-drop tools Time to Deploy Longer development cycles Faster implementation and deployment Maintenance Can require ongoing updates and compatibility adjustments during Salesforce upgrades Easier to maintain, as it aligns with standard platform updates Cost Higher costs due to skilled developer involvement Cost-effective; can be handled by in-house admins Risk Higher risks due to potential code conflicts or errors Lower risks, but over-configuration can lead to complexity Best Practices for Customization and Configuration Choosing the Right Approach The decision to opt for customization or configuration depends on factors like business requirements, budget, timeline, and project complexity. Sometimes, a hybrid approach that combines customization and configuration is the best solution, providing flexibility while optimizing costs and implementation speed. Why Partner with Salesforce Experts? Partnering with experienced Salesforce consultants at Tectonic ensures your Org is tailored to meet your specific business needs. They analyze your workflows, processes, and challenges to recommend the most effective approach—whether it’s customization, configuration, or a blend of both. At Tectonic, our team of 200+ Salesforce experts specializes in delivering tailored solutions that maximize ROI. From development to ongoing maintenance, we ensure your Salesforce Org aligns with your long-term goals. Ready to transform your Salesforce platform? Let’s discuss how we can 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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

November 8, 2024in Data, Salesforce, Salesforce Development Services, Salesforce Implementation Services, Salesforce Optimization

25Oct

Salesforce Flow Tests

Deploying Salesforce Flow tests is not just about hitting “go” and hoping for the best. It requires more than simply moving automations from a Sandbox environment to production. Successful deployment demands thoughtful planning and attention to detail. In this post, we’ll dive deeper into deploying Flow tests effectively, covering key factors like independent testing and ensuring environment consistency. Building on our ongoing series, we’ll provide practical insights to help you achieve smooth deployments and reliable test execution. Key Considerations for Deploying Flow Tests Steps to Deploy Flow Tests Using Change Sets Final Thoughts Deploying Flow tests effectively is critical for maintaining the integrity of your automations across environments. Skipping the testing phase is like driving with a blindfold—one mistake could disrupt your workflows and cause chaos in critical processes. By following these guidelines, particularly focusing on independent testing and post-deployment checks, you can help ensure your Salesforce Flows continue to operate smoothly. Stay tuned for future insights for Flownatics where we’ll dive into more advanced aspects of Flow tests, helping you further optimize your Salesforce automation processes. Need more advice on testing your automations in Salesforce? Let’s chat! Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

October 25, 2024in Data

21Oct

Cohere-Powered Slack Agents

Salesforce AI and Cohere-Powered Slack Agents: Seamless CRM Data Interaction and Enhanced Productivity Slack agents, powered by Salesforce AI and integrated with Cohere, enable seamless interaction with CRM data within the Slack platform. These agents allow teams to use natural language to surface data insights and take action, simplifying workflows. With Slack’s AI Workflow Builder and support for third-party AI agents, including Cohere, productivity is further enhanced through automated processes and customizable AI assistants. By leveraging these technologies, Slack agents provide users with direct access to CRM data and AI-powered insights, improving efficiency and collaboration. Key Features of Slack Agents: Salesforce AI and Cohere Productivity Enhancements with Slack Agents: Salesforce AI and Cohere AI Agent Capabilities in Slack: Salesforce and Cohere Data Security and Compliance for Slack Agents FAQ What are Slack agents, and how do they integrate with Salesforce AI and Cohere?Slack agents are AI-powered assistants that enable teams to interact with CRM data directly within Slack. Salesforce AI agents allow natural language data interactions, while Cohere’s integration enhances productivity with customizable AI assistants and automated workflows. How do Salesforce AI agents in Slack improve team productivity?Salesforce AI agents enable users to interact with both CRM and conversational data, update records, and analyze opportunities using natural language. This integration improves workflow efficiency, leading to a reported 47% productivity boost. What features does the Cohere integration with Slack AI offer?Cohere integration offers customizable AI assistants that can help generate workflows, summarize channel content, and provide intelligent responses to user queries within Slack. How do Slack agents handle data security and compliance?Slack agents leverage cloud-native DLP solutions, automatically detecting sensitive data across different file types and setting up automated remediation processes for enhanced security and compliance. Can Slack agents work with AI providers beyond Salesforce and Cohere?Yes, Slack supports AI agents from various providers. In addition to Salesforce AI and Cohere, integrations include Adobe Express, Anthropic, Perplexity, IBM, and Amazon Q Business, offering users a wide array of AI-powered capabilities. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

October 21, 2024in Data, Salesforce Slack

Winter 25 Release is Coming

Key Dates for the Winter ’25 Release Winter ’25 is Approaching! Can you believe it’s that time of year again? Salesforce is gearing up for its most anticipated release of the year, and Demand Chain is here to assist you in getting ready. There’s a lot to explore, so grab your coffee (or your preferred caffeinated beverage) and let’s dive in! Starting August 8, 2024, admins can sign up for a pre-release Developer Edition environment to access new features. Be sure to check out the Release Notes available from August 14, 2024, to stay updated on the latest enhancements for the products you use. Each release includes a Sandbox Preview Guide to help you determine the best next steps for your sandbox environment. The Sandbox previews, which began on August 30, 2024, allow you to test, identify, and report bugs before the major release hits your production instance. Let’s work together to ensure we’re “Release Ready”! Admin Insights User Access Summary To streamline the process of determining user permissions, administrators can now easily view all permissions granted to a specific user in just a few clicks. The “Access Granted By” feature, introduced in Spring ’24, is enhanced in Winter ’25 to show the specific sources of a user’s access. Inline Editing with Enhanced User List View With the Winter ’25 release, you can configure user list views just like any other list view in Salesforce. Now, you can view, sort, filter, and modify user records directly within the list view without navigating away. Conditional Formatting for Fields Conditional formatting can now be applied to fields on pages with Dynamic Forms enabled. Using rulesets, you can customize icons and colors based on specific criteria related to field values. Enhanced Custom Report Setup (Beta) Enhance your custom report types with the redesigned Custom Report page in Setup. The new summary page offers greater flexibility and visibility into report details, with features like drag-and-drop sections, field search, name customization, and the Lookup Fields button for adding up to 1,000 fields to the report type layout. Sales Cloud Updates Optimize Strategic Planning with Account Plans Empower your sales team to take a strategic approach to account planning and growth. Account plans allow you to view opportunity details, conduct a SWOT analysis, capture customer needs, set measurable objectives, and visualize key stakeholders. Seller Home Available for All Apps Seller Home now provides your sales team with a comprehensive view of their business and can be added to any standard or custom app with the Winter ’25 release. Forecasting Enhancements Service Cloud Innovations My Service Journey (Beta) Explore Service Cloud with My Service Journey, where you can discover relevant capabilities and filter by business areas, Salesforce edition, and new features. If you find something of interest but lack access, you can easily contact your Salesforce Account Executive directly from the platform. Enhanced Messaging Channels and Capabilities Salesforce has broadened its messaging options to include additional channels like LINE Messaging, Bring Your Own Channel (BYOC), BYOC for Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS), and Unified Messaging for SMS. Flow Updates Flow Action Buttons Now Generally Available With the removal of the beta flag, Flow Action Buttons can now be disabled based on specific criteria. Flow Repeater Enhancements Improve user experience by prepopulating data within screen flows, allowing users to easily change a collection of records. You can also control whether users can add new items. Transform Element Enhancements New data types (e.g., Boolean, Date, Picklist, Text) are now available for use as Target Data values. Developer Insights Real-Time Preview of Lightning Web Components Developers can now preview Lightning Web Components in real-time by enabling Local Dev (Beta) in their developer sandbox. Changes to the source code will automatically update the preview, eliminating the need to refresh manually. Manufacturing Updates Inventory Search and Transfer Empower inventory managers to maintain optimal levels, fulfill product demands, and enhance inventory processes by easily searching and tracking stock across various locations. Consider Decimal Values for Forecasts Accurately forecast quantities with new decimal fields on Sales Agreements, supported by a new node in the Data Processing Engine templates. AI/Data Cloud Highlights The Winter ’25 release introduces a variety of new and enhanced Einstein AI features, transforming how businesses leverage artificial intelligence. Salesforce Einstein is leading the way with tools that boost productivity, enhance customer engagement, and facilitate data-driven decision-making. Main Einstein Feature Summary Table The release notes highlight key Einstein AI features across various clouds, such as Communications, Education, Field Service, Industries, Marketing, Sales, and Service. Features like Einstein Quick Quote, Alumni Metrics, and AI-driven insights are designed to enhance productivity and decision-making. Einstein Personalization: Data Cloud Einstein Personalization works with Data Cloud to deliver personalized experiences across Salesforce clouds. Customized Work Summaries in Copilot You can now tailor how Einstein drafts Work Summaries in Copilot by setting your formatting rules or restrictions for the prompt template. Sales Signals Sales managers and teams can access enhanced features from Sales Signals, including relevant metrics, key themes, and featured mentions. The revamped Signals page matches the updated ECI interface, providing more metrics and relevant data. AI Enhancements to Emails AI-driven improvements are being introduced in areas of Salesforce where emails are generated. Flow Builder Enhancements The release includes several AI enhancements to the Flow Builder, improving how flows are constructed and optimized. AI Accelerator and Scoring Framework Utilize AI Accelerator to obtain predictions across multiple Industry clouds, enabling the creation of generic propensity models without coding by leveraging the Scoring Framework. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce

October 4, 2024in Artificial Intelligence, Data, Salesforce, Salesforce Einstein

02Oct

AI Agents and Work

With AI tools becoming increasingly prevalent in workplaces worldwide, the focus has shifted from their novelty to optimizing productivity and effectiveness. AI Agents and Work. At Dreamforce 2024, AI agents were a hot topic, particularly with the launch of Salesforce’s new Agentforce platform. However, Slack also made its mark in the AI space, keen to demonstrate its role in transforming the future of work. TechRadar Pro sat down with Slack CEO Denise Dresser to explore how AI is reshaping the platform and why businesses should embrace this transformation. “Work is Broken” “Work, fundamentally, is broken,” Dresser stated, explaining that many workers spend too much time on what she describes as “the work of work.” This often involves switching between disconnected enterprise apps and navigating through data silos just to access the basic information needed to perform their jobs. Dresser emphasized that AI is poised to relieve much of this burden. She highlighted the “incredible wave” of AI adoption across industries, with over 13,000 AI-powered apps built on Slack. “We’re really investing in ensuring AI works for every worker, driving more productivity,” she said, noting that we’re in one of the most significant periods of change in the workplace, full of both opportunity and questions. Slack’s AI-Powered Enhancements With the support of its parent company, Salesforce, Slack has fully embraced AI, offering a broad range of tools designed to improve productivity. Dresser pointed to Slack’s summarization tools, which streamline workflows by surfacing important items from channels and conversations—tools she finds invaluable in her own workday. In addition, Slack’s Huddles—quick, impromptu meetings—now come with AI enhancements, including a new canvas sidebar that generates summaries, notes, and action items in real-time from a live transcript. Slack AI is also integrated into Workflow Builder, allowing users to automate processes using natural language, eliminating the resistance that some workers may feel toward adopting AI. “Slack is the natural place for work,” Dresser said, explaining that the future of work will involve searching, collaborating, and taking action all within the flow of daily tasks. “That vision has never been more true, and never been more real, because this moment is here.” The Era of AI Agents AI agents represent another major step forward for Slack. Dresser noted that third-party integrations with tools like Adobe, Box, and Workday will help facilitate seamless conversations across multiple apps without the need to switch between them. “The era of agents is a big idea, and it’s happening now,” she remarked. However, Dresser stressed the importance of ensuring a smooth transition, noting that onboarding customers effectively will be key to fulfilling this vision. “We think that’s the future.” Looking Ahead: AI at the Core of Work With the technology now in place, the responsibility lies with workers and managers to leverage AI to enhance their daily routines. “What we focus on is making sure we build a product that people love,” Dresser said, adding, “there’s really no one in the world that can offer the breadth of product that can operate across your entire business at the scale we can.” Dresser concluded with optimism about the future of work: “We’re really excited about this innovation meeting this moment. I don’t think there could be a better time for us, and we’re very optimistic about what’s ahead.” Slack’s AI-powered future is designed to break down barriers, streamline workflows, and make work more efficient for everyone. Like1 Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

October 2, 2024in Agentforce Platform, AI Tools, Data, Enterprise, Salesforce, Technology

13Sep

New Slack Innovations

Salesforce Unveils Innovative Slack Updates Ahead of its Dreamforce conference in San Francisco later this week, Salesforce has introduced several groundbreaking updates to Slack, designed to consolidate company knowledge, data, agents, apps, and automation into a unified, agent-powered work operating system. New Slack Innovations. The latest enhancements to Slack include: Denise Dresser, CEO of Slack, commented on the updates: “Slack’s agent-powered work operating system is transforming productivity by seamlessly integrating purpose-built AI, customer data, and automation into the everyday workflow. This innovation isn’t just about improving how work gets done—it’s about unlocking new levels of productivity to drive business success across every team and department. In a complex work environment, true productivity demands a future-ready work operating system, and Slack is leading the way.” For more information on these updates and how they can benefit your organization, stay tuned for further details from Dreamforce. Like1 Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

September 13, 2024in Data

10Sep

Salesforce Account Engagement and Evernote

Integrate Salesforce Account Engagement, fka Pardot, with Evernote Using Tray.io for Seamless Automation Connecting Salesforce Marketing Cloud Account Engagement and Evernote is simple and powerful with the Tray.io platform. Using Tray.io’s connectors, you can integrate Pardot with Evernote and other services without needing multiple integration tools. About Account Engagement: Account Engagement, formerly known as Pardot, is Salesforce’s lead marketing automation system, designed to help businesses reach potential clients through automated email, targeted campaigns, and other channels. Getting Started with Pardot on Tray.io Once authenticated, you can use Tray.io’s intuitive workflow builder to create custom automation flows between Pardot and Evernote. This integration allows teams to sync notes, manage lead information, and coordinate marketing tasks with minimal effort, maximizing both platforms’ capabilities. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

September 10, 2024in AI Tools, Marketing Automation, Salesforce Implementation Services, Salesforce Marketing Cloud Account Engagement (Pardot)

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