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19Sep

ChatGPT for Keywords

Maximizing SEO on a Budget: A Guide for Business Owners For business owners working within tight budgets, stretching every marketing dollar is crucial. While hiring expensive SEO experts can be tempting, there’s a wealth of untapped keywords that are already working for your competitors. The key is to uncover them and use them to your advantage. No need for costly SEO tools—there are simple ways to spy on competitors’ keywords and create engaging content, all with free resources like ChatGPT. 1. Analyze Competitor Content Using ChatGPT That blog post from a competitor ranking above yours? It holds valuable keyword insights. By copying the link and asking ChatGPT to analyze it, you can easily discover the keywords they’re targeting. Simply ask: “ChatGPT, based on this content, what keywords is my competitor targeting?” ChatGPT will break down the keywords, providing insights you can use to optimize your own content. 2. Spy on Competitors’ Sitemaps A website’s sitemap is like a blueprint, showing how everything is organized. To access a competitor’s sitemap, simply add /sitemap.xml to the end of their URL. For example, if your competitor’s site is example.com, you would visit example.com/sitemap.xml. Once you access their sitemap, copy the URLs and ask ChatGPT to extract relevant keywords for you. This method is a goldmine for discovering what content your competitors are focusing on. 3. Use Search Operators for Targeted Research Search operators are powerful tools that let you search a competitor’s site with precision. For example, typing site:competitor.com SEO in Google will display all the SEO-related content from that competitor. To make keyword extraction even easier, use a tool like the SERP Snippet Extractor from the Chrome Web Store. Once you’ve gathered the titles, paste them into ChatGPT to extract keywords. 4. Check Keyword Volume with Google Keyword Planner Once you’ve gathered a list of keywords, head over to Google Keyword Planner (create a free Google Ads account if you don’t already have one). Use the “Get Search Volume” option to see search volumes and competition levels for your keywords. Pay close attention to suggested related keywords, as they can offer additional opportunities. Checking trends for seasonal patterns can also help you time your content for maximum impact. Final Thoughts Leveraging free tools like ChatGPT can help business owners on a budget optimize their SEO strategies without breaking the bank. By analyzing competitor content, spying on sitemaps, and using search operators, you can uncover valuable keywords and improve your website’s ranking—all without costly investments. 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

September 19, 2024in Google, Salesforce

18Sep

Pay Per Chat

Salesforce is launching its AI-powered Agentforce platform across its key clouds, including Sales, Service, Marketing, and Commerce. However, a significant question remains: Will enterprises be willing to pay $2 per conversation for Agentforce, especially without volume discounts? The introduction of Agentforce wasn’t unexpected, as CEO Marc Benioff has been discussing autonomous AI agents since the company’s second-quarter earnings call. Leading up to Dreamforce, Salesforce has consistently emphasized agentic AI, with Benioff previously hinting at the $2 per conversation pricing model. Agentforce is part of Salesforce’s ongoing effort to move beyond generative AI copilots to fully autonomous digital agents that can perform tasks independently. Much of this technology stems from Salesforce’s acquisition of Airkit.ai last year. Additionally, the company’s acquisition of Own highlights a strategic, smaller-scale approach to mergers and acquisitions. The core of Salesforce’s AI vision is a blend of human expertise and AI agents. While humans focus on relationship-building, industry knowledge, and goal-setting, AI agents will handle tasks like answering questions, scheduling meetings, and gathering information. Key features of Agentforce include: Pay Per Chat? Salesforce is unifying its clouds under a single platform, with Data Cloud as the common thread connecting Sales, Service, Marketing, Commerce, and Tableau. According to Constellation Research analyst Holger Mueller, the real story is the infrastructure behind the agents, which will drive innovation in the future of work by enhancing developer velocity and productivity. At Dreamforce, Salesforce also unveiled Einstein Sales Agents, including a Sales Development Representative (SDR) agent and a Sales Coach, designed to improve sales performance. Salesforce highlighted that agents, unlike traditional bots, are dynamic, outcome-driven, and capable of adapting to various situations. Beyond sales, the Agentforce lineup includes: Agentforce is poised to serve as the connective tissue, unifying Salesforce’s various clouds and driving value with ongoing innovations in Data Cloud and AI. 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

September 18, 2024in Agentforce Platform, Generative AI, Mulesoft

16Sep

6 Work Easing Google AI Extensions

Time is often equated with money, and that couldn’t be more accurate. These Work Easing Google AI Extensions will give you back some time. Time is an invaluable asset, essential for managing both work and life. Many find themselves overwhelmed with tasks, constantly battling stress and exhaustion due to a lack of time. This was the case until AI-powered Chrome extensions came along, revolutionizing the way work is approached. Time concious workers have discovered the transformative power of these digital tools. They not only improved their careers but also completely changed how each manages there workload. Now, Tectonic’s sharing these invaluable resources, which have significantly boosted her productivity and time management. Here are some of the AI Chrome extensions we recommend: 1. Glasp AI Extension Glasp AI Chrome Extension Glasp AI is a robust tool that aids in capturing, organizing, and sharing knowledge from the web. Features: Benefits: 2. Merlin AI Merlin AI Chrome Extension Merlin AI uses advanced technology to assist with various tasks, helping users work faster and more efficiently. What it does: Why it’s helpful: 3. Just Done AI Extension Just Done AI Just Done AI is a great tool for detecting AI content. Features: Benefits: 4. Perplexity AI Perplexity AI Chrome Extension Perplexity AI is designed to elevate the browsing experience by providing quick access to AI-driven information and assistance. Why it’s useful: Benefits: 5. SciSpace SciSpace Chrome Extension SciSpace simplifies the understanding of scientific papers or reports by acting as a virtual assistant within the web browser. Just imagine having a coach explaining the technical concepts. Features: 6. WebChatGPT WebChatGPT Chrome Extension WebChatGPT enhances ChatGPT by allowing it to access current information from the internet, making the tool even more effective, by connecting it to up-to-date data. What it does: Why it’s beneficial: Work Easing Google AI Extensions These AI Chrome extensions have dramatically improved time management and productivity. They offer similar potential for anyone looking to optimize their workflow and make the most of their work time. 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

September 16, 2024in Salesforce

14Sep

Impact of EHR Adoption

Fueled by the availability of chatbot interfaces like Chat-GPT, generative AI has become a key focus across various industries, including healthcare. Many electronic health record (EHR) vendors are integrating the technology to streamline administrative workflows, allowing clinicians to focus more on patient care. Whether you see EHR adoption as easy or challenging, the Impact of EHR Adoption will be positive. Generative AI and EHR Efficiency As defined by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), generative AI is “a technology that can create content, including text, images, audio, or video, when prompted by a user.” Generative AI systems learn patterns from vast datasets, enabling them to generate new, similar content using machine learning algorithms and statistical models. One of the areas where generative AI shows promise is in automating EHR workflows, which could alleviate the burden on clinicians. Epic’s AI-Driven Innovations Phil Lindemann, vice president of data and analytics at Epic, noted that generative AI is ideal for automating repetitive tasks. One application under testing allows the technology to draft patient portal message responses for clinicians to review and send. This could save time and let doctors spend more time with patients. Another project focuses on summarizing updates to a patient’s record since their last visit, offering a quick synopsis for the provider. Epic is also exploring how generative AI could help patients better understand their health records by translating complex medical terms into more accessible language. Additionally, the system can translate this information into various languages, enhancing patient education across diverse populations. However, Lindemann emphasized that while AI offers valuable tools, it is not a cure-all for healthcare’s challenges. “We see it as a translation tool,” he said, acknowledging the importance of targeted use cases for successful implementation. Oracle Health’s Clinical Digital Assistant Oracle Health is beta-testing a generative AI chatbot aimed at reducing administrative tasks for healthcare professionals. The Clinical Digital Assistant summarizes patient information and generates automated clinical notes by listening to patient-provider conversations. Physicians can interact with the tool during consultations, asking for relevant patient data without breaking eye contact with the patient. The assistant can also suggest actions based on the discussion, which providers must review before finalizing. Oracle plans to make this tool widely available by the second quarter of 2024, with the goal of easing clinician workloads and improving the patient experience. eClinicalWorks and Ambient Listening Technology In partnership with sunoh.ai, eClinicalWorks is utilizing generative AI-powered ambient listening technology to assist with clinical documentation. This tool automatically drafts clinical notes based on patient conversations, which clinicians can then review and edit as necessary. Girish Navani, CEO of eClinicalWorks, highlighted the potential for generative AI to become a personal assistant for doctors, streamlining documentation tasks and reducing cognitive load. The integration is expected to be available to customers in early 2024. MEDITECH’s AI-Powered Discharge Summaries MEDITECH is collaborating with Google to develop a generative AI tool focused on automating hospital discharge summaries. These summaries, which are crucial for care coordination, are often time-consuming for clinicians to create, especially for patients with longer hospital stays. The AI system generates draft summaries that clinicians can review and edit, aiming to speed up discharges and reduce clinician burnout. MEDITECH is working with healthcare organizations to validate the technology before a general release. Helen Waters, executive vice president and COO of MEDITECH, stressed the importance of careful implementation. The goal is to ensure accuracy and build trust among clinicians so that generative AI can be successfully integrated into clinical workflows. The Impact of EHR Adoption EHR systems have transformed healthcare, improving care coordination and decision support. However, EHR-related administrative burdens have also contributed to clinician burnout. A 2019 study found that 40% of physician burnout was linked to EHR use. By automating time-consuming EHR tasks, generative AI could help reduce this burden and improve clinical 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 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

September 14, 2024in Data, Generative AI, Google, Salesforce Health and Life Sciences Solutions, Salesforce Optimization, Technology

12Sep

Mark Becker on Nonprofit Cloud

In May 2023, Salesforce released a new CRM offering called the Nonprofit Cloud. Since then, Salesforce has continued to roll out new products and functionality within Nonprofit Cloud. This article originally appeared in Nonprofit Pro. If your nonprofit uses the Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) or is considering a move to the Nonprofit Cloud, you might be interested in learning more about it and how it’s being adopted in the sector. Let’s take a look at some key points about Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud. A Brief History of Salesforce NPSP and Nonprofit Cloud Salesforce has provided technology for nonprofits for the past 20 years. During this time, there have been multiple solutions for organizations developed for or by Salesforce. Related story: What to Know About Constituent Relationship Management System for Nonprofits For the past 15 years or so, Salesforce’s prominent solution for nonprofits has been NPSP, originally called Nonprofit Starter Pack. Today, tens of thousands of nonprofits use NPSP for their CRM system and fundraising needs. Some Differences Between Salesforce NPSP and Nonprofit Cloud Without getting too techy about the differences between Salesforce NPSP and Nonprofit Cloud, here’s a simple overview. NPSP is what many call a “managed” package. It’s built on top of the Salesforce platform as a sort of product that is installed in a nonprofit’s Salesforce environment. It’s primarily used by nonprofits for fundraising and CRM. Nonprofits using NPSP have often added other managed packages, such as Volunteers for Salesforce and the Program Management Module, to address other needs while staying within the Salesforce environment. The Nonprofit Cloud, on the other hand, is built into the Salesforce platform. It’s not a managed product, which means it’s not a “product” installed in the Salesforce environment. Instead, it’s part of the platform itself. This approach provides nonprofit-specific features without the need to go through an installation process. But it’s important to note that Nonprofit Cloud still must be customized for each organization’s needs, which may include setup, data migration, testing, and training. Another difference between NPSP and Nonprofit Cloud is Salesforce’s investment. While Salesforce continues to sell and support NPSP, most of the new features and functionality they’re rolling out are within Nonprofit Cloud. Adoption of the Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud in the Sector It’s not clear exactly how many nonprofits have moved or are moving to Nonprofit Cloud. But a recent study about Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud implementations from Watt Hamlett Consulting sheds some light on the adoption of the Salesforce offering. A few key highlights from the study of Salesforce consultants include: The report estimates that there are likely a few hundred Nonprofit Cloud projects in progress or completed, and 75 or more firms with some experience with it. So, it seems fair to say that while it’s still early days with Nonprofit Cloud, there are nonprofits becoming early adopters of the offering, there are Salesforce consultants that are gaining experience with Nonprofit Cloud implementations and many consultants consider themselves willing and ready to take on Nonprofit Cloud projects. Tips for Moving Forward With Salesforce Offerings for Nonprofits If your organization uses Salesforce NPSP or is considering moving to Salesforce, there’s not a one-size-fits-all answer to whether you should adopt the Nonprofit Cloud at this time. In some cases, it might make sense to stay on NPSP. In others, it might make sense to move to or start out with some elements of Nonprofit Cloud. However, here are some tips to help you take the next steps as you consider using Salesforce solutions for your nonprofit. Stay Informed Salesforce continues to roll out new products, features, and functionality within Nonprofit Cloud. To stay current, it’s worthwhile to watch for announcements and product roadmaps from Salesforce. Think Ahead It’s important to think about your long-term technology plan when deciding whether to adopt the Nonprofit Cloud or choose/stay with NPSP. Consider your organization’s current technology systems and organizational goals for the next three to five years as you weigh your decision. Consider the Pros and Cons Staying on or starting out with NPSP might seem like a safe choice. Thousands of nonprofits are still using the solution, and Salesforce is continuing to support it. However, the focus for Salesforce appears to be around Nonprofit Cloud, so NPSP might not receive much innovation in the future. Plus, if you are already using NPSP and the apps you use with NPSP don’t work within Nonprofit Cloud, then you might want to stay on NPSP until you have a more comprehensive plan for moving to the Nonprofit Cloud. On the flip side, if you were to move to the new Nonprofit Cloud, you would gain the benefits of an ongoing stream of new features and functionality from Salesforce. But you would be an early adopter, which can come with its own challenges, including a low number of customer references and Salesforce consultants with minimal experience working with the solution. And until Salesforce consultants have more experience, the complexity and cost of Nonprofit Cloud implementations could be higher than NPSP. Get Expert Help There are a lot of considerations when it comes to understanding the pros and cons of adopting new technology. It can be extremely helpful to work with a technology consulting firm to assess your organization’s needs and find the right solution for your nonprofit. Mark BeckerAuthor’s page Mark founded Cathexis Partners in 2008 to help nonprofit organizations get the most from their existing technology tools, implement new technology to address gaps and find the best overall approach to using technology to support their missions. He previously served as director of IT consulting at a fundraising event production company focused on nonprofits. Mark also serves on the editorial advisory board for NonProfit PRO, where he contributes monthly to his blog, “Nonprofit Tech Matters.” 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

September 12, 2024in Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud

09Sep

Salesforce and Qatalog

Conversational AI for Salesforce Supercharge your Salesforce workflows with the power of AI. Whether you’re tracking deals, reviewing pipeline performance, or uncovering insights, Qatalog’s AI assistant simplifies it all with natural language queries. Designed to understand the intent behind your questions, it delivers accurate, context-rich answers—no manual reporting required. Whether you’re a Salesforce novice or a seasoned pro, Salesforce and Qatalog redefine how you engage with your CRM data. Key Features Salesforce and Qatalog Conversational Search Say goodbye to navigating complex dashboards and reports. Just ask straightforward questions like: Get instant, actionable answers powered by AI, saving time and effort. No Technical Expertise Needed Qatalog’s intuitive AI chat interface is designed for everyone. Non-technical users can quickly access insights without needing Salesforce expertise, freeing up technical teams to focus on higher-value tasks. Seamless Integrations Connect Salesforce with your favorite business tools, including Outlook, Google Drive, Slack, and more. Access Salesforce CRM data in context across your apps, streamlining workflows and collaboration. Enterprise-Grade Data Security Your data’s privacy is paramount. Qatalog processes Salesforce data securely in real-time and discards it immediately after use, ensuring sensitive information stays protected. Transform the way you work with Salesforce—ask, explore, and act with confidence using Qatalog’s Conversational AI. Salesforce and Qatalog. 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

September 9, 2024in Data, Enterprise, Google, Salesforce

05Sep

Co-opetition

Tech companies frequently partner for mutual benefit-Co-opetition, but in the customer service and contact center sector, the competition is heating up. Established players like Genesys, Five9, and Nice are now facing significant competition from tech giants such as AWS, Microsoft, and Google. To strengthen their positions, longtime partners Genesys and Salesforce introduced a joint platform called CX Cloud earlier this year. This platform combines Salesforce’s advanced Service Cloud and CRM with Genesys’ leading contact center as a service (CCaaS) solution- the very epitome of Co-opetition. It integrates telephony, journey management, and employee-focused workforce engagement management tools to optimize contact center operations and track agent satisfaction. While both companies compete in areas like AI, digital engagement, and generative AI, the CX Cloud partnership exemplifies their “coopetition” strategy. Salesforce runs the desktop interface, while Genesys excels in workforce management. By integrating their technologies, the two companies offer customers a flexible solution, enabling them to use the tools that best suit their needs—whether it’s managing digital channels through Salesforce or Genesys. This collaboration eliminates competition in key areas, with both Salesforce and Genesys sales teams working closely together. The partnership between the two companies is not new; their integration dates back to 2015. However, the recent deeper integration, which now covers not just voice but also digital channels, offers customers a unified view of their data. This allows users to harness customer conversation data across both platforms more effectively, giving them the flexibility to use tools from either Genesys or Salesforce. In addition to competition from one another, both Genesys and Salesforce face challenges from cloud hyperscalers like AWS, Microsoft, and Google, which also offer contact center tools. Despite this, Genesys’ and Salesforce’s CX Cloud collaboration stands out by offering a unified framework that benefits customers through combined capabilities. As an example of this complex tech landscape, AWS is both a competitor and a top partner for reselling Genesys Cloud. Both companies agree that the real focus isn’t on competing with each other, but on helping customers solve challenges around customer engagement in an efficient and cost-effective way. The joint platform also integrates with other technologies, such as Google’s Contact Center AI and AWS tools like Lambda and Polly, making it adaptable to diverse enterprise needs. Both Genesys and Salesforce emphasize the importance of an open platform with pre-built integrations, allowing customers to get more value from both platforms faster than before. CX Cloud has seen adoption across various industries and company sizes, from large enterprises to smaller, faster-moving companies. Smaller businesses, in particular, have been quick to adopt this innovation, as it allows them to access enterprise-level integrations without needing to build custom solutions. Larger enterprises, such as ADP, have also benefitted from CX Cloud by using it to deliver proactive customer experiences, addressing potential issues before they arise. Overall, the partnership between Genesys and Salesforce exemplifies Co-opetition-a collaborative approach in a highly competitive market, enabling customers to leverage the strengths of both platforms for enhanced contact center operations. 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

September 5, 2024in Generative AI

02Sep

Converting 15-Character IDs to 18-Character in Salesforce

In Salesforce, every record is assigned a unique Record ID, which is essential for managing data, writing formulas, and referencing records as an admin or developer. There are two types of Record IDs: a 15-character version and an 18-character version, each suited for different scenarios. Converting 15-character IDs to 18-character ones can be time-consuming when done manually, but several tools and methods can simplify the process, allowing for instant conversion with just a click. Understanding Salesforce Record IDs 15-Character Record ID The 15-character Record ID is case-sensitive and typically used in Salesforce’s user interface for tasks like editing records and generating reports. However, its case sensitivity can create issues with systems that do not recognize differences between uppercase and lowercase letters. 18-Character Record ID To mitigate case sensitivity issues, Salesforce offers an 18-character ID, which is used in APIs and tools such as Data Loader. This ID adds three additional characters to the 15-character version and is always returned by these tools during data exports. When to Use Each ID For consistency, the 18-character ID is preferable, especially when working with external systems. It’s best practice to use the 18-character ID in formulas, API calls, or any data comparisons to avoid errors caused by case sensitivity. Converting IDs Using a Formula Field in Salesforce Salesforce recommends creating a formula field with the CASESAFEID(Id) function to convert the 15-character ID to an 18-character ID. Here are some key points to consider: Implementation Steps: Once completed, this formula field will display the 18-character ID on relevant records. APIs and Software DevelopmentIf you need a more scalable or efficient solution, consider using Salesforce APIs or third-party tools for ID conversion. While online tools may suffice for small tasks, they can become unwieldy when handling hundreds or thousands of records in a CSV or Excel file. Streamlining ID Conversion with Xappex Tools Imagine the frustration of manually copying and pasting IDs! That’s where the XL-Connector and G-Connector from Xappex come into play. These tools work directly in Excel or Google Sheets, simplifying the ID conversion process. Instead of juggling multiple tools or navigating complex processes, you can seamlessly convert Salesforce IDs within your spreadsheet, saving significant time and effort. Using XL-Connector for ID Conversion in Excel Using G-Connector (Google Sheets) for ID Conversion G-Connector is Xappex’s integration tool for Google Sheets and Salesforce. If you haven’t installed it yet, do so and log in to your Salesforce org. The sheet will automatically update with the new 18-character IDs and provide links to open the records directly in Salesforce. Conclusion In summary, managing Salesforce Record IDs doesn’t have to be a hassle. While converting 15-character IDs to 18-character IDs is crucial for consistency, doing it manually can be tedious. With XL-Connector and G-Connector, you can streamline ID conversion with just a click in Excel or Google Sheets, making your workflow much more efficient. 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

September 2, 2024in Data, Google, Salesforce

31Aug

AI and Big Data

Over the past decade, enterprises have accumulated vast amounts of data, capturing everything from business processes to inventory statistics. This surge in data marked the onset of the big data revolution. However, merely storing and managing big data is no longer sufficient to extract its full value. As organizations become adept at handling big data, forward-thinking companies are now leveraging advanced analytics and the latest AI and machine learning techniques to unlock even greater insights. These technologies can identify patterns and provide cognitive capabilities across vast datasets, enabling organizations to elevate their data analytics to new levels. Additionally, the adoption of generative AI systems is on the rise, offering more conversational approaches to data analysis and enhancement. This allows organizations to extract significant insights from information that would otherwise remain untapped in data stores. How Are AI and Big Data Related? Applying machine learning algorithms to big data is a logical progression for companies aiming to maximize the potential of their data. Unlike traditional rules-based approaches that follow explicit instructions, machine learning systems use data-driven algorithms and statistical models to analyze and detect patterns in data. Big data serves as the raw material for these systems, which derive valuable insights from it. Organizations are increasingly recognizing the benefits of integrating big data with machine learning. However, to fully harness the power of both, it’s crucial to understand their individual capabilities. Understanding Big Data Big data involves extracting and analyzing information from large quantities of data, but volume is just one aspect. Other critical “Vs” of big data that enterprises must manage include velocity, variety, veracity, validity, visualization, and value. Understanding Machine Learning Machine learning, the backbone of modern AI, adds significant value to big data applications by deriving deeper insights. These systems learn and adapt over time without the need for explicit programming, using statistical models to analyze and infer patterns from data. Historically, companies relied on complex, rules-based systems for reporting, which often proved inflexible and unable to cope with constant changes. Today, machine learning and deep learning enable systems to learn from big data, enhancing decision-making, business intelligence, and predictive analysis. The strength of machine learning lies in its ability to discover patterns in data. The more data available, the more these algorithms can identify patterns and apply them to future data. Applications range from recommendation systems and anomaly detection to image recognition and natural language processing (NLP). Categories of Machine Learning Algorithms Machine learning algorithms generally fall into three categories: The most powerful large language models (LLMs), which underpin today’s widely used generative AI systems, utilize a combination of these methods, learning from massive datasets. Understanding Generative AI Generative AI models are among the most powerful and popular AI applications, creating new data based on patterns learned from extensive training datasets. These models, which interact with users through conversational interfaces, are trained on vast amounts of internet data, including conversations, interviews, and social media posts. With pre-trained LLMs, users can generate new text, images, audio, and other outputs using natural language prompts, without the need for coding or specialized models. How Does AI Benefit Big Data? AI, combined with big data, is transforming businesses across various sectors. Key benefits include: Big Data and Machine Learning: A Synergistic Relationship Big data and machine learning are not competing concepts; when combined, they deliver remarkable results. Emerging big data techniques offer powerful ways to manage and analyze data, while machine learning models extract valuable insights from it. Successfully handling the various “Vs” of big data enhances the accuracy and power of machine learning models, leading to better business outcomes. The volume of data is expected to grow exponentially, with predictions of over 660 zettabytes of data worldwide by 2030. As data continues to amass, machine learning will become increasingly reliant on big data, and companies that fail to leverage this combination will struggle to keep up. Examples of AI and Big Data in Action Many organizations are already harnessing the power of machine learning-enhanced big data analytics: Conclusion The integration of AI and big data is crucial for organizations seeking to drive digital transformation and gain a competitive edge. As companies continue to combine these technologies, they will unlock new opportunities for personalization, efficiency, and innovation, ensuring they remain at the forefront of their industries. 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

August 31, 2024in Data, Enterprise, Generative AI, Google, Salesforce, Technology

30Aug

Detecting the Hot Chatbot

All the tech giants are eager to prove their chatbot is the hottest in the market. Like wild stallions fighting over the mares, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI are competing to show that their AI models have the most momentum. Companies with built-in AI like Salesforce occupy a broader sector. Detecting the Hot Chatbot is the challenge for the consumer. Why Detecting the Hot Chatbot Matters These companies have poured immense resources—both talent and money—into developing their models and adding new features. Now, they’re keen to showcase that these investments are yielding results. What’s Happening In the past few dayss, several major players have released new usage statistics: The Big Picture Generative AI is still in its early stages, and the entire industry faces the challenge of proving that these products deliver real value—whether by capturing market share from the lucrative search industry or by helping companies save money through increased productivity. How are you Detecting the Hot Chatbot. In the short term, however, everyone is eager to show they’re leading the pack. TV commercials for generative AI are now common, with Meta, Google, and Microsoft all airing spots, although the effectiveness of these ads varies. Some companies even boast that their commercials were created using AI—not necessarily the most convincing selling point. Between the Lines The competition isn’t just about consumer popularity; it’s also spilling over into the battle to secure business customers. On Wednesday’s earnings call, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff made a point of distinguishing Salesforce’s new Agentforce AI sales assistant from Microsoft’s Copilot offerings. “This is not Copilot,” Benioff said. “So many customers are disappointed with what they bought from Microsoft Copilot because they’re not getting the accuracy and response they want. Microsoft has let down many customers with AI.” Microsoft quickly responded in a comment to CNBC. “We are hearing something quite different from our Copilot for Microsoft 365 customers,” said corporate VP Jared Spataro. “When I talk to CIOs directly, and if you look at recent third-party data, organizations are betting on Microsoft for their AI transformation.” The Bottom Line The competition is heating up as tech giants vie to prove they have the upper hand in the AI race and the Hot Chatbot. Customers will ultimately decide. 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

August 30, 2024in Generative AI, Salesforce Financial Services Solutions, Salesforce for Nonprofits, Salesforce Health and Life Sciences Solutions, Salesforce Hospitality Travel and Transportation, Salesforce Implementation Services, Salesforce Manufacturing Automotive Energy, Salesforce Public Sector Solutions

26Aug

Not Ready For All That AI

The Hesitation Towards Digital Workers It appears that people are not ready for “digital workers” just yet. This is the lesson Sarah Franklin, CEO of Lattice, a human resources and performance management platform, has learned. Lattice offers tools such as performance coaching, talent reviews, onboarding automation, and compensation management to over 5,000 organizations worldwide. Discovering the entire workplace is Not Ready For All That AI shouldn’t be so surprising. What is a Digital Employee? According to Franklin, digital employees are avatars like Devin the engineer, Harvey the lawyer, Einstein the service agent, and Piper the sales agent, who have “entered the workforce and become our colleagues.” These are not real workers; they are AI-powered bots introduced by companies like Salesforce and startups like Cognition.ai and Qualified to perform tasks in lieu of humans. For instance, Salesforce’s Einstein helps sales and marketing professionals predict revenues, complete tasks, and liaise with prospects. Cognition’s software engineer Devin plans and executes complex engineering tasks, learning and correcting mistakes over time. Qualified’s sales rep Piper converts inbound website traffic into pipeline, working tirelessly without the need for health insurance, paid time off, or retirement plans. Lattice’s Bold Move Seeing an opportunity, Franklin announced on July 9 that Lattice would begin supporting digital employees as part of its platform, treating them like any other employee. She proclaimed, “Today Lattice is making AI history. We will be the first to give digital workers official employee records in Lattice. Digital workers will be securely onboarded, trained, and assigned goals, performance metrics, appropriate systems access, and even a manager, just as any person would be.” The Backlash The pushback was immediate and intense, particularly on LinkedIn. Sawyer Middeleer, an executive at a firm using AI for sales research, criticized the move, saying, “Treating AI agents as employees disrespects the humanity of your real employees. Worse, it implies that you view humans simply as ‘resources’ to be optimized and measured against machines.” Scott Burgess, a self-employed marketing executive, was even more direct, calling the move “terrifying” and expressing concerns about the impact on human workers. The backlash was strong enough to force Franklin to suspend the plans just three days after the announcement. The Reality of AI While these concerns are legitimate, the question remains: aren’t “digital employees” inevitable? AI is currently overhyped. Embarrassing AI failures from Google, the underwhelming performance of Microsoft’s Copilot AI, and the rudimentary capabilities of current digital assistants demonstrate that AI is still in its infancy. Most executives view AI at this stage as untrustworthy. Timing is Everything Franklin made the same mistake that Microsoft, Google, and other big tech platforms have made: overhyping something not yet ready for prime time to gain a marketing edge. Her vision was not flawed, but the execution was premature. AI is still early in its development, and society is still grappling with its implications. Digital employees will undoubtedly work alongside human employees in the future, but clearly, that future is not 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

August 26, 2024in Salesforce

25Aug

AI as a Service

The latest research study from HTF MI, titled Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) As a Service Market Size, Player Analysis & Segment Growth 2020-2032, offers an in-depth evaluation of market risks, opportunities, and strategic decision-making support. The report delves into trends, growth drivers, technological advancements, and the evolving investment landscape within the Global AI As a Service market. Key players featured in the study include Google, Amazon Web Services, IBM, Microsoft, SAP, Salesforce, Intel, Baidu, FICO, SAS, and BigML. Market Overview: The study provides an extensive view of the AI As a Service market, with segmentation across industries such as banking, financial services, insurance, healthcare, retail, telecommunications, government and defense, manufacturing, and energy. Covering 18+ countries globally, it also highlights both emerging and established players. The report offers tailored analysis based on specific business objectives or geographic requirements. AI As a Service Market: Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2030 This research defines the market size across various segments and countries by analyzing historical data and forecasting future values through 2030. It combines qualitative and quantitative insights, including market share, value, and volume forecasts from 2019 to 2023, with projections extending to 2030. Key elements such as growth drivers, restraining factors, and critical statistics shape the market’s outlook. Market Segmentation: The report categorizes the AI As a Service market into the following: Key Players: The study profiles major industry players such as Google, Amazon Web Services, IBM, Microsoft, SAP, Salesforce, Intel, Baidu, FICO, SAS, and BigML, analyzing their market strategies and positioning. Geographic Scope: The global report covers multiple regions, including: Key Questions Addressed: Report Chapters Overview: For more information, request a sample report or inquire about the full research study through the provided links. 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

August 25, 2024in Salesforce

25Aug

AI Services and Models Security Shortcomings

Orca Report: AI Services and Models Show Security Shortcomings Recent research by Orca Security reveals significant security vulnerabilities in AI services and models deployed in the cloud. The “2024 State of AI Security Report,” released in 2024, underscores the urgent need for improved security practices as AI technologies advance rapidly. AI Services and Models Security Shortcomings. AI usage is exploding. Gartner predicts that the AI software market will grow19.1% annually, reaching 8 billion by 2027. In many ways, AI is now inthe stage reminiscent of where cloud computing was over a decade ago. Orca’s analysis of cloud assets across major platforms—AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, and Alibaba Cloud—has highlighted troubling risks associated with AI tools and models. Despite the surge in AI adoption, many organizations are neglecting fundamental security measures, potentially exposing themselves to significant threats. The report indicates that while 56% of organizations use their own AI models for various purposes, a substantial portion of these deployments contain at least one known vulnerability. Orca’s findings suggest that although most vulnerabilities are currently classified as low to medium risk, they still pose a serious threat. Notably, 62% of organizations have implemented AI packages with vulnerabilities, which have an average CVSS score of 6.9. Only 0.2% of these vulnerabilities have known public exploits, compared to the industry average of 2.5%. Insecure Configurations and Controls Orca’s research reveals concerning security practices among widely used AI services. For instance, Azure OpenAI, a popular choice for building custom applications, was found to be improperly configured in 27% of cases. This lapse could allow attackers to access or manipulate data transmitted between cloud resources and AI services. The report also criticizes default settings in Amazon SageMaker, a prominent machine learning service. It highlights that 45% of SageMaker buckets use non-randomized default names, and 98% of organizations have not disabled default root access for SageMaker notebook instances. These defaults create vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit to gain unauthorized access and perform actions on the assets. Additionally, the report points out a lack of self-managed encryption keys and encryption protection. For instance, 98% of organizations using Google Vertex have not enabled encryption at rest for their self-managed keys, potentially exposing sensitive data to unauthorized access or alteration. Exposed Access Keys and Platform Risks Security issues extend to popular AI platforms like OpenAI and Hugging Face. Orca’s report found that 20% of organizations using OpenAI and 35% using Hugging Face have exposed access keys, heightening the risk of unauthorized access. This follows recent research by Wiz, which demonstrated vulnerabilities in Hugging Face during Black Hat USA 2024, where sensitive data was compromised. Addressing the Security Challenge Orca co-founder and CEO Gil Geron emphasizes the need for clear roles and responsibilities in managing AI security. He stresses that security practitioners must recognize and address these risks by setting policies and boundaries. According to Geron, while the challenges are not new, the rapid development of AI tools makes it crucial to address security from both engineering and practitioner perspectives. Geron also highlights the importance of reviewing and adjusting default settings to enhance security, advocating for rigorous permission management and network hygiene. As AI technology continues to evolve, organizations must remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding their systems and data. In conclusion, the Orca report serves as a critical reminder of the security risks associated with AI services and models. Organizations must take concerted action to secure their AI deployments and protect against potential vulnerabilities. Balance Innovation and Security in AI Tectonic notes Salesforce was not included in the sampling. Content updated September 2024. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented 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

August 25, 2024in AI Tools, Data, Google, Technology

22Aug

Get Ready for Winter 25 Salesforce Release

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

August 22, 2024in Snowflake

20Aug

Salesforce End User Training

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

August 20, 2024in Salesforce

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