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AI Causes Job Flux
10Oct

AI Causes Job Flux

AI Barometer Signals Job Disruption Amid Global Productivity Gains A recent PwC report highlights significant productivity improvements worldwide, but also points to potential job disruption due to artificial intelligence (AI). Described as the “Industrial Revolution of knowledge work,” AI is transforming how workers utilize information, generate content, and deliver results at unprecedented speed and scale. The 2024 AI Jobs Barometer, released by PwC, aims to provide empirical data on the impact of AI on global employment. AI Causes Job Flux but not necessarly job loss. AI Causes Job Flux The analysis involved examining over half a billion job ads across 15 advanced economies, including the U.S., Canada, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and several European nations. PwC sought to uncover the effects of AI on jobs, skills, wages, and productivity by monitoring the rise of positions requiring specialist AI skills across various industries and regions. The findings show that AI adoption is accelerating, with workers proficient in AI commanding substantial wage premiums. Broader Workforce Impact Interestingly, the impact of AI extends beyond workers with specialized AI skills. According to PwC, the majority of workers leveraging AI tools do not require such expertise. In many cases, a small number of AI specialists design tools that are then used by thousands of customer service agents, analysts, or legal professionals—none of whom possess advanced AI knowledge. This trend is driven largely by generative AI applications, which can typically be operated using simple, everyday language without technical skills. AI’s Economic Promise AI is leading a productivity revolution. Labor productivity growth has stagnated in many OECD countries over the past two decades, but AI may offer a solution. To better understand its effect on productivity, PwC analyzed jobs based on their “AI exposure,” indicating the extent to which AI can assist with tasks within specific roles. The report found that industries with higher AI exposure are experiencing much greater labor productivity growth. Knowledge-based jobs, in particular, show the highest AI exposure and the greatest demand for workers with advanced AI skills. Sectors such as financial services, professional services, and information and communications are leading the way, with AI-related job shares 2.8x, 3x, and 5x higher, respectively, than other industries. Overall, these sectors are witnessing nearly fivefold productivity growth due to AI integration. AI is also playing a role in alleviating labor shortages. Jobs in customer service, administration, and IT, among others, are still growing but at a slower rate. AI-driven productivity may help fill gaps caused by shrinking working-age populations in advanced economies. Wage Premiums for AI Skills Workers in AI-specialist roles are seeing significant wage premiums—up to 25% on average. Since 2016, demand for these roles has outpaced the growth of the overall job market. The highest wage premiums are found in the U.S. (25%) and the U.K. (14%), with data specialists commanding premiums of over 50% in both countries. Financial analysts, lawyers, and marketing managers also enjoy substantial wage boosts. The Disruption of Job Markets The skills required for AI-exposed jobs are evolving rapidly. PwC’s report reveals that new skills are emerging 25% faster in AI-exposed occupations compared to those less affected by AI. Jobs requiring AI proficiency have grown 3.5 times faster than other roles since 2016, and this trend predates the rise of popular tools like ChatGPT. However, while AI is driving demand for new skills, it is also reducing the need for certain old ones. Jobs in fields like IT, design, sales, and data analysis are seeing slower growth, as tasks in these areas are increasingly automated by AI technologies. The Future of Work The PwC report stresses that AI will not necessarily result in fewer jobs overall, but will change the nature of work. Instead of asking whether AI can replicate existing tasks, the focus should be on how AI enables new opportunities and industries. Tectonic recommends you work on this trail of thought by implementing AI Acceptable Use Policies in your company. Encourage your teams to explore AI tools that increase productivity but clearly outline what is and is not acceptable AI usage. PwC outlines several steps for policymakers, business leaders, and workers to take to ensure a positive transition into the AI era. Policymakers are encouraged to promote AI adoption through supportive policies, digital infrastructure, and workforce development. Business leaders should embrace AI as a complement to human workers, focusing on generating new ways to create value. Meanwhile, workers must build AI-complementary skills and experiment with AI tools to remain competitive in the evolving job market. Ultimately, while AI is disrupting the job landscape, it also presents vast opportunities for those who are willing to adapt. Like past technological revolutions, those who embrace change stand to benefit the most from AI’s transformative power. 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

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October 10, 2024in AI Tools, Artificial Intelligence, Data, Generative AI
Veeam Latest Acquisition
08Oct

Veeam Latest Acquisition

Veeam continues its acquisition strategy with the purchase of Alcion, bolstering its capabilities in AI and as-a-service offerings. This acquisition follows Veeam’s investment in Microsoft 365 backup-as-a-service provider Alcion last year, and brings in a team of AI and security specialists. Analysts and Veeam executives see this move as a key step in expanding Veeam’s as-a-service offerings. Earlier this year, the company launched Veeam Data Cloud, a backup-as-a-service solution for Microsoft 365 and Azure workloads. “After years of resisting, Veeam has fully embraced the as-a-service model,” said Christophe Bertrand, an analyst at TheCube Research. Veeam Latest Acquisition The acquisition, which closed in mid-September, marks the second time Veeam has purchased a company founded by Niraj Tolia and Vaibhav Kamra. In 2020, Veeam acquired Kasten, their Kubernetes backup provider. A year ago, Veeam led a million funding round for Alcion, which has since developed AI-driven data protection solutions. Veeam has been active in acquisitions, joining a broader trend in the data protection market. Recently, Commvault acquired Clumio, Cohesity merged with Veritas, and Veeam itself bought Cirrus from CT4, which later became part of the Veeam Data Cloud. Earlier this year, Veeam also acquired Coveware, an incident response vendor. “Veeam hasn’t traditionally been an acquisition-heavy company, but that has changed in recent years,” said Rick Vanover, Veeam’s VP of product strategy. “I expect this trend to continue.” Alcion’s Role at Veeam This acquisition strengthens Veeam’s expertise in the fast-growing as-a-service market. Alcion’s team of fewer than 50 employees, including founders Niraj Tolia and Vaibhav Kamra, joins Veeam, with Tolia stepping in as Veeam’s new CTO. Tolia will lead product strategy and engineering for Veeam Data Cloud, succeeding Danny Allan, who recently became CTO at cybersecurity company Snyk. Alcion, which has hundreds of customers, will offer those customers the opportunity to transition to Veeam Data Cloud. However, Veeam has not finalized the future of Alcion’s product or established a timeline for its integration. “This acquisition brings incredible talent and thought leadership to Veeam, especially from Niraj and the Alcion team,” said Brandt Urban, Veeam’s senior VP of worldwide cloud sales. “Their expertise will help us rapidly enhance Veeam Data Cloud, adding more capabilities and expanding workload coverage.” Analysts, like Bertrand, expect Veeam to broaden its data protection offerings for additional SaaS platforms beyond Microsoft 365, looking toward collaboration and DevOps tools as potential areas for growth. AI and Security at the Forefront Alcion’s AI-powered features allow administrators to optimize backups, detect malware, and respond proactively to threats. According to Krista Case, an analyst at The Futurum Group, Alcion uses AI strategically to adapt backup schedules based on data modification patterns, trigger backups when potential threats are identified, and recommend the best recovery points. “When practitioners talk about cyber resilience, they’re focused on minimizing data loss and downtime—Alcion’s AI capabilities directly address these concerns,” said Case. Veeam has also been integrating AI into its existing products, offering inline malware detection and an Intelligent Diagnostics service. A forthcoming Copilot feature for Microsoft 365 backups will further enhance AI-driven data protection. Veeam Latest Acquisition “AI is a real asset when applied thoughtfully—it’s not just hype,” said Bertrand, adding that users are more interested in AI’s ability to drive outcomes, like detecting threats that could otherwise go unnoticed. Veeam executives echoed the importance of delivering clear, tangible AI benefits. “We keep user outcomes front and center because, otherwise, AI becomes an expensive experiment,” Vanover said. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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October 8, 2024in Data
Generative AI for Match Commentary
05Oct

Generative AI for Match Commentary

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Companies are exploring the use of artificial intelligence for sports commentary, showcasing one of the many innovative applications of this technology in the sports arena. ABC7 reporter J.R. Stone recently got a firsthand look at IBM’s integration of Generative AI to analyze and enhance playing abilities during a demonstration at Dreamforce 2024 in San Francisco. This same technology has also been implemented at prestigious events like Wimbledon and the US Open. “This year marks the introduction of Generative AI for match commentary, which utilizes data collected during the games to create real-time analysis and match summaries,” explained Nick Otto from IBM. In a related segment, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff revealed a new AI system called “Agent Force,” while Senator Scott Wiener introduced a bill focused on AI safety. The AI tracks various metrics, including average ball and swing speeds, as well as performance on forehand and backhand shots. To put the technology to the test, Stone faced off against Otto in a ping-pong match, where Otto emerged victorious with a score of 11-7. After the match, the AI generated an entertaining summary: “Nick’s arm must have felt like a whirlwind, spinning the ball at an average speed of 8.45 mph. J.R. tried to keep up, but his 30 forehand shots and 5.56 mph swing speed were no match.” While the advancements in AI are exciting, UCLA Professor Ramesh Srinivasan emphasizes the need for caution. “This technology is both incredible and concerning because it raises questions about the future of human journalists and commentators,” he noted. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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October 5, 2024in Artificial Intelligence, Data, Generative AI, Salesforce, Technology
AI-Ready Text Data
04Oct

AI-Ready Text Data

Large language models (LLMs) are powerful tools for processing text data from various sources. Common tasks include editing, summarizing, translating, and extracting text. However, one of the key challenges in utilizing LLMs effectively is ensuring that your data is AI-ready. This insight will explain what it means to have AI-Ready Text Data and present a few no-code solutions to help you achieve this. What Does AI-Ready Mean? We are surrounded by vast amounts of unstructured text data—web pages, PDFs, emails, organizational documents, and more. These unstructured documents hold valuable information, but they can be difficult to process using LLMs without proper preparation. Many users simply copy and paste text into a prompt, but this method is not always effective. Consider the following challenges: To be AI-ready, your data should be formatted in a way that LLMs can easily interpret, such as plain text or Markdown. This ensures efficient and accurate text processing. Plain Text vs. Markdown Plain text (.txt) is the most basic file type, containing only raw characters without any stylization. Markdown files (.md) are a type of plain text but include special characters to format the text, such as using asterisks for italics or bolding. LLMs are adept at processing Markdown because it provides both content and structure, enhancing the model’s ability to understand and organize information. Markdown’s simple syntax for headers, lists, and links allows LLMs to extract additional meaning from the document’s structure, leading to more accurate interpretations. Markdown is widely supported across various platforms (e.g., Slack, Discord, GitHub, Google Docs), making it a versatile option for preparing AI-ready text. Tools for AI-Ready Data Here are some essential tools to help you manage Markdown and integrate it into your LLM workflows: Recommended Tools for Managing AI-Ready Data Obsidian: Save and Store Plain Text Obsidian is a great tool for saving and organizing Markdown files. It’s a free text editor that supports plain-text workflows, making it an excellent choice for storing content extracted from PDFs or web pages. Jina AI Reader: Convert Web Pages to Markdown Jina AI Reader is an easy-to-use tool for converting web pages into Markdown. Simply add https://r.jina.ai/ before a webpage URL, and it will return the content in Markdown format. This method streamlines the process of extracting relevant text without the clutter of formatting. LlamaParse: Extract Plain Text from Documents Highly formatted documents like PDFs can present unique challenges when working with LLMs. LlamaParse, part of LlamaIndex’s suite, helps strip away formatting to focus on the content. By using LlamaParse, you can extract plain text or Markdown from documents and ensure only the relevant sections are processed. Our Thoughts Preparing text data for AI involves strategies to convert, store, and process content efficiently. While this may seem daunting at first, using the right tools will streamline your workflow and allow you to maximize the power of LLMs for your specific tasks. Tectonic is ready to assist. Contact us 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 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

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October 4, 2024in AI Tools, Artificial Intelligence, Data, Generative AI, Google

Challenges of EHR Implementation in Healthcare

Challenges of EHR Implementation and How to Overcome Them Implementing an electronic health record (EHR) system is a monumental task, with complexities that require careful planning and execution. Common challenges—such as resistance to change, data migration hurdles, cost overruns, cybersecurity risks, and patient engagement issues—can impede progress. However, understanding these obstacles and applying targeted strategies can pave the way for a smooth transition. 1. Resistance to Change The adoption of a new EHR system affects nearly every workflow in a healthcare organization, often sparking resistance among staff. Fear of change and attachment to familiar processes can hinder implementation. Solution: 2. Data Migration Issues Accurate migration of patient health records is critical, yet transitioning data between systems often presents technical and logistical challenges. Solution: 3. Cost Overruns EHR implementation costs can quickly escalate, extending beyond software and hardware expenses to include consulting fees, training, and operational adjustments. Solution: 4. Heightened Cybersecurity Risks Transitioning sensitive patient data between EHR systems increases vulnerability to breaches, ransomware, and other cybersecurity threats. Solution: 5. Patient Engagement Challenges Patients are often overlooked during EHR transitions, leading to confusion about changes in medication requests, appointment scheduling, and other interactions. Solution: Conclusion EHR implementation is undoubtedly challenging, but with proactive strategies, healthcare organizations can navigate these complexities effectively. By addressing resistance to change, ensuring seamless data migration, managing costs, bolstering cybersecurity, and engaging patients, organizations can achieve a successful EHR transition that enhances workflows, safeguards data, and improves patient outcomes. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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October 3, 2024in Data, Life Sciences Cloud, Salesforce, Salesforce Health and Life Sciences Solutions, Salesforce Health Cloud
Viewing All Hard and Soft Credits for Household Accounts
02Oct

Viewing All Hard and Soft Credits for Household Accounts

Subject: Inquiry About Viewing All Hard and Soft Credits for Household Accounts What’s the best way to view a complete list of all hard and soft credits associated with a household account? I understand that the NPSP customizable rollups allow us to aggregate soft credit totals based on the Opportunity Contact Roles for each contact in a household, which is useful but can sometimes be inaccurate due to data entry errors in assigning the correct roles. Additionally, filtered opportunity-related lists on the contact page can show different soft and hard credits assigned to individual contacts. While helpful, this can be confusing for users who prefer to see all information at the household account level and may overlook the contact details. What I’m looking for is a comprehensive list at the account level that includes all opportunities linked to every contact in a household, regardless of the Opportunity Contact Roll type. Essentially, I need to see every soft and hard credit received by all household members. I came across a post by Megan Moorehead from over three years ago titled “Soft Credit Opportunities Related List on Household.” She replied to her own post a couple of months later (on September 10, 2021), but I only partially understand her solution. Before I delve deeper into her suggestions, I wanted to check if there are any simpler or more recent out-of-the-box options added to NPSP. I’m flexible regarding how to obtain this full list of all hard and soft credits related to household members—it could be through a related list or a report. I believe this is a common need among many organizations, so any suggestions on how you’re generating this type of list would be greatly appreciated. Response: You’re correct that this isn’t available out of the box. The challenge arises because opportunities aren’t always directly tagged to the household. You might consider using a screen flow to gather opportunities from household members and display them on the account page in a data table. Alternatively, you could create a custom field on opportunities (populated by a record-triggered flow) called “Household,” which would link opportunities back to the household based on the contact’s association at the time of creation. This would allow for a separate related list on the account page. One thing to keep in mind: since soft credits are only assigned via Contact Roles, if the issue is that Contact Roles are missing, then Megan’s Mass Action Scheduler solution—or any solution—won’t help. Those opportunities will not appear in the household list, except for those where someone in the household received hard credit. 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 Alphabet Soup of Cloud Terminology As with any technology, the cloud brings its own alphabet soup of terms. This insight will hopefully help you navigate Read more

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October 2, 2024in Data, Salesforce User Questions
Slack Personality Quiz
15Sep

Slack Personality Quiz

Slack has introduced a personality quiz, inspired by BuzzFeed-style formats, to understand how modern office workers interact with AI tools. Based on a survey of 5,000 full-time desk workers across six countries, the quiz categorizes users into five distinct groups based on their engagement with generative AI. From “The Rebel” to “The Maximalist,” these personas are designed to help business leaders organize teams more effectively by understanding how employees perceive and utilize AI. According to Christina Janzer, Slack’s SVP of research and analytics, the personas reflect the diverse ways workers are engaging with AI, emphasizing that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Interestingly, Slack’s recent survey revealed that while executive leadership is pushing AI adoption, two-thirds of workers have yet to use AI tools in their daily tasks. Among AI users, there’s a split between “Maximalists” (30% of respondents), who actively use AI and advocate for its benefits, and “The Underground” (20%), who also use AI regularly but more discreetly. For non-users, the personas include “Rebels” (19%), who avoid AI and remain skeptical, “Superfans” (16%), who admire AI advancements but haven’t adopted it themselves, and “Observers” (16%), who cautiously watch from the sidelines. Janzer noted demographic differences, such as a higher proportion of women and older individuals in the Rebel category, while Maximalists and Underground users tend to be younger men. Janzer emphasized that while these personas highlight current attitudes, they aren’t permanent. Businesses should take these insights into account when rolling out AI projects, ensuring they address the varied sentiments across their workforce. 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

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September 15, 2024in Generative AI, Salesforce Slack
New Slack Innovations
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 Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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September 13, 2024in Data
Challenges for Rural Healthcare Providers
12Sep

Challenges for Rural Healthcare Providers

Rural healthcare providers have long grappled with challenges due to their geographic isolation and limited financial resources. The advent of digital health transformation, however, has introduced a new set of IT-related obstacles for these providers. EHR Adoption and New IT Challenges While federal legislation has successfully promoted Electronic Health Record (EHR) adoption across both rural and urban healthcare organizations, implementing an EHR system is only one component of a comprehensive health IT strategy. Rural healthcare facilities encounter numerous IT barriers, including inadequate infrastructure, interoperability issues, constrained resources, workforce shortages, and data security concerns. Limited Broadband Access Broadband connectivity is essential for leveraging health IT effectively. However, there is a significant disparity in broadband access between rural and urban areas. According to a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) report, approximately 96% of the U.S. population had access to broadband at the FCC’s minimum speed benchmark in 2019, compared to just 73.6% of rural Americans. The lack of broadband infrastructure hampers rural organizations’ ability to utilize IT features that enhance care delivery, such as electronic health information exchange (HIE) and virtual care. Rural facilities, in particular, rely heavily on HIE and telehealth to bridge gaps in their services. For instance, HIE facilitates data sharing between smaller ambulatory centers and larger academic medical centers, while telehealth allows rural clinicians to consult with specialists in urban centers. Additionally, telehealth can help patients in rural areas avoid long travel distances for care. However, without adequate broadband access, these services remain impractical. Despite persistent disparities, the rural-urban broadband gap has narrowed in recent years. Data from the FCC indicates that since 2016, the number of people in rural areas without access to 25/3 Mbps service has decreased by more than 46%. Various programs, including the FCC’s Rural Health Care Program and USDA funding initiatives, aim to expand broadband access in rural regions. Interoperability Challenges While HIE adoption is rising nationally, rural healthcare organizations lag behind their urban counterparts in terms of interoperability capabilities, as noted in a 2023 GAO report. Data from a 2021 American Hospital Association survey revealed that rural hospitals are less likely to engage in national or regional HIE networks compared to medium and large hospitals. Rural providers often lack the economic and technological resources to participate in electronic HIE networks, leading them to rely on manual data exchange methods such as fax or mail. Additionally, rural providers are less likely to join EHR vendor networks for data exchange, partly due to the fact that they often use different systems from those in other local settings, complicating health data exchange. Federal initiatives like TEFCA aim to improve interoperability through a network of networks approach, allowing organizations to connect to multiple HIEs through a single connection. However, TEFCA’s voluntary participation model and persistent barriers such as IT staffing shortages and broadband gaps still pose challenges for rural providers. Financial Constraints Rural hospitals often operate with slim profit margins due to lower patient volumes and higher rates of uninsured or underinsured patients. The financial strain is exacerbated by declining Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. According to KFF, the median operating margin for rural hospitals was 1.5% in 2019, compared to 5.2% for other hospitals. With limited budgets, rural healthcare organizations struggle to invest in advanced health IT systems and the necessary training and maintenance. Many small rural hospitals are turning to cloud-based EHR platforms as a cost-effective solution. Cloud-based EHRs reduce the need for substantial upfront hardware investments and offer monthly subscription fees, some as low as $100 per month. Workforce Challenges The healthcare sector is facing widespread staff shortages, including a lack of skilled health IT professionals. Rural areas are disproportionately affected by these shortages. An insufficient number of IT specialists can impede the adoption and effective use of health IT in these regions. To address workforce gaps, the ONC suggests strategies such as cross-training multiple staff members in health IT functions and offering additional training opportunities. Some networks, like OCHIN, have secured grants to develop workforce programs, but limited broadband access can hinder participation in virtual training programs, highlighting the need for expanded broadband infrastructure. Data Security Concerns Healthcare data breaches have surged, with a 256% increase in large breaches reported to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) over the past five years. Rural healthcare organizations, often operating with constrained budgets, may lack the resources and staff to implement robust data security measures, leaving them vulnerable to cyber threats. A cyberattack on a rural healthcare organization can disrupt patient care, as patients may need to travel significant distances to reach alternative facilities. To address cybersecurity challenges, recent legislative efforts like the Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act aim to develop comprehensive strategies for rural hospital cybersecurity and provide educational resources for staff training. In the interim, rural healthcare organizations can use free resources such as the Health Industry Cybersecurity Practices (HICP) publication to guide their cybersecurity strategies, including recommendations for managing vulnerabilities and protecting email systems. Does your practice need help meeting these challenges? Contact Tectonic today. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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September 12, 2024in Salesforce Health and Life Sciences Solutions, Salesforce Managed Services, Salesforce Optimization
Salesforce Data Quality Challenges and AI Integration
05Sep

Salesforce Data Quality Challenges and AI Integration

Salesforce Data Quality Challenges and AI Integration Salesforce is an incredibly powerful CRM tool, but like any system, it’s vulnerable to data quality issues if not properly managed. As organizations race to unlock the power of AI to improve sales and service experiences, they are finding that great AI requires great data. Let’s explore some of the most common Salesforce data quality challenges and how resolving them is key to succeeding in the AI era. 1. Duplicate Records Duplicate data can clutter your Salesforce system, leading to reporting inaccuracies and confusing AI-driven insights. Use Salesforce’s built-in deduplication tools or third-party apps that specialize in identifying and merging duplicate records. Implement validation rules to prevent duplicates from entering the system in the first place, ensuring cleaner data that supports accurate AI outputs. 2. Incomplete Data Incomplete data often results in missed opportunities and poor customer insights. This becomes especially problematic in AI applications, where missing data could skew results or lead to incomplete recommendations. Use Salesforce validation rules to make certain fields mandatory, ensuring critical information is captured during data entry. Regularly audit your system to identify missing data and assign tasks to fill in gaps. This ensures that both structured and unstructured data can be effectively leveraged by AI models. 3. Outdated Information Over time, data in Salesforce can become outdated, particularly customer contact details or preferences. Regularly cleanse and update your data using enrichment services that automatically refresh records with current information. For AI to deliver relevant, real-time insights, your data needs to be fresh and up to date. This is especially important when AI systems analyze both structured data (e.g., CRM entries) and unstructured data (e.g., emails or transcripts). 4. Inconsistent Data Formatting Inconsistent data formatting complicates analysis and weakens AI performance. Standardize data entry using picklists, drop-down menus, and validation rules to enforce proper formatting across all fields. A clean, consistent data set helps AI models more effectively interpret and integrate structured and unstructured data, delivering more relevant insights to both customers and employees. 5. Lack of Data Governance Without clear guidelines, it’s easy for Salesforce data quality to degrade, especially when unstructured data is added to the mix. Establish a data governance framework that includes policies for data entry, updates, and regular cleansing. Good data governance ensures that both structured and unstructured data are properly managed, making them usable by AI technologies like Large Language Models (LLMs) and Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG). The Role of AI in Enhancing Data Management This year, every organization is racing to understand and unlock the power of AI, especially to improve sales and service experiences. However, great AI requires great data. While traditional CRM systems deal primarily with structured data like rows and columns, every business also holds a treasure trove of unstructured data in documents, emails, transcripts, and other formats. Unstructured data offers invaluable AI-driven insights, leading to more comprehensive, customer-specific interactions. For example, when a customer contacts support, AI-powered chatbots can deliver better service by pulling data from both structured (purchase history) and unstructured sources (warranty contracts or past chats). To ensure AI-generated responses are accurate and contextual, companies must integrate both structured and unstructured data into a unified 360-degree customer view. AI Frameworks for Better Data Utilization An effective way to ensure accuracy in AI is with frameworks like Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG). RAG enhances AI by augmenting Large Language Models with proprietary, real-time data from both structured and unstructured sources. This method allows companies to deliver contextual, trusted, and relevant AI-driven interactions with customers, boosting overall satisfaction and operational efficiency. Tectonic’s Role in Optimizing Salesforce Data for AI To truly unlock the power of AI, companies must ensure that their data is of high quality and accessible to AI systems. Experts like Tectonic provide tailored Salesforce consulting services to help businesses manage and optimize their data. By ensuring data accuracy, completeness, and governance, Tectonic can support companies in preparing their structured and unstructured data for the AI era. Conclusion: The Intersection of Data Quality and AI In the modern era, data quality isn’t just about ensuring clean CRM records; it’s also about preparing your data for advanced AI applications. Whether it’s eliminating duplicates, filling in missing information, or governing data across touchpoints, maintaining high data quality is essential for leveraging AI effectively. For organizations ready to embrace AI, the first step is understanding where all their data resides and ensuring it’s suitable for their generative AI models. With the right data strategy, businesses can unlock the full potential of AI, transforming sales, service, and customer experiences across the board. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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September 5, 2024in Generative AI
Salesforce Foundations Announced
05Sep

Salesforce Foundations Announced

Salesforce Inc. today introduced Salesforce Foundations, a new suite of features designed to help large enterprises operating across multiple industries unify their sales operations. As a prelude to Dreamforce this free Salesforce upgrade allows customers to combine data and functionality from Salesforce products in a single, new portal. Available at no cost to all Salesforce Sales Cloud and Service Cloud users, Salesforce Foundations consolidates functionality from the company’s Sales, Service, Marketing, Commerce, and Data Cloud platforms. The goal is to create a more cohesive experience across departments, breaking down silos to enable seamless collaboration. In addition to these core features, Salesforce Foundations offers trial-based access to a variety of third-party applications available on the AppExchange marketplace. This initiative comes in response to a recent study revealing that 55% of Salesforce customers feel disconnected when interacting with different departments within their organization. The lack of integration between sales data and workflows in various departments has often created a fragmented customer experience. Bringing Departments Together Salesforce Foundations aims to eliminate these silos by providing a unified platform for all departments, ensuring a consistent view of an organization’s complete sales operations. Foundational Features for All The platform provides users with access to essential functionality from each of Salesforce’s key cloud products, along with free trials of top partner apps. These features are made available through a customizable user interface with a guided setup experience. As a result, features like email campaigns (previously exclusive to Sales Cloud), secure payment links (from Commerce Cloud), and targeted segmentation (Data Cloud) are now accessible to all Sales Cloud and Service Cloud users. The main advantage of Salesforce Foundations is its ability to harmonize customer data across departments. For example, Sales Cloud users can now access data previously available only to Data Cloud users. By providing access to this unified data, Salesforce believes it can offer numerous benefits to customers. Driving Revenue and Collaboration One of the most significant benefits of Salesforce Foundations is its potential to drive revenue by fostering collaboration across sales, service, and marketing teams. With a unified data set, teams can gain superior insights into customer behavior. Marketing teams, for instance, will be able to track customer interactions with the service department and use this information to craft more targeted advertising campaigns. Sales teams will also benefit from the ability to turn quotes into cash more quickly. They can now access secure payment links, a feature previously exclusive to Commerce Cloud, allowing them to bill customers directly without waiting for instructions from the commerce department. Service teams, in turn, can assist marketing efforts by accessing sales quoting tools and secure payment links, enabling them to upsell products and services more effectively. AI and Partner Integration Salesforce Foundations also supports artificial intelligence applications by grounding them in more contextualized customer data. For example, marketing teams can use AI to create more targeted segmentation lists based on service case histories or sales pipeline stages, data that was previously unavailable to them. In recent years, Salesforce has been actively transforming the data architecture of its applications, with many now built on the Salesforce Data Cloud’s metadata-driven foundation. This allows Salesforce Data Cloud to house not only the data but also the context (metadata) that surrounds it. As a result, businesses can more easily establish relationships between data tied to the same customer or user across various software solutions. These software solutions primarily include Salesforce products like Sales Cloud and Service Cloud, but they also extend to third-party applications that integrate with the Data Cloud. Now, with the introduction of Salesforce Foundations, customers can visualize this data within a unified portal, apply filters, and even trigger actions such as upsell opportunities. To further enhance productivity, Salesforce is offering free trials of third-party applications from the AppExchange, including Webex by Cisco, DocuSign, and RingCentral. These “launch partner apps” are designed to improve collaboration, streamline document management, and lower operational costs for customers. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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September 5, 2024in Salesforce Sales Cloud
Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud Focuses Resources
04Sep

Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud Focuses Resources

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is currently exploring how to harness the AI capabilities within Salesforce’s Nonprofit Cloud to enhance its mission-driven services. Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud Focuses Resources allowing PanCan to focus on cancer. Pancreatic cancer is among the most aggressive and deadly forms of cancer, with a five-year survival rate of just 12.8% in the U.S. Despite accounting for only 3.3% of new cancer cases, it is responsible for 8.5% of all cancer-related deaths, making it the third leading cause of cancer mortality after lung and colon cancer. Founded in 1999, PanCAN is dedicated to researching this devastating disease and advocating for patients nationwide. The organization also provides critical information and resources to help patients make informed decisions, thereby supporting a community of patients and their families. One of PanCAN’s key services is connecting patients with specialists in their area. Julie Fleshman, President, CEO, and PanCAN’s first employee, emphasizes the importance of this program: “Our patient service program, particularly our call center, is the cornerstone of what we offer. When someone is diagnosed, they are understandably scared. Our trained case managers provide support and recommend that each patient sees a specialist. We maintain a database of specialists across the U.S. and can provide a list of surgeons or oncologists based on how far patients are willing to travel.” This case management system allows patients and their families to work with the same case manager consistently, ensuring a seamless, free-of-charge service and simplifying the information-gathering process. Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud Focuses Resources PanCAN also helps patients find clinical trials in their area, an essential service given the current state of treatment for pancreatic cancer. Nonprofit Cloud focuses on technical resources allowing PanCAN to focus on patient services. Fleshman explains: “Clinical trials often offer the most cutting-edge treatments, which is why we recommend patients consider them. We maintain a database of trials and can quickly inform patients of their options during phone consultations. This allows them to discuss potential trials with their physician and determine the best course of action.” Evolving Technology to Better Serve Patients PanCAN’s initial case management system was developed in-house about a decade ago. As it neared the end of its life, searches could take up to two hours, prompting the organization to seek a more efficient solution. PanCAN enlisted a Salesforce consulting partner to evaluate options and develop a technology strategy aligned with its goals. In June, a new system based on Salesforce’s Nonprofit Cloud Person Accounts module was launched. The new system has significantly reduced the time required to search for information, enabling case managers to assist more patients daily—a crucial improvement given the projected 66,440 new pancreatic cancer diagnoses in the U.S. this year alone. Additionally, the system’s user-friendliness has led to higher job satisfaction among employees. Fleshman stresses the importance of involving a multifunctional team in the implementation process: “It’s essential to be clear about your objectives from the start, but it’s equally important to include the right people. If we had only involved the patient services team and not the tech team responsible for maintenance and security, or the finance team whose system needed to integrate with ours, the project would have been siloed and incomplete.” Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud Focuses Resources and Solutions for Nonprofits The updated system includes advanced features like the OmniStudio process automation tool, which has streamlined the patient questionnaire process, and an integrated data processing engine capable of saving multiple records simultaneously. Leveraging AI to Enhance Impact Looking ahead, PanCAN is assessing how to leverage the AI capabilities within Salesforce’s Nonprofit Cloud to further enhance its services. Fleshman outlines the next steps: “Providing information and resources to patients is crucial, but we also need to use data to optimize our programs and allocate our resources effectively. We hope AI will help us analyze data to better understand our impact and patient experiences. For instance, AI could reveal trends in how often we refer patients to specific doctors or studies, identify gaps in our services, or highlight areas where we should focus more of our efforts. Understanding these factors will help us allocate our time, energy, and resources more efficiently.” Despite the benefits, managing change has been key to addressing employee concerns about AI potentially threatening their jobs. Fleshman notes: “While there was excitement about getting a faster, more efficient tool, there was also anxiety about job security. Our focus was on demonstrating how AI could enhance our ability to provide better reports and insights rather than replacing jobs. We believe that even the best tools are useless if people aren’t trained to use them effectively.” A Vision for the Future PanCAN has developed a five-year technology roadmap that includes upgrading its grant management and financial systems, as well as introducing marketing applications to better understand its target audience, improve outreach, and personalize interactions. As Fleshman concludes: “Our executive team recognizes that without cutting-edge technology, we won’t achieve our ambitious goals. In our sector, technology often gets deprioritized, but updating systems allows us to deliver our mission more productively and efficiently, ultimately better serving those we’re here to help.” Our Take According to Salesforce’s sixth Nonprofit Trends Report, many charities view AI with a mix of optimism, curiosity, and caution. PanCAN’s approach to adopting AI—focusing on its potential to optimize resources and better support patients—demonstrates the organization’s forward-thinking and commitment to its mission. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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September 4, 2024in Salesforce for Nonprofits, Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud
Einstein Knowledge Edits
02Sep

Einstein Knowledge Edits

Get Quick Revisions on Knowledge Articles with Einstein Knowledge Edits (Beta) Enhance your Knowledge articles quickly using Einstein generative AI with predefined revision styles. These styles can help improve grammar, conciseness, and readability. You can also customize these styles using the Prompt Builder to tailor the revisions to your business needs. This allows you to specify what information Einstein includes, how the content is formatted, and adjust the voice and tone. Where: This feature is available in Unlimited and Enterprise editions with the Einstein for Service add-on in Lightning Experience. Important: Einstein Knowledge Edits is currently in beta and is subject to Salesforce’s Beta Services Terms or a written Unified Pilot Agreement if executed by the Customer. Participation in this beta service is at the Customer’s discretion. Who: To access Knowledge Edits, you must have the following enabled: Agents also need the Prompt Template User and Einstein Knowledge Creation permission sets. How: To revise a Knowledge article: Quickly and effectively refine your Knowledge articles to meet your business standards with Einstein Knowledge Edits! Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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September 2, 2024in Generative AI
Mission Control Salesforce
30Aug

Mission Control Salesforce

Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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August 30, 2024in Salesforce

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