Marketing Archives - gettectonic.com - Page 13
Salesforce AI Agents Explained
09Sep

Salesforce AI Agents Explained

Salesforce’s AI Agents: Revolutionizing Enterprise Sales and Service for the Future In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), Salesforce continues to lead the charge, transforming enterprise operations with cutting-edge AI agents. With the introduction of Agentforce, Salesforce is not just enhancing sales and service departments but reshaping business processes across sectors. This comprehensive exploration highlights how Salesforce’s AI agents are changing the game, offering enterprise-level executives insights into their revolutionary potential. Salesforce AI Agents Explained. AI Agents: Beyond Autonomous Vehicles A fitting analogy to grasp the progression of AI agents is the evolution of autonomous vehicles. Just as self-driving cars advance from basic driver assistance to full autonomy, AI agents evolve from simple automation to more complex decision-making. Salesforce’s Chief Product Officer, David Schmaier, draws this comparison: “In the autonomous driving world, we have levels of autonomy, from level zero to level five. AI agents for enterprises follow a similar path.” At the core of this evolution is what Salesforce defines as the “agentic” phase of AI. Unlike generative AI that follows instructions to create content, agentic AI autonomously determines and takes actions based on broader goals. Schmaier notes, “We’re at the point where AI not only creates content but takes strategic actions. It’s like having an infinite pool of interns handling mundane tasks so human employees can focus on higher-value activities.” Agentforce: Salesforce’s Next-Generation AI Platform Agentforce is the latest addition to Salesforce’s AI arsenal, unveiled during their Q2 ’25 earnings call and now positioned as a significant milestone in AI development. With Agentforce, organizations can build and manage autonomous agents for tasks across various business functions—not just customer service. This versatility is highlighted by Marc Benioff, Salesforce’s CEO, who described the energy around Agentforce during a recent briefing as “palpable.” Agentforce builds on Salesforce’s data management, security, and customization expertise, uniting these capabilities into an AI framework. Schmaier explains, “It’s about creating trusted, enterprise-ready agents, not just deploying a large language model. We’ve developed over 100 out-of-the-box use cases, from sales account summaries to service reply recommendations, all customizable and easy to deploy.” Agentforce “In Every App” A key announcement is the integration of Agentforce in every app across Salesforce’s product suite, including Sales, Service, Marketing, and Commerce Agents. The Atlas reasoning engine, Agent Builder, and a partner network were also introduced to further enhance its capabilities. The Atlas Reasoning Engine acts as the “brain” behind Agentforce, autonomously generating plans and refining them based on actions it needs to perform, such as running business processes or engaging customers through preferred channels. What Makes an AI Agent? Salesforce AI Agents Explained Building an AI agent with Agentforce requires five key elements: These components leverage existing Salesforce infrastructure, making it easier for businesses to deploy agents through Agent Builder, which is part of the new Agentforce Studio. Agents vs. Chatbots Unlike traditional chatbots, which provide pre-programmed responses, Salesforce’s AI agents use large language models (LLMs) and generative AI to interpret and autonomously execute customer requests based on CRM data. This distinction allows AI agents to perform tasks that go beyond simple queries, driving efficiency in customer service, sales, and other business areas. Practical Applications: Sales, Service, and Marketing Salesforce’s AI agents offer tangible business benefits. For instance, Sales Agent, available as both a Sales Development Representative (SDR) and Sales Coach, automates lead nurturing and inquiry management. It utilizes CRM data to deliver personalized pitches, handle objections, and even suggest meeting times—freeing sales teams to focus on more strategic tasks. In customer service, AI agents manage routine inquiries, allowing human representatives to address more complex customer needs. In marketing, AI agents generate data-driven insights to personalize campaigns, improving customer engagement and conversion rates. The Security and Trust Foundation Security and trust remain core to Salesforce’s approach to AI. The Einstein Trust Layer ensures that data protection, privacy, and ethical guidelines are maintained throughout AI interactions. Schmaier emphasizes, “Our platform defines what data agents can access and how they use it, adhering to strict data integrity standards.” The Trust Layer also prevents AI from training on customer data without consent, ensuring transparency and security. A Partnership Between Humans and AI-Salesforce AI Agents Explained Salesforce’s vision emphasizes the synergy between human employees and AI agents. As Schmaier points out, “AI agents handle routine tasks and deliver insights, allowing employees to focus on more creative and strategic work.” This human-AI partnership boosts productivity and innovation, ultimately improving business outcomes. The Future of AI in Business As AI technology advances, Salesforce is already working on next-generation capabilities for Agentforce, including predictive analytics and more sophisticated autonomous agents. Schmaier forecasts, “These agents will handle a wider range of tasks and provide deeper insights and recommendations.” With Agentforce launching in October 2024, businesses can expect significant returns on investment, thanks to its cost-efficient model starting at $2 per conversation. In summary, Salesforce’s Agentforce is a game-changing innovation, blending AI and human intelligence to transform sales, service, and marketing. As more details unfold, it’s clear that Agentforce will redefine the future of business operations—driving efficiency, personalization, and strategic success. Like1 Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

Read More
September 9, 2024in Agentforce Platform, Generative AI, Technology
Salesforce and Ortoo Integration
06Sep

Salesforce and Ortoo Integration

Ortoo Launches Smart Actions: A Revolutionary Salesforce-Native App for AI Automation Ortoo, a leading provider of Salesforce productivity solutions, has unveiled its latest innovation, Smart Actions, now available on the Salesforce AppExchange. This groundbreaking Salesforce-native app allows businesses to seamlessly integrate AI automation into their Salesforce workflows, dramatically boosting efficiency and simplifying complex processes with a single click. Salesforce and Ortoo integration for Smart Actions. How do I sync Ortto activities to Salesforce? In your Ortto account, navigate to Data sources > Salesforce > Sync Ortto activities to Salesforce. Choose up to 5 activities. At Sync settings, select whether you wish to sync these Ortto activities as activities and/or as tasks. If you are syncing the Salesforce Task object to Ortto (selected at Salesforce fields): Smart Actions empowers companies to deploy AI and GPT-powered automations across sales, service, and support functions within Salesforce, eliminating the traditionally high costs associated with advanced AI tools. By integrating smoothly into the Salesforce ecosystem, Smart Actions enables businesses to automate manual tasks, personalize communications, and optimize workflows with unparalleled ease. Track and manage email conversations within Salesforce. AI-powered actions to streamline sales workflows. SEAMLESS SALESFORCE INTEGRATION “With Smart Actions, we’re making AI automation accessible to businesses of all sizes,” said Amy Grenham, Head of Marketing at Ortoo. “If you’ve ever built a custom GPT using OpenAI, creating a Smart Action will feel very familiar. Ortoo’s prompt builder allows you to set the context, specify the Salesforce fields to analyze, and determine where the output should go. This simplicity makes it incredibly easy to deploy AI-driven processes and transform operations within Salesforce.” Key Features and Practical Applications Real-World Applications of Smart Actions Get Started with Smart Actions Today Smart Actions is now available on the Salesforce AppExchange. Businesses can start using the app for free, with additional features available through a premium version. SmartActions is a 5 star product on the Salesforce AppExchange. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

Read More
September 6, 2024in Salesforce Implementation Services
Data Quality Critical
06Sep

Data Quality Critical

Data quality has never been more critical, and it’s only set to grow in importance with each passing year. The reason? The rise of AI—particularly generative AI. Generative AI offers transformative benefits, from vastly improved efficiency to the broader application of data in decision-making. But these advllucantages hinge on the quality of data feeding the AI. For enterprises to fully capitalize on generative AI, the data driving models and applications must be accurate. If the data is flawed, so are the AI’s outputs. Generative AI models require vast amounts of data to produce accurate responses. Their outputs aren’t based on isolated data points but on aggregated data. Even if the data is high-quality, an insufficient volume could result in an incorrect output, known as an AI hallucination. With so much data needed, automating data pipelines is essential. However, with automation comes the challenge: humans can’t monitor every data point along the pipeline. That makes it imperative to ensure data quality from the outset and to implement output checks along the way, as noted by David Menninger, an analyst at ISG’s Ventana Research. Ignoring data quality when deploying generative AI can lead to not just inaccuracies but biased or even offensive outcomes. “As we’re deploying more and more generative AI, if you’re not paying attention to data quality, you run the risks of toxicity, of bias,” Menninger warns. “You’ve got to curate your data before training the models and do some post-processing to ensure the quality of the results.” Enterprises are increasingly recognizing this, with leaders like Saurabh Abhyankar, chief product officer at MicroStrategy, and Madhukar Kumar, chief marketing officer at SingleStore, noting the heightened emphasis on data quality, not just in terms of accuracy but also security and transparency. The rise of generative AI is driving this urgency. Generative AI’s potential to lower barriers to analytics and broaden access to data has made it a game-changer. Traditional analytics tools have been difficult to master, often requiring coding skills and data literacy training. Despite efforts to simplify these tools, widespread adoption has been limited. Generative AI, however, changes the game by enabling natural language interactions, making it easier for employees to engage with data and derive insights. With AI-powered tools, the efficiency gains are undeniable. Generative AI can take on repetitive tasks, generate code, create data pipelines, and even document processes, allowing human workers to focus on higher-level tasks. Abhyankar notes that this could be as transformational for knowledge workers as the industrial revolution was for manual labor. However, this potential is only achievable with high-quality data. Without it, AI-driven decision-making at scale could lead to ethical issues, misinformed actions, and significant consequences, especially when it comes to individual-level decisions like credit approvals or healthcare outcomes. Ensuring data quality is challenging, but necessary. Organizations can use AI-powered tools to monitor data quality, detect irregularities, and alert users to potential issues. However, as advanced as AI becomes, human oversight remains critical. A hybrid approach, where technology augments human expertise, is essential for ensuring that AI models and applications deliver reliable outputs. As Kumar of SingleStore emphasizes, “Hybrid means human plus AI. There are things AI is really good at, like repetition and automation, but when it comes to quality, humans are still better because they have more context.” Ultimately, while AI offers unprecedented opportunities, it’s clear that data quality is the foundation. Without it, the risks are too great, and the potential benefits could turn into unintended consequences. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

Read More
September 6, 2024in Data, Enterprise, Generative AI, Salesforce, Technology
Exploring Large Action Models
05Sep

Exploring Large Action Models

Exploring Large Action Models (LAMs) for Automated Workflow Processes While large language models (LLMs) are effective in generating text and media, Large Action Models (LAMs) push beyond simple generation—they perform complex tasks autonomously. Imagine an AI that not only generates content but also takes direct actions in workflows, such as managing customer relationship management (CRM) tasks, sending emails, or making real-time decisions. LAMs are engineered to execute tasks across various environments by seamlessly integrating with tools, data, and systems. They adapt to user commands, making them ideal for applications in industries like marketing, customer service, and beyond. Key Capabilities of LAMs A standout feature of LAMs is their ability to perform function-calling tasks, such as selecting the appropriate APIs to meet user requirements. Salesforce’s xLAM models are designed to optimize these tasks, achieving high performance with lower resource demands—ideal for both mobile applications and high-performance environments. The fc series models are specifically tuned for function-calling, enabling fast, precise, and structured responses by selecting the best APIs based on input queries. Practical Examples Using Salesforce LAMs In this article, we’ll explore: Implementation: Setting Up the Model and API Start by installing the necessary libraries: pythonCopy code! pip install transformers==4.41.0 datasets==2.19.1 tokenizers==0.19.1 flask==2.2.5 Next, load the xLAM model and tokenizer: pythonCopy codeimport json import torch from transformers import AutoModelForCausalLM, AutoTokenizer model_name = “Salesforce/xLAM-7b-fc-r” model = AutoModelForCausalLM.from_pretrained(model_name, device_map=”auto”, torch_dtype=”auto”, trust_remote_code=True) tokenizer = AutoTokenizer.from_pretrained(model_name) Now, define instructions and available functions. Task Instructions: The model will use function calls where applicable, based on user questions and available tools. Format Example: jsonCopy code{ “tool_calls”: [ {“name”: “func_name1”, “arguments”: {“argument1”: “value1”, “argument2”: “value2”}} ] } Define available APIs: pythonCopy codeget_weather_api = { “name”: “get_weather”, “description”: “Retrieve weather details”, “parameters”: {“location”: “string”, “unit”: “string”} } search_api = { “name”: “search”, “description”: “Search for online information”, “parameters”: {“query”: “string”} } Creating Flask APIs for Business Logic We can use Flask to create APIs to replicate business processes. pythonCopy codefrom flask import Flask, request, jsonify app = Flask(__name__) @app.route(“/customer”, methods=[‘GET’]) def get_customer(): customer_id = request.args.get(‘customer_id’) # Return dummy customer data return jsonify({“customer_id”: customer_id, “status”: “active”}) @app.route(“/send_email”, methods=[‘GET’]) def send_email(): email = request.args.get(’email’) # Return dummy response for email send status return jsonify({“status”: “sent”}) Testing the LAM Model and Flask APIs Define queries to test LAM’s function-calling capabilities: pythonCopy codequery = “What’s the weather like in New York in fahrenheit?” print(custom_func_def(query)) # Expected: {“tool_calls”: [{“name”: “get_weather”, “arguments”: {“location”: “New York”, “unit”: “fahrenheit”}}]} Function-Calling Models in Action Using base_call_api, LAMs can determine the correct API to call and manage workflow processes autonomously. pythonCopy codedef base_call_api(query): “””Calls APIs based on LAM recommendations.””” base_url = “http://localhost:5000/” json_response = json.loads(custom_func_def(query)) api_url = json_response[“tool_calls”][0][“name”] params = json_response[“tool_calls”][0][“arguments”] response = requests.get(base_url + api_url, params=params) return response.json() With LAMs, businesses can automate and streamline tasks in complex workflows, maximizing efficiency and empowering teams to focus on strategic initiatives. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

Read More
September 5, 2024in Data, Salesforce, Technology, Third Party Apps
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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

Read More
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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

Read More
September 4, 2024in Salesforce for Nonprofits, Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud
Five9 Cautious Forward Looking
04Sep

Five9 Cautious Forward Looking

Recently, Five9 reported its second-quarter FY24 results, revealing a strong performance for the period. However, the company’s cautious forward-looking guidance led to a significant drop in its stock price, which fell by over 25%. In response to queries about the conservative outlook, a Five9 spokesperson attributed the reduced 2024 revenue guidance—a 3.8% decrease—to macroeconomic headwinds. This cautious forecast stands in contrast to the more optimistic outlooks of Five9’s publicly traded peers. Economic factors such as global issues, talent shortages, AI uncertainty, and the upcoming election are influencing customers’ decisions on IT investments, which likely contributed to the reduced guidance. Additionally, sales execution challenges have prompted the company to take corrective measures. While Five9 might face unique challenges that other CCaaS providers do not, the full impact will become clearer in the next quarter. In response to these challenges, Five9 has taken steps to stabilize its operations, including promoting Matt Tuckness from VP of Global Customer Success to EVP of Sales and Customer Success. This move, described by leadership as promoting a “dedicated sales leader” with a decade of experience at Five9, aims to enhance sales execution. Scott Berg from Needham questioned the timing of the promotion, suggesting it might be a reaction to a single quarter’s results. Dan Burkland, Five9’s President, defended the decision, emphasizing that having a dedicated EVP of Sales is crucial for focusing on enterprise deals, especially given Five9’s efforts to grow its enterprise base. Five9 has also announced a 7% workforce reduction, affecting approximately 185 employees. This marks the company’s first layoff in its history, which is notable given its history of growth through acquisitions, such as the recent planned acquisition of Acqueon, a real-time revenue execution platform. Typically, acquisitions lead to headcount adjustments, but Five9 had managed to avoid such cuts until now. The company stated that the reduction was necessary to focus on profitable growth and long-term business resilience while continuing to serve global customers and innovate. Although layoffs are challenging, they are sometimes necessary for business adaptation. Many UCaaS and CCaaS providers expanded their workforces during the pandemic and later faced the need to trim excess staff as the market softened. Five9’s adjustment in headcount reflects changing market conditions. The acquisition of Acqueon is expected to accelerate Five9’s vision by integrating expertise in inbound and outbound communications to enhance personalized customer experiences across marketing, sales, and service. Acqueon will operate as a separate business unit within Five9, with plans to eventually integrate its brand into the larger Five9 brand. Overall, despite the quarter’s challenges, Five9 had a strong performance. It achieved a record-breaking billion ARR run rate for the first time, with total subscription revenue growing by 17%. The company maintains a robust balance sheet with over $1 billion in cash. The recent organizational changes, including new leadership and headcount adjustments, are indicative of Five9’s maturation and aim to return the company to its pattern of strong performance and growth. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

Read More
September 4, 2024in Salesforce
Detecting the Hot Chatbot
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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

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
Connected Vehicles
29Aug

Connected Vehicles

Revolutionizing the Automotive Industry: Salesforce’s Connected Car App The automotive industry has always been a beacon of innovation, consistently pushing the boundaries to enhance the driving experience. From the iconic Model T and the assembly line to today’s electric and autonomous vehicles, the evolution of automobiles has been driven by an unyielding pursuit of progress. I actually purchased a new-to-me car today, and with the connected vehicle on the horizon I’m kind of glad I’ll be able to upgrade in a couple years. Bluetooth and back up cameras are great. But a car that can tell the dealership to get me on the horn before some automotive calamity occurs? The future is here, my friends. Connected Vehicles for Better Experiences Now, as digital transformation reshapes industries, a new chapter is emerging in automotive innovation: the connected car. Leading this charge is Salesforce, a global powerhouse in customer relationship management (CRM), with the introduction of its groundbreaking Connected Car App, poised to redefine in-car experiences for both drivers and passengers. From my personal buying experience today, the car business could use some customer relationship management! The Future of In-Car Connectivity Salesforce’s Connected Car App is more than just a technological enhancement; it represents a fundamental shift in how we interact with our vehicles. By leveraging Salesforce’s Customer 360 platform, this app creates personalized, engaging experiences that go far beyond traditional automotive features. The Connected Car App is designed to make every journey more intuitive and efficient, offering real-time insights and services tailored to the unique needs of each driver. Whether it’s maintenance alerts, optimized route suggestions based on traffic, or personalized entertainment options, the app transforms the car into a truly smart companion on the road. A GPS feature? I guess I can plan on deleting Waze off my phone in the near future! Powered by Salesforce Customer 360 At the heart of the Connected Car App is Salesforce’s Customer 360 platform, which delivers a comprehensive, 360-degree view of each customer. This integration ensures that the app provides tailored experiences based on a deep understanding of the driver’s preferences, habits, and history. It isn’t going to just know you by a vehicle loan number, a VIN number, or even just an email address. For instance, a driver who frequently takes long road trips might receive customized recommendations for rest stops, dining options, and attractions along their route. Meanwhile, commuters could benefit from real-time updates on traffic, weather, and parking availability. The app’s ability to anticipate and respond to the driver’s needs in real time distinguishes it from traditional in-car systems. I can just hear my car now, advising me it has been one hour since I stopped for coffee, and she’s worried about my sanity. Enhancing Customer Loyalty and Satisfaction with Connected Vehicles The Connected Car App offers significant potential to boost customer loyalty and satisfaction. By delivering a personalized driving experience, automakers can strengthen relationships with customers, transforming each driving journey into an opportunity to build brand loyalty. If Toyota is suddenly going to treat me like Shannan Hearne instead of customer # xxxxx would be ecstatic. Additionally, the app’s capability to collect and analyze data in real time opens new avenues for automakers to engage with their customers. Predictive maintenance reminders, targeted promotions, and special offers are just a few examples of how the app fosters a deeper connection between the brand and the driver. Oh, yeah. My connected vehicle app is DEFINITELY going to be talking to me about changing my oil (I’m not exactly diligent), how great the latest model of Toyota is (I drove a Corolla for 18 years and have also owned a Tacoma, a Tundra, and a Prius), and if it would add coffee coupons I would be golden. A New Era of Automotive Innovation Salesforce’s Connected Car App marks a pivotal moment in the automotive industry’s digital transformation. As vehicles become increasingly connected, the opportunities for innovation are boundless. Salesforce is at the forefront with a solution that not only enhances the driving experience but also empowers automakers to build stronger, more meaningful relationships with their customers. In a world where customer expectations are constantly growing, the Connected Car App is a game-changer. Customers, even car owners, expect their brands to know them and recognize them. By integrating Salesforce’s CRM capabilities directly into vehicles, the app creates a seamless, personalized experience that stands out. As we look ahead, it’s clear that the Connected Car App is just the beginning of an exciting new era of automotive innovation. As a marketer at heart and a technologist by trade, I’m really excited about the potential here. Connected Vehicle: A Unified Digital Foundation Salesforce’s Connected Vehicle platform provides automakers with a unified, intelligent digital foundation, enabling them to reduce development time and roll out features and updates faster than ever before. This platform allows seamless integration of vehicle, Internet of Things (IoT), driver, and retail data from various sources, including AWS IoT FleetWise and Snapdragon® Car-to-Cloud Connected Services Platform, to enhance driver experiences and ensure smooth vehicle operation. Can you imagine a smart app like the Connected Vehicle talking to your loyalty apps for gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores? I would be driving down the interstate and the app will tell me there is a Starbucks ahead AND I have a 10% off coupon. Automakers and mobility leaders like Sony Honda Mobility are already exploring the use of Connected Vehicle to deliver better experiences for their customers. The platform’s ability to access and integrate data from any source in near real time allows automakers to personalize driver experiences, in-car offers, and safety upgrades. Why It Matters By 2030, every new vehicle sold will be connected, and the advanced, tech-driven features they provide will be increasingly important to consumers. A recent Salesforce survey revealed that drivers already consider connected features to be nearly as important as a car’s brand. Connected Vehicle accelerates this evolution, enabling automakers to immediately deliver branded, customized experiences tailored to

Read More
August 29, 2024in Salesforce Implementation Services, Salesforce Managed Services, Salesforce Manufacturing Automotive Energy
Salesforce Holiday Forecast
28Aug

Salesforce Holiday Forecast

Value-conscious consumers are increasingly opting for lower-cost options, waiting strategically for discounts, and turning to budget-friendly Chinese shopping apps, leading to a projected 2% year-over-year (YoY) growth in holiday sales both in the U.S. and globally, according to the Salesforce Shopping Index. This index analyzes data from over 1.5 billion global consumers on retail sites. The Salesforce Holiday Forecast isn’t necessarily bleak, but it will leave some merchants feeling glum. In 2023, holiday sales grew by 3% YoY, reaching .17 trillion. However, Salesforce forecasts that global sales for November through December 2024 will only reach .19 trillion, with the U.S. contributing $277 billion. This modest projection aligns with Salesforce consumer surveys, which indicate that while 47% of shoppers plan to spend the same amount as in 2023, 40% intend to spend less this year. “The global economy remains fraught with risks, despite inflation stabilizing,” said Rob Garf, VP and General Manager of Consumer Goods at Salesforce, during a recent briefing. “Interest rates are still high, global conflicts are disrupting supply chains, and we see consumers transferring inflationary costs to debt.” Indeed, a Salesforce survey conducted earlier this month revealed that 37% of consumers are using credit cards more frequently than last year, 32% are turning to buy now, pay later (BNPL) services, and 43% are carrying more monthly debt. Rising Popularity of Chinese Shopping Apps Consumers seeking value are gravitating towards deep-discount Chinese shopping apps like Temu, Shein, and increasingly, TikTok. According to Salesforce’s August 2024 survey, 63% of consumers have made a purchase through these apps in the past six months, and 50% plan to use them during the holiday season. These figures are even higher among Gen Z and millennial consumers, with 80% having purchased from these apps in the past six months and nearly 70% planning to do so during the holidays. Overall, Salesforce predicts that Chinese shopping apps will account for just over 21% of holiday purchases! “Temu and Shein lead the pack, but TikTok is gaining traction, up 24% since April, making it the third most popular app,” said Caila Schwartz, Director of Consumer Insights and Strategy at Salesforce. Consumers cite value as the primary reason for using these apps (58%), far ahead of fast shipping (28%). Consumers Plan to Wait for Cyber Week Deals Many shoppers intend to stretch their budgets by holding off on purchases until Cyber Week, the period around Thanksgiving that includes Black Friday and Cyber Monday. “In 2023, price-conscious consumers waited for Cyber Week to make purchases, and we expect this trend to be even stronger this year,” Schwartz noted. Salesforce data shows that 67% of shoppers are delaying “splurge” purchases until Cyber Week. Salesforce forecasts that global discount rates will briefly rise in October, likely coinciding with the fall edition of Amazon Prime Day, when many retailers run promotions to capture the holiday season’s momentum. Discount rates are expected to peak at an average of 28% globally during Cyber Week, with U.S. discounts forecasted to reach 30%. Shorter Season Highlights BOPIS Importance With only 27 days between Thanksgiving (Nov. 28) and Christmas this year, retailers with strong buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) offerings will have a significant advantage. Salesforce predicts that BOPIS will account for one-third (33%) of global online orders during the week before Christmas and Boxing Week. The compressed season will increase the pressure on retailers to execute BOPIS effectively, as failing to meet customer expectations could have serious reputational costs. “Retailers can extend the digital shopping season with BOPIS, but the real winners will be those who can deliver on it,” Garf emphasized. “Store associates are already feeling the strain, especially during the holidays, and some retailers have scaled back their BOPIS offerings, citing increased anxiety among both staff and customers.” Holiday Strategy: Prioritize Customer Acquisition To capture a share of what may be a smaller holiday “pie,” retailers should focus on customer acquisition—and the sooner, the better. With the 2024 elections in the U.S. and many other countries, advertising costs and space availability will be at a premium, making it harder for brands to reach consumers. “Online traffic is cheaper now than it will be in a few months, when political ad spending ramps up,” said David Oksman, VP of Marketing and DTC at Samsonite, who joined Garf and Schwartz at the briefing. “Acquisition costs will rise even more than we’ve seen before.” One additional challenge of holiday sales in an election year. Oksman recommends tried-and-true tactics for driving acquisition and gathering customer data: “Fall is a great time for sweepstakes and giveaways. The old playbooks still work, and customer acquisition is gold.” A sweepstakes prize like a shopping spree or offering exclusive early access to products or deals can incentivize consumers to share their email addresses with a brand. “Loyalty programs are another strong value proposition in the consumer’s mind,” Schwartz added. “Even if you’re not offering points, benefits like free returns or shipping can encourage shoppers to sign up.” Right now is the best time to engage in reactivation campaigns to old customers and prospects. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

Read More
August 28, 2024in Marketing Automation, Salesforce Optimization
Not Ready For All That AI
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 Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Salesforce Enhances Service Cloud with AI-Driven Intelligence Engine Data science and analytics are rapidly becoming standard features in enterprise applications, Read more

Read More
August 26, 2024in Salesforce
Unlocking Enterprise AI Success
26Aug

Unlocking Enterprise AI Success

Companies are diving into artificial intelligence. Unlocking enterprise AI success depends on four main factors. Tectonic is here to help you address each. Trust is Important-Trust is Everything Data is everything—it’s reshaping business models and steering the world through health and economic challenges. But data alone isn’t enough; in fact, it can be worse than useless—it’s a risk unless it’s trustworthy. The solution lies in a data trust strategy: one that maximizes data’s potential to create value while minimizing the risks associated with it. Data Trust is Declining, Not Improving Do you believe your company is making its data and data practices more trustworthy? If so, you’re in line with most business leaders. However, there’s a disconnect: consumers don’t share this belief. While 55% of business leaders think consumers trust them with data more than they did two years ago, only 21% of consumers report increased trust in how companies use their data. In fact, 28% say their trust has decreased, and a staggering 76% of global consumers view sharing their data with companies as a “necessary evil.” For companies that manage to build trust in their data, the benefits are substantial. Yet, only 37% of companies with a formal data valuation process involve privacy teams. Integrating privacy is just one aspect of building data trust, but companies that do so are already more than twice as likely as their peers to report returns on investment from key data-driven initiatives, such as developing new products and services, enhancing workforce effectiveness, and optimizing business operations. To truly excel, companies need to create an ongoing system that continually transforms raw information into trusted, business-critical data. Data is the Backbone-Data is the Key Data leaks, as shown below, are a major factor on data trust and quality. As bad as leaked data is to security, data availability is to being a data-driven organization. Extortionist Attack on Costa Rican Government Agencies In an unprecedented event in April 2022, the extortionist group Conti launched a cyberattack on Costa Rican government agencies, demanding a million ransom. The attack crippled much of the country’s IT infrastructure, leading to a declared state of emergency. Lapsus$ Attacks on Okta, Nvidia, Microsoft, Samsung, and Other Companies The Lapsus$ group targeted several major IT companies in 2022, including Okta, Nvidia, Microsoft, and Samsung. Earlier in the year, Okta, known for its account and access management solutions—including multi-factor authentication—was breached. Attack on Swissport International Swissport International, a Swiss provider of air cargo and ground handling services operating at 310 airports across 50 countries, was hit by ransomware. The attack caused numerous flight delays and resulted in the theft of 1.6 TB of data, highlighting the severe consequences of such breaches on global logistics. Attack on Vodafone Portugal Vodafone Portugal, a major telecommunications operator, suffered a cyberattack that disrupted services nationwide, affecting 4G and 5G networks, SMS messaging, and TV services. With over 4 million cellular subscribers and 3.4 million internet users, the impact was widespread across Portugal. Data Leak of Indonesian Citizens In a massive breach, an archive containing data on 105 million Indonesian citizens—about 40% of the country’s population—was put up for sale on a dark web forum. The data, believed to have been stolen from the “General Election Commission,” included full names, birth dates, and other personal information. The Critical Importance of Accurate Data There’s no shortage of maxims emphasizing how data has become one of the most vital resources for businesses and organizations. At Tectonic, we agree that the best decisions are driven by accurate and relevant data. However, we also caution that simply having more data doesn’t necessarily lead to better decision-making. In fact, we argue that data accuracy is far more important than data abundance. Making decisions based on incorrect or irrelevant data is often worse than having too little of the right data. This is why accurate data is crucial, and we’ll explore this concept further in the following sections. Accurate data is information that truly reflects reality or another source of truth. It can be tested against facts or evidence to verify that it represents something as it actually is, such as a person’s contact details or a location’s coordinates. Accuracy is often confused with precision, but they are distinct concepts. Precision refers to how consistent or varied values are relative to one another, typically measured against some other variable. Thus, data can be accurate, precise, both, or neither. Another key factor in data accuracy is the time elapsed between when data is produced and when it is collected and used. The shorter this time frame, the more likely the data is to be accurate. As modern businesses integrate data into more aspects of their operations, they stand to gain significant competitive advantages if done correctly. However, this also means there’s more at stake if the data is inaccurate. The following points will highlight why accurate data is critical to various facets of your company. Ease and speed of access Access speeds are measured in bytes per second (Bps). Slower devices operate in thousands of Bps (kBps), while faster devices can reach millions of Bps (MBps). For example, a hard drive can read and write data at speeds of 300MBps, which is 5,000 times faster than a floppy disk! Fast data refers to data in motion, streaming into applications and computing environments from countless endpoints—ranging from mobile devices and sensor networks to financial transactions, stock tick feeds, logs, retail systems, and telco call routing and authorization systems. Improving data access speeds can significantly enhance operational efficiency by providing timely and accurate data to stakeholders throughout an organization. This can streamline business processes, reduce costs, and boost productivity. However, data access is not just about retrieving information. It plays a crucial role in ensuring data integrity, security, and regulatory compliance. Effective data access strategies help organizations safeguard sensitive information from unauthorized access while making it readily available to those who are authorized. Additionally, the accuracy and availability of data are essential to prevent data silos

Read More
August 26, 2024in Salesforce

Subscribe to our mailing list. Join our mail list to receive our newsletter

We'll keep you up to date with our latest news, insights, free resources, and much more.
Don't worry, we won't spam you.
gettectonic.com