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Financial Services Sector

Future of Financial Services

The Future of Financial Services: AI Agents, Consumer Trust, and Digital Transformation Fewer than half of consumers are fully satisfied with the service they receive from banks, insurance providers, and wealth management advisors. This underscores the urgent need for financial service institutions (FSIs) to prioritize standout customer experiences—both human and digital—leveraging AI agents to enhance personalization, efficiency, and responsiveness. Why Customer Experience is Key Consumer loyalty has long been driven by competitive pricing, fees, and interest rates. However, with declining rates making promotional incentives less feasible, FSIs are refocusing on customer service as a key differentiator. AI-powered digital experiences provide an opportunity to exceed customer expectations, offering speed, convenience, and hyper-personalization at scale. A significant portion of consumers are willing to stay with an institution that offers an exceptional experience, even if it raises its rates or fees. For instance, 46% of consumers—and 55% of high earners in the U.S. (households making over $100,000 per year)—value experience over pricing alone. Digital self-service is a primary component of this enhanced experience, with many consumers preferring to complete tasks online rather than through traditional phone or in-branch interactions. Institutions like Credit Unions are already meeting this demand by deploying self-service tools that provide instant resolutions, 24/7. AI Agents: Transforming the FSI Landscape AI agents represent a major leap forward in customer service, automating interactions and resolving issues without human intervention. However, trust in these AI-driven systems remains a work in progress. Only 41% of wealth management clients report being fully satisfied with their institution’s speed and effectiveness, and satisfaction levels are even lower among banking and insurance customers. Despite some skepticism, AI adoption is accelerating. Half of consumers expect AI to significantly impact their financial relationships, a belief even more pronounced among Millennials and Gen Z. The percentage of customers anticipating AI-driven transaction speed improvements has risen from 46% in 2023 to 65% today. Yet, consumer education on AI’s capabilities remains a challenge. AI agents have the potential to act as financial advisors, enhancing financial literacy, optimizing savings, and even increasing earnings. Salesforce’s Agentforce aims to bridge this gap, offering digital financial assistants that can answer questions like, “Am I saving enough for retirement?” or “Can I afford this vacation?”—delivering expert insights instantly and at scale. Building Trust in AI-Powered Finance Despite AI’s promise, trust issues persist. While 54% of consumers express confidence in AI agents, only 10% fully trust them. This skepticism is fueled by concerns over data privacy, security, and transparency. Many consumers are wary of how FSIs handle their personal information and are seeking greater clarity on AI’s role in financial decision-making. A Salesforce study revealed that 73% of consumers want to know when they’re interacting with AI, highlighting the importance of transparency in AI implementation. “For AI to succeed in financial services, trust and compliance must be built into the foundation,” said Eran Agrios, SVP & GM of Financial Services at Salesforce. “FSIs need to ensure their AI strategies are not only effective but also worthy of customer confidence.” AI in Action: Case Studies in Financial Services Financial institutions leveraging Agentforce are already seeing tangible benefits: Integrating Agentforce with ERP for Maximum Impact To maximize the potential of AI agents, FSIs must integrate them seamlessly into their broader enterprise ecosystems. Best practices for integration include: The Next Two Years: Defining the Future of AI in Finance As AI continues to disrupt the financial sector, FSIs that embrace AI-first strategies will outperform competitors in efficiency, security, and customer experience. Here’s what the future holds: The Takeaway Financial institutions that invest in AI-driven experiences today will define the future of finance. By adopting transparent, compliant, and consumer-centric AI strategies, FSIs can build trust, drive efficiency, and deliver exceptional customer experiences that set them apart in an increasingly AI-powered world. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more 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

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Cloud-Based Housing Repairs with Salesforce

Bernicia Leads the Way in Cloud-Based Housing Repairs with Salesforce Bernicia has become the first housing association in the UK to deliver end-to-end repairs services through Salesforce’s cloud-based, nonprofit solution—setting a new industry benchmark for streamlined, automated housing repairs. Transforming Repairs with Salesforce Field Services All electrical repairs at tenants’ homes are now managed through Salesforce Field Services, enhancing the customer experience with seamless, automated processes. By this summer, all responsive repairs will transition into the system, delivering key benefits such as: A Customer-Centric Digital Transformation In 2023, Bernicia reinforced its commitment to tenants by launching a multi-year cultural development program, supported by a £4 million investment in world-class technology. By listening to customer feedback and leveraging data-driven insights, Bernicia has aligned its new digital repairs service with tenant expectations and evolving habits. Andrea Malcolm, Deputy Chief Executive at Bernicia and project sponsor, stated: “The introduction of Field Services marks a major milestone in our journey to customer service excellence. The dedication and expertise of our team have been outstanding, creating an incredible momentum across the business. We’re excited to see the real difference this will make for both customers and colleagues.” Jude Comber, Account Executive at Salesforce Nonprofits, praised the project team, saying: “The level of skill and attention to detail in this project is outstanding. Bernicia’s customer-first approach is a model for how to successfully implement a digital transformation.” Strategic Collaboration with Alscient Achieving this milestone was made possible through Bernicia’s partnership with Alscient, a multi-cloud specialist. Their expertise in Salesforce integration and digital transformation played a key role in designing and implementing the Field Services solution. Salesforce: A Game-Changer for Housing Associations Salesforce offers housing associations a single, integrated platform to streamline operations, enhance tenant relationships, and eliminate inefficiencies caused by data silos. By embracing cloud-based, automated solutions, housing providers can transform service delivery and drive long-term tenant satisfaction. 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

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Google and Salesforce Expand Partnership

Google and Salesforce Expand Partnership

Google and Salesforce Expand Partnership to Enhance AI Agent Capabilities Google and Salesforce are deepening their collaboration to provide customers with greater flexibility in AI agent deployment. This expanded partnership will integrate Google Gemini within Salesforce’s Agentforce platform, enabling AI agents to process images, audio, and video with advanced multimodal capabilities. Enhanced AI Functionality with Gemini Through this integration, AI agents will gain access to Gemini’s powerful models, allowing them to handle complex tasks with extended context windows and leverage real-time insights from Google Search via Vertex AI. This collaboration aims to empower businesses with AI solutions that are not limited to a single model provider, offering crucial flexibility in AI customization. Srini Tallapragada, Salesforce’s President and Chief Engineering and Customer Success Officer, emphasized that the integration offers customers the ability to choose the applications and models that best suit their needs. “Salesforce offers a complete enterprise-grade agentic AI platform that makes it easy to deploy new capabilities quickly and realize business value fast. Google Cloud is a pioneer in enterprise agentic AI, offering some of the most powerful models, agents, and AI development tools on the planet. Together, we are creating the best place for businesses to scale with digital labor.” Key Benefits of the Integration The partnership is set to deliver significant advantages for businesses, as outlined in the official announcement: Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, highlighted the benefits of this collaboration: “Our mutual customers have asked for seamless integration across Salesforce and Google Cloud. This expanded partnership enables them to accelerate AI transformations with state-of-the-art AI models, agentic AI, and advanced data analytics.” Strengthening Customer Service Integrations The partnership will also enhance the connection between Salesforce Service Cloud and Google Cloud’s Customer Engagement Suite, providing AI-driven improvements to customer support. Key upcoming features include: Expanding AI-Powered Decision-Making Beyond Gemini, Agentforce will integrate Google Search through Vertex AI, leveraging secure connections between Salesforce Data Cloud and Google BigQuery. This will enable AI agents to access real-time information for improved accuracy and decision-making. For example, in supply chain management, AI can track shipments, monitor inventory in Salesforce Commerce Cloud, and anticipate disruptions using real-time data on weather, port congestion, and geopolitical events. Additionally, joint customers will be able to utilize Salesforce’s unified platform—including Agentforce, Data Cloud, and Customer 360—on Google Cloud’s AI-optimized infrastructure. This integration ensures enhanced security through dynamic grounding, zero data retention, and toxicity detection via the Einstein Trust Layer. Businesses will also soon have the option to purchase Salesforce products via the Google Cloud Marketplace. More AI Innovations from Google and Salesforce Google recently announced the development of a personalized AI-powered chatbot that will be integrated into its devices, including smartphones, laptops, and tablets. This tool will automatically answer calls, process requests, and respond on behalf of users. Meanwhile, Salesforce’s Service Assistant—formerly known as Salesforce Service Planner—has launched on Service Cloud. Designed to support live agents, it generates step-by-step plans for resolving customer inquiries by analyzing intent, case history, and customer context. For optimal performance, Salesforce recommends integrating it with Data Cloud and the contact center knowledge base. With this expanded partnership, Google and Salesforce are setting the stage for businesses to leverage cutting-edge AI technology, driving innovation and operational efficiency across industries. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more 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

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Agentforce to the Team

Salesforce Unveils AI-Powered Agentforce for Health

Salesforce Unveils AI-Powered Agentforce for Health to Streamline Healthcare Operations Salesforce is expanding its AI capabilities in healthcare with the launch of Agentforce for Health, a library of ready-made, autonomous AI tools designed to tackle time-consuming administrative tasks for providers, payers, and public health organizations. Unlike traditional AI assistants that require constant human input, Agentforce for Health leverages agentic AI, which can make independent decisions and operate with minimal intervention. This shift could be a game-changer for an industry grappling with labor shortages, burnout, and rising administrative costs—which McKinsey estimates at $1 trillion annually in the U.S. alone. How Agentforce for Health Works The new solution offers a range of AI-powered capabilities, including: By automating these processes, healthcare teams estimate they could save up to 10 hours per week, according to a Salesforce survey released alongside the product announcement. Salesforce’s AI Edge in Healthcare While tech giants like Google (Agentspace) and Microsoft are also investing in AI-driven healthcare solutions, Salesforce differentiates itself through its deep integration with its CRM platform. This allows Agentforce for Health to not only automate tasks but also seamlessly enhance patient engagement and care coordination. Additionally, Salesforce’s Einstein Copilot Health Actions, a conversational AI assistant launched in April, complements Agentforce by enabling interactive AI-driven decision-making for healthcare teams. Availability & Future Rollout Salesforce is rolling out Agentforce for Health’s AI skills through September for clients using its cloud platform. As AI adoption accelerates in healthcare, Salesforce is positioning itself as a key player in helping the industry reduce administrative burdens, improve efficiency, and enhance 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 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

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agetnforce for nonprofits

TDX Announcements for Agentforce

Salesforce Expands Agentforce AI, Strengthening Its Lead in Agentic AI Salesforce’s latest updates to its agentic AI platform, Agentforce, are set to elevate its position in the competitive AI market, potentially outpacing enterprise application rivals and hyperscalers like AWS, Google, IBM, ServiceNow, and Microsoft. The updates, introduced under Agentforce 2dx, enhance orchestration, development, testing, and deployment capabilities. According to Arnal Dayaratna, vice president of research at IDC, these advancements could propel Salesforce ahead of its competition in a manner similar to OpenAI’s early dominance in large language models (LLMs). Agentforce API Expands Platform Extensibility A key enhancement in Agentforce 2dx is the Agentforce API, designed to improve extensibility and facilitate the seamless integration of agentic AI technologies into digital solutions. “Without an API, all AI agentic capabilities remain locked into the Agentforce platform,” explained Jason Andersen, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy. “The API allows enterprises to build apps and agents with whatever they want.” Dion Hinchcliffe, CIO practice lead at The Futurum Group, sees this as a strategic move to drive adoption by removing usage constraints. While companies like Google and Microsoft have already introduced similar APIs, Salesforce differentiates itself by leveraging its deep CRM expertise, customer data, and business logic integration. “AI agents need contextual data to act effectively,” said Hinchcliffe. “While competitors will likely improve their integrations, Salesforce’s extensive background in business logic and automation will be difficult to match quickly.” Accelerating Enterprise Adoption with New Features Beyond the API, Agentforce 2dx includes enhancements like the Topic Center, MuleSoft integrations, Tableau Semantics, and Slack integrations, aimed at simplifying custom agent development, workflow integration, and deployment. Empowering Developers to Scale Agentic AI Salesforce is also focusing on developers with tools that provide greater control over agent creation, testing, and deployment. Key updates include: “Salesforce is encouraging hands-on experimentation, a strategy commonly used by cloud service providers,” said Cameron Marsh, senior analyst at Nucleus Research. Andersen sees this as a bold move in the SaaS market, positioning Salesforce as a direct competitor to Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud, which also offer developer-centric AI tools. Additionally, Salesforce introduced Testing Center, a low-code tool for enterprises to test agents before deployment. Scaling AI Agent Deployments with Confidence Hyoun Park, chief analyst at Amalgam Insights, emphasized the importance of these tools for scaling AI deployments. “One of the biggest challenges in agentic AI is simulating and testing interactions at scale,” Park noted. “With these capabilities, companies no longer need to manually test or build custom tools to manage AI agents.” Proven Market Traction Salesforce reports it has secured 5,000 deals with Agentforce, with customers like The Adecco Group, Engine, OpenTable, Oregon Humane Society, Precina, and Vivint already seeing immediate value. With Agentforce 2dx, Salesforce is reinforcing its leadership in agentic AI, giving enterprises more control, scalability, and integration capabilities to drive innovation in AI-powered automation. 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

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Shift From AI Agents to AI Agent Tool Use

AI Agent Dilemma

The AI Agent Dilemma: Hype, Confusion, and Competing Definitions Silicon Valley is all in on AI agents. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman predicts they will “join the workforce” this year. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella envisions them replacing certain knowledge work. Meanwhile, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has set an ambitious goal: making Salesforce the “number one provider of digital labor in the world” through its suite of AI-driven agentic services. But despite the enthusiasm, there’s little consensus on what an AI agent actually is. In recent years, tech leaders have hailed AI agents as transformative—just as AI chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT redefined information retrieval, agents, they claim, will revolutionize work. That may be true. But the problem lies in defining what an “agent” really is. Much like AI buzzwords such as “multimodal,” “AGI,” or even “AI” itself, the term “agent” is becoming so broad that it risks losing all meaning. This ambiguity puts companies like OpenAI, Microsoft, Salesforce, Amazon, and Google in a tricky spot. Each is investing heavily in AI agents, but their definitions—and implementations—differ wildly. An Amazon agent is not the same as a Google agent, leading to confusion and, increasingly, customer frustration. Even industry insiders are growing weary of the term. Ryan Salva, senior director of product at Google and former GitHub Copilot leader, openly criticizes the overuse of “agents.” “I think our industry has stretched the term ‘agent’ to the point where it’s almost nonsensical,” Salva told TechCrunch. “[It is] one of my pet peeves.” A Definition in Flux The struggle to define AI agents isn’t new. Former TechCrunch reporter Ron Miller raised the question last year: What exactly is an AI agent? The challenge is that every company building them has a different answer. That confusion only deepened this past week. OpenAI published a blog post defining agents as “automated systems that can independently accomplish tasks on behalf of users.” Yet in its developer documentation, it described agents as “LLMs equipped with instructions and tools.” Adding to the inconsistency, OpenAI’s API product marketing lead, Leher Pathak, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that she sees “assistants” and “agents” as interchangeable—further muddying the waters. Microsoft attempts to make a distinction, describing agents as “the new apps” for an AI-powered world, while reserving “assistant” for more general task helpers like email drafting tools. Anthropic takes a broader approach, stating that agents can be “fully autonomous systems that operate independently over extended periods” or simply “prescriptive implementations that follow predefined workflows.” Salesforce, meanwhile, has perhaps the widest-ranging definition, describing agents as AI-driven systems that can “understand and respond to customer inquiries without human intervention.” It categorizes them into six types, from “simple reflex agents” to “utility-based agents.” Why the Confusion? The nebulous nature of AI agents is part of the problem. These systems are still evolving, and major players like OpenAI, Google, and Perplexity have only just begun rolling out their first versions—each with vastly different capabilities. But history also plays a role. Rich Villars, GVP of worldwide research at IDC, points out that tech companies have “a long history” of using flexible definitions for emerging technologies. “They care more about what they are trying to accomplish on a technical level,” Villars told TechCrunch, “especially in fast-evolving markets.” Marketing is another culprit. Andrew Ng, founder of DeepLearning.ai, argues that the term “agent” once had a clear technical meaning—until marketers and a few major companies co-opted it. The Double-Edged Sword of Ambiguity The lack of a standardized definition presents both opportunities and challenges. Jim Rowan, head of AI at Deloitte, notes that while the ambiguity allows companies to tailor agents to specific needs, it also leads to “misaligned expectations” and difficulty in measuring value and ROI. “Without a standardized definition, at least within an organization, it becomes challenging to benchmark performance and ensure consistent outcomes,” Rowan explains. “This can result in varied interpretations of what AI agents should deliver, potentially complicating project goals and results.” While a clearer framework for AI agents would help businesses maximize their investments, history suggests that the industry is unlikely to agree on a single definition—just as it never fully defined “AI” itself. For now, AI agents remain both a promising innovation and a marketing-driven enigma. 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

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AI Data Cloud and Integration

It is Time to Implement Data Cloud

With Salesforce Data Cloud you can: With incomplete data your 360-degree customer view is limited and often leads to multiple sales reps working on the same lead. Slow access to the right leads at the right time leads to missed opportunties and delayed closings. If your team cannot trust the data due to siloes and inaccuracies, they avoid using it. It is Time to Implement Data Cloud. Unified Connect and harmonize data from all your Salesforce applications and external data systems. Then activate your data with insights and automation across every customer touchpoint. Powerful With Data Cloud and Agentforce, you can create the most intelligent agents possible, giving them access to the exact data they need to deliver any employee or customer experience. Secure Securely connect your data to any large language model (LLM) without sacrificing data governance and security thanks to the Einstein 1 trust layer. Open Data Cloud is fully open and extensible – bring your own data lake or model to reduce complexity and leverage what’s already been built. Plus, share out to popular destinations like Snowflake, Google Ads, or Meta Ads. Salesforce Data Cloud is the only hyperscale data engine native to Salesforce. It is more than a CDP. It goes beyond a data lake. You can do more with Data Cloud. Your Agentforce journey begins with Data Cloud. Agents need the right data to work. With Data Cloud, you can create the most intelligent agents possible, giving them access to the exact data they need to deliver any employee or customer experience. Use any data in your organization with Agentforce in a safe and secure manner thanks to the Einstein 1 Trust Layer. Datablazers are Salesforce community members who are passionate about driving business growth with data and AI powered by Data Cloud. Sign up to join a growing group of members to learn, connect, and grow with Data Cloud. Join today. The path to AI success begins and ends with quality data. Business, IT, and analytics decision makers with high data maturity were 2x more likely than low-maturity leaders to have the quality data needed to use AI effectively, according to our State of Data and Analytics report. “What’s data maturity?” you might wonder. Hang tight, we’ll explain in chapter 1 of this guide. Data-leading companies also experience: Your data strategy isn’t just important, it’s critical in getting you to the head of the market with new AI technology by your side. That’s why this Salesforce guide is based on recent industry findings and provides best practices to help your company get the most from your data. Tectonic will be sharing a focus on the 360 degree customer view with Salesforce Data Cloud in our insights. Stay tuned. It is Time to Implement Data Cloud 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

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The Rise of AI Agents: 2024 and Beyond

The Rise of AI Agents: 2024 and Beyond

In 2024, we witnessed major breakthroughs in AI agents. OpenAI’s o1 and o3 models demonstrated the ability to deconstruct complex tasks, while Claude 3.5 showcased AI’s capacity to interact with computers like humans—navigating interfaces and running software. These advancements, alongside improvements in memory and learning systems, are pushing AI beyond simple chat interactions into the realm of autonomous systems. AI agents are already making an impact in specialized fields, including legal analysis, scientific research, and technical support. While they excel in structured environments with defined rules, they still struggle with unpredictable scenarios and open-ended challenges. Their success rates drop significantly when handling exceptions or adapting to dynamic conditions. The field is evolving from conversational AI to intelligent systems capable of reasoning and independent action. Each step forward demands greater computational power and introduces new technical challenges. This article explores how AI agents function, their current capabilities, and the infrastructure required to ensure their reliability. What is an AI Agent? An AI agent is a system designed to reason through problems, plan solutions, and execute tasks using external tools. Unlike traditional AI models that simply respond to prompts, agents possess: Understanding the shift from passive responders to autonomous agents is key to grasping the opportunities and challenges ahead. Let’s explore the breakthroughs that have fueled this transformation. 2024’s Key Breakthroughs OpenAI o3’s High Score on the ARC-AGI Benchmark Three pivotal advancements in 2024 set the stage for autonomous AI agents: AI Agents in Action These capabilities are already yielding practical applications. As Reid Hoffman observed, we are seeing the emergence of specialized AI agents that extend human capabilities across various industries: Recent research from Sierra highlights the rapid maturation of these systems. AI agents are transitioning from experimental prototypes to real-world deployment, capable of handling complex business rules while engaging in natural conversations. The Road Ahead: Key Questions As AI agents continue to evolve, three critical questions for us all emerge: The next wave of AI innovation will be defined by how well we address these challenges. By building robust systems that balance autonomy with oversight, we can unlock the full potential of AI agents in the years ahead. 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

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Five9 Deepens Salesforce Partnership

Five9 Deepens Salesforce Partnership to Advance AI-Powered Contact Centers Five9 is strengthening its collaboration with Salesforce to help mutual customers streamline service environments and implement AI-powered agents that enhance customer interactions. A Strategic Partnership in AI & Customer Service The announcement comes as Five9 celebrates a 17% year-over-year (YoY) revenue growth, with Chairman & CEO Mike Burkland crediting the company’s expanding partner network for driving success. While acknowledging partnerships with Microsoft, Google, ServiceNow, and Verint, Burkland highlighted Five9’s deepening relationship with Salesforce, emphasizing: “Salesforce and Five9 share a vision where AI agents and human agents work together to elevate customer experiences.” A key focus of this partnership is enhancing integration between Five9 and Agentforce, Salesforce’s platform for autonomous AI agents. This marks the first CCaaS vendor integration with Agentforce, opening up new opportunities for intelligent, industry-specific AI applications. Industry-Specific AI Agents: A Game Changer By embedding Agentforce capabilities within the Five9-Salesforce CCaaS-CRM ecosystem, businesses can automate critical customer service workflows. Some examples include: These are just a few use cases demonstrating how AI-driven automation can transform customer engagement across industries. CCaaS vs. CRM: Who Will Lead AI in Contact Centers? As AI reshapes customer service, industry analysts have questioned whether businesses will favor their CRM provider over their CCaaS vendor for AI-driven automation. Burkland dismissed this as a false choice, explaining: “It’s going to be a mix. Even if an organization chooses Salesforce for their AI, they still need access to all the contextual data in our platform. Salesforce knows they need us, and we welcome that relationship. Our goal is to do what’s best for the customer.” The Future of AI-Powered Customer Engagement By deepening its Salesforce integration and leading the way in AI-driven service automation, Five9 is positioning itself as a key player in the evolution of intelligent contact centers. As businesses increasingly seek to blend human expertise with AI efficiency, this partnership paves the way for seamless, personalized, and automated customer experiences at scale. 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

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salesforce end to end

Salesforce and Google Announcement

Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) has entered into a deal with Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) to offer its customer relations management software, Agentforce artificial intelligence assistants, and Data Cloud offerings through Google Cloud, the companies announced today. Google and Salesforce already have many of the same clients, and this new deal will allow for more product integration between Google Workspace and Salesforce’s customer relationship management and AI offerings. Salesforce already uses Amazon (AMZN) Web Services for much of its cloud computing. “Our mutual customers have asked us to be able to work more seamlessly across Salesforce and Google Cloud, and this expanded partnership will help them accelerate their AI transformations with agentic AI, state-of-the-art AI models, data analytics, and more,” said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud. The deal is expected to total $2.5B over the next seven years, according to a report by Bloomberg. Salesforce and Google today announced a major expansion of their strategic partnership, delivering choice in the models and capabilities businesses use to build and deploy AI-powered agents. In today’s constantly evolving AI landscape, innovations like autonomous agents are emerging so quickly that businesses struggle to keep pace. This expanded partnership provides crucial flexibility, empowering customers to develop tailored AI solutions that meet their specific needs, rather than being locked into a single model provider. Google Cloud is at the forefront of enterprise AI innovation with millions of developers building with Google’s cutting-edge Gemini models and on Google Cloud’s AI-optimized infrastructure. This expanded partnership will empower Salesforce customers to build Agentforce agents using Gemini and to deploy Salesforce on Google Cloud. This is an expansion of the existing partnership that allows customers to use data from Data Cloud and Google BigQuery bi-directionally via zero-copy technology—further equipping customers with the data, AI, trust, and actions they need to bring autonomous agents into their businesses. Additionally, this integration empowers Agentforce agents with the ability to reference up-to-the-minute data, news, current events, and credible citations, substantially enhancing their contextual awareness and ability to deliver accurate, evidence-backed responses. For example, in supply chain management and logistics, an agent built with Agentforce could track shipments and monitor inventory levels in Salesforce Commerce Cloud and proactively identify potential disruptions using real-time data from Google Search, including weather conditions, port congestion, and geopolitical events. Availability is expected in the coming months. AI: Unlocking the Power of Choice and Flexibility with Gemini and Agentforce Businesses need the freedom to choose the best models for their needs rather than be locked into one vendor. In 2025, Google’s Gemini models will also be available for prompt building and reasoning directly within Agentforce. With Gemini and Agentforce, businesses will benefit from: For example, an insurance customer can submit a claim with photos of the damage and an audio voicemail from a witness. Agentforce, using Gemini, can then help the insurance provider deliver better customer experiences by processing all these inputs, assessing the claim’s validity, and even using text-to-speech to contact the customer with a resolution, streamlining the traditionally lengthy claims process. Availability is expected this year. Trust: Salesforce Platform deployed on Google Cloud Customers will be able to use Salesforce’s unified platform (Agentforce, Data Cloud, Customer 360) on Google Cloud’s highly secure, AI-optimized infrastructure, benefiting from features like dynamic grounding, zero data retention, and toxicity detection provided by the Einstein Trust Layer. Once Salesforce products are available on Google Cloud, customers will also have the ability to procure Salesforce offerings through the Google Cloud Marketplace, opening up new possibilities for global businesses to optimize their investments across Salesforce and Google Cloud and benefiting thousands of existing joint customers. Action: Enhanced Employee Productivity and Customer Service with AI-Powered Integrations Millions use Salesforce and Google Cloud daily. This partnership prioritizes choice and flexibility, enabling seamless cross-platform work. New and deeper connections between platforms like Salesforce Service Cloud and Google Cloud’s Customer Engagement Suite, as well as Slack and Google Workspace, will empower AI agents and service representatives with unified data access, streamlined workflows, and advanced AI capabilities, regardless of platform. Salesforce and Google Cloud are deeply integrating their customer service platforms—Salesforce Service Cloud and Google Cloud’s Customer Engagement Suite—to create a seamless and intelligent support experience. Expected later this year, this unified approach empowers AI agents in Service Cloud with: Salesforce and Google Cloud are also exploring deeper integrations between Slack and Google Workspace, boosting productivity and creating a more cohesive digital workspace for teams and organizations. The companies are currently exploring use cases such as: Expanding Partnership Capabilities and Integrations This partnership goes beyond core product integrations to deliver a more connected and intelligent data foundation for businesses. Expected availability throughout 2025: This landmark partnership between Salesforce and Google represents a strategic paradigm shift in enterprise AI deployment, emphasizing infrastructure innovation, AI capability enhancement, and enterprise value. The integration of Google Search grounding provides a unique competitive advantage, offering real-time, factual responses backed by the world’s most comprehensive search engine. The companies are committed to ongoing innovation and deeper collaboration to empower businesses with even more powerful solutions. 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

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Generative AI Prompts with Retrieval Augmented Generation

AI Prompts for Small Businesses

How AI Prompts Can Help Small Businesses Win More Customers Getting new customers can be a challenge for small businesses. You may be eager to explore artificial intelligence (AI) but unsure where to begin. The answer? AI prompts—a simple yet powerful way to automate and optimize sales efforts. This guide explores five AI prompts designed to enhance your sales process, from personalized outreach to lead generation. Let’s dive in! What Is an AI Prompt? An AI prompt is a specific instruction or question given to an AI tool to generate responses or perform tasks. The more precise the prompt, the better the results. For small businesses, AI prompts can: Why AI Matters for Small Business Sales AI is a game-changer for small business sales. It provides insights into customer behavior, streamlines processes, and enhances decision-making. Unlike enterprise AI applications, SMB-focused AI helps automate repetitive tasks, allowing sales teams to focus on relationship-building and closing deals. A strong starting point? AI-powered CRM tools. Integrating AI with your CRM unlocks predictive analytics, automation, and smarter customer engagement. In fact, small businesses using Salesforce AI have reported: AI Prompts vs. Traditional Sales Methods AI-Powered Prompts Traditional Sales Methods Automated lead generation Manual lead hunting Personalized sales emails Generic mass emails Instant follow-ups Delayed responses AI-generated sales scripts Improvised pitches Smart objection handling Reactive responses 5 AI Prompts to Supercharge Your Sales 1. Lead Generation Prompt Objective: Identify potential leads quickly. AI Prompt: “Generate a list of 10 potential leads based on [industry, location, company size].” How It Helps: AI scans data to find ideal customers, saving time and improving outreach accuracy. Example Output: 2. Sales Email Drafting Prompt Objective: Craft compelling emails that boost click rates. AI Prompt: “Write a persuasive sales email to [target] highlighting our [product/service] and inviting them to a demo.” How It Helps: AI generates tailored emails that resonate with prospects, improving open and response rates. Example Output: Subject: Transform Your Operations with Our CRMHi [First Name],I noticed your business is growing rapidly in [industry]. Our CRM can streamline operations and boost efficiency. Let’s schedule a quick demo this week—let me know your availability![Your Name] 3. Customer Follow-Up Prompt Objective: Keep potential customers engaged. AI Prompt: “Write a follow-up email to [customer] who expressed interest in our [product/service], including a gentle reminder and any new updates.” How It Helps: AI ensures timely, professional follow-ups, maintaining engagement without being pushy. Example Output: Subject: Following Up on Our ConversationHi [First Name],I wanted to check in on our discussion about [product/service]. We recently introduced [new feature], which could be a great fit for you. Let me know if you’d like to reconnect.Thanks,[Your Name] 4. Sales Pitch Script Prompt Objective: Develop a persuasive pitch. AI Prompt: “Create a 2-minute sales pitch for our [product/service] emphasizing key benefits and unique selling points.” How It Helps: A well-structured pitch increases confidence and improves conversion rates. Example Output: “Hello! My name is [Your Name] from [Company Name]. We specialize in [product/service]. What sets us apart is [unique benefit]. Our solution has helped companies like yours achieve [specific results]. Interested in learning more?” 5. Objection Handling Prompt Objective: Overcome sales objections effectively. AI Prompt: “List two common objections about our [product/service] and provide persuasive responses.” How It Helps: Prepares sales teams with effective responses to common objections, increasing deal closures. Example Output: Objection: “It’s too expensive.”Response: “Our solution pays for itself within months through increased efficiency.” Objection: “We’re happy with our current provider.”Response: “That’s great! Many of our clients felt the same until they saw how much more they could achieve with our features.” Unlock Growth with AI-Powered Sales Using AI prompts for sales isn’t just an experiment—it’s a proven way to boost efficiency, personalization, and success. Businesses that embrace AI-driven strategies will outpace competitors and scale faster. Ready to transform your sales game? Start using AI prompts today! Contact Tectonic. 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

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Amadeus and Salesforce Expand Partnership

Amadeus and Salesforce Expand Partnership to Transform Hotel Service Centers Amadeus is deepening its collaboration with Salesforce to develop a next-generation hotel service center, designed to tackle key challenges in hospitality reservations and customer service. Currently in development, this innovative solution integrates Salesforce Service Cloud with Amadeus’ Central Reservations Systems and Guest Interaction solutions, targeting the global hospitality market. Enhancing the Guest Experience and Driving Revenue At its core, the new service center will elevate the Amadeus Central Reservations System (ACRS™) and iHotelier® by streamlining booking experiences and transforming how call center agents assist travelers. Key benefits include: By leveraging intelligent automation and real-time guest insights, hotels can enhance customer interactions, drive incremental revenue, and deliver more tailored experiences. A Flexible, Scalable Solution for All Hotel Operators The new service center is designed for maximum adaptability, enabling hoteliers to seamlessly integrate with Salesforce Service Cloud while scaling from entry-level solutions to advanced implementations. Capabilities range from basic booking and guest profile management to advanced features such as: ✔ Agent task automation for improved efficiency.✔ Ongoing case management to ensure seamless guest support.✔ Omnichannel communications for a unified guest experience. From boutique hotels to global chains, operators can now access enterprise-grade technology tailored to their needs, boosting both service quality and operational efficiency. Leveraging AI and Automation to Empower Hotel Agents Recognizing the potential of Agentforce to enhance productivity, Amadeus is exploring AI-driven automation and intelligent case management to further streamline workflows and optimize customer service operations. Brian Landsman, EVP, Global Business Development and Partnerships at Salesforce, stated: “Building on the success of Amadeus Delphi® on Salesforce, Amadeus has chosen the Salesforce Platform and Agentforce to scale its new Service Center offering. This collaboration empowers customer service representatives with the combined power of Salesforce Service Cloud and Amadeus’ ACRS and iHotelier solutions. We see incredible potential in continuing to bring innovations to our mutual customers.” Peter Waters, Executive Vice President, Hotel IT Solutions at Amadeus, added: “We’re thrilled to expand our partnership with Salesforce to deliver an end-to-end solution that enhances hotel guest services while driving bookings and revenue. By optimizing guest management and service workflows, this next-generation service center will redefine hospitality operations.” Tectonic has additional implemented Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement with Amadeus for marketing automation. About Amadeus Amadeus powers personalized, seamless travel experiences, helping hospitality providers attract, serve, and retain guests. With over 30 years of expertise, Amadeus develops cutting-edge, open software solutions that drive operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. With a presence in 175+ countries, Amadeus is committed to enabling hotels to create unforgettable guest experiences while maximizing revenue opportunities. 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

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ChatGPT 5.0 is Coming

ChatGPT Search

OpenAI’s ChatGPT Search: Everything You Need to Know ChatGPT Search is OpenAI’s generative AI-powered search engine, designed to provide real-time information while eliminating the limitations of traditional language models’ knowledge cutoffs. It combines conversational AI with real-time web search, offering up-to-date insights, summaries, and more. Here’s a deep dive into what makes ChatGPT Search unique and how it compares to existing solutions like Google. Overcoming Knowledge Cutoffs Earlier iterations of OpenAI’s models, like GPT-4 (October 2023 cutoff) and GPT-3 (September 2021 cutoff), lacked the ability to access real-time data, a significant drawback for users seeking the latest information. By integrating live search capabilities, ChatGPT Search resolves this issue. Unlike traditional search engines like Google, which continuously crawl and update web indexes, ChatGPT combines the strengths of its GPT-4o model with live web access, bridging the gap between generative AI and real-time search. What Is ChatGPT Search? Launched on October 31, 2024, after being prototyped as “SearchGPT,” ChatGPT Search pairs OpenAI’s advanced language models with live web search. Initially available to ChatGPT Plus and Team users, it will expand to Enterprise, Education, and free-tier users by early 2025. Key Features of ChatGPT Search How Does It Work? ChatGPT Search leverages the following technologies: Accessing ChatGPT Search ChatGPT Search is accessible through multiple platforms: Why ChatGPT Search Challenges Google While Google dominates the search market, OpenAI’s ChatGPT Search introduces key differentiators: AI-Powered Search Engine Comparison Search Engine Platform Integration Publisher Collaboration Ads Cost ChatGPT Search OpenAI infrastructure Strong media partnerships Ad-free Free (Premium tiers planned) Google AI Overviews Google infrastructure SEO-focused partnerships Ads included Free Bing AI Microsoft infrastructure SEO-focused partnerships Ads included Free Perplexity AI Independent, standalone Basic attribution Ad-free Free; $20/month premium You.com Multi-mode AI assistant Basic attribution Ad-free Free; premium available Brave Search Independent index Basic attribution Ad-free Free The Roadmap for ChatGPT Search OpenAI has ambitious plans to refine and expand ChatGPT Search, including: Conclusion ChatGPT Search marks a pivotal shift in how users interact with AI and access information. By combining the generative power of GPT-4o with real-time search, OpenAI has created a tool that rivals traditional search engines with conversational AI, summarized insights, and ad-free functionality. As OpenAI continues to refine the platform, ChatGPT Search is poised to redefine the way we find and interact with information—offering a glimpse into the future of search. 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 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 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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Salesforce Life Sciences Cloud and Honeywell

Salesforce Life Sciences Cloud and Honeywell

Honeywell’s TrackWise® Quality solution suite, in combination with Salesforce Life Sciences Cloud, will provide a comprehensive software platform for pharmaceutical and medical technology companies. Honeywell has expanded its strategic partnership with Salesforce, Inc. to introduce an integrated software platform designed for the life sciences industry. This platform, which includes Honeywell’s TrackWise Quality, Salesforce Life Sciences Cloud, Agentforce, and other solutions, aims to help pharmaceutical and medical technology companies accelerate the delivery of critical medications and healthcare devices with enhanced safety and cost efficiency. By digitizing and automating quality and compliance processes, Honeywell’s TrackWise Quality enables companies to manufacture products more efficiently, mitigate risks, reduce production costs, and bring safer products to market faster. Salesforce Life Sciences Cloud consolidates diverse data sources—such as clinical test results and medical records—to optimize interactions between pharmaceutical and medtech organizations, healthcare professionals, partners, and patients. This collaboration underscores the shared commitment of Honeywell and Salesforce to advancing automation and efficiency in the life sciences sector. “Our ongoing commitment to providing innovative software to manufacturers of critical life-supporting treatments centers around fostering trust between providers and patients,” said Frank Defesche, SVP & GM, Life Sciences at Salesforce. “The long-standing collaboration between Salesforce and Honeywell strengthens the life sciences industry by enhancing quality interactions and products, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.” “Partnering with Salesforce allows us to leverage our combined expertise in life sciences to drive operational efficiency, improve quality, and enhance patient-centric solutions through technology,” said Sunil Pandita, Vice President & General Manager of Honeywell Life Sciences. “From assisting patients in finding life-changing clinical trials to detecting anomalies in pharmaceutical manufacturing, Honeywell and Salesforce technologies are enabling better patient care.” Honeywell’s TrackWise Quality fosters a proactive approach to quality management by integrating industry best practices, advanced tracking and analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. This empowers life sciences companies to harness data more effectively, optimize performance, and enhance decision-making processes. Salesforce Life Sciences Cloud serves as a comprehensive, AI-powered engagement platform for pharmaceutical and medtech companies. Built on Sales Cloud and Service Cloud, it streamlines processes such as automating pharmacy benefit verification and expediting the screening of clinical trial candidates. These enhancements improve patient access, medication adherence, and accelerate diverse patient recruitment while reducing trial attrition. Additional Salesforce solutions within the platform include Agentforce, Data Cloud, and Analytics. As part of its continued commitment to life sciences customers, Honeywell has joined the Salesforce Agentforce Partner Network, a global ecosystem of partners developing solutions for regulatory-compliant training materials for life sciences professionals. To learn more about Honeywell’s industry-leading technologies for life sciences, visit: www.honeywell.com/us/en/industries/life-sciences. Salesforce, Salesforce Life Sciences Cloud, Agentforce, Data Cloud, and other names are trademarks of Salesforce, Inc. About Honeywell Honeywell is a diversified operating company serving a wide range of industries worldwide. Its business aligns with three key megatrends—automation, the future of aviation, and energy transition—supported by the Honeywell Accelerator operating system and Honeywell Forge IoT platform. As a trusted partner, Honeywell helps organizations address complex global challenges, delivering innovative solutions through its Aerospace Technologies, Industrial Automation, Building Automation, and Energy and Sustainability Solutions segments. For more news and updates on Honeywell, visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom. 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

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