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collaboration between humans and AI

Collaboration Between Humans and AI

The Future of AI: What to Expect in the Next 5 Years In the next five years, AI will accelerate human life, reshape behaviors, and transform industries—these changes are inevitable. Collaboration Between Humans and AI. For much of the early 20th century, AI existed mainly in science fiction, where androids, sentient machines, and futuristic societies intrigued fans of the genre. From films like Metropolis to books like I, Robot, AI was the subject of speculative imagination. AI in fiction often over-dramatized reality and caused us to suspend belief in what was and was not possible. But by the mid-20th century, scientists began working to bring AI into reality. A Brief History of AI’s Impact on Society The 1956 Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence marked a key turning point, where John McCarthy coined the term “artificial intelligence” and helped establish a community of AI researchers. Although the initial excitement about AI often outpaced its actual capabilities, significant breakthroughs began emerging by the late 20th century. One such moment was IBM’s Deep Blue defeating chess champion Garry Kasparov in 1997, signaling that machines could perform complex cognitive tasks. The rise of big data and Moore’s Law, which fueled the exponential growth of computational power, enabled AI to process vast amounts of information and tackle tasks previously handled only by humans. By 2022, generative AI models like ChatGPT proved that machine learning could yield highly sophisticated and captivating technologies. AI’s influence is now everywhere. No longer is it only discussed in IT circles. AI is being featured in nearly all new products hitting the market. It is part of if not the creation tool of most commercials. Voice assistants like Alexa, recommendation systems used by Netflix, and autonomous vehicles represent just a glimpse of AI’s current role in society. Yet, over the next five years, AI’s development is poised to introduce far more profound societal changes. How AI Will Shape the Future Industries Most Affected by AI Long-term Risks of Collaboration Between Humans and AI AI’s potential to pose existential risks has long been a topic of concern. However, the more realistic danger lies in human societies voluntarily ceding control to AI systems. Algorithmic trading in finance, for example, demonstrates how human decisions are already being replaced by AI’s ability to operate at unimaginable speeds. Still, fear of AI should not overshadow the opportunities it presents. If organizations shy away from AI out of anxiety, they risk missing out on innovations and efficiency gains. The future of AI depends on a balanced approach that embraces its potential while mitigating its risks. In the coming years, the collaboration between humans and AI will drive profound changes across industries, legal frameworks, and societal norms, creating both challenges and opportunities for the future. Tectonic can help you map your AI journey for the best Collaboration Between Humans and AI. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more Top Ten Reasons Why Tectonic Loves the Cloud The Cloud is Good for Everyone – Why Tectonic loves the cloud You don’t need to worry about tracking licenses. Read more

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Marketing Cloud and Commerce Cloud Innovations

Marketing Cloud and Commerce Cloud Innovations

What Our Dreamforce Marketing Cloud and Commerce Cloud Innovations Mean for You This year’s Dreamforce was nothing short of amazing. It was exciting to reconnect with fellow Trailblazers, exchange brilliant ideas, and showcase the innovations we’ve been crafting at Salesforce. A recurring theme throughout the event was how businesses can leverage data and AI to forge deeper customer-driven relationships by bringing internal teams closer together. These innovations are designed to transform not only how companies engage with customers but also how their teams work together. Marketing Cloud and Commerce Cloud Innovations. Seamless integration between Marketing, Commerce, Sales, and Service teams is crucial for creating unified customer experiences. Often, customers feel as though they are interacting with separate departments rather than one cohesive company—this is largely due to disconnected technology and processes. But thanks to Salesforce’s advancements in unified data, AI, and automation, those days are numbered. Now, departments can collaborate more effectively, delivering hyper-personalized, frictionless experiences across the entire customer lifecycle. Let’s explore the latest Marketing Cloud and Commerce Cloud innovations announced at Dreamforce 2024 and how they can benefit your business. What You’ll Learn Salesforce Marketing Cloud Innovations These four innovations in Marketing Cloud are built on the Salesforce Platform and powered by Data Cloud, offering marketers a seamless view of customer data across the business. This foundation makes it easier to deliver unified customer experiences, improve handoffs between teams, and measure success more effectively. 1. Agentforce Embedded in Marketing Workflows Agentforce for Marketing combines generative and predictive AI to create an end-to-end campaign experience that marketers can launch and optimize with ease. Here’s how it helps: Example: A marketer looking to prevent customer churn can launch a re-engagement campaign. Agentforce will identify the right audience, craft personalized messages, and optimize delivery based on customer behavior. 2. Empowering Small and Medium Businesses The new Marketing Cloud Advanced Edition brings enhanced AI and automation capabilities to SMBs, enabling them to scale personalization and improve productivity: 3. Automating Data Preparation and Analytics with Einstein Marketing Intelligence (EMI) EMI uses AI and Data Cloud to automate the ingestion, transformation, and analysis of marketing data: 4. Einstein Personalization for 1:1 Experiences Einstein Personalization uses AI to recommend products, content, or services based on individual customer preferences: Example: A service agent could offer a discount on a product a customer was recently viewing, creating a seamless, personalized experience. Salesforce Commerce Cloud Innovations As businesses scale and handle increasing amounts of data, managing complex commerce systems can be a challenge. The new Commerce Cloud updates simplify these complexities by extending unified commerce capabilities across the organization. 1. Simplifying Cross-Functional Commerce Tasks By unifying data from across the business, Commerce Cloud enables better cross-functional collaboration: 2. AI-Powered Commerce Agents with Agentforce Commerce Cloud introduces three AI-powered agents to streamline business processes: 3. Streamlining Checkout for a Faster, Easier Experience With new express payment options like Link by Stripe and Amazon Pay, Commerce Cloud Checkout speeds up transactions and improves conversion rates by 14%. Plus, Buy with Prime integration allows shoppers to use their Amazon Prime accounts for a faster checkout experience, complete with trusted delivery and hassle-free returns. The Future of Unified Commerce Salesforce Commerce Cloud offers a unified platform that brings together sales, service, and marketing, providing a 360-degree view of the entire customer journey. This unified commerce approach enables businesses to deliver seamless B2B and B2C experiences, all powered by a single platform. By integrating enterprise-wide data, trusted AI, and automated workflows, Salesforce helps businesses scale personalized, intelligent experiences across every touchpoint. Every interaction becomes an opportunity for growth, setting the standard for success in today’s customer-driven 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 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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Ethical AI Implementation

Ethical AI Implementation

AI technologies are rapidly evolving, becoming a practical solution to support essential business operations. However, creating true business value from AI requires a well-balanced approach that considers people, processes, and technology. Ethical AI Implementation. AI encompasses various forms, including machine learning, deep learning, predictive analytics, natural language processing, computer vision, and automation. To leverage AI’s competitive advantages, companies need a strong foundation and a realistic strategy aligned with their business goals. “Artificial intelligence is multifaceted,” said John Carey, managing director at AArete, a business management consultancy. “There’s often hype and, at times, exaggeration about how ‘intelligent’ AI truly is.” Business Advantages of AI Adoption Recent advancements in generative AI, such as ChatGPT and Dall-E, have showcased AI’s significant impact on businesses. According to a McKinsey Global Survey, global AI adoption surged from around 50% over the past six years to 72% in 2024. Some key benefits of adopting AI include: Prerequisites for AI Implementation Successfully implementing AI can be complex. A detailed understanding of the following prerequisites is crucial for achieving positive results: 13 Steps for Successful AI Implementation Common AI Implementation Mistakes Organizations often stumble by: Key Challenges in Ethical AI Implementation Human-related challenges often present the biggest hurdles. To overcome them, organizations must foster data literacy and build trust among stakeholders. Additionally, challenges around data management, model governance, system integration, and intellectual property need to be addressed. Ensuring Ethical AI Implementation To ensure responsible AI use, companies should: Ethical AI implementation requires a continuous commitment to transparency, fairness, and inclusivity across all levels of the organization. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more Top Ten Reasons Why Tectonic Loves the Cloud The Cloud is Good for Everyone – Why Tectonic loves the cloud You don’t need to worry about tracking licenses. Read more

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Sales Incentives Can Boost Morale and Performance

Sales Incentives Can Boost Morale and Performance

Showing up to work is one thing, but bringing genuine enthusiasm to the job is another. How can you motivate your team to meet and exceed their goals? Sales incentives are a powerful tool to ignite motivation, but they aren’t one-size-fits-all. Figuring out the best structure for your team can lead to more energized, results-driven reps. In this Tectonic insight, we’ll explore different types of sales incentives, how they motivate teams, and best practices for implementing an effective incentive program that drives real results. What are Sales Incentives? Sales incentives are rewards given to sales reps, in addition to their base compensation, for exceptional performance. This often means hitting or exceeding sales targets. While financial bonuses are the most common, incentives can come in many forms, all designed to motivate specific behaviors or outcomes. Types of Sales Incentives Here are five common types of sales incentives to consider: How Sales Incentives Motivate Your Team Sales incentives help reinforce desired behaviors, offering a clear path to rewards. They provide a mutual win: your company increases sales, while reps enjoy additional rewards. Many sales professionals are naturally driven by competition, but incentives give everyone, competitive or not, something tangible to work toward. Incentives also boost employee satisfaction, reduce turnover, and show that you value hard work. This can save your organization the cost and hassle of recruiting and onboarding new talent. Sales Incentives That Actually Work While money is the most popular reward, mixing in creative incentives can add excitement to your program. Consider these options: Best Practices for Implementing Sales Incentives To create an effective sales incentive program, keep these points in mind: Measuring the Impact of Sales Incentives on Performance To assess the effectiveness of your incentive program, track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as: Sales Incentives Can Boost Morale and Performance The key to a successful sales incentive program is simplicity and transparency. By crafting a plan that’s easy to understand and aligned with your team’s motivations, you can drive better performance and improve job satisfaction at the same time. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Benefits of AI in Banking

Benefits of AI in Banking

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly gaining traction in the banking and finance sector, with generative AI (GenAI) emerging as a transformative force. Financial institutions are increasingly adopting AI technologies to automate processes, cut operational costs, and boost overall productivity, according to Sameer Gupta, North America Financial Services Organization Advanced Analytics Leader at EY. While traditional machine learning (ML) techniques are commonly used for fraud detection, loan approvals, and personalized marketing, banks are now advancing to incorporate more sophisticated technologies, including ML, natural language processing (NLP), and GenAI. Gupta notes that EY is observing a growing trend of banks using ML to enhance credit approvals, improve fraud detection, and refine marketing strategies, leading to greater efficiency and better decision-making. A recent survey by Gartner’s Jasleen Kaur Sindhu reveals that 58% of banking CIOs have either deployed or plan to deploy AI initiatives in 2024, with this number expected to rise to 77% by 2025. “This indicates not only the growing importance of AI but also its fundamental role in shaping how banks operate and deliver value to their customers,” Sindhu said. “AI is becoming essential to the success of banking institutions.” Here are five key benefits of AI applications in banking: Despite the benefits, concerns about AI in banking persist, particularly regarding data privacy, bias, and ethics. AI can inadvertently extract personal information and raise privacy issues. Regulatory challenges and the potential for AI systems to perpetuate biases are also major concerns. As AI technology evolves, banks are investing in robust governance frameworks, continuous monitoring, and adherence to ethical standards to address these risks. Looking ahead, AI is expected to revolutionize banking by delivering personalized services, enhancing customer interactions, and driving productivity. Deloitte forecasts that GenAI could boost productivity by up to 35% in the top 14 global investment banks, generating significant additional revenue per employee by 2026. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more Top Ten Reasons Why Tectonic Loves the Cloud The Cloud is Good for Everyone – Why Tectonic loves the cloud You don’t need to worry about tracking licenses. Read more

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Generative ai energy consumption

Growing Energy Consumption in Generative AI

Growing Energy Consumption in Generative AI, but ROI Impact Remains Unclear The rising energy costs associated with generative AI aren’t always central in enterprise financial considerations, yet experts suggest IT leaders should take note. Building a business case for generative AI involves both obvious and hidden expenses. Licensing fees for large language models (LLMs) and SaaS subscriptions are visible expenses, but less apparent costs include data preparation, cloud infrastructure upgrades, and managing organizational change. Growing Energy Consumption in Generative AI. One under-the-radar cost is the energy required by generative AI. Training LLMs demands vast computing power, and even routine AI tasks like answering user queries or generating images consume energy. These intensive processes require robust cooling systems in data centers, adding to energy use. While energy costs haven’t been a focus for GenAI adopters, growing awareness has prompted the International Energy Agency (IEA) to predict a doubling of data center electricity consumption by 2026, attributing much of the increase to AI. Goldman Sachs echoed these concerns, projecting data center power consumption to more than double by 2030. For now, generative AI’s anticipated benefits outweigh energy cost concerns for most enterprises, with hyperscalers like Google bearing the brunt of these costs. Google recently reported a 13% increase in greenhouse gas emissions, citing AI as a major contributor and suggesting that reducing emissions might become more challenging with AI’s continued growth. Growing Energy Consumption in Generative AI While not a barrier to adoption, energy costs play into generative AI’s long-term viability, noted Scott Likens, global AI engineering leader at PwC, emphasizing that “there’s energy being used — you don’t take it for granted.” Energy Costs and Enterprise Adoption Generative AI users might not see a line item for energy costs, yet these are embedded in fees. Ryan Gross of Caylent points out that the costs are mainly tied to model training and inferencing, with each model query, though individually minor, adding up over time. These expenses are often spread across the customer base, as companies pay for generative AI access through a licensing model. A PwC sustainability study showed that GenAI power costs, particularly from model training, are distributed among licensees. Token-based pricing for LLM usage also reflects inferencing costs, though these charges have decreased. Likens noted that the largest expenses still come from infrastructure and data management rather than energy. Potential Efficiency Gains Though energy isn’t a primary consideration, enterprises could reduce consumption indirectly through technological advancements. Newer, more cost-efficient models like OpenAI’s GPT-4o mini are 60% less expensive per token than prior versions, enabling organizations to deploy GenAI on a larger scale while keeping costs lower. Small, fine-tuned models can be used to address latency and lower energy consumption, part of a “multimodel” approach that can provide different accuracy and latency levels with varying energy demands. Agentic AI also offers opportunities for cost and energy savings. By breaking down tasks and routing them through specialized models, companies can minimize latency and reduce power usage. According to Likens, using agentic architecture could cut costs and consumption, particularly when tasks are routed to more efficient models. Rising Data Center Energy Needs While enterprises may feel shielded from direct energy costs, data centers bear the growing power demand. Cooling solutions are evolving, with liquid cooling systems becoming more prevalent for AI workloads. As data centers face the “AI growth cycle,” the demand for energy-efficient cooling solutions has fueled a resurgence in thermal management investment. Liquid cooling, being more efficient than air cooling, is gaining traction due to the power demands of AI and high-performance computing. IDTechEx projects that data center liquid cooling revenue could exceed $50 billion by 2035. Meanwhile, data centers are exploring nuclear power, with AWS, Google, and Microsoft among those considering nuclear energy as a sustainable solution to meet AI’s power demands. Future ROI Considerations While enterprises remain shielded from the full energy costs of generative AI, careful model selection and architectural choices could help curb consumption. PwC, for instance, factors in the “carbon impact” as part of its GenAI deployment strategy, recognizing that energy considerations are now a part of the generative AI value proposition. As organizations increasingly factor sustainability into their tech decisions, energy efficiency might soon play a larger role in generative AI ROI calculations. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Introducing Marketing Cloud Advanced

Introducing Marketing Cloud Advanced

Salesforce has unveiled a series of innovations in its Marketing Cloud, (Introducing Marketing Cloud Advanced) designed to empower businesses with AI-driven tools and enhanced data capabilities to elevate customer engagement. These new features aim to deepen customer relationships, improve team productivity, and boost operational efficiency. Introducing Marketing Cloud Advanced One of the standout innovations is Marketing Cloud Advanced, an upcoming edition that integrates advanced automation and AI. This edition is designed to connect marketing journeys with sales, service, and commerce workflows, offering a more personalized experience across multiple customer touchpoints. Additionally, the introduction of Agentforce for Marketing will bring generative and predictive AI into the marketing realm, helping marketers create comprehensive, end-to-end campaign experiences. Steve Hammond, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Marketing Cloud at Salesforce, commented: “Today’s most successful marketers engage customers on their terms and act as value multipliers across the entire customer experience—whether helping sales or service have more personalized conversations or re-engaging inactive customers. Built on Data Cloud, Marketing Cloud is the only solution that unifies data across every department and moment in the customer lifecycle, powered by Agentforce Agents and automation, driving growth, loyalty, and optimizing ROI.” Agentforce for Marketing introduces several capabilities that streamline marketing processes. Marketers can now plan, launch, and optimize campaigns with ease. Agentforce allows marketers to set campaign goals and brand guidelines, after which the AI generates campaign briefs, identifies target audience segments, and drafts initial emails and landing pages. The system continuously monitors performance and provides data-driven optimization suggestions based on key performance indicators (KPIs). A key addition is Einstein Marketing Intelligence (EMI), which helps marketers manage and optimize cross-channel campaign performance. EMI automates the process of data preparation, enrichment, harmonization, and visualization, enabling marketers to measure campaign effectiveness and make informed decisions to improve return on investment. Furthermore, Salesforce introduced Einstein Personalization, an AI-powered decision engine that delivers tailored customer experiences. This tool allows sales, service, and commerce teams to engage customers in real time based on live interactions and data. Using Flow’s A/B split testing feature, marketers can select dynamic email content for different audience segments and track performance to adjust strategies effectively. Sarah Lukins, General Manager of Digital at Fisher & Paykel Appliances, praised the new functionality: “Salesforce enables us to seamlessly access all of our marketing, commerce, service, sales, and external data in one place and leverage AI for more targeted audience engagement. We can now deliver more relevant and consistent personalized experiences across email, ads, web, social, and service engagements.” The Marketing Cloud Advanced Edition will roll out to customers in North America, Europe, and Latin America, while Agentforce Personalization is expected to become generally available by next summer. Additional releases include expanded Einstein multi-language support and unified SMS conversation capabilities. These innovations are part of Salesforce’s ongoing efforts to equip marketers with unified and actionable data, enhancing the performance of marketing teams and fostering deeper integration across organizations. Through AI and automation, Salesforce is helping businesses deliver more personalized, connected, and seamless customer experiences. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Is Agentforce Different?

Is Agentforce Different?

The Salesforce hype machine is in full swing, with product announcements like Chatter, Einstein GPT, and Data Cloud, all positioned as revolutionary tools that promise to transform how we work. Is Agentforce Different? However, it’s often difficult to separate fact from fiction in the world of Salesforce. The cloud giant thrives on staying ahead of technological advancements, which means reinventing itself every year with new releases and updates. You could even say three times per year with the major releases. Why Enterprises Need Multiple Salesforce Orgs Over the past decade, Salesforce product launches have been hit or miss—primarily miss. Offerings like IoT Cloud, Work.com, and NFT Cloud have faded into obscurity. This contrasts sharply with Salesforce’s earlier successes, such as Service Cloud, the AppExchange, Force.com, Salesforce Lightning, and Chatter, which defined its first decade in business. One notable exception is Data Cloud. This product has seen significant success and now serves as the cornerstone of Salesforce’s future AI and data strategy. With Salesforce’s growth slowing quarter over quarter, the company must find new avenues to generate substantial revenue. Artificial Intelligence seems to be their best shot at reclaiming a leadership position in the next technological wave. Is Agentforce Different? While Salesforce has been an AI leader for over a decade, the hype surrounding last year’s Dreamforce announcements didn’t deliver the growth the company was hoping for. The Einstein Copilot Studio—comprising Copilot, Prompt Builder, and Model Builder—hasn’t fully lived up to expectations. This can be attributed to a lack of AI readiness among enterprises, the relatively basic capabilities of large language models (LLMs), and the absence of fully developed use cases. In Salesforce’s keynote, it was revealed that over 82 billion flows are launched weekly, compared to just 122,000 prompts executed. While Flow has been around for years, this stat highlights that the use of AI-powered prompts is still far from mainstream—less than one prompt per Salesforce customer per week, on average. When ChatGPT launched at the end of 2022, many predicted the dawn of a new AI era, expecting a swift and dramatic transformation of the workplace. Two years later, it’s clear that AI’s impact has yet to fully materialize, especially when it comes to influencing global productivity and GDP. However, Salesforce’s latest release feels different. While AI Agents may seem new to many, this concept has been discussed in AI circles for decades. Marc Benioff’s recent statements during Dreamforce reflect a shift in strategy, including a direct critique of Microsoft’s Copilot product, signaling the intensifying AI competition. This year’s marketing strategy around Agentforce feels like it could be the transformative shift we’ve been waiting for. While tools like Salesforce Copilot will continue to evolve, agents capable of handling service cases, answering customer questions, and booking sales meetings instantly promise immediate ROI for organizations. Is the Future of Salesforce in the Hands of Agents? Despite the excitement, many questions remain. Are Salesforce customers ready for agents? Can organizations implement this technology effectively? Is Agentforce a real breakthrough or just another overhyped concept? Agentforce may not be vaporware. Reports suggest that its development was influenced by Salesforce’s acquisition of Airkit.AI, a platform that claims to resolve 90% of customer queries. Salesforce has even set up dedicated launchpads at Dreamforce to help customers start building their own agents. Yet concerns remain, especially regarding Salesforce’s complexity, technical debt, and platform sprawl. These issues, highlighted in this year’s Salesforce developer report, cannot be overlooked. Still, it’s hard to ignore Salesforce’s strategic genius. The platform has matured to the point where it offers nearly every functionality an organization could need, though at times the components feel a bit disconnected. For instance: Salesforce is even hinting at usage-based pricing, with a potential $2 charge per conversation—an innovation that could reshape their pricing model. Will Agents Be Salesforce’s Key to Future Growth? With so many unknowns, only time will tell if agents will be the breakthrough Salesforce needs to regain the momentum of its first two decades. Regardless, agents appear to be central to the future of AI. Leading organizations like Copado are also launching their own agents, signaling that this trend will define the next phase of AI innovation. In today’s macroeconomic environment, where companies are overstretched and workforce demands are high, AI’s ability to streamline operations and improve customer service has never been more critical. Whoever cracks customer service AI first could lead the charge in the inevitable AI spending boom. We’re all waiting to see if Salesforce has truly cracked the AI code. But one thing is certain: the race to dominate AI in customer service has begun. And Salsesforce may be at the forefront. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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AI-Powered Contact Center Landscape

AI-Powered Contact Center Landscape

Navigating the AI-Powered Contact Center Landscape: A Roadmap for Success With thousands of solutions in the contact center ecosystem, each claiming to offer “AI-powered, next-generation technology,” it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Many of these claims are valid, as AI and machine learning are transforming contact centers and improving customer experiences. But with so many options and combinations of AI-powered solutions, how can you be sure you’re making the right decision? The answer is that it’s almost impossible without help. Trying to research and evaluate every solution on your own could take months or even years—by which time, the technology will have evolved. Plus, if you rely solely on information from manufacturers or software providers, you may only get a one-sided perspective that leads to “CCaaS FOMO” (Fear of Missing Out). A More Objective Approach to the Contact Center Journey While we can’t claim to be 100% unbiased, we take a unique approach. We start with your business, understanding your specific needs, culture, and processes before introducing solutions that fit. Not every top-rated solution is right for your business, and the roadmap below outlines how we help you navigate this complex landscape. 1. Involving Key Stakeholders The first step is ensuring you have the right people involved—those with a vested interest in the contact center‘s success. It’s helpful to break these roles into three categories: Having clear roles and expectations helps streamline the process and ensures everyone is on the same page. 2. Conducting a Contact Center Assessment This discovery phase is crucial for identifying the key drivers behind your business needs. Each contact center is different, even within the same industry. That’s why a one-size-fits-all scorecard won’t work. It’s beneficial to bring in a third-party consultant with broad industry knowledge to conduct an assessment, offering valuable insights that help create a clear vision. 3. Creating a Unique Scorecard Once you’ve completed your assessment, stakeholders can work together to establish a customized scorecard that reflects your business objectives. Whether customer service is your primary focus or you’re more telemarketing-heavy, this scorecard ensures that your solution is tailored to your specific needs. It’s also important to involve contributors and advocates in the process to gain widespread buy-in. 4. Scheduling Solution Demonstrations With a solid scorecard in hand, it’s time to identify and evaluate vendors. A contact center consultant can help streamline this process. Scoring each solution based on how well it aligns with your goals keeps the focus on substance over flash, ensuring the right solution for your business. 5. Analyzing Scorecard Data When reviewing the scorecard data, stakeholders should ask key questions: This analysis ensures that decisions are data-driven and aligned with business goals. 6. Finalizing Vendor Selection-AI-Powered Contact Center Landscape Once the data is compiled and a consensus is reached, it’s time to move forward with a contract proposal. Beyond the solution itself, discuss critical details like implementation timelines, ongoing support, and maintenance to set clear expectations and ensure accountability. Financial Modeling: Justifying the Investment Looking at your goals through a financial lens helps quantify the benefits of your contact center investment. For example, reducing average handling time by just 12 seconds across the company might result in cost-neutral savings. Similarly, reducing call abandonment by even half a percentage point can have a significant impact. These financial considerations help justify ROI and set expectations. Partnering with Tectonic: Expertise You Can Trust At Tectonic, we live and breathe contact centers. Our team of experts comes directly from this world, so we understand the challenges and opportunities. We’re here to help you navigate the complexities of the contact center ecosystem and bring clarity to your CCaaS journey. Contact us today to get started! For more resources, visit our blog or explore our AI solutions to elevate your customer experience. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Boostr and Salesforce

Boostr and Salesforce

Boostr’s Automated OMS and Salesforce Media Cloud Aim to Deliver an AI-Powered Full-Service Advertising Management Solution NEW YORK, Sept. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Boostr, a leading advertising management platform for media companies, today announced that it’s teaming up with Salesforce, the #1 AI CRM, on a new integration that aims to transform the way media and entertainment companies manage their customer data and streamlines advertising sales operations. By integrating Boostr’s Order Management System (OMS) directly with Salesforce’s Media Cloud, together, the companies will provide mutual customers with faster time to value, better ROI, and more efficient ad campaign execution. Boostr’s OMS is reshaping media operations from proposal generation through planning, buying, reconciliation, and billing. By providing AI-powered proposal recommendations with Proposal-IQ, real-time inventory visibility, and more than 50 out-of-the-box workflow automations, Boostr’s OMS streamlines media operations for Ad Sales and Ad Ops teams. The goal of the collaboration is to provide mutual customers with a comprehensive end-to-end advertising sales solution for media companies of all sizes, including broadcasters selling across linear TV, digital, and streaming inventory, as well as retail media networks and digital publishers managing multiple sales channels. It will eliminate dual data entry by automating the opportunity-to-order process, providing delivery data back to Media Cloud and keep all master data in sync automatically across both platforms. “We’re excited to collaborate with Boostr to offer media & entertainment companies a comprehensive platform to help their teams simplify and automate converged advertising operations.” – Christopher Dean, SVP and GM for Communications, Media & Entertainment at Salesforce.Post this “We are thrilled to integrate with Salesforce’s Media Cloud on behalf of our mutual customers,” said Patrick O’Leary, CEO of Boostr. “This integration is a significant upgrade as Media Cloud and Boostr’s data model are highly aligned resulting in a more turnkey, faster time to value solution.” “In today’s increasingly fragmented advertising ecosystem, media and entertainment companies are looking to automate advertising sales and campaign management processes to enhance operational efficiency across their monetization streams,” said Christopher Dean, SVP and GM for Communications, Media & Entertainment at Salesforce. “We’re excited to collaborate with Boostr to offer media & entertainment companies a comprehensive platform to help their teams simplify and automate converged advertising operations.” For more information, please visit: http://www.boostr.com. Salesforce, Media Cloud, and others are trademarks of Salesforce, inc. *Disclaimer: Any unreleased services or features referenced here aren’t currently available and may not be delivered on time or at all. Customers should make their purchase decisions based upon features that are currently available. About Boostr:Boostr is the leading provider of advertising management platforms for publishers and media companies. Boostr’s unified platform streamlines sales, finance, ad ops, and RevOps workflows, enabling businesses to close deals faster, automate tasks, and gain real-time financial transparency. For more information about Boostr, go to http://www.boostr.com. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Outlook Offline Access

Outlook Offline Access

The upcoming Outlook app update will introduce offline access, allowing users to open the app without needing an internet connection, a feature previously unavailable. Offline access was limited to instances where the app was already running and lost its connection. Additionally, starting this December, the app will automatically synchronize calendars when transitioning between the classic and new versions of Outlook. Outlook Offline Access. Teams is also receiving several enhancements. In November, Android and iOS users will benefit from a new video feature called Cloud IntelliFrame. This technology improves the visibility of participants during video meetings by optimizing video framing, and will be available for mobile users joining meetings with Teams Rooms on Windows. For Teams users on laptops, Microsoft is introducing a feature that simplifies the use of shared meeting room devices. When a user connects their laptop to a Teams meeting room via USB, the tool will automatically detect the room’s audio settings. A pre-join screen will then prompt the user to connect, enhancing the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) experience. This functionality supports various meeting room devices, such as screens and audio equipment, provided they are on a Microsoft-supported list. Mac users will also see improvements in Teams next month with Microsoft Edge. If Edge is set as the default browser and the feature is activated, web links from the Teams app will automatically open in the same profile used to log into Teams. This streamlines the process by eliminating the need for additional logins, making it quicker to access links from chats, channels, and other areas. Administrators can control this functionality through the “Choose Which Browser Opens Web Links” policy in Microsoft 365. Additionally, several new features for Microsoft 365, including updates to Microsoft Viva and SharePoint, will be rolling out soon. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Citizen Development

Citizen Development

As we progress through the era of digital transformation, citizen development has emerged as a key trend in the business landscape. This approach empowers end-users to create their applications, streamlining workflows and reshaping corporate operations. However, like any innovation, citizen development presents both advantages and challenges. In this article, we will explore the benefits, pros and cons of citizen development, and strategies to effectively leverage it within your organization. 1. The Rise of Citizen Development The popularity of citizen development is on the rise, as reflected by Statista, which reports a remarkable 24.6% growth in this sector since 2020. The increasing demand for software solutions in the corporate environment has made the traditional model of IT departments solely managing application development unsustainable. By enabling non-technical personnel to develop their applications, businesses can relieve pressure on IT teams, speed up solution delivery, and cultivate a more agile business model. Furthermore, investing in citizen development platforms fosters an inclusive and innovative workplace, allowing diverse perspectives to generate unique applications that meet specific workflow needs. 2. Benefits of Citizen Development for Companies 2.1 Accelerated Pace and Flexibility Citizen development tools facilitate rapid prototyping and quicker application rollouts. Non-technical personnel can design, modify, and launch applications according to immediate needs, enhancing agility and responsiveness. 2.2 Boosted Creativity Empowering your staff to create applications unlocks a wealth of untapped potential. Citizen development nurtures a culture of innovation, leading to tailored solutions that address specific business challenges. 2.3 Tailored App Design Citizen developers, as end-users, possess an in-depth understanding of their workflow requirements. This perspective enables them to develop applications that align closely with user needs, improving adoption and utility. 2.4 Heightened Productivity By reducing the back-and-forth between IT departments and end-users, citizen development streamlines operations, leading to enhanced efficiency. 2.5 Cost-Effectiveness Citizen development significantly cuts costs associated with traditional application development, such as hiring professional developers or outsourcing tasks. Rapid application rollouts also help seize business opportunities quickly, optimizing ROI. 2.6 Reduced Workload for IT Staff Enabling non-technical personnel to handle minor application development tasks lightens the load on IT teams, allowing them to focus on high-priority projects. 2.7 Enhanced Visibility and Accountability Many citizen development platforms include built-in analytics and reporting features, offering insights into application usage and performance. This transparency helps businesses track initiatives, make data-driven decisions, and continuously improve processes. 3. Implementing Citizen Development with Salesforce Solutions Given its extensive benefits, citizen development is a strategy many businesses are eager to adopt. Salesforce provides a powerful platform to effectively harness citizen development. Salesforce’s platform caters to both professional and citizen developers, offering a comprehensive suite of user-friendly tools for building applications and managing workflows. With built-in safeguards for data security and regulatory compliance, Salesforce for Public Sector and Tribal Governments ensures a smooth and secure citizen development process. Their clear deployment roadmap and thorough training programs equip businesses for success in their citizen development journey. 4. Partnering with Tectonic for Public Sector and Tribal Government Solutions Consider Tectonic as your trusted partner for PSS solutions. Tectonic is a distinguished provider of technology solutions with extensive expertise in Salesforce and process management. With a proven track record of successful projects, Tectonic has earned the trust of clients globally. Tectonic maintains a close partnership with Salesforce, ensuring a deep understanding of its advanced features, including process automation. As a Salesforce partner, Tectonic keeps clients updated on the latest advancements, delivering cutting-edge solutions tailored to their specific needs. By selecting Tectonic as your implementation partner for public sector Salesforce, you benefit from their vast experience and specialized knowledge. Tectonic provides a dedicated public sector team that excels in implementing secure and efficient solutions, working closely with our clients to address their unique challenges. Tectonic offers a comprehensive range of services, from initial implementation to ongoing support and maintenance. Their offerings include process modeling, application design, automation implementation, and roles management. With Tectonic’s expertise, you can ensure seamless integration of automation into your pss projects. To learn more about Tectonic’s public sector services, visit our services page, where you can explore their offerings, including Salesforce Managed Services. Tectonic’s Managed Services provide full support to ensure your public sector environment runs smoothly, covering automation management, data governance, and performance optimization. 5. Final Thoughts While citizen development presents both advantages and challenges, the benefits largely outweigh the potential drawbacks. Although there are concerns about data security and the need for proper governance, the positive impact of citizen development makes it a vital component of the digital transformation narrative. Successful implementation hinges on selecting the right platform and tools that align with your business model and workflow needs. Salesforce Public Sector Solution excels in this regard, offering a user-friendly suite of tools with a clear roadmap for deployment and top-notch support. Brining your public sector tech into the 21st century is an imperative. To fully realize the benefits of citizen development, businesses must strike a balance between empowerment and control. Establishing an environment that fosters innovation and efficiency, while also implementing a governance structure to mitigate risks, is essential. With careful planning, the right tools, and a culture of collaboration, the rewards of citizen development can be substantial. Whether you’re looking to enhance speed and agility, optimize costs, or cultivate a culture of innovation, citizen development offers a promising pathway forward. Embrace citizen development in Salesforce PSS, and set your business on the road to success. If you have any questions about implementing Salesforce Public Sector Solutions and its benefits, feel free to contact us to discuss your project. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud

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