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Introducing the New Nonprofit Cloud

Salesforce Transforming Nonprofit Operations with AI

Salesforce Enhances Nonprofit Cloud with Generative AI Capabilities On August 6, 2024, Salesforce announced that its Nonprofit Cloud is now equipped with generative AI capabilities powered by the Einstein 1 Platform. This integration represents the first time Salesforce’s Industry Cloud portfolio has incorporated the Einstein 1 Platform, signaling a broader commitment to embedding AI tools across its product offerings. The update aims to revolutionize nonprofit operations by providing AI-powered tools for personalized donor engagement, operational efficiency, and funding discovery. Key features include AI-generated fundraising proposals and program summaries, which provide concise insights into grant details, donor histories, and program outcomes. Transforming Nonprofit Operations with AI The integration of generative AI into Nonprofit Cloud aligns with Salesforce’s strategy to empower nonprofits to navigate challenges such as donor fatigue, increased operational costs, and rising service demands. Notable enhancements include: Additionally, Salesforce launched Data Cloud for Nonprofits, enabling a unified, real-time view of donor, volunteer, and program data. This innovation breaks down data silos, empowering nonprofits to create tailored outreach strategies and assess program performance effectively. Four Pillars of AI Success Salesforce’s enhancements to Nonprofit Cloud embody its “four-pillar” approach to enterprise AI success: Key Innovations in Nonprofit Cloud Salesforce introduced three groundbreaking innovations to address nonprofit-specific challenges: These features, coupled with Nonprofit Cloud Einstein 1 Edition (which bundles Nonprofit Cloud, Data Cloud, Einstein, Experience Cloud, and Slack), provide nonprofits with comprehensive tools to drive impact. Nonprofit Adoption and Impact Nonprofits are already experiencing the transformative potential of AI. According to Salesforce’s Nonprofit Trends Report, organizations leveraging these AI tools have seen: Julie Fleshman, CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, shared her organization’s success with Nonprofit Cloud: “Salesforce has been instrumental in helping us connect patients with specialized healthcare providers and clinical trials, advancing our mission and saving valuable time.” Nonprofit Cloud vs. NPSP While Nonprofit Cloud offers a unified, scalable platform with AI-driven insights and advanced donor management tools, the Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) serves as a free, open-source solution for smaller organizations. Here’s a quick comparison: Feature Nonprofit Cloud NPSP Functionality Comprehensive CRM with advanced tools Free app with basic CRM functionality Integration Seamless with other Salesforce products Requires additional configuration Ease of Use User-friendly and designed for nonprofits May require technical expertise Cost Subscription-based Free with optional paid add-ons Scalability Built for growing organizations Requires customization for growth Ideal Users Large and mid-sized nonprofits Small nonprofits Maximizing Fundraising with Nonprofit Cloud Nonprofit Cloud offers nonprofits flexibility and efficiency in managing their fundraising efforts, helping them overcome challenges like donor fatigue and retention. Its advanced features include: By leveraging these tools, nonprofits can improve engagement, strengthen donor relationships, and make data-driven decisions, ultimately amplifying their impact. The Tectonic Role Tectonic has been instrumental in implementing Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud for multiple organizations, ensuring they harness its full potential to optimize operations, engage donors, and achieve their missions. With Salesforce’s AI-driven enhancements and Tectonic’s expertise, nonprofits are poised to navigate challenges, unlock new opportunities, and amplify their societal impact. 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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State of AI

State of AI

With the Dreamforce conference just a few weeks away, AI is set to be a central theme once again. This week, Salesforce offered a preview of what to expect in September with the release of its “Trends in AI for CRM” report. This report consolidates findings from several Salesforce research studies conducted from February last year to April this year. The report’s executive summary highlights four key insights: The Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) An intriguing statistic from Salesforce’s “State of Data and Analytics” report reveals that 77% of business leaders feel a fear of missing out on generative AI. This concern is particularly pronounced among marketers (88%), followed by sales executives (78%) and customer service professionals (73%). Given the continued hype around generative AI, these numbers are likely still relevant or even higher as of July 2024. As Salesforce AI CEO Clara Shih puts it: “The majority of business executives fear they’re missing out on AI’s benefits, and it’s a well-founded concern. Today’s technology world is reminiscent of 1998 for the Internet—full of opportunities but also hype.” Shih adds: “How do we separate the signal from the noise and identify high-impact enterprise use cases?” The Quest for ROI and Value The surge of hype around generative AI over the past 18 months has led to high expectations. While Salesforce has been more responsible in managing user expectations, many executives view generative AI as a cure-all. However, this perspective can be problematic, as “silver bullets” often miss their mark. Recent tech sector developments reflect a shift toward a longer-term view of AI’s impact. Meta’s share price fell when Mark Zuckerberg emphasized AI as a multi-year project, and Alphabet’s Sundar Pichai faced tough questions from Wall Street about the need for continued investment. State of AI Shih notes a growing impatience with the time required to realize AI’s value: “It’s been over 18 months since ChatGPT sparked excitement about AI in business. Many companies are still grappling with building or buying solutions that are not overly siloed and can be customized. The challenge is finding a balance between quick implementation and configurability.” She adds: “The initial belief was that companies could just integrate ChatGPT and see instant transformation. However, there are security risks and practical challenges. For LLMs to be effective, they need contextual data about users and customers.” Conclusion: A Return to the Future Shih likens the current AI landscape to the late 90s Internet boom, noting: “It’s similar to the late 90s when people questioned if the Internet was overhyped. While some investments will not pan out, the transformative potential of successful use cases is enormous. Just as with the Internet, discovering the truly valuable applications of AI may require experimentation and time. We are very much in the 1998 moment for AI now.” 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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Google Wiz and Cybersecurity

Google Wiz and Cybersecurity

Google is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Israeli cybersecurity firm Wiz for up to $23 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal. While the sum is substantial, some have expressed surprising discontent, viewing it as “very good, but not great.” This sentiment revolves around the missed opportunity for an IPO and the loss of an Israeli giant that will no longer grow locally. Additionally, if Wiz had been registered in Israel, the transaction would have generated higher revenues for the state treasury. Google Wiz and Cybersecurity certainly aren’t hard to fathom. Founded by Assaf Rappaport, a former officer from Israel’s elite 8200 intelligence unit, Wiz has quickly risen in value. The unit has a track record of producing tech entrepreneurs, significantly contributing to Israel’s robust tech industry. The potential deal underscores the resilience of Israel’s tech sector, which accounts for about 20% of the country’s output and 15% of jobs, even as the war in Gaza pressures the economy. However, with today’s massive cyber attack inadvertently caused by a cybersecurity company, some may hesitate to make such an investment. The attack, linked to a faulty system update from CrowdStrike, a U.S. firm used by over half of Fortune 500 companies, resulted in widespread disruptions. These included grounding flights, hampering public transit systems, and affecting operations at banks and hospitals globally. CrowdStrike’s CEO, George Kurtz, apologized for the disruptions and noted that the issue had been identified and resolved. The incident, not a security breach or cyberattack, caused Microsoft Windows systems to crash, affecting public transit systems, stock exchanges, and various institutions worldwide. Google Wiz and Cybersecurity Despite this, Google’s acquisition of Wiz appears strategically sound, aiming to enhance its cloud security capabilities and position Google Cloud as a major competitor to Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services. The advanced technology from Wiz will help Google close the gap in the fiercely competitive cloud security market. Cybersecurity expert Chuck Brooks sees the acquisition as a game-changer, enhancing Google’s ability to conduct comprehensive threat assessments on IT infrastructure and improving DevOps processes. By integrating Wiz’s framework, Google aims to streamline development jobs and make them more secure. However, such bold mergers are not without risk. Tech advisor Vaclav Vincalek cautions that mega transactions can be dangerous for both companies, citing historical examples like Microsoft’s acquisitions of Skype and Nokia, and Google’s purchase of Motorola. Pierre Bourgeix, CEO and Founder of ESI Convergint, believes the acquisition could position Google to compete head-to-head with Amazon, especially given Microsoft Azure’s recent security breaches. Omri Weinberg, Co-Founder and CRO of DoControl, views the deal as a significant statement about the importance of cloud security. In summary, Google’s potential $23 billion acquisition of Wiz not only highlights the value of Israel’s tech talent but also represents a strategic move to enhance its cloud security capabilities. This positions Google as a major force in the cybersecurity market, with the potential to set new standards for cloud security and influence industry best practices. More on today’s outage Public transit systems in the U.S. reported impacts. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in Washington, D.C., said its “website and some of our internal systems are currently down,” but that trains and buses were running as scheduled. In New York City, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority also said its buses and trains were unaffected but that “some MTA customer information systems are temporarily offline due to a worldwide technical outage.” Around the world, the outages disrupted London’s Stock Exchange, caused major train delays in the U.K., sent British broadcaster Sky News off air, forced medical facilities in Europe and the U.S. to cancel some services and caused disruptions at airports in Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong and India. Some U.S. border crossings saw impacts amid the outage: Traffic stalled on the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit with Windsor, Ontario, Canada, as well as at the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, the Detroit Free Press reported. CBP One, the Customs and Border Patrol app, and the agency’s border wait times website, each appeared to experience outages. On a sweeter note, Krispy Kreme is giving away free doughnuts Friday due to the global tech outage. Dubai International Airport said on X it is operating normally following “a global system outage that affected the check-in process for some airlines.” It added the affected airlines “promptly switched to an alternate system, allowing normal check-in operations to resume swiftly.” Portland, Oregon, Mayor Ted Wheeler issued an emergency declaration Friday over the tech outage, with a statement noting the outages are affecting city servers, employee computers and emergency communications. Meanwhile, the Maryland Department of Emergency Management increased its state activation level from “normal” to “partial,” citing the tech outage. A post on X says a “partial” activation is for incidents that require “significant monitoring or resources,” with additional emergency operations staffing from other agencies, functions and supporting organizations. CrowdStrike is a popular cybersecurity software company created in 2012 by CEO George Kurtz, along with Dmitri Alperovitch, and Gregg Marston. According to its website, CrowdStrike has the “world’s most advanced cloud-native platform that protects and enables the people, processes and technologies that drive modern enterprise.” According to an alert sent by CrowdStrike to its clients and reviewed by Reuters, the company’s “Falcon Sensor” software caused Microsoft Windows to crash and display a blue screen, known informally as the “Blue Screen of Death.” Kurtz said “there was an issue with a Falcon content update for Windows Hosts” but customers “remain fully protected,” according to Kurtz’s post on X. The CrowdStrike outage crashed some computers at colleges Friday and hampered a popular software for enrolling students in K-12 schools for the fall. The University of Rochester, a private school in New York, told students to keep rebooting their systems until the problem was fixed. The University of Alabama’s technology office said its campus computers using Microsoft Windows crashed. Rutgers University and the University of Kentucky also reported disruptions. State and local law enforcement agencies across the country reported disruptions to 911 services after

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Lead Generation 101

Lead Generation 101

Lead Generation 101 In today’s world, where people are bombarded with countless messages and offers daily, marketers need to find effective ways to capture attention and generate genuine interest in their products and services. According to the State of the Connected Customer report, customer preferences and expectations are the top influences on digital strategy for Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs). The ultimate goal of lead generation is to build interest over time that leads to successful sales. Here’s a comprehensive guide to understanding lead generation, the role of artificial intelligence (AI), and the steps you need to take to effectively find and nurture leads. What is Lead Generation? Lead generation is the process of creating interest in a product or service and converting that interest into a sale. By focusing on the most promising prospects, lead generation enhances the efficiency of the sales cycle, leading to better customer acquisition and higher conversion rates. Leads are typically categorized into three types: The lead generation process starts with creating awareness and interest. This can be achieved by publishing educational blog posts, engaging users on social media, and capturing leads through sign-ups for email newsletters or “gated” content such as webinars, virtual events, live chats, whitepapers, or ebooks. Once you have leads, you can use their contact information to engage them with personalized communication and targeted promotions. Effective Lead Generation Strategies To successfully move prospects from interest to buyers, focus on the following strategies: How Lead Qualification and Nurturing Work To effectively evaluate and nurture leads, consider the following: Methods for Nurturing Leads Once you’ve established your lead scoring and grading, consider these nurturing methods: Current Trends in Lead Generation AI is increasingly influencing lead generation by offering advanced tools and strategies: Measuring Success in Lead Generation To evaluate the effectiveness of your lead generation efforts, track the following key metrics: Best Practices for Lead Generation To optimize lead generation efforts and build strong customer relationships, follow these best practices: Effective lead generation is essential for building trust and fostering meaningful customer relationships. By implementing these strategies and best practices, you can enhance your lead generation efforts and drive better business results. 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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Proper Programmers Desk

Proper Programmers Desk

You’ve probably come across those generic “Proper Programmers Desk Items Under $100” lists. For some reason, there’s always that pointless monitor light and back support included. Let me be the first to call you out: if you need a monitor light to type, you’re not really a programmer. And if you spend money on back support but don’t use a random box to store your adapters and cables, you’re probably a poser. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s look into some genuinely indispensable gadgets that every developer should consider. Simple Silicone USB-C 120W CableEven Apple, nudged by EU regulations, has transitioned to USB-C. Owning a robust, full-pin cable that ensures speedy connections between your devices is crucial. Ideal for app developers and tinkering enthusiasts alike, this cable is a steal for its price and versatility. Price: $2.68Where: Aliexpress Baseus 65W GaN ChargerSince everything is wireless and needs charging, a good charger is essential. The Baseus 65W GaN Charger is the best one we’ve come across. No more fumbling under the table for your USB or dealing with dead batteries. Just plug the cable in, and you’re good to go. Price: $26.04Where: Aliexpress External Power ButtonGot your setup under the desk or obscured by monitors? An external power button is your new best friend. Just watch out for curious cats! And touch-driven toddlers! Price: $3.09Where: Aliexpress USB 3.2 HubThe era when USB connectors were used for more than just charging might be fading, but for now, we still need to set up USB drives, keep a mouse receiver nearby, and connect various other USB devices. This hub is the fastest and most affordable option available from a reputable company. Think you are the exception to the rule? Don’t forget headsets, grab-and-go charging blocks, your Vape, the monitor light referenced above. Price: $24.90Where: Aliexpress HydrationWhether you’re into plain water or cutting-edge nootropics, staying hydrated is key. Snowmonkey flasks are my go-to: durable, excellent at maintaining temperature, and backed by fantastic customer service. They even offered a discount code just for you after hearing about this article! Promo Code: SuperShort15Where: Snowmonkey EarplugsWhile noise-canceling headphones are a game-changer, on a budget, simple earplugs are a miracle of their own. Whether foam that expands to fit, kneadable silicone, or rigid types, they’re affordable enough to try them all and find your perfect fit. Price: $1Where: Aliexpress Software EssentialsAs developers, our toolkit is incomplete without some top-notch software. While JetBrains or VIM might top your list for IDEs, let’s not spark a war over it. Here are a few essentials: Flow LauncherFlow is the ultimate Spotlight open-source alternative for Windows, surpassing everything I’ve used before. Need a fast, on-the-go translation? No problem—just choose a plugin from your settings, and you’re all set. It truly is magical. Where: Flow Launcher TickTickManaging your time becomes essential eventually. TickTick’s straightforward interface lets you jot tasks down and tick them off without fuss. Where: TickTick ObsidianA second brain for storing everything from code snippets to comprehensive project notes. Dive into tutorials on YouTube and explore its vast capabilities. Where: Obsidian CamoDitch the subpar sub-$100 webcams and use your smartphone instead. Crisp, clear, and cost-effective. Where: Camo Consider These Upgrades for the Proper Programmers Desk Good Mechanical KeyboardWe are living in a golden era for mechanical keyboard enthusiasts! You could spend years on YouTube exploring the countless options. Choose your favorite wisely. We’ve opted for the SteelSeries Apex Pro because its keys are analog, allowing you to adjust the sensitivity, making it a dream to type on. Of course, there are other viable options at this price point. Light MouseAfter extended use, you might start to feel pain and a sense of fullness in your wrists, eventually leading to sharp pain. But don’t worry. Choosing a mouse under 70 grams, like the Logitech SUPERLIGHT 2, can alleviate these issues. You could opt for the first edition, which is cheaper, but it uses a micro USB, and that’s a dealbreaker for some. Noise-Canceling HeadphonesIf you enjoy a bit of music or podcasts while programming (though they’re not the best for concentration), you might want to consider noise-canceling headphones. The best we’ve encountered are the Sony WH-1000XM4. We would suggest the newer version, but some tests indicate the previous model performs better and is more affordable. Good OLED TVWith TVs now boasting 120Hz refresh rates and various gaming modes, there’s no reason not to own a 55″+ monitor. Believe us, an OLED from LG makes all the difference. Android PhoneFinally, consider this scenario: You’re outdoors without your laptop, and suddenly, your customer’s service goes down. If you were prepared, you’d simply launch a Linux instance on your phone, open your IDE, and start coding a patch. Of course, you could also rush home, risk using a random computer, or just panic. And if money really is no object, add a Universal Robots UR20 Collaborative Arm to your desk for just south of $60,000. While marketed for moving pallets, handling packaging, and the like, we think it would be pretty cool running back and forth from the Keurig to your desk with steaming hot coffee. 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 Smarter Media

AI-Powered Smarter Media

Transforming Retail Media: Personalization and Faster Monetization with Smarter Media Dentsu, a leading growth and transformation partner, has announced a strategic collaboration with Salesforce, the world’s #1 AI-powered CRM, to launch Smarter Media—an innovative solution designed to accelerate retail media monetization through personalized buying experiences powered by AI. Why Smarter Media Matters With shifting consumer priorities, personalized retail experiences are more critical than ever. Salesforce research highlights that: Smarter Media addresses this growing demand by enabling retailers to quickly adapt, offering tailored buying experiences that strengthen customer loyalty while driving revenue. What is Smarter Media? Smarter Media combines the power of Salesforce’s ecosystem—including Media Cloud, Sales Cloud, and Marketing Cloud Engagement—to deliver an end-to-end retail media solution. The platform assesses a brand’s retail media maturity, identifies gaps, and creates a roadmap to optimize media, technology, and skills. The solution simplifies access to advanced media technology, empowering brands to connect with customers 24/7, expand their customer base, and nurture long-term relationships. Key Features and Benefits 1. Comprehensive Assessment 2. AI-Powered Personalization 3. Built for Retail Media Success 4. Quick and Easy Adoption How Smarter Media Works Smarter Media combines Salesforce Sales Cloud’s leading sales and pipeline management tools with Media Cloud’s Advertising Sales Management application. The result is a solution that seamlessly supports both simple and complex retailer models: Real-World Value Across Retail By addressing challenges like fragmented media strategies and inaccessible technology, Smarter Media delivers transformative value for retailers: Driving Innovation Together Paul Lynch, Integrated Solutions Lead for Commerce and Retail at Dentsu UK&I, shared: “Smarter Media will democratize cutting-edge technology for brands by providing a one-stop solution to create personalized buying experiences. In today’s experience economy, maintaining compelling customer relationships has never been more vital.” Christopher Dean, SVP and GM for Communications, Media & Entertainment at Salesforce, added: “By combining Salesforce Media Cloud’s industry-specific solutions with Dentsu’s creative retail media expertise, we’re making advanced media technology accessible for retailers, helping them thrive in a competitive market.” The Future of Retail Media Smarter Media from Dentsu and Salesforce offers a transformative approach to retail media, empowering brands to deliver personalized experiences, improve customer loyalty, and accelerate revenue growth—all while leveraging cutting-edge AI and automation. With its ability to deliver value in just six months, Smarter Media is the ultimate solution for retailers looking to succeed in today’s fast-paced, customer-centric market. 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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Salesforce Field Service Lightning

Salesforce Field Service Lightning

Many companies worldwide seek quality services associated with Salesforce Field Service Lightning (FSL) to differentiate between lacking customer experiences and excellent ones. Satisfied customers associate such services with high-quality ratings, gradually building trust with the company and recommending it to others. The ability of any business to generate successful recognition and experience with clients helps establish an invaluable competitive advantage. Salesforce Field Service Lightning We are here to assist you in mapping and quoting various FSL Salesforce services such as equipment installation, repair, general customer service management, and maintenance. Field Service technicians, also known as mobile technicians, play a crucial role in delivering these tasks. They receive notifications on mobile devices and quickly find users in need of speedy solutions to their problems. What is Salesforce Field Service? Salesforce Field Service (formerly known as Field Service Lightning) is designed for the automation and optimization of work offered by dispatchers and field service agents. It ensures that no employee sacrifices any functionality of the related services when working outside the company. This system is part of the FSL Salesforce Service Cloud and aims to create a seamless workflow and avoid mistakes with the help of service technicians. Integral Parts of Salesforce Field Service After implementing Salesforce Field Service Lightning, clients can immediately see the benefits reflected in the increased efficiency of developed services. Advantages of Salesforce Field Service Lightning Bottom Line We hope this comprehensive guide on Salesforce Field Service Lightning has provided valuable insights into its aspects and benefits. Our experienced executives offer valuable advice and risk-free solutions for managing projects involving field service. You can contact Tectonic 24/7 for error removal and maintaining Salesforce FSL service deployments. Tasks such as project management and exception diagnosis are easily handled with the Service Cloud platform. We offer a strong framework for different service models and prepare reports for various service territory designs, ensuring a seamless and efficient operation. 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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The Growing Role of AI in Cloud Management

The Growing Role of AI in Cloud Management

AI technologies are redefining cloud management by automating IT systems, improving security, optimizing cloud costs, enhancing data management, and streamlining the provisioning of AI services across complex cloud ecosystems. With the surging demand for AI, its ability to address technological complexities makes a unified cloud management strategy indispensable for IT teams. Cloud and security platforms have steadily integrated AI and machine learning to support increasingly autonomous IT operations. The rapid rise of generative AI (GenAI) has further spotlighted these AI capabilities, prompting vendors to prioritize their development and implementation. Adnan Masood, Chief AI Architect at UST, highlights the transformative potential of AI-driven cloud management, emphasizing its ability to oversee vast data centers hosting millions of applications and services with minimal human input. “AI automates tasks such as provisioning, scaling, cost management, monitoring, and data migration,” Masood explains, showcasing its wide-ranging impact. From Reactive to Proactive Cloud Management Traditionally, CloudOps relied heavily on manual intervention and expertise. AI has shifted this paradigm, introducing automation, predictive analytics, and intelligent decision-making. This evolution enables enterprises to transition from reactive, manual management to proactive, self-optimizing cloud environments. Masood underscores that this shift allows cloud systems to self-manage and optimize with minimal human oversight. However, organizations must navigate challenges, including complex data integration, real-time processing limitations, and model accuracy concerns. Business hurdles like implementation costs, uncertain ROI, and maintaining the right balance between AI automation and human oversight also require careful evaluation. AI’s Transformation of Cloud Computing AI has reshaped cloud management into a more proactive and efficient process. Key applications include: “AI enhances efficiency, scalability, and flexibility for IT teams,” says Agustín Huerta, SVP of Digital Innovation at Globant. He views AI as a pivotal enabler of automation and optimization, helping businesses adapt to rapidly changing environments. AI also automates repetitive tasks such as provisioning, performance monitoring, and cost management. More importantly, it strengthens security across cloud infrastructure by detecting misconfigurations, vulnerabilities, and malicious activities. Nick Kramer of SSA & Company highlights how AI-powered natural language interfaces simplify cloud management, transforming it from a technical challenge to a logical one. With conversational AI, business users can manage cloud operations more efficiently, accelerating problem resolution. AI-Enabled Cloud Management Tools Ryan Mallory, COO at Flexential, categorizes AI-powered cloud tools into: The Rise of Self-Healing Cloud Systems AI enables cloud systems to detect, resolve, and optimize issues with minimal human intervention. For instance, AI can identify system failures and trigger automatic remediation, such as restarting services or reallocating resources. Over time, machine learning enhances these systems’ accuracy and reliability. Key Applications of AI in Cloud Management AI’s widespread applications in cloud computing include: Benefits of AI in Cloud Management AI transforms cloud management by enabling autonomous systems capable of 24/7 monitoring, self-healing, and optimization. This boosts system reliability, reduces downtime, and provides businesses with deeper analytical insights. Chris Vogel from S-RM emphasizes that AI’s analytical capabilities go beyond automation, driving strategic business decisions and delivering measurable value. Challenges of AI in Cloud Management Despite its advantages, AI adoption in cloud management presents challenges, including: AI’s Impact on IT Departments AI’s growing influence on cloud management introduces new responsibilities for IT teams, including managing unauthorized AI systems, ensuring data security, and maintaining high-quality data for AI applications. IT departments must provide enterprise-grade AI solutions that are private, governed, and efficient while balancing the costs and benefits of AI integration. Future Trends in AI-Driven Cloud Management Experts anticipate that AI will revolutionize cloud management, much like cloud computing reshaped IT a decade ago. Prasad Sankaran from Cognizant predicts that organizations investing in AI for cloud management will unlock opportunities for faster innovation, streamlined operations, and reduced technical debt. As AI continues to evolve, cloud environments will become increasingly autonomous, driving efficiency, scalability, and innovation across industries. Businesses embracing AI-driven cloud management will be well-positioned to adapt to the complexities of tomorrow’s IT landscape. 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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Generative AI and Service Cloud

Generative AI and Service Cloud

Salesforce Service Cloud users are set to receive more Einstein 1 generative AI tools in June and October. A key development is the expansion of automated customer conversations across more sales and marketing platforms. Generative AI and Service Cloud family of tools is growing. This insight aims to uncover the numerous use cases of generative AI in the modern contact center. We’ll help you understand how generative AI can fast track your contact center’s efficiency, improve data analysis capabilities, streamline QA and coaching processes, and make customers’ experiences better. Today, Salesforce launched Unified Conversations for WhatsApp, which automates bot responses to customer inquiries related to targeted marketing messages on the popular messaging app. Additionally, Salesforce plans to extend support to Line, a messaging app popular in Japan, later this year. These services are built on Salesforce’s Einstein 1 generative AI platform. The platform’s bots aggregate structured and unstructured CRM, product, service, and other data through Salesforce Data Cloud to generate personalized responses. These new features enable conversations to be routed to the digital channels where a Salesforce user’s customers are the most active. And to move omnichannel as customers needs change. Salesforce is also introducing a “bring your own channel” connector to support digital channels not natively covered by the platform. Current examples might include TikTok, Discord, and South Korea’s KakaoTalk, according to Ryan Nichols, Chief Product Officer for Salesforce Service Cloud. Generative AI and Service Cloud “It’s about getting data from all your conversations with customers from Service Cloud into Data Cloud and using that to not just deliver excellent customer service, but also grow your business,” Nichols said. Salesforce Einstein Conversation Mining, a Service Cloud feature currently in beta, aggregates conversations across customer channels to surface insights on the topics customers need help with. This aims to turn inbound customer service from a cost center into a revenue center, a goal long pursued at conferences like Dreamforce and ICMI. This massive change drives more than revenue, it drives ROI. Performance metrics such as time-to-answer and hold-time reduction have traditionally pressured agents to minimize call duration to retain their jobs. Now Salesforce is going to help them. While some skeptics question if generative AI can achieve this ambitious goal, Constellation Research analyst Liz Miller suggests it might be possible. Having previously managed a contact center herself, Miller recognizes the transformative potential of generative AI. With the aid of data, bots, and copilot counterparts assisting humans, agents could save time and access the right information to upsell customers during service engagements. Here are some of the ways Generative AI will change customer service forever. 1. Monitor and Ensure Compliance Maintaining compliance is crucial for fostering customer trust, preserving a positive brand image, and avoiding hefty privacy and compliance fines. In a contact center, compliance mistakes can quickly escalate into costly lawsuits and revenue losses. Generative AI allows your compliance team to proactively manage compliance by quickly identifying trends and addressing issues in real time. Instead of waiting for a compliance issue to escalate, you can fine-tune your AI model to provide compliance insights whenever necessary. For instance, you can ask: This approach offers more comprehensive insights than scorecards, which often lack context and accuracy. Generative AI’s analytical capabilities provide actionable insights to improve compliance across your contact center. 2. Get Insights About Your Call Center Performance at a Glance Generative AI language models make it easier than ever to gain insights into your contact center’s performance. Simply ask the model for the information you need. For example, you can inquire about the real-time average handling time (AHT) by asking, “What is the average handling time today?” But that’s just the beginning. With an advanced language model, you can compare metrics across different quarters or generate ideas for coaching plans by asking for each agent‘s strengths and weaknesses and suggestions for improvement. 3. Automate Post-Call Work Generative AI assistants can act as real-time notetakers, summarizing 100% of calls and freeing agents from manual note-taking. This automation makes after-call work effortless, generating comprehensive and compliant notes with a single click. 4. Capture Coachable Moments Easily Incorporating real-world coachable moments into your sessions is essential for tangible performance improvements. Generative AI can identify areas where agents typically struggle without requiring hours of call listening and note-checking. Traditional methods mean compromising on the specificity of coaching due to time constraints, especially when managing large teams. Generative AI solutions, however, enable call center managers to obtain detailed insights about each agent’s performance quickly. This allows for personalized coaching plans that address individual shortcomings efficiently. You can ask: 5. Improve Decision Making With Efficient Root-Cause Analysis Effective decision-making can transform your contact center. However, many managers struggle to identify the root causes of performance issues. Generative AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data and customer interactions, uncovering patterns and trends in customer and agent behavior. These insights help pinpoint the issues most impacting performance and customer satisfaction, allowing you to make informed decisions. The process is nearly fully automated, freeing your team from time-consuming data collection tasks. 6. Reduce Manual Work and Focus on Improvement Improving contact center performance requires extensive data, which is resource-intensive to collect manually. Generative AI simplifies this by analyzing customer interactions and providing actionable insights on demand. This saves time and money, allowing you to focus on improvements that deliver a higher ROI. 7. Scale What Works Discovering and scaling best practices is essential for team-wide success. Generative AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP) models can analyze customer interactions to identify effective strategies and coaching opportunities. For example, if a representative handles challenging situations well, AI can generate tips for other team members based on these successful interactions. Generative AI can identify top-performing agents and analyze their calls to extract best practices, providing a more comprehensive approach than focusing on a single agent. Queries you might use include: 8. Generate Agent Scripts Generative AI enables you to draft and fine-tune agent scripts for various customer interactions. Instead of relying

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Connections and State of AI

Connections and State of AI

Salesforce Unveils Latest State of Marketing Study Ahead of Annual Connections Conference CHICAGO, May 21, 2024 – As Salesforce gears up for its annual Connections marketing and commerce conference, the company has released the ninth edition of its State of Marketing study. This year’s conference, themed around AI, marketing, and commerce, sets the stage for a deep dive into the future of these interconnected fields. AI Takes Center Stage: The study, drawing insights from over 4,800 marketers across 29 countries, reveals that AI is both the top implementation priority and the biggest challenge for marketers in the coming year. An impressive 63% of marketers currently use generative AI, with an additional 35% planning to adopt the technology within the next 18 months. Key AI applications identified include automating customer interactions, generating content, analyzing performance, automating data integration, and driving real-time best offers. Regional Variations: While AI is a global priority, regional differences are notable. In the US, AI implementation ranks second to improving ROI/attribution, whereas in the UK, it doesn’t even make the top five priorities. Despite these differences, both US and UK marketers cite AI implementation as their third greatest challenge. Countries prioritizing AI include South Korea, UAE, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Portugal, and Spain. Interestingly, AI does not feature in the top five priorities for India and Singapore. Challenges in AI Implementation: Across the board, data exposure and leakage are the top concerns related to generative AI, followed by a lack of necessary data, unclear strategy or use cases, fear of inaccurate outputs, and concerns about copyright/IP issues. These challenges vary by industry. For instance, government and media/entertainment sectors worry about AI job displacement, while other sectors focus on biases, brand adherence, and general distrust of AI. Data Integration Struggles: Marketers use an average of nine different tactics to capture customer data, including customer service interactions (88%), transaction data (82%), mobile apps (82%), web registrations (82%), and loyalty programs (80%). However, integrating this data into a unified system remains a significant challenge. Only 31% of marketers are fully satisfied with their ability to unify customer data, and many still rely on IT support for basic marketing tasks. The Personalization Paradox: Despite technological advances, fewer than six in 10 marketers can fully personalize familiar channels like email and mobile messaging. This gap highlights the ongoing struggle to meet rising customer expectations for personalized experiences. Steve Hammond, EVP and GM of Marketing Cloud at Salesforce, emphasizes the importance of personalization at scale: “Customers want to feel like they’re more than just a number. They want relevant experiences that create relationships. But personalization is still a challenge, especially at massive scale.” Looking Ahead: The findings from the State of Marketing study will undoubtedly fuel discussions at Connections. While the potential of AI is exciting, the need for a solid data foundation is critical for realizing its benefits. As the conference unfolds, diginomica’s Jon Reed will be on the ground in Chicago, providing updates on key insights and discussions. About Salesforce: Salesforce is the leading AI CRM, empowering companies to connect with their customers through a unified platform that combines CRM, AI, data, and trust. For more information, visit www.salesforce.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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Sales Prospecting Tools

Sales Prospecting Tools

The Complete Guide to Sales Prospecting Tools Sales prospecting tools: Two men examining a touchscreen displaying dashboards and charts. With the right tools, you can spend more time building relationships that convert prospects into loyal customers. Learn how technology can help you identify and engage the right prospects more efficiently. Selling has become more challenging, with 69% of sales professionals agreeing that their jobs are harder now. That’s why sales prospecting tools are crucial—they streamline the process, making it faster and more accurate. When equipped with the right tools, you can focus more on nurturing customer relationships, turning prospects into long-term clients. In this guide, we’ll explore what sales prospecting tools are, key features to look for, and the biggest benefits they provide. What Are Sales Prospecting Tools? Sales prospecting tools are software solutions designed to help sales teams identify, engage, and convert potential customers. These tools enhance the sales prospecting process, enabling sales reps to quickly and effectively reach new buyers. They often integrate with existing platforms, such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and email marketing systems, to optimize outreach and engagement. Typically, prospecting tools focus on outbound marketing, helping sales reps connect with potential customers who may not yet be familiar with the company or product. Types of Sales Prospecting Tools Selecting the right sales prospecting tool depends on your current prospecting methods and future goals. Below are the most common categories of prospecting tools: Lead Generation Tools Lead generation tools help sales teams identify prospects who are ready to purchase. These tools streamline workflows, enhance productivity, and flag potential buyers based on their online activity. For example, they might alert a rep when a prospect searches for solutions related to your product or service. Some lead generation tools also enable mass outreach, such as power dialers that allow sales reps to call multiple prospects simultaneously. Choosing the right lead generation tool depends on how your target customers prefer to engage. For instance, if you have better results from social media interactions than phone calls, a power dialer may not be the best fit. Evaluate your analytics and future goals to determine which tool will maximize your success. CRM Software CRM software manages all customer and prospect interactions across sales, service, marketing, and more. Acting as a single source of truth, CRM platforms centralize all sales activity in one location, allowing leaders to assign prospects and track progress more effectively. With AI-powered features, CRM tools can guide reps on the next best steps and personalize workflows, improving conversion rates. CRMs also provide critical insights for targeting prospects more likely to convert. Social Media Prospecting Tools Social media has become a powerful channel for sales prospecting. Specialized tools scrape social platforms for data to help sales reps identify prospects ready for outreach. For instance, they can track user activity related to the business problem your product solves and notify reps when users engage with relevant content. The integration of AI in social media prospecting tools has further boosted their effectiveness. As AI continues to evolve, expect more sophisticated features in this space. Why Are Sales Prospecting Tools Important? In today’s competitive market, your prospects are also being contacted by your competitors—most of whom are using advanced sales prospecting tools. If you’re not using similar tools, you risk falling behind. Sales prospecting tools help level the playing field by streamlining research and outreach, allowing reps to connect with the right prospects at the right time. However, these tools must be used strategically. Simply contacting more people won’t guarantee more sales. Personalization and targeting remain key. Using the insights provided by these tools, sales reps can tailor their messages and approaches, making each outreach effort more effective. Benefits of Using Sales Prospecting Tools When fully integrated into your sales processes, prospecting tools can deliver substantial benefits, including: Key Features to Look for in Sales Prospecting Tools To ensure your sales prospecting tool adds value to your business, consider the following features: Compliance Keeping up with constantly changing rules around prospecting—especially across different channels—can be daunting. A good prospecting tool automates compliance, ensuring your emails, calls, and social media outreach meet best practices and regulations. Ease of Use Your prospecting tool should simplify your workflow, not complicate it. Look for intuitive interfaces and tools that can automate repetitive tasks, such as dialing multiple numbers or sending emails in bulk. AI-Powered Analytics Tools with AI capabilities can generate valuable insights, such as identifying the best time to call a prospect or suggesting which channel is most likely to yield a response. System Integration Your prospecting tool should seamlessly integrate with existing systems, such as CRMs and marketing automation platforms, to ensure data flows smoothly and insights are actionable across your entire workflow. Customizable and Scalable Your sales process is unique to your business. Opt for customizable and scalable tools that can adapt as your needs change, ensuring you get maximum ROI from your investment. Make Prospecting Work for Your Business Without the right tools, your team is at a disadvantage compared to competitors using advanced sales prospecting technologies. Finding a tool with the right features and customizing it for your specific needs—such as pricing structures and campaign strategies—can empower your team to prospect more efficiently, yielding better results in less time. Content updated October 2024. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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MuleSoft B2B and B2C With AI

MuleSoft B2B and B2C With AI

Salesforce yesterday announced new solutions to help streamline and accelerate end-to-end order lifecycle management: MuleSoft’s Anypoint Partner Manager with Intelligent Document Processing (IDP) and MuleSoft Accelerator for Salesforce Order Management. MuleSoft B2B and B2C With AI. Together, these business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) integration solutions make it easier to connect essential data across third-party applications, Salesforce OMS, and partner ecosystems – all within MuleSoft. Enhanced with AI, these new solutions help IT teams unify data from multiple data and system sources to achieve end-to-end order visibility, improved efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Why it matters: IT teams are inundated with requests to integrate disparate systems and adopt different technologies. And IT teams in retail, consumer goods, manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare must manage the thousands of daily transactions between suppliers and buyers across the supply chain ecosystem. To add to the complexity, 75% of B2B digital sales occur via standardized Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and specialized solutions are needed to handle these transactions. Go deeper: Anypoint Partner Manager with IDP is a cloud-native B2B integration solution that accelerates partner onboarding and operational management of both API and EDI-based transactions through the commerce and supply chain lifecycle. It provides visibility tools to accurately monitor the health of partner transactions along with key business and operational insights like overall order frequency and volume, shipment statuses, and more. By utilizing IDP, developers can leverage AI to extract, read, and store unstructured data from documents such as invoice and purchase order PDFs, surfacing it in systems of record and order management systems like Salesforce OMS. IT and business teams can rapidly develop integrations and APIs, monitor and manage their performance, and secure them in compliance with partner requirements, all through a single pane of glass. New capabilities of MuleSoft B2B and B2C With AI include: MuleSoft Accelerator for Salesforce OMS makes it easier and faster to achieve end-to-end order visibility across channels from a centralized hub. The accelerator includes pre-built APIs, connectors, implementation templates, and other technical assets for Anypoint Platform to unify B2B orders with Salesforce OMS and connect all B2B and B2C orders to enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. By leveraging the available out-of-the-box integration assets, customers can significantly reduce the development time required for integrating systems and accelerate time to market. MuleSoft B2B and B2C With AI. New capabilities of this offering include: Industry Use Cases: Customer perspective: “We were struggling with disjointed technology that was causing order and shipping delays while hampering our ability to innovate across our ecosystem,” said Jeff Blank, VP, Finance & Infrastructure at Jillamy. “MuleSoft’s Anypoint Partner Manager helped accelerate our partner onboarding processes with seamless B2B integration and more efficient management of our EDI transactions.” Salesforce perspective: “B2B and B2C integrations are critical to the success of supply chain management. From getting berries out of the farm or medical devices to hospitals, organizations across the globe are looking for a unified solution to manage and securely monitor their business partner transactions. With Anypoint Partner Manager and MuleSoft Accelerator for OMS, our customers can use our technology to build a composable business ecosystem that meets business partner compliance standards and drives end-to-end supply chain and commerce processes with efficiency, visibility, and speed.” – Andrew Comstock, VP, Product Management With Anypoint Partner Manager and MuleSoft Accelerator for OMS, our customers can use our technology to build a composable business ecosystem that meets business partner compliance standards and drives end-to-end supply chain and commerce processes with efficiency, visibility, and speed. Andrew Comstock, VP, Product Management 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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