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AI Agents as Tools of Trust

AI Agents as Tools of Trust

Salesforce Report Highlights AI Agents as Tools to Rebuild Consumer Trust For businesses of any size, the to-do list never ends. Monitoring customers, understanding their needs, and delivering products and services that align with their expectations are critical. Salesforce’s latest research, however, points to a troubling trend: consumer trust is at an all-time low. Yet, the report, State of the AI Connected Customer, also suggests that AI—particularly agentic AI—could help reverse this decline. Trust in Decline The key finding of the Salesforce report is stark: consumer trust in companies has taken a significant hit. Among 15,015 surveyed consumers, 72% say they trust companies less today than they did a year ago. Compounding this is the rapid advancement of AI; 60% of respondents believe that the rise of AI increases the importance of businesses being trustworthy. One major culprit behind eroding trust is the perceived mishandling of customer data. A staggering 65% of respondents feel companies are careless with data, adding to the skepticism. While high prices remain the top reason customers abandon brands, 43% pointed to poor customer service as a major deterrent. Can AI Agents Fill the Gap? The Salesforce report suggests that AI agents—when deployed transparently—could address many of the factors driving distrust and disengagement. Younger consumers, particularly Gen Z and millennials, appear more open to interacting with AI agents. Notable insights from the research include: However, trust is non-negotiable. Transparency is a critical factor for AI adoption: As Michael Affronti, SVP and General Manager of Salesforce Commerce Cloud, explains: “AI agents can help brands deliver consistent, personalized experiences for shoppers across every channel — deepening customer loyalty and ultimately driving more sales.” Building Trust Through Transparency The research underscores the potential for AI to transform customer interactions, but it also highlights the challenges. Transparency and accountability are essential for AI systems to inspire confidence and loyalty. Salesforce’s AI solutions are designed to prioritize transparency and foster reliable consumer experiences. Features such as clear agent identification and robust escalation paths are steps in the right direction. However, companies must double down on governance frameworks and safeguards to ensure AI agents handle data responsibly. Final Thoughts While the idea of using AI to rebuild consumer trust is promising, it’s not without its challenges. Establishing trust in AI itself remains a work in progress. Consumers expect companies to prioritize not only innovation but also ethics, security, and accountability. The Salesforce report demonstrates that younger consumers are already embracing AI as a way to address today’s service expectations. For Salesforce and other companies leveraging agentic AI, the key to success will lie in balancing cutting-edge technology with meaningful protections for customer data and experiences. The future of AI-driven customer engagement isn’t just about meeting expectations—it’s about exceeding them in a way that inspires confidence and loyalty. With the right approach, AI agents could be a vital tool for restoring consumer trust in an era where skepticism runs high. 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 CPQ Check Up

Salesforce CPQ Check Up

A Salesforce CPQ Check Up is a comprehensive review of your system’s configuration and performance. It assesses how well your CPQ solution integrates with your business processes, highlighting any gaps hindering your sales efforts. From pricing rules to approval processes, a health check ensures seamless functionality and equips your sales reps with the tools they need to succeed.

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Insurance Brokerage Financial Services Cloud

Insurance Brokerage Financial Services Cloud

Salesforce has introduced Financial Services Cloud for Insurance Brokerages, an AI-powered platform set to launch in February 2025, designed to automate and enhance client management, policy servicing, and commission processing for insurance brokerages. Built on Salesforce’s core CRM system, Insurance Brokerage Financial Services Cloud streamlines traditionally time-consuming tasks like policy renewals, employee benefits management, and commission splits, aiming to consolidate operations and reduce operational expenses.

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Customization and Configuration in Salesforce

Salesforce Customization vs. Configuration: Choosing the Right Approach for Your Business Salesforce has become a top choice for businesses aiming to strengthen customer relationships and achieve their goals. Its flexibility to adapt to diverse needs through customization and configuration makes it stand out. While both approaches aim to tailor your Salesforce Org to meet specific business requirements, they differ in methodology and use cases. This insight will help you understand their differences and provide insights into when and how to choose between them. Let’s get the insight! What is Salesforce Customization? Salesforce customization involves enhancing your Salesforce Org by introducing tailored features, functionalities, and applications through coding. It goes beyond the out-of-the-box capabilities, enabling you to extend your platform to meet unique and complex business requirements. This approach requires expertise from a Salesforce developer who leverages tools such as Apex, Lightning Components, and the Salesforce Code Builder to create custom solutions. Examples of Customization: What is Salesforce Configuration? Salesforce configuration refers to adapting Salesforce’s native features to meet business needs without modifying the underlying code. By using tools such as drag-and-drop builders, configuration allows users—even those without technical expertise—to optimize the platform’s functionality. Examples of Configuration: Key Differences Between Customization and Configuration Basis Customization Configuration Level of Personalization High personalization, tailored to unique needs Limited to Salesforce’s native capabilities Implementation Requires coding expertise and detailed development Simpler, relies on drag-and-drop tools Time to Deploy Longer development cycles Faster implementation and deployment Maintenance Can require ongoing updates and compatibility adjustments during Salesforce upgrades Easier to maintain, as it aligns with standard platform updates Cost Higher costs due to skilled developer involvement Cost-effective; can be handled by in-house admins Risk Higher risks due to potential code conflicts or errors Lower risks, but over-configuration can lead to complexity Best Practices for Customization and Configuration Choosing the Right Approach The decision to opt for customization or configuration depends on factors like business requirements, budget, timeline, and project complexity. Sometimes, a hybrid approach that combines customization and configuration is the best solution, providing flexibility while optimizing costs and implementation speed. Why Partner with Salesforce Experts? Partnering with experienced Salesforce consultants at Tectonic ensures your Org is tailored to meet your specific business needs. They analyze your workflows, processes, and challenges to recommend the most effective approach—whether it’s customization, configuration, or a blend of both. At Tectonic, our team of 200+ Salesforce experts specializes in delivering tailored solutions that maximize ROI. From development to ongoing maintenance, we ensure your Salesforce Org aligns with your long-term goals. Ready to transform your Salesforce platform? Let’s discuss how we can help. 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 agentforce ai powered agentic agents

What is an Agentic Sales Agent?

What is a Sales Agent? A sales agent is a key figure in a sales organization, representing the business’s products or services to customers. While the term is often used interchangeably with “sales representative,” it can also refer to independent contractors or reps from partner agencies. In the modern tech landscape, “sales agent” is increasingly used to describe AI-powered, autonomous applications that support sales efforts, such as lead nurturing and sales coaching. Your Limitless Sales Team: From Pipeline to Paycheck Scale effortlessly with Agentforce — your new digital workforce built on the Salesforce Platform. Sales Agents vs. Sales Reps: What’s the Difference? While “sales agents” and “sales reps” are often used interchangeably, some distinctions exist. A “sales agent” may refer to an independent contractor or an employee from a partner agency. However, in today’s technology-driven world, the term often refers to AI-driven sales applications that augment sales teams, reducing manual tasks and enhancing productivity. What Does a Sales Agent Do? A sales agent typically performs tasks traditionally handled by sales representatives or sales development representatives, such as engaging with leads, updating CRM systems, and closing deals. AI sales agents, however, function autonomously, managing tasks like lead nurturing, roleplaying sales conversations, and automating processes such as quoting and billing. These agents rely on self-learning, natural language processing, and deal data to carry out their tasks, allowing human sales teams to focus on building relationships and strategic decision-making. Types of Sales Agents Sales agents come in many forms, both human and AI-powered: Benefits of Human and AI Sales Agents Sales Agent Roles Your Company Should Hire Depending on your needs, there are several roles to consider when building a sales team: Best Practices for Measuring Sales Agent Performance Human and AI sales agents are measured on distinct sets of metrics: How Sales AI and Automation are Impacting the Role of Sales Agents Sales teams face constant challenges in managing leads and closing deals. AI sales agents are transforming this landscape by automating time-consuming tasks, allowing human agents to focus on relationship-building and strategic decision-making. AI tools such as Agentforce can augment human teams by handling administrative tasks, allowing reps to focus on the human-centric aspects of sales. Human and AI Sales Agents Leap into the Future Human agents will always be vital in sales, but AI is rapidly becoming a powerful complement. As AI continues to evolve, human sales teams will work more closely with AI agents to handle more complex workflows, across more channels, in an increasingly seamless manner. The result? Stronger customer relationships, better engagement, improved retention, and increased sales volume. 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

MuleSoft Empowering AI Agents

Empowering AI Agents with Real-Time Data: MuleSoft’s Full Lifecycle AsyncAPI Support MuleSoft has officially launched full lifecycle AsyncAPI support, providing organizations with the tools to connect real-time data to AI agents via event-driven architectures (EDAs). This integration empowers businesses to deploy AI agents that can autonomously act on dynamic, real-time events across various operations. MuleSoft Empowering AI Agents. AI Agents in Action with AsyncAPI The integration of Agentforce, Salesforce’s AI agent suite, with AsyncAPI takes automation to a new level. By utilizing real-time data streams, businesses can create AI agents capable of immediate, autonomous decision-making. Why AsyncAPI Matters Event-driven architectures are critical for real-time data processing, yet 43% of IT leaders struggle to integrate existing systems with their EDAs. AsyncAPI provides a scalable, standardized way to connect applications and AI agents, overcoming these challenges. Key Features of MuleSoft’s AsyncAPI Support Why It’s a Game-Changer for AI Agents AsyncAPI integration enables AI agents to function asynchronously within EDAs, meaning they can process tasks without waiting for updates. For example: Driving Innovation Across Industries Organizations in sectors like retail, IT, and financial services can leverage these capabilities: Expert Insights Andrew Comstock, VP of Product, Integration at Salesforce:“AI is reshaping how we think about modern architectures, but connectivity remains foundational. By supporting AsyncAPI, we’re empowering businesses to build event-driven, autonomous systems on a flexible and robust platform.” Maksim Kogan, Solution Architect, OBI Group Holding:“Integrating AsyncAPI into Anypoint Platform simplifies the developer experience and increases resilience, enabling real-time services that directly enhance customer satisfaction.” Availability MuleSoft’s full lifecycle AsyncAPI support is now available via the Anypoint Platform, with compatibility for Kafka, Solace, Anypoint MQ, and Salesforce Platform Events. Tools like Anypoint Code Builder and Anypoint Exchange further streamline the development process. MuleSoft Empowering AI Agents With full AsyncAPI support, MuleSoft unlocks the potential for AI agents to operate seamlessly within real-time event-driven systems. From improving customer experiences to enhancing operational efficiency, this innovation positions businesses to thrive in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. Learn more about empowering your AI agents with MuleSoft’s AsyncAPI capabilities today. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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AI Agents and Consumer Trust

AI Agents and Consumer Trust

Salesforce Research Highlights Rising Stakes for Trust in the AI Era Salesforce’s latest State of the AI Connected Customer research reveals a trust crisis among consumers and highlights how AI is reshaping customer expectations. With 60% of consumers believing advances in AI make trust even more essential, businesses face mounting pressure to deliver trustworthy AI experiences. The stakes are especially high as AI agents gain traction, presenting an opportunity for brands to rebuild trust and drive engagement this holiday season—particularly among Gen Z, with nearly a third open to having AI shop on their behalf. Why It Matters As the holiday shopping season approaches, brands face the dual challenge of declining consumer trust and evolving expectations. With AI projected to influence more than 0 billion in global online sales this season, getting AI right is critical. AI agents—intelligent software capable of handling customer inquiries autonomously—can boost margins and enhance customer service by addressing issues like clunky purchasing and return processes. However, trust in these agents hinges on transparency and robust data practices. Key Insights from the Research Trust Is at an All-Time Low High Expectations for Seamless Experiences Customer service remains a critical loyalty driver: Younger Consumers Are Most Open to AI Agents Generations Z and millennials lead the charge in embracing AI agents for improved shopping experiences: However, transparency remains vital: Building Confidence in AI Agents The research underscores a mixed consumer sentiment toward AI, marked by curiosity (41%) and suspicion (44%). This presents an opportunity for brands to demystify AI’s benefits: Expert Perspectives Salesforce View:“Retailers face fierce competition this season as they aim to drive higher margins and meet rising customer expectations. AI agents enable consistent, personalized experiences across channels, fostering loyalty and boosting sales.”— Michael Affronti, SVP & GM, Commerce Cloud, Salesforce Customer Experience at Saks:“Agentforce has unlocked new potential for enhancing luxury shopping. By automating routine tasks like order tracking, our teams can focus on high-touch, personalized interactions. We’re excited to see how AI continues to elevate our service.”— Mike Hite, CTO, Saks Global 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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Reasons to Automate Your Sales Commission Process

Reasons to Automate Your Sales Commission Process

Optimizing your sales commission process through automation can create significant efficiencies, reduce errors, and increase team satisfaction across the organization. Sales commission software provides the real-time data and transparency that today’s sales, finance, and revenue operations (RevOps) teams need to keep pace with business growth. Here are four key benefits of implementing automated commission software: 1. Real-Time Visibility into the Commission Process Sales commission software offers instant access to commission data for reps, managers, and executives. This real-time visibility empowers sales reps to stay focused on high-value deals, knowing their commission data is accurate and transparent. Sales managers can use metrics like quota attainment and earned commissions to track team performance and motivate reps effectively. Automating commission tracking also streamlines end-of-month reporting for finance and RevOps, eliminating the need for manual calculations. And with transparent, accessible data, sales reps can trust the accuracy of their earnings without having to double-check formulas or request manual verifications—freeing them to focus on closing more deals. 2. Increased Productivity Across Teams Manually calculating commissions is both time-consuming and prone to errors, which can erode trust and impact productivity across sales, finance, and RevOps. Automating this process reduces human error and saves teams hours of administrative work, allowing them to redirect energy toward business-critical activities. Manual commission management can also limit scalability; each change in team structure or territory often requires a full recalibration in spreadsheets. With automated software, these adjustments are streamlined, allowing for seamless scalability and supporting growth without adding manual overhead. 3. Improved Accuracy in Commission Calculations Replacing unhappy sales reps is costly, and one common cause of dissatisfaction is inaccurate commission calculations. Studies show nearly 90% of spreadsheets contain errors, and in a process as complex as commission calculation, these errors can lead to mistrust and turnover. Automating commissions removes the risk of errors, helping keep reps happy and reducing friction between sales and finance. A reliable, accurate commission process means reps can trust the data, while finance teams can confidently manage compensation without chasing down mistakes. Few things negatively impact employee focus and loyalty than feeling cheated at payday. 4. Enhanced Access to Data and Actionable Insights Sales commission software does more than calculate earnings—it collects and organizes critical data on sales performance. With these insights, organizations can identify areas for improvement, analyze trends, and optimize their sales strategies. Transform Your Organization with Automated Commission Management Automating your sales commission process isn’t just about efficiency—it’s a powerful way to build trust, enable productivity, and make data-driven decisions that drive growth. By leveraging dedicated incentive compensation management tools, you can empower your teams, reduce operational burdens, and maximize the impact of your sales data. Like1 Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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Informed Decision-Making

Informed Decision-Making

Informed Decision-Making Through Data Visualization: Power BI vs. Tableau Today’s businesses need to make informed decisions by leveraging organized and analyzed data. Data visualization is a key method for extracting insights from this data, and Power BI and Tableau are two leading tools that often spark debate among experts. Both are highly regarded for their ability to visualize data, and CTOs frequently compare Power BI vs. Tableau to determine the best fit for their needs. Why Power BI and Tableau Stand OutBoth tools excel at data visualization, making them top choices for business intelligence (BI) solutions. They offer seamless integration with various platforms, can handle large volumes of data, and provide predictive analytics capabilities. To help CTOs and other decision-makers boost efficiency, let’s dive into a comparison of Power BI vs. Tableau and examine how each tool measures up. Power BI Microsoft’s Power BI is a leading BI tool designed to transform data from diverse sources into insightful visual reports. It allows users to create, share, and manage analytical reports, ensuring accessibility at all times. As part of the Microsoft ecosystem, Power BI is ideal for large organizations that already use Microsoft products. Tableau Tableau delivers powerful data visualization with flexible deployment options, allowing users to seamlessly access insights. With its integration into Salesforce Data Cloud, Tableau offers a fast and scalable way to work with customer data in real time. Its strong data-handling capabilities make it popular among larger organizations and data experts. Power BI vs. Tableau: Key Differences Let’s explore the key differences between Power BI and Tableau to guide your informed decision-making. Data Visualization and User Interface Data Integration and Connectivity for Informed Decision-Making Data Handling and Performance Ease of Learning Programming Tools Support Pricing Microsoft Power BI vs. Salesforce Tableau: Pros and Cons Power BI Pros Tableau Pros Which is Better: Power BI or Tableau? When comparing Microsoft Power BI vs. Tableau, the right choice depends on your organization’s size, technical expertise, and specific needs. For smaller businesses and those already using Microsoft tools, Power BI is often the best fit. On the other hand, larger organizations managing substantial datasets might favor Tableau for its advanced capabilities. Ultimately, the decision between Power BI vs. Tableau should be based on your unique business requirements and the level of technical expertise available within your team. 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 energy consumption

AI Energy Consumption

At the Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2024, industry leaders emphasized that rising energy consumption and costs are fast becoming constraints on IT capabilities. Solutions discussed include adopting acceleration technologies, exploring microgrids, and keeping an eye on emerging energy-efficient technologies. With enterprise AI applications expanding, computing demands – and the energy needed to support them – are rapidly increasing. Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, highlighted this challenge, noting that advancements in traditional computing are failing to keep pace with data processing needs. “If compute demand grows exponentially while general-purpose performance stagnates, you’ll face not just cost inflation but significant energy inflation,” he said. Huang suggested that leveraging accelerated computing can mitigate some of these impacts, improving energy efficiency. Another approach highlighted was the use of microgrids, with Gartner predicting that Fortune 500 companies will shift up to $500 billion toward such systems by 2027 to manage ongoing energy risks and AI demand. Gartner’s Daryl Plummer noted that these independent energy networks could help energy-intensive enterprises avoid dependence on strained public power grids. Hyperscalers, including major cloud providers, are already exploring alternative power sources, such as nuclear energy, to meet escalating demands. For instance, Microsoft has announced plans to source energy from the Three Mile Island nuclear plant. While emerging technologies like quantum, neuromorphic, and photonic computing offer the promise of significant energy efficiency, they’re still years away from maturity. Gartner analyst Frank Buytendijk predicted it will take five to ten years before these options become viable solutions. “Energy-efficient computing is on the horizon, but we have a ways to go,” he said. Until then, enterprises will need to consider proactive strategies to manage energy risks and costs as part of their AI and IT planning. 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 Assistants Using LangGraph

AI Assistants Using LangGraph

In the evolving world of AI, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems have become standard for handling straightforward queries and generating contextually relevant responses. However, as demand grows for more sophisticated AI applications, there is a need for systems that move beyond simple retrieval tasks. Enter AI agents—autonomous entities capable of executing complex, multi-step processes, maintaining state across interactions, and dynamically adapting to new information. LangGraph, a powerful extension of the LangChain library, is designed to help developers build these advanced AI agents, enabling stateful, multi-actor applications with cyclic computation capabilities. AI Assistants Using LangGraph. In this insight, we’ll explore how LangGraph revolutionizes AI development and provide a step-by-step guide to building your own AI agent using an example that computes energy savings for solar panels. This example will demonstrate how LangGraph’s unique features enable the creation of intelligent, adaptable, and practical AI systems. What is LangGraph? LangGraph is an advanced library built on top of LangChain, designed to extend Large Language Model (LLM) applications by introducing cyclic computational capabilities. While LangChain allows for the creation of Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) for linear workflows, LangGraph enhances this by enabling the addition of cycles—essential for developing agent-like behaviors. These cycles allow LLMs to continuously loop through processes, making decisions dynamically based on evolving inputs. LangGraph: Nodes, States, and Edges The core of LangGraph lies in its stateful graph structure: LangGraph redefines AI development by managing the graph structure, state, and coordination, allowing for the creation of sophisticated, multi-actor applications. With automatic state management and precise agent coordination, LangGraph facilitates innovative workflows while minimizing technical complexity. Its flexibility enables the development of high-performance applications, and its scalability ensures robust and reliable systems, even at the enterprise level. Step-by-step Guide Now that we understand LangGraph’s capabilities, let’s dive into a practical example. We’ll build an AI agent that calculates potential energy savings for solar panels based on user input. This agent can function as a lead generation tool on a solar panel seller’s website, providing personalized savings estimates based on key data like monthly electricity costs. This example highlights how LangGraph can automate complex tasks and deliver business value. Step 1: Import Necessary Libraries We start by importing the essential Python libraries and modules for the project. pythonCopy codefrom langchain_core.tools import tool from langchain_community.tools.tavily_search import TavilySearchResults from langchain_core.prompts import ChatPromptTemplate from langchain_core.runnables import Runnable from langchain_aws import ChatBedrock import boto3 from typing import Annotated from typing_extensions import TypedDict from langgraph.graph.message import AnyMessage, add_messages from langchain_core.messages import ToolMessage from langchain_core.runnables import RunnableLambda from langgraph.prebuilt import ToolNode Step 2: Define the Tool for Calculating Solar Savings Next, we define a tool to calculate potential energy savings based on the user’s monthly electricity cost. pythonCopy code@tool def compute_savings(monthly_cost: float) -> float: “”” Tool to compute the potential savings when switching to solar energy based on the user’s monthly electricity cost. Args: monthly_cost (float): The user’s current monthly electricity cost. Returns: dict: A dictionary containing: – ‘number_of_panels’: The estimated number of solar panels required. – ‘installation_cost’: The estimated installation cost. – ‘net_savings_10_years’: The net savings over 10 years after installation costs. “”” def calculate_solar_savings(monthly_cost): cost_per_kWh = 0.28 cost_per_watt = 1.50 sunlight_hours_per_day = 3.5 panel_wattage = 350 system_lifetime_years = 10 monthly_consumption_kWh = monthly_cost / cost_per_kWh daily_energy_production = monthly_consumption_kWh / 30 system_size_kW = daily_energy_production / sunlight_hours_per_day number_of_panels = system_size_kW * 1000 / panel_wattage installation_cost = system_size_kW * 1000 * cost_per_watt annual_savings = monthly_cost * 12 total_savings_10_years = annual_savings * system_lifetime_years net_savings = total_savings_10_years – installation_cost return { “number_of_panels”: round(number_of_panels), “installation_cost”: round(installation_cost, 2), “net_savings_10_years”: round(net_savings, 2) } return calculate_solar_savings(monthly_cost) Step 3: Set Up State Management and Error Handling We define utilities to manage state and handle errors during tool execution. pythonCopy codedef handle_tool_error(state) -> dict: error = state.get(“error”) tool_calls = state[“messages”][-1].tool_calls return { “messages”: [ ToolMessage( content=f”Error: {repr(error)}n please fix your mistakes.”, tool_call_id=tc[“id”], ) for tc in tool_calls ] } def create_tool_node_with_fallback(tools: list) -> dict: return ToolNode(tools).with_fallbacks( [RunnableLambda(handle_tool_error)], exception_key=”error” ) Step 4: Define the State and Assistant Class We create the state management class and the assistant responsible for interacting with users. pythonCopy codeclass State(TypedDict): messages: Annotated[list[AnyMessage], add_messages] class Assistant: def __init__(self, runnable: Runnable): self.runnable = runnable def __call__(self, state: State): while True: result = self.runnable.invoke(state) if not result.tool_calls and ( not result.content or isinstance(result.content, list) and not result.content[0].get(“text”) ): messages = state[“messages”] + [(“user”, “Respond with a real output.”)] state = {**state, “messages”: messages} else: break return {“messages”: result} Step 5: Set Up the LLM with AWS Bedrock We configure AWS Bedrock to enable advanced LLM capabilities. pythonCopy codedef get_bedrock_client(region): return boto3.client(“bedrock-runtime”, region_name=region) def create_bedrock_llm(client): return ChatBedrock(model_id=’anthropic.claude-3-sonnet-20240229-v1:0′, client=client, model_kwargs={‘temperature’: 0}, region_name=’us-east-1′) llm = create_bedrock_llm(get_bedrock_client(region=’us-east-1′)) Step 6: Define the Assistant’s Workflow We create a template and bind the tools to the assistant’s workflow. pythonCopy codeprimary_assistant_prompt = ChatPromptTemplate.from_messages( [ ( “system”, ”’You are a helpful customer support assistant for Solar Panels Belgium. Get the following information from the user: – monthly electricity cost Ask for clarification if necessary. ”’, ), (“placeholder”, “{messages}”), ] ) part_1_tools = [compute_savings] part_1_assistant_runnable = primary_assistant_prompt | llm.bind_tools(part_1_tools) Step 7: Build the Graph Structure We define nodes and edges for managing the AI assistant’s conversation flow. pythonCopy codebuilder = StateGraph(State) builder.add_node(“assistant”, Assistant(part_1_assistant_runnable)) builder.add_node(“tools”, create_tool_node_with_fallback(part_1_tools)) builder.add_edge(START, “assistant”) builder.add_conditional_edges(“assistant”, tools_condition) builder.add_edge(“tools”, “assistant”) memory = MemorySaver() graph = builder.compile(checkpointer=memory) Step 8: Running the Assistant The assistant can now be run through its graph structure to interact with users. python import uuidtutorial_questions = [ ‘hey’, ‘can you calculate my energy saving’, “my montly cost is $100, what will I save”]thread_id = str(uuid.uuid4())config = {“configurable”: {“thread_id”: thread_id}}_printed = set()for question in tutorial_questions: events = graph.stream({“messages”: (“user”, question)}, config, stream_mode=”values”) for event in events: _print_event(event, _printed) Conclusion By following these steps, you can create AI Assistants Using LangGraph to calculate solar panel savings based on user input. This tutorial demonstrates how LangGraph empowers developers to create intelligent, adaptable systems capable of handling complex tasks efficiently. Whether your application is in customer support, energy management, or other domains, LangGraph provides the Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched

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Rise of Agentforce

Rise of Agentforce

The Rise of Agentforce: How AI Agents Are Shaping the Future of Work Salesforce wrapped up its annual Dreamforce conference this September, leaving attendees with more than just memories of John Mulaney’s quips. As the swarms of Waymos ferried participants across a cleaner-than-usual San Francisco, it became clear that AI-powered agents—dubbed Agentforce—are poised to transform the workplace. These agents, controlled within Salesforce’s ecosystem, could significantly change how work is done and how customer experiences are delivered. Dreamforce has always been known for its bold predictions about the future, but this year’s vision of AI-based agents felt particularly compelling. These agents represent the next frontier in workplace automation, but as exciting as this future is, some important questions remain. Reality Check on the Agentforce Vision During his keynote, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff raised an interesting point: “Why would our agents be so low-hallucinogenic?” While the agents have access to vast amounts of data, workflows, and services, they currently function best within Salesforce’s own environment. Benioff even made the claim that Salesforce pioneered prompt engineering—a statement that, for some, might have evoked a scene from Austin Powers, with Dr. Evil humorously taking credit for inventing the question mark. But can Salesforce fully realize its vision for Agentforce? If they succeed, it could be transformative for how work gets done. However, as with many AI-driven innovations, the real question lies in interoperability. The Open vs. Closed Debate As powerful as Salesforce’s ecosystem is, not all business data and workflows live within it. If the future of work involves a network of AI agents working together, how far can a closed ecosystem like Salesforce’s really go? Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and other tech giants also have their sights set on AI-driven agents, and the race is on to own this massive opportunity. As we’ve seen in previous waves of technology, this raises familiar debates about open versus closed systems. Without a standard for agents to work together across platforms, businesses could find themselves limited. Closed ecosystems may help solve some problems, but to unlock the full potential of AI agents, they must be able to operate seamlessly across different platforms and boundaries. Looking to the Open Web for Inspiration The solution may lie in the same principles that guide the open web. Just as mobile apps often require a web view to enable an array of outcomes, the same might be necessary in the multi-agent landscape. Tools like Slack’s Block Kit framework allow for simple agent interactions, but they aren’t enough for more complex use cases. Take Clockwise Prism, for example—a sophisticated scheduling agent designed to find meeting times when there’s no obvious availability. When integrated with other agents to secure that critical meeting, businesses will need a flexible interface to explore multiple scheduling options. A web view for agents could be the key. The Need for an Open Multi-Agent Standard Benioff repeatedly stressed that businesses don’t want “DIY agents.” Enterprises seek controlled, repeatable workflows that deliver consistent value—but they also don’t want to be siloed. This is why the future requires an open standard for agents to collaborate across ecosystems and platforms. Imagine initiating a set of work agents from within an Atlassian Jira ticket that’s connected to a Salesforce customer case—or vice versa. For agents to seamlessly interact regardless of the system they originate from, a standard is needed. This would allow businesses to deploy agents in a way that’s consistent, integrated, and scalable. User Experience and Human-in-the-Loop: Crucial Elements for AI Agents A significant insight from the integration of LangChain with Assistant-UI highlighted a crucial factor: user experience (UX). Whether it’s streaming, generative interfaces, or human-in-the-loop functionality, the UX of AI agents is critical. While agents need to respond quickly and efficiently, businesses must have the ability to involve humans in decision-making when necessary. This principle of human-in-the-loop is key to the agent’s scheduling process. While automation is the goal, involving the user at crucial points—such as confirming scheduling options—ensures that the agent remains reliable and adaptable. Any future standard must prioritize this capability, allowing for user involvement where necessary, while also enabling full automation when confidence levels are high. Generative or Native UI? The discussion about user interfaces for agents often leads to a debate between generative UI and native UI. The latter may be the better approach. A native UI, controlled by the responding service or agent, ensures the interface is tailored to the context and specifics of the agent’s task. Whether this UI is rendered using AI or not is an implementation detail that can vary depending on the service. What matters is that the UI feels native to the agent’s task, making the user experience seamless and intuitive. What’s Next? The Push for an Open Multi-Agent Future As we look ahead to the multi-agent future, the need for an open standard is more pressing than ever. At Clockwise, we’ve drafted something we’re calling the Open Multi-Agent Protocol (OMAP), which we hope will foster collaboration and innovation in this space. The future of work is rapidly approaching, where new roles—like Agent Orchestrators—will emerge, enabling people to leverage AI agents in unprecedented ways. While Salesforce’s vision for Agentforce is ambitious, the key to unlocking its full potential lies in creating a standard that allows agents to work together, across platforms, and beyond the boundaries of closed ecosystems. With the right approach, we can create a future where AI agents transform work in ways we’re only beginning to imagine. Like1 Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial

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