SSO Archives - gettectonic.com

21Jan

Agentforce for Retail

Salesforce Introduces Agentforce for Retail: A Sector-Specific Skills Library for AI Innovation Salesforce has unveiled Agentforce for Retail, an industry-specific skills library designed to empower retailers to develop AI agents tailored to their unique business needs. This release provides tools for retailers to enhance customer service, assist store associates, and engage customers in innovative ways. For example, AI agents can now automate and streamline processes like order management, guided shopping, and appointment scheduling. While Salesforce had previously launched 100 preconfigured, industry-specific AI agents for the core Agentforce platform, this new retail-focused release represents a shift toward providing specialized tools that enable retailers to build AI agents with greater precision and flexibility. Driving Seamless, Unified Retail Experiences Nitin Mangtani, SVP & GM of Retail at Salesforce, described the vision behind Agentforce for Retail: “Salesforce is helping retailers deliver seamless, unified shopping experiences across both the physical and digital realms of retail, driving productivity advancements and business growth across their entire enterprise.” This move aligns with Salesforce’s broader commitment to delivering sector-specific AI innovations, expanding the Agentforce offering into targeted solutions that meet the distinct demands of industries like retail. Agentforce for Retail: Core Capabilities Commerce Skills for Order Management These skills empower retailers to offer self-service order support, helping reduce costs while boosting customer loyalty. Customers can: Commerce Skills for Guided Shopping Using natural language, customers can receive personalized product recommendations based on behavior, inventory, and operational data. They can also: Field Service Skills for Appointment Scheduling Service representatives can use AI-powered tools to streamline the scheduling of deliveries, installations, or consultations. Real-time availability updates improve efficiency and enhance customer satisfaction. Marketing Skills for Loyalty Promotion Creation Marketers can use conversational prompts informed by shopper data, point-of-sale (POS) insights, and segmentation to design loyalty campaigns. These tools also assist in creating personalized email content and subject lines to drive higher engagement. Retail Cloud with Modern POS: A Complementary Innovation In addition to Agentforce for Retail, Salesforce announced the Retail Cloud with Modern POS, a cloud-based point-of-sale solution designed to unify online and offline shopping experiences. Key features include: The POS system also incorporates AI capabilities such as: Shoppers benefit from flexible fulfillment options, including buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS) and omni-exchanges. Each cart item can have unique fulfillment methods, optimizing supply chain costs while enhancing convenience. Mangtani noted, “Together, AI-fueled digital labor and a modern POS can unlock a new scale of operational capacity for retailers.” The Evolution of Agentforce: A Platform for Digital Labor In late 2024, Salesforce launched Agentforce 2.0, branding it as “The Digital Labor Platform.” This expanded version introduced enhanced capabilities aimed at helping businesses streamline operations and adopt AI-driven automation on a larger scale. Agentforce for Retail builds on this foundation, offering retailers the tools to reimagine customer engagement, boost efficiency, and drive business growth. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more 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

January 21, 2025in Agentforce Platform, Data, Enterprise, Salesforce0 Comments

21Jan

Salesforce HIPAA Compliance

Compliance plays a critical role in managing sensitive information, especially under regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Salesforce HIPAA Compliance. Enacted in 1996, HIPAA establishes national standards for safeguarding sensitive health information. Organizations and individuals who store, manage, or transmit healthcare data are subject to these regulations, which prioritize the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of patient information. While Salesforce provides tools to support HIPAA compliance, the responsibility for ensuring compliance ultimately lies with the data-processing organization or individual—not solely the platform itself. This insight explores Salesforce’s role in HIPAA compliance, key features for safeguarding electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI), and best practices for adhering to regulatory requirements. Understanding HIPAA Salesforce’s flexibility as a CRM platform allows it to serve industries that require HIPAA compliance, particularly healthcare and life sciences. At its core, HIPAA protects Protected Health Information (PHI)—any patient-identifiable information in medical records. PHI extends beyond traditional medical data to include names, addresses, birth dates, Social Security numbers, and more. When PHI is managed or transmitted electronically, it’s classified as electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI), which is subject to additional safeguards. Entities Covered by HIPAA HIPAA applies to several types of entities: While Salesforce is classified as a Business Associate, organizations using the platform remain responsible for adhering to HIPAA’s security requirements. Salesforce and the Business Associate Agreement (BAA) As a Business Associate, Salesforce must enter into a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with healthcare organizations and other Covered Entities to define responsibilities and security measures for handling ePHI. The BAA outlines the Salesforce features and services eligible for HIPAA compliance. Notably: Without a signed BAA, organizations face significant penalties for HIPAA violations, even in the absence of a data breach. HIPAA-Compliant Salesforce Solutions Salesforce offers various solutions and features to support HIPAA compliance. These are categorized into platform security measures and specific compliant services: Key Security Features HIPAA-Compliant Services It’s important to note that not all Salesforce features are HIPAA-compliant, and proper configuration is critical to ensure compliance. Restrictions and Challenges While Salesforce offers robust security tools, some limitations and risks exist: Additionally, some Salesforce services, like certain social or mobile features in Health Cloud, are not compliant by default and require explicit mention in the BAA to be used with ePHI. Best Practices for HIPAA Compliance To maximize HIPAA compliance with Salesforce, organizations should: HIPAA Compliance Checklist Here’s a concise checklist to guide your HIPAA compliance efforts: Leveraging Third-Party Tools Solutions like GRAX can enhance HIPAA compliance in Salesforce by adding capabilities such as data backup, archiving, and recovery. GRAX’s security features include: However, integrating third-party solutions requires careful vetting to avoid compliance risks. Salesforce HIPAA Compliance Salesforce is a powerful tool for healthcare organizations, but achieving HIPAA compliance requires understanding its capabilities and limitations. A well-configured Salesforce environment, combined with diligent user management and third-party tools, can help organizations meet regulatory requirements while safeguarding patient data. By embracing best practices and staying informed about shared responsibilities, organizations can ensure HIPAA compliance, avoid penalties, and build trust with patients and stakeholders. 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

January 21, 2025in Data, Hyperforce, Salesforce, Salesforce Health Cloud, Salesforce Shield0 Comments

20Jan

Native Salesforce App to Simplify Event Management

Why a Native Salesforce App Changes Everything Streamlined Event Operations Blackthorn.io’s platform eliminates the need for external integrations by operating entirely within Salesforce. This means event data—registrations, payments, and attendee interactions—is instantly accessible and linked to existing CRM records in real-time. Case in Point: USC Marshall School of Business Facing inefficiencies in manual data entry and registration processes, USC Marshall School adopted Blackthorn.io’s solution. They leveraged branded event pages, automated attendee check-ins, and simplified scaling for admissions events. The Salesforce-native architecture streamlined data analysis, ensuring a single source of truth and improving follow-ups with prospective students. Harnessing Salesforce Data for Personalization Blackthorn.io’s platform empowers organizations to personalize event experiences using CRM data. For example: Traditional event tech systems only pull basic fields into Salesforce. In contrast, Blackthorn.io leverages all standard and custom Salesforce fields, enabling planners to design deeply personalized event experiences. Addressing Integration Challenges Event planners often face inefficiencies caused by integrating third-party platforms with Salesforce, such as data flow disruptions, duplicate management, and delays. Blackthorn.io removes these obstacles by unifying event data with CRM data. This seamless approach enables real-time management of everything from registration to post-event follow-ups, cutting hours of manual work. 🔔🔔 Follow us on LinkedIn 🔔🔔 Applications Across Industries Corporate Events Higher Education Healthcare Nonprofits Associations AI and Automation: Redefining Event Planning Leverage Salesforce AI Blackthorn.io taps into Salesforce’s AI capabilities to deliver advanced insights, such as correlating event attendance with conversion likelihood. This reduces planning time and enhances decision-making. AgentForce AI AgentForce from SalesforceLaunching in 2025, Blackthorn.io’s upcoming AgentForce-based AI will analyze multiple data sources for insights beyond traditional reporting. It will answer questions like, “Which events are most effective for donor acquisition?” Scaling with Personalization Key Features Clients Love The Blackthorn Advantage By operating natively within Salesforce, Blackthorn.io simplifies event management while empowering organizations to deliver personalized, data-driven experiences. Its unified approach to event data eliminates inefficiencies, scales effortlessly, and opens up new opportunities for meaningful engagement across industries. Ready to transform your event management? Discover the power of Blackthorn.io with Tectonic and start planning smarter 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

January 20, 2025in Agentforce Platform, Data, Generative AI, Google, Salesforce0 Comments

17Jan

Agentforce for Retail

Salesforce Introduces Agentforce for Retail and Retail Cloud with Modern POS Just ahead of the National Retail Federation (NRF) conference in New York, Salesforce has announced Agentforce for Retail and Retail Cloud with Modern POS, further expanding its AI-driven capabilities into the retail sector. This launch underscores Salesforce’s commitment to leveraging agentic AI to enhance productivity and streamline retail operations. Saks Fifth Avenue and SharkNinja: Early Adopters Retail giants like Saks Fifth Avenue and SharkNinja are among the first to test Agentforce for Retail, showcasing its potential to redefine customer engagement and operational efficiency in the industry. Agentforce for Retail Agentforce for Retail equips businesses with a library of pre-built AI agent skills tailored specifically for retail use cases, delivering what Salesforce calls “digital labor.” These skills are designed to simplify routine tasks, freeing up human employees to focus on higher-value activities. New Pre-Built Skills These tools aim to help retailers deploy AI agents efficiently, improving customer satisfaction and operational scalability. Retail Cloud with Modern POS Retail Cloud with Modern POS consolidates online and offline inventory data into a single, unified platform, empowering retailers with modern tools for seamless customer experiences. Key Features Retail Cloud integrates seamlessly with Commerce Cloud, Service Cloud, and Order Management, ensuring a cohesive ecosystem for retailers. Why This Matters This dual announcement highlights Salesforce’s strategy to embed Agentforce as a foundational capability across its multi-cloud architecture, while also tailoring solutions for specific industries like retail. “Together, AI-fueled digital labor and a modern POS can unlock a new scale of operational capacity for retailers,” said Nitin Mangtani, Salesforce SVP and GM of Retail, in a press release. With Agentforce for Retail, Salesforce empowers brands to embrace AI-driven automation while modernizing their point-of-sale systems, enabling a seamless blend of personalized customer engagement and operational excellence. 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

January 17, 2025in Agentforce Platform, Agentic AI, Data, Salesforce0 Comments

14Jan

Statement Accuracy Prediction based on Language Model Activations

When users first began interacting with ChatGPT, they noticed an intriguing behavior: the model would often reverse its stance when told it was wrong. This raised concerns about the reliability of its outputs. How can users trust a system that appears to contradict itself? Recent research has revealed that large language models (LLMs) not only generate inaccurate information (often referred to as “hallucinations”) but are also aware of their inaccuracies. Despite this awareness, these models proceed to present their responses confidently. Unveiling LLM Awareness of Hallucinations Researchers discovered this phenomenon by analyzing the internal mechanisms of LLMs. Whenever an LLM generates a response, it transforms the input query into a numerical representation and performs a series of computations before producing the output. At intermediate stages, these numerical representations are called “activations.” These activations contain significantly more information than what is reflected in the final output. By scrutinizing these activations, researchers can identify whether the LLM “knows” its response is inaccurate. A technique called SAPLMA (Statement Accuracy Prediction based on Language Model Activations) has been developed to explore this capability. SAPLMA examines the internal activations of LLMs to predict whether their outputs are truthful or not. Why Do Hallucinations Occur? LLMs function as next-word prediction models. Each word is selected based on its likelihood given the preceding words. For example, starting with “I ate,” the model might predict the next words as follows: The issue arises when earlier predictions constrain subsequent outputs. Once the model commits to a word, it cannot go back to revise its earlier choice. For instance: In another case: This mechanism reveals how the constraints of next-word prediction can lead to hallucinations, even when the model “knows” it is generating an incorrect response. Detecting Inaccuracies with SAPLMA To investigate whether an LLM recognizes its own inaccuracies, researchers developed the SAPLMA method. Here’s how it works: The classifier itself is a simple neural network with three dense layers, culminating in a binary output that predicts the truthfulness of the statement. Results and Insights The SAPLMA method achieved an accuracy of 60–80%, depending on the topic. While this is a promising result, it is not perfect and has notable limitations. For example: However, if LLMs can learn to detect inaccuracies during the generation process, they could potentially refine their outputs in real time, reducing hallucinations and improving reliability. The Future of Error Mitigation in LLMs The SAPLMA method represents a step forward in understanding and mitigating LLM errors. Accurate classification of inaccuracies could pave the way for models that can self-correct and produce more reliable outputs. While the current limitations are significant, ongoing research into these methods could lead to substantial improvements in LLM performance. By combining techniques like SAPLMA with advancements in LLM architecture, researchers aim to build models that are not only aware of their errors but capable of addressing them dynamically, enhancing both the accuracy and trustworthiness of AI systems. 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

January 14, 2025in Data, Salesforce0 Comments

09Jan

Salesforce Spring ’25 Release

Salesforce Spring ’25 Release: Key Features and Enhancements Salesforce delivers triannual updates—Spring, Summer, and Winter—to introduce new features, enhancements, and fixes to the platform. These updates are applied automatically to Salesforce environments, ensuring all users benefit from the latest innovations without needing manual upgrades. The Spring ’25 functionality is now available in Preview Developer Orgs, allowing users to explore and test upcoming features before the general release. Preview Developer Orgs: Exploring the Future Preview Developer Orgs provide sandbox environments or developer editions equipped with new release functionality during the preview window. These allow admins and developers to: With access to a Preview Org, you can explore the following cutting-edge features: 1. Reactive Screen Actions Enhanced Screen Flow Reactivity: This feature enables screen flow components to update dynamically in real-time based on changes in other components. Users no longer need to navigate away or manually refresh to see updates, ensuring smoother, more interactive experiences. New in Spring ’25:You can now create an autolaunched flow to fetch data reactively from the database and display it immediately on the screen, eliminating the need for an action button. Use Case:When creating an Opportunity, the ZIP code of the associated Account determines the follow-up owner based on a reference table stored in a custom object. With reactive screen actions, selecting an Opportunity row dynamically displays the Account, Owner, and Assigned Person without additional clicks. 2. Progress Indicator for Flow Stages Salesforce introduces a built-in Progress Indicator for screen flows, providing users with a visual tracker of their progress through multi-step flows. Key Features: Limitations:The progress indicator does not yet support user-driven navigation through stages. 3. Immediate Input Validation in Screen Flows Validation functionality in flows has been upgraded to support real-time error detection. What’s New: 4. Email Action Attachment Support Email Action Enhancements: Spring ’25 introduces the ability to attach files to emails directly within flows. How It Works: Note: Files do not need to be made public for attachments, as long as the flow user has access to the files. 5. Get Records with a Specified Limit The LIMIT operator, commonly used in SOQL, is now available in flows. Benefits: 6. New Flow Modal Enhancements Salesforce has redesigned the Flow Type Picker modal, making it easier for users to select the right automation type. What’s New: 7. UI and Accessibility Improvements Conclusion The Salesforce Spring ’25 release is packed with features designed to enhance efficiency, usability, and innovation. From reactive screen flows and real-time validation to email action attachments and improved UI elements, this release sets a new standard for how users interact with the Salesforce platform. Stay ahead by leveraging Preview Developer Orgs to test these enhancements and ensure a smooth transition to the production environment. As Salesforce continues to innovate, these updates are just the beginning of a more seamless, intelligent platform experience. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

January 9, 2025in Data, Salesforce0 Comments

Apple's Privacy Changes: A Call for Email Marketing Innovation

09Jan

Liar Liar Apple on Fire

Apple Developing Update After AI System Generates Inaccurate News Summaries Apple is working on a software update to address inaccuracies generated by its Apple Intelligence system after multiple instances of false news summaries were reported. The BBC first alerted Apple in mid-December to significant errors in the system, including a fabricated summary that falsely attributed a statement to BBC News. The summary suggested Luigi Mangione, accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had shot himself, a claim entirely unsubstantiated. Other publishers, such as ProPublica, also raised concerns about Apple Intelligence producing misleading summaries. While Apple did not respond immediately to the BBC’s December report, it issued a statement after pressure mounted from groups like the National Union of Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, both of which called for the removal of Apple Intelligence. Apple assured stakeholders it is working to refine the technology. A Widespread AI Issue: Hallucinations Apple joins the ranks of other AI vendors struggling with generative AI hallucinations—instances where AI produces false or misleading information. In October 2024, Perplexity AI faced a lawsuit from Dow Jones & Co. and the New York Post over fabricated news content attributed to their publications. Similarly, Google had to improve its AI summaries after providing users with inaccurate information. On January 16, Apple temporarily disabled AI-generated summaries for news apps on iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices. The Core Problem: AI Hallucination Chirag Shah, a professor of Information Science at the University of Washington, emphasized that hallucination is inherent to the way large language models (LLMs) function. “The nature of AI models is to generate, synthesize, and summarize, which makes them prone to mistakes,” Shah explained. “This isn’t something you can debug easily—it’s intrinsic to how LLMs operate.” While Apple plans to introduce an update that clearly labels summaries as AI-generated, Shah believes this measure falls short. “Most people don’t understand how these headlines or summaries are created. The responsible approach is to pause the technology until it’s better understood and mitigation strategies are in place,” he said. Legal and Brand Implications for Apple The hallucinated summaries pose significant reputational and legal risks for Apple, according to Michael Bennett, an AI adviser at Northeastern University. Before launching Apple Intelligence, the company was perceived as lagging in the AI race. The release of this system was intended to position Apple as a leader. Instead, the inaccuracies have damaged its credibility. “This type of hallucinated summarization is both an embarrassment and a serious legal liability,” Bennett said. “These errors could form the basis for defamation claims, as Apple Intelligence misattributes false information to reputable news sources.” Bennett criticized Apple’s seemingly minimal response. “It’s surprising how casual Apple’s reaction has been. This is a major issue for their brand and could expose them to significant legal consequences,” he added. Opportunity for Publishers The incident highlights the need for publishers to protect their interests when partnering with AI vendors like Apple and Google. Publishers should demand stronger safeguards to prevent false attributions and negotiate new contractual clauses to minimize brand risk. “This is an opportunity for publishers to lead the charge, pushing AI companies to refine their models or stop attributing false summaries to news sources,” Bennett said. He suggested legal action as a potential recourse if vendors fail to address these issues. Potential Regulatory Action The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) may also scrutinize the issue, as consumers paying for products like iPhones with AI capabilities could argue they are not receiving the promised service. However, Bennett believes Apple will likely act to resolve the problem before regulatory involvement becomes necessary. 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

January 9, 2025in Generative AI, Google, Laws, Technology0 Comments

09Jan

Generative AI Tools

Generative AI Tools: A Comprehensive Overview of Emerging Capabilities The widespread adoption of generative AI services like ChatGPT has sparked immense interest in leveraging these tools for practical enterprise applications. Today, nearly every enterprise app integrates generative AI capabilities to enhance functionality and efficiency. A broad range of AI, data science, and machine learning tools now support generative AI use cases. These tools assist in managing the AI lifecycle, governing data, and addressing security and privacy concerns. While such capabilities also aid in traditional AI development, this discussion focuses on tools specifically designed for generative AI. Not all generative AI relies on large language models (LLMs). Emerging techniques generate images, videos, audio, synthetic data, and translations using methods such as generative adversarial networks (GANs), diffusion models, variational autoencoders, and multimodal approaches. Here is an in-depth look at the top categories of generative AI tools, their capabilities, and notable implementations. It’s worth noting that many leading vendors are expanding their offerings to support multiple categories through acquisitions or integrated platforms. Enterprises may want to explore comprehensive platforms when planning their generative AI strategies. 1. Foundation Models and Services Generative AI tools increasingly simplify the development and responsible use of LLMs, initially pioneered through transformer-based approaches by Google researchers in 2017. 2. Cloud Generative AI Platforms Major cloud providers offer generative AI platforms to streamline development and deployment. These include: 3. Use Case Optimization Tools Foundation models often require optimization for specific tasks. Enterprises use tools such as: 4. Quality Assurance and Hallucination Mitigation Hallucination detection tools address the tendency of generative models to produce inaccurate or misleading information. Leading tools include: 5. Prompt Engineering Tools Prompt engineering tools optimize interactions with LLMs and streamline testing for bias, toxicity, and accuracy. Examples include: 6. Data Aggregation Tools Generative AI tools have evolved to handle larger data contexts efficiently: 7. Agentic and Autonomous AI Tools Developers are creating tools to automate interactions across foundation models and services, paving the way for autonomous AI. Notable examples include: 8. Generative AI Cost Optimization Tools These tools aim to balance performance, accuracy, and cost effectively. Martian’s Model Router is an early example, while traditional cloud cost optimization platforms are expected to expand into this area. Generative AI tools are rapidly transforming enterprise applications, with foundational, cloud-based, and domain-specific solutions leading the way. By addressing challenges like accuracy, hallucination, and cost, these tools unlock new potential across industries and use cases, enabling enterprises to stay ahead in the AI-driven 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

January 9, 2025in AI Tools, Data, Enterprise, Generative AI, Google, Snowflake0 Comments

07Jan

Exploring Generative AI

Like most employees at most companies, I wear a few different hats around Tectonic. Whether I’m building a data model, creating and scheduing an email campaign, standing up a platform generative AI is always at my fingertips. At my very core, I’m a marketer. Have been for so long I do it without eveven thinking. Or at least, everyuthing I do has a hat tip to its future marketing needs. Today I want to share some of the AI content generators I’ve been using, am looking to use, or just heard about. But before we rip into the insight, here’s a primer. Types of AI Content Generators ChatGPT, a powerful AI chatbot, drew significant attention upon its November 2022 release. While the GPT-3 language model behind it had existed for some time, ChatGPT made this technology accessible to nontechnical users, showcasing how AI can generate content. Over two years later, numerous AI content generators have emerged to cater to diverse use cases. This rapid development raises questions about the technology’s impact on work. Schools are grappling with fears of plagiarism, while others are embracing AI. Legal debates about copyright and digital media authenticity continue. President Joe Biden’s October 2023 executive order addressed AI’s risks and opportunities in areas like education, workforce, and consumer privacy, underscoring generative AI’s transformative potential. What is AI-Generated Content? AI-generated content, also known as generative AI, refers to algorithms that automatically create new content across digital media. These algorithms are trained on extensive datasets and require minimal user input to produce novel outputs. For instance, ChatGPT sets a standard for AI-generated content. Based on GPT-4o, it processes text, images, and audio, offering natural language and multimodal capabilities. Many other generative AI tools operate similarly, leveraging large language models (LLMs) and multimodal frameworks to create diverse outputs. What are the Different Types of AI-Generated Content? AI-generated content spans multiple media types: Despite their varied outputs, most generative AI systems are built on advanced LLMs like GPT-4 and Google Gemini. These multimodal models process and generate content across multiple formats, with enhanced capabilities evolving over time. How Generative AI is Used Generative AI applications span industries: These tools often combine outputs from various media for complex, multifaceted projects. AI Content Generators AI content generators exist across various media. Below are good examples organized by gen ai type: Written Content Generators Image Content Generators Music Content Generators Code Content Generators Other AI Content Generators These tools showcase how AI-powered content generation is revolutionizing industries, making content creation faster and more accessible. I do hope you will comment below on your favorites, other AI tools not showcased above, or anything else AI-related that is on your mind. Written by Tectonic’s Marketing Operations Director, Shannan Hearne. 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

January 7, 2025in AI Tools, Data, Enterprise, Generative AI, Google, Technology0 Comments

04Jan

What is Heroku

What is Heroku? Heroku is a modern, container-based Platform as a Service (PaaS) that enables developers to deploy, manage, and scale applications with ease. Designed for simplicity, flexibility, and elegance, it provides the fastest path for developers to take their apps to market. Key Features of Heroku: The Evolution of Heroku Heroku has recently undergone a transformation, becoming fully cloud-native with advanced integrations like Kubernetes, OpenTelemetry, and Agentforce, an AI-powered enhancement to its platform. These upgrades retain the platform’s hallmark simplicity while delivering more performance and tools, such as Graviton processors, EKS, ECR, and AWS Global Accelerator. AI-Powered Innovation: Agentforce Agentforce, Heroku’s latest feature, brings AI-powered automation to app development. It empowers both technical and non-technical users by offering natural language workflows for building applications, making it accessible to a wider range of business users. According to Betty Junod, Heroku’s Chief Marketing Officer at Salesforce, the platform now seamlessly combines user-friendly experiences with cutting-edge AI capabilities: “We’ve replatformed while keeping the experience as simple as ever, but now with added horsepower, Graviton performance, and managed AI tools like Bedrock.” Agentforce is particularly impactful for non-developers, guiding them through building apps and automating processes with no-code or low-code tools. This innovation aligns with Heroku’s mission to make app creation easier and more interactive: “It’s not just apps serving information anymore; users are engaging with them in entirely new ways.” Deliver Apps, Your Way Heroku is designed to serve a variety of needs, from quick prototypes to mission-critical enterprise applications. Its fully managed ecosystem allows you to build and scale apps efficiently, leveraging the tools and languages you already know and love. 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

January 4, 2025in AI Tools, Data, Enterprise, Salesforce0 Comments

31Dec

AI in Supply Chain

AI has the potential to transform supply chain management by boosting efficiency, enhancing forecasting, and improving customer satisfaction. However, it’s crucial for leaders to weigh the associated costs, technical challenges, and risks to ensure a smooth and strategic implementation. By addressing these disadvantages, companies can fully unlock AI’s benefits while minimizing its drawbacks.

December 31, 2024in Data, Technology0 Comments

28Dec

Sales Email Prompt Template

Salesforce Guide: Creating a Sales Email Prompt Template Want to create personalized, targeted sales emails efficiently? By leveraging Salesforce’s LLM capabilities, you can design a Sales Email Prompt Template that uses customer insights and relationship history to generate high-quality emails at scale. Reusable for different products and audiences, these templates save time and simplify workflows. Here’s how to set it up: 1. Enable Einstein Setup 2. Enable Einstein for Sales 3. Create a Sales Email Prompt Template 4. Draft and Ground the Prompt in the Template Workspace 🔔🔔 Follow us on LinkedIn 🔔🔔 Example Prompt: plaintextCopy codeYou are a {!$Input:Sender.Title} and your name is {!$Input:Sender.Name} from {!$Input:Sender.CompanyName}. Your prospect is {!$Input:Recipient.Name}, a {!$Input:Recipient.Title}. They are based in {!$Input:Recipient.MailingCity}. In the email, invite the prospect to attend the event “Floating on Clouds: Ontario Kickoff” on September 18. This event is for customers of Cloud Kicks, new and old, to network and preview upcoming products. Keep the email within 70 words, explain the benefits of attending, and mention that you’d be happy to chat further at the event or online if needed. 5. Preview the Template 6. Save and Activate the Prompt 7. Send Emails Using the Prompt 8. Adjust and Finalize the Email By following these steps, you can seamlessly create and use dynamic sales email templates to elevate your outreach efforts. 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

December 28, 2024in Agentforce Platform, Generative AI0 Comments

1 Billion Enterprise AI Agents

Inside Salesforce’s Ambition to Deploy 1 Billion Enterprise AI Agents Salesforce is making a bold play in the enterprise AI space with its recently launched Agentforce platform. Introduced at the annual Dreamforce conference, Agentforce is positioned to revolutionize sales, marketing, commerce, and operations with autonomous AI agents, marking a significant evolution from Salesforce’s previous Einstein AI platform. What Makes Agentforce Different? Agentforce operates as more than just a chatbot platform. It uses real-time data and user-defined business rules to proactively manage tasks, aiming to boost efficiency and enhance customer satisfaction. Built on Salesforce’s Data Cloud, the platform simplifies deployment while maintaining powerful customization capabilities: “Salesforce takes care of 80% of the foundational work, leaving customers to focus on the 20% that truly differentiates their business,” explains Adam Forrest, SVP of Marketing at Salesforce. Forrest highlights how Agentforce enables businesses to build custom agents tailored to specific needs by incorporating their own rules and data sources. This user-centric approach empowers admins, developers, and technology teams to deploy AI without extensive technical resources. Early Adoption Across Industries Major brands have already adopted Agentforce for diverse use cases: These real-world applications illustrate Agentforce’s potential to transform workflows in industries ranging from retail to hospitality and education. AI Agents in Marketing: The New Frontier Salesforce emphasizes that Agentforce isn’t just for operations; it’s poised to redefine marketing. AI agents can automate lead qualification, optimize outreach strategies, and enhance personalization. For example, in account-based marketing, agents can analyze customer data to identify high-value opportunities, craft tailored strategies, and recommend optimal engagement times based on user behavior. “AI agents streamline lead qualification by evaluating intent signals and scoring leads, allowing sales teams to focus on high-priority prospects,” says Jonathan Franchell, CEO of B2B marketing agency Ironpaper. Once campaigns are launched, Agentforce monitors performance in real time, offering suggestions to improve ROI and resource allocation. By integrating seamlessly with CRM platforms, the tool also facilitates better collaboration between marketing and sales teams. Beyond B2C applications, AI agents in B2B contexts can evaluate customer-specific needs and provide tailored product or service recommendations, further enhancing client relationships. Enabling Creativity Through Automation By automating repetitive tasks, Agentforce aims to free marketers to focus on strategy and creativity. Dan Gardner, co-founder of Code and Theory, describes this vision: “Agentic AI eliminates friction and dissolves silos in data, organizational structures, and customer touchpoints. The result? Smarter insights, efficient distribution, and more time for creatives to do what they do best: creating.” Competitive Landscape and Challenges Despite its promise, Salesforce faces stiff competition. Microsoft—backed by its integration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT—has unveiled AI tools like Copilot, and other players such as Google, ServiceNow, and HubSpot are advancing their own AI platforms. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has not shied away from the rivalry. On the Masters of Scale podcast, he criticized Microsoft for overpromising on products like Copilot, asserting that Salesforce delivers tangible value: “Our tools show users exactly what is possible, what is real, and how easy it is to derive huge value from AI.” Salesforce must also demonstrate Agentforce’s scalability across diverse industries to capture a significant share of the enterprise AI market. A Transformative Vision for the Future Agentforce represents Salesforce’s commitment to bringing AI-powered automation to the forefront of enterprise operations. With its focus on seamless deployment, powerful customization, and real-time capabilities, the platform aims to reshape how businesses interact with customers and optimize internal processes. By targeting diverse use cases and emphasizing accessibility for both technical and non-technical users, Salesforce is betting on Agentforce to drive adoption at scale—and position itself as a leader in the increasingly competitive AI 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

December 27, 2024in Agentforce Platform, AI Tools, Data, Enterprise, Google, Salesforce, Technology0 Comments

26Dec

The Impact of AI on Jobs

The Impact of AI on Jobs: A Historical and Transformative Perspective For centuries, people have feared losing jobs to technological advancements. From the introduction of the printing press in 1440 to the widespread adoption of assembly lines in manufacturing, history has followed a familiar pattern: a wave of panic followed by a surge of innovation. Today, with AI in the spotlight, headlines warn of job-stealing robots. Yet, AI is not here to take jobs; it’s revealing new ones—and at an unprecedented pace. A Paradigm Shift: AI as a Job Creator Contrary to popular belief, AI is reshaping the job market for the better. Rather than replacing workers, it amplifies human potential, pushing society toward work that is creative, strategic, and uniquely human. Instead of asking, “Will AI take my job?” the better question is, “What new opportunities can AI unlock?” The answers are exciting and transformative. Lessons from the Past Technological disruption is far from new. The printing press, the weaving loom, and even the internet all provoked fears of mass unemployment. Yet, each time, these innovations sparked transformation rather than devastation. Consider the ATM, introduced in the 1960s. Initially, bank tellers feared redundancy. However, rather than replacing tellers, ATMs automated routine tasks, freeing human workers to focus on customer service and financial advising. In fact, the number of bank tellers increased in the decades following ATM adoption. AI follows the same trajectory. By handling repetitive tasks like sorting emails or managing schedules, AI frees workers to focus on areas requiring emotional intelligence, creativity, and problem-solving. AI: A Partner, Not a Competitor AI excels in areas that humans struggle with, such as processing vast datasets, recognizing patterns, and executing repetitive tasks with precision. However, it lacks empathy, context, and abstract thinking—traits that remain uniquely human. For example, IBM Watson can analyze millions of medical journals to suggest treatment options. Yet, a doctor’s role remains indispensable, as patients need empathy, understanding, and a human touch. Similarly, legal AI tools like CaseText can streamline research, but building persuasive arguments and negotiating terms require skills no algorithm can match. Rather than replacing professionals, AI enhances their productivity, enabling them to focus on higher-value tasks. The Birth of Entirely New Industries AI is not only reshaping existing jobs but also creating new roles and industries. The rise of generative AI has introduced positions like prompt engineers, who design effective queries to maximize AI’s output. Similarly, the need for unbiased algorithms has created the field of data ethics, where specialists ensure AI systems prioritize equity and fairness. These roles underscore an important reality: AI doesn’t eliminate opportunities—it redefines them. Addressing Ethical Challenges AI’s reliance on data is both its strength and its vulnerability. Algorithms trained on biased data can perpetuate harmful stereotypes, as seen in Amazon’s failed hiring algorithm, which penalized women. This challenge has given rise to data ethicists tasked with auditing algorithms and designing fair systems, further showcasing how AI disruption creates new fields and opportunities. Augmentation Over Replacement Fear of AI stems from misunderstanding its role. Machines are adept at repetitive and analytical tasks, but they lack the nuanced understanding required for roles in fields like art, music, and medicine. AI tools such as Adobe Sensei or AIVA enhance creativity, allowing artists and musicians to experiment, iterate, and push boundaries. Just as the printing press democratized writing rather than ending it, AI empowers workers to focus on what makes us uniquely human. A Future Worth Working Toward AI represents a profound shift in how society views work. It is not a destroyer of jobs but a catalyst for transformation. By automating inefficiencies and reinforcing human strengths, AI unlocks opportunities yet to be imagined. Rather than fearing the rise of AI, embracing its potential can lead to a future where work is more meaningful, creative, and impactful—an evolution worth striving for. 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

December 26, 2024in AI Tools, Data, Generative AI, Salesforce0 Comments

20Dec

Master-detail and Lookup Relationships in Salesforce

Understanding Data Relationships in Salesforce: Master-Detail vs. Lookup Relationships In Salesforce, data is structured using three fundamental elements: Objects, Fields, and Records. Objects act as tables in a database, fields represent columns, and records serve as rows. To efficiently manage and access data while maintaining consistency, data relationships play a pivotal role. These relationships define how records in one object are connected to those in another, enabling seamless organization and interaction. Among the most common types of data relationships in Salesforce are Master-Detail and Lookup Relationships. The primary distinction between these two lies in their level of dependency: This article delves into the details, benefits, and practical applications of these relationships, along with a head-to-head comparison. Master-Detail Relationship in Salesforce A Master-Detail Relationship creates a strong dependency between two Salesforce objects, where one serves as the parent (master) and the other as the child (detail). Key Features Example: Order Management For every order, multiple products (order line items) may be included. If the parent order is deleted, all related order line items are also deleted. Additionally, rollup summary fields can calculate the total number of line items or their combined value. Benefits Lookup Relationship in Salesforce A Lookup Relationship represents a more flexible association between objects, where the child object is less dependent on the parent. Key Features Example: Product Catalog In this scenario, order line items reference specific products. If a product is deleted, the related line items remain, but their references are cleared. Benefits Master-Detail vs. Lookup Relationships Feature Master-Detail Relationship Lookup Relationship Dependency Strong (child depends on parent) Weak (child independent of parent) Cascade Delete Yes No Rollup Summary Fields Supported Not supported (use RollUp Magic) Security Settings Inherited from parent Independent Flexibility Less flexible Highly flexible Overcoming Lookup Relationship Limitations with RollUp Magic One notable limitation of lookup relationships is the lack of support for rollup summary fields. This gap can be bridged with the tool RollUp Magic. Key Features of RollUp Magic Conclusion Master-detail and lookup relationships are essential tools in Salesforce for managing data associations. For organizations leveraging lookup relationships, tools like RollUp Magic, GridMate, or clearMDM enhance data management by enabling rollup summary fields, elevating reporting and analytics capabilities. By understanding the nuances of these object relationships, you can better organize and manage your Salesforce data to meet your business needs effectively. 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

December 20, 2024in Data0 Comments

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