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AI in Networking
21Oct

AI in Networking

AI Tools in Networking: Tailoring Capabilities to Unique Needs AI tools are becoming increasingly common across various industries, offering a wide range of functionalities. However, network engineers may not require every capability these tools provide. Each network has distinct requirements that align with specific business objectives, necessitating that network engineers and developers select AI toolsets tailored to their networks’ needs. While network teams often desire similar AI capabilities, they also encounter common challenges in integrating these tools into their systems. The Rise of AI in Networking Though AI is not a new concept—having existed for decades in the form of automated and expert systems—it is gaining unprecedented attention. According to Jim Frey, principal analyst for networking at TechTarget’s Enterprise Strategy Group, many organizations have not fully grasped AI’s potential in production environments over the past three years. “AI has been around for a long time, but the interesting thing is, only a minority—not even half—have really said they’re using it effectively in production for the last three years,” Frey noted. Generative AI (GenAI) has significantly contributed to this renewed interest in AI. Shamus McGillicuddy, vice president of research at Enterprise Management Associates, categorizes AI tools into two main types: GenAI and AIOps (AI for IT operations). “Generative AI, like ChatGPT, has recently surged in popularity, becoming a focal point of discussion among IT professionals,” McGillicuddy explained. “AIOps, on the other hand, encompasses machine learning, anomaly detection, and analytics.” The increasing complexity of networks is another factor driving the adoption of AI in networking. Frey highlighted that the demands of modern network environments are beyond human capability to manage manually, making AI engines a vital solution. Essential AI Tool Capabilities for Networks While individual network needs vary, many network engineers seek similar functionalities when integrating AI. Commonly desired capabilities include: According to McGillicuddy’s research, network optimization and automated troubleshooting are among the most popular use cases for AI. However, many professionals prefer to retain manual oversight in the fixing process. “Automated troubleshooting can identify and analyze issues, but typically, people want to approve the proposed fixes,” McGillicuddy stated. Many of these capabilities are critical for enhancing security and mitigating threats. Frey emphasized that networking professionals increasingly view AI as a tool to improve organizational security. DeCarlo echoed this sentiment, noting that network managers share similar objectives with security professionals regarding proactive problem recognition. Frey also mentioned alternative use cases for AI, such as documentation and change recommendations, which, while less popular, can offer significant value to network teams. Ultimately, the relevance of any AI capability hinges on its fit within the network environment and team needs. “I don’t think you can prioritize one capability over another,” DeCarlo remarked. “It depends on the tools being used and their effectiveness.” Generative AI: A New Frontier Despite its recent emergence, GenAI has quickly become an asset in the networking field. McGillicuddy noted that in the past year and a half, network professionals have adopted GenAI tools, with ChatGPT being one of the most recognized examples. “One user reported that leveraging ChatGPT could reduce a task that typically takes four hours down to just 10 minutes,” McGillicuddy said. However, he cautioned that users must understand the limitations of GenAI, as mistakes can occur. “There’s a risk of errors or ‘hallucinations’ with these tools, and having blind faith in their outputs can lead to significant network issues,” he warned. In addition to ChatGPT, vendors are developing GenAI interfaces for their products, including virtual assistants. According to McGillicuddy’s findings, common use cases for vendor GenAI products include: DeCarlo added that GenAI tools offer valuable training capabilities due to their rapid processing speeds and in-depth analysis, which can expedite knowledge acquisition within the network. Frey highlighted that GenAI’s rise is attributed to its ability to outperform older systems lacking sophistication. Nevertheless, the complexity of GenAI infrastructures has led to a demand for AIOps tools to manage these systems effectively. “We won’t be able to manage GenAI infrastructures without the support of AI tools, as human capabilities cannot keep pace with rapid changes,” Frey asserted. Challenges in Implementing AI Tools While AI tools present significant benefits for networks, network engineers and managers must navigate several challenges before integration. Data Privacy, Collection, and Quality Data usage remains a critical concern for organizations considering AIOps and GenAI tools. Frey noted that the diverse nature of network data—combining operational information with personally identifiable information—heightens data privacy concerns. For GenAI, McGillicuddy pointed out the importance of validating AI outputs and ensuring high-quality data is utilized for training. “If you feed poor data to a generative AI tool, it will struggle to accurately understand your network,” he explained. Complexity of AI Tools Frey and McGillicuddy agreed that the complexity of both AI and network systems could hinder effective deployment. Frey mentioned that AI systems, especially GenAI, require careful tuning and strong recommendations to minimize inaccuracies. McGillicuddy added that intricate network infrastructures, particularly those involving multiple vendors, could limit the effectiveness of AIOps components, which are often specialized for specific systems. User Uptake and Skills Gaps User adoption of AI tools poses a significant challenge. Proper training is essential to realize the full benefits of AI in networking. Some network professionals may be resistant to using AI, while others may lack the knowledge to integrate these tools effectively. McGillicuddy noted that AIOps tools are often less intuitive than GenAI, necessitating a certain level of expertise for users to extract value. “Understanding how tools function and identifying potential gaps can be challenging,” DeCarlo added. The learning curve can be steep, particularly for teams accustomed to longstanding tools. Integration Issues Integration challenges can further complicate user adoption. McGillicuddy highlighted two dimensions of this issue: tools and processes. On the tools side, concerns arise about harmonizing GenAI with existing systems. “On the process side, it’s crucial to ensure that teams utilize these tools effectively,” he said. DeCarlo cautioned that organizations might need to create in-house supplemental tools to bridge integration gaps, complicating the synchronization of vendor AI

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October 21, 2024in AI Tools, Data, Enterprise, Generative AI
Salesforce and Stripe Integration
19Oct

Salesforce and Stripe Integration

Processing weekly payments can often become time-consuming, with organizations spending significant time just tracking payments post-invoice. Timely updates on payment processing have been a longstanding priority, particularly for companies needing flexible payment options to meet beneficiary needs. The integration of Stripe with Salesforce addresses these challenges, offering a streamlined, efficient solution. Salesforce and Stripe Integration. With a focus on faster processing, this integration enhances payment management, invoicing, and financial oversight. Here’s an overview of the benefits that Stripe and Salesforce integration brings to businesses. Key Benefits of Integrating Stripe with Salesforce Modern businesses demand efficient, seamless transactions. Here are some of the major advantages of combining Stripe and Salesforce: Why Businesses Should Consider Salesforce and Stripe Integration Having implemented this integration for various clients, we have seen how it supports efficient operations. Here are a few reasons why businesses should consider this approach: Simplify Payments with Salesforce and Stripe Integration The Stripe and Salesforce integration represents a transformative opportunity for businesses to improve operational efficiency and customer experience. Beyond a simple tool pairing, this integration paves the way for scalable, complex business operations. Successful integration, however, requires knowledgeable professionals who understand the nuances of customization to fit each organization’s unique needs. Reach out to experienced experts to optimize your integration and harness its full potential. 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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October 19, 2024in Data, Marketing Automation, Salesforce Communications Cloud, Salesforce Optimization
AI Customer Service Agents Explained
19Oct

AI Customer Service Agents Explained

AI customer service agents are advanced technologies designed to understand and respond to customer inquiries within defined guidelines. These agents can handle both simple and complex issues, such as answering frequently asked questions or managing product returns, all while offering a personalized, conversational experience. Research shows that 82% of service representatives report that customers ask for more than they used to. As a customer service leader, you’re likely facing increasing pressure to meet these growing expectations while simultaneously reducing costs, speeding up service, and providing personalized, round-the-clock support. This is where AI customer service agents can make a significant impact. Here’s a closer look at how AI agents can enhance your organization’s service operations, improve customer experience, and boost overall productivity and efficiency. What Are AI Customer Service Agents? AI customer service agents are virtual assistants designed to interact with customers and support service operations. Utilizing machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), these agents are capable of handling a broad range of tasks, from answering basic inquiries to resolving complex issues — even managing multiple tasks at once. Importantly, AI agents continuously improve through self-learning. Why Are AI-Powered Customer Service Agents Important? AI-powered customer service technology is becoming essential for several reasons: Benefits of AI Customer Service Agents AI customer service agents help service teams manage growing service demands by taking on routine tasks and providing essential support. Key benefits include: Why Choose Agentforce Service Agent? If you’re considering adding AI customer service agents to your strategy, Agentforce Service Agent offers a comprehensive solution: By embracing AI customer service agents like Agentforce Service Agent, businesses can reduce costs, meet growing customer demands, and stay competitive in an ever-evolving global market. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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October 19, 2024in Agentforce Platform, Data, Generative AI, Salesforce, Technology
Amazon DynamoDB to Salesforce Data Cloud
18Oct

Amazon DynamoDB to Salesforce Data Cloud

Ingesting Data from Amazon DynamoDB to Salesforce Data Cloud Salesforce Data Cloud serves as your organization’s digital command center, enabling real-time ingestion, unification, and activation of data from any source. By transforming scattered customer information into actionable insights, it empowers businesses to operate with unparalleled efficiency. Integrating Amazon DynamoDB with Salesforce Data Cloud exemplifies the platform’s capacity to unify and activate enterprise data seamlessly. Follow this step-by-step guide to ingest data from Amazon DynamoDB into Salesforce Data Cloud. Prerequisites Part 1: Amazon DynamoDB Setup 1. AWS Account Setup 2. Create a DynamoDB Table 3. Populate the Table with Data 4. Security Credentials Part 2: Salesforce Data Cloud Configuration 1. Creating the Data Connection 2. Configuring Data Streams Create a New Data Stream Configure the Data Model 3. Data Modeling and Mapping Custom Object Creation Conclusion After completing the setup: This integration underscores Salesforce Data Cloud’s role as a centralized hub, capable of harmonizing diverse data sources, ensuring real-time synchronization, and enabling actionable insights. By connecting Amazon DynamoDB, businesses can unlock the full potential of their data, driving better decision-making and customer experiences. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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October 18, 2024in Data, Enterprise, Salesforce, Salesforce Data Cloud
Third Wave of AI at Salesforce
16Oct

Third Wave of AI at Salesforce

The Third Wave of AI at Salesforce: How Agentforce is Transforming the Landscape At Dreamforce 2024, Salesforce unveiled several exciting innovations, with Agentforce taking center stage. This post explores the key changes and enhancements designed to improve efficiency and elevate customer interactions. Introducing Agentforce Agentforce is a customizable AI agent builder that empowers organizations to create and manage autonomous agents for various business tasks. But what exactly is an agent? An agent is akin to a chatbot but goes beyond traditional capabilities. While typical chatbots are restricted to scripted responses and predefined questions, Agentforce agents leverage large language models (LLMs) and generative AI to comprehend customer inquiries contextually. This enables them to make independent decisions, whether processing requests or resolving issues using real-time data from your company’s customer relationship management (CRM) system. The Role of Atlas At the heart of Agentforce’s functionality lies the Atlas reasoning engine, which acts as the operational brain. Unlike standard assistive tools, Atlas is an agentic system with the autonomy to act on behalf of the user. Atlas formulates a plan based on necessary actions and can adjust that plan based on evaluations or new information. When it’s time to engage, Atlas knows which business processes to activate and connects with customers or employees via their preferred channels. This sophisticated approach allows Agentforce to significantly enhance operational efficiency. By automating routine inquiries, it frees up your team to focus on more complex tasks, delivering a smoother experience for both staff and customers. Speed to Value One of Agentforce’s standout features is its emphasis on rapid implementation. Many AI projects can be resource-intensive and take months or even years to launch. However, Agentforce enables quick deployment by leveraging existing Salesforce infrastructure, allowing organizations to implement solutions rapidly and with greater control. Salesforce also offers pre-built Agentforce agents tailored to specific business needs—such as Service Agent, Sales Development Representative Agent, Sales Coach, Personal Shopper Agent, and Campaign Agent—all customizable with the Agent Builder. Agentforce for Service and Sales will be generally available starting October 25, 2024, with certain elements of the Atlas Reasoning Engine rolling out in February 2025. Pricing begins at $2 per conversation, with volume discounts available. Transforming Customer Insights with Data Cloud and Marketing Cloud Dreamforce also highlighted enhancements to Data Cloud, Salesforce’s backbone for all cloud products. The platform now supports processing unstructured data, which constitutes up to 90% of company data often overlooked by traditional reporting systems. With new capabilities for analyzing various unstructured formats—like video, audio, sales demos, customer service calls, and voicemails—businesses can derive valuable insights and make informed decisions across Customer 360. Furthermore, Data Cloud One enables organizations to connect siloed Salesforce instances effortlessly, promoting seamless data sharing through a no-code, point-and-click setup. The newly announced Marketing Cloud Advanced edition serves as the “big sister” to Marketing Cloud Growth, equipping larger marketing teams with enhanced features like Path Experiment, which tests different content strategies across channels, and Einstein Engagement Scoring for deeper insights into customer behavior. Together, these enhancements empower companies to engage customers more meaningfully and measurably across all touchpoints. Empowering the Workforce Through Education Salesforce is committed to making AI accessible for all. They recently announced free instructor-led courses and AI certifications available through 2025, aimed at equipping the Salesforce community with essential AI and data management skills. To support this initiative, Salesforce is establishing AI centers in major cities, starting with London, to provide hands-on training and resources, fostering AI expertise. They also launched a global Agentforce World Tour to promote understanding and adoption of the new capabilities introduced at Dreamforce, featuring repackaged sessions from the conference and opportunities for specialists to answer questions. The Bottom Line What does this mean for businesses? With the rollout of Agentforce, along with enhancements to Data Cloud and Marketing Cloud, organizations can operate more efficiently and connect with customers in more meaningful ways. Coupled with a focus on education through free courses and global outreach, getting on board has never been easier. If you’d like to discuss how we can help your business maximize its potential with Salesforce through data and AI, connect with us and schedule a meeting with our team. Legacy systems can create significant gaps between operations and employee needs, slowing lead processes and resulting in siloed, out-of-sync data that hampers business efficiency. Responding to inquiries within five minutes offers a 75% chance of converting leads into customers, emphasizing the need for rapid, effective marketing responses. Salesforce aims to help customers strengthen relationships, enhance productivity, and boost margins through its premier AI CRM for sales, service, marketing, and commerce, while also achieving these goals internally. Recognizing the complexity of its decade-old processes, including lead assignment across three systems and 2 million lines of custom code, Salesforce took on the role of “customer zero,” leveraging Data Cloud to create a unified view of customers known as the “Customer 360 Truth Profile.” This consolidation of disparate data laid the groundwork for enterprise-wide AI and automation, improving marketing automation and reducing lead time by 98%. As Michael Andrew, SVP of Marketing Decision Science at Salesforce, noted, this initiative enabled the company to provide high-quality leads to its sales team with enriched data and AI scoring while accelerating time to market and enhancing data quality. Embracing Customer Zero “Almost exactly a year ago, we set out with a beginner’s mind to transform our lead automation process with a solution that would send the best leads to the right sales teams within minutes of capturing their data and support us for the next decade,” said Andrew. The initial success metric was “speed to lead,” aiming to reduce the handoff time from 20 minutes to less than one minute. The focus was also on integrating customer and lead data to develop a more comprehensive 360-degree profile for each prospect, enhancing lead assignment and sales rep productivity. Another objective was to boost business agility by cutting the average time to implement assignment changes from four weeks to mere days. Accelerating Success with

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October 16, 2024in Data, Enterprise, Generative AI, Google, Google Analytics, Marketing Automation, Salesforce
Generative AI Replaces Legacy Systems
15Oct

Generative AI Replaces Legacy Systems

Generative AI Will Overtake Legacy Stack Vendors With the rise of generative AI, legacy software vendors like Appian, IBM, Salesforce, SAP, Pegasystems, IFS, Oracle, Software AG, TIBCO, and UIPath are becoming increasingly obsolete. These vendors represent the old guard, clinging to outdated business process automation systems, while the future clearly belongs to AI-driven innovation. Back in the early 2010s, discussions around dynamic processes—self-assembling workflows created by artificial intelligence—were already gaining traction. The vision was to bypass the need for traditional process mapping or manually designing new interfaces. Instead, AI would dynamically generate processes in response to specific tasks, allowing for far greater flexibility and adaptability. However, business rules within BPMS (Business Process Management Systems) often imposed constraints that limited decision-making flexibility. Today, this vision is finally within reach. Many traditional stack vendors are scrambling to integrate generative AI into their offerings in a desperate bid to remain relevant. But the truth is, generative AI renders these vendors largely unnecessary. For instance, Pegasystems, like many others, now incorporates generative AI into its software, but users are still bound to old workflows and low-code development systems. The reliance on building processes, regardless of AI assistance, keeps them stuck in the past. Across the board—whether it’s ERP, CRM, or RPA—vendors such as Salesforce, SAP, and IFS remain tethered to their outdated systems, even though they possess all the necessary data, both structured and unstructured, to benefit from a simpler, AI-powered approach. All that’s needed is a generative AI layer on top to handle tasks like customer complaints. Consider a customer complaint scenario: traditionally, a complaint is processed through a defined workflow, often requiring the creation of expensive, custom SaaS solutions. But what if an LLM (Large Language Model) could handle this instead? The LLM could analyze the complaint, extract key information, assess urgency through sentiment analysis, and generate a custom workflow on the fly. It could even generate backend code in real-time to process refunds or update databases, all without relying on legacy front-end systems. The LLM’s ability to create and execute dynamic workflows eliminates the need for static business processes. The AI generates temporary code and UI elements to handle a specific interaction, then discards them once the task is complete. This shifts the focus away from traditional, bloated enterprise systems and towards dynamic, JIT (Just-In-Time) interactions that are tailored to each individual customer. The efficiency gains are not in cutting jobs but in eliminating the need for costly, antiquated software and lengthy digital transformation programs. Generative AI doesn’t require massive ERP or CRM implementations, and businesses can converse directly with customer data through AI, bypassing the need for complex system integrations. Master Data Management, which once consumed millions of dollars and years of effort, is now positioned to become a simple, AI-powered solution. Enterprises already have well-structured and clean data, and adding a generative AI layer could remove the need for integrating or syncing legacy systems. The era of major vendors selling AI-enhanced solutions built on top of decaying software stacks is coming to an end. The idea of using generative AI as the foundation for a new business operating system, without the need for bloated, legacy software, is increasingly appealing. With the global workflow automation market projected to grow to .4 billion by 2030, the future clearly belongs to AI-driven solutions. 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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October 15, 2024in Artificial Intelligence, Data, Enterprise, Generative AI, Salesforce
Salesforce Agentforce Integration
07Oct

Salesforce Agentforce Integration

The rise of AI-powered solutions is transforming customer service, support, and automation. For organizations such as nonprofits, national associations, and large enterprises, delivering seamless customer experiences has become crucial. Salesforce’s Agentforce, a next-generation conversational AI tool, plays a vital role in this transformation. Designed to elevate customer support and interaction, Agentforce provides an intelligent and scalable solution for integrating AI chatbots into content management systems (CMS) like WordPress, Drupal, and HubSpot. Salesforce Agentforce Integration. In this detailed feature review, we will dive into the extensive capabilities of Salesforce Agentforce, analyzing its role as a conversational tool, its technical requirements, and the benefits it provides for nonprofits, national associations, and businesses. We’ll also compare its applications across various CMS platforms like Drupal, WordPress, and HubSpot, exploring its potential as a powerful AI assistant for website automation and customer interaction. Salesforce Agentforce: A Technical Perspective Salesforce Agentforce is an advanced AI-driven conversational assistant that seamlessly integrates into the Salesforce environment. By tapping into Salesforce CRM’s vast data resources, Agentforce serves as an intelligent interface, automating everything from initial customer inquiries to more personalized interactions. Utilizing natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning, it continually refines responses and scales interactions, making it an indispensable tool for organizations aiming to enhance customer service workflows. Agentforce integrates smoothly with Salesforce Service Cloud, automating both live chat support and chatbot responses. Additionally, it can connect with third-party platforms, including popular CMS solutions like WordPress, Drupal, and HubSpot, allowing organizations to centralize customer service operations in one interface. Core Features and Technical Architecture of Agentforce Natural Language Understanding (NLU) and Processing (NLP) Agentforce’s NLP capabilities are its backbone, allowing it to understand complex human language and respond contextually. This empowers it to manage initial inquiries as well as more sophisticated support requests. Agentforce’s NLU also enables it to work across different languages, dialects, and industry-specific terminology, making it particularly valuable for global organizations and national associations serving diverse audiences. Machine Learning for Continuous Improvement Agentforce’s machine learning feature enhances its ability to improve accuracy and understanding over time. Each interaction helps the chatbot evolve, making it more effective at delivering relevant, real-time responses. This model integrates directly with Salesforce’s data infrastructure, giving Agentforce access to historical data and interactions to offer highly personalized, context-aware answers. Deep Integration with Salesforce CRM As a Salesforce-native tool, Agentforce can harness CRM data in ways other AI tools cannot. By accessing customer histories, purchase data, and previous interactions, it creates personalized experiences that build customer trust. Nonprofits and associations can use this data to improve donor or member interactions, offering targeted support and outreach. Agentforce can also be tailored to retrieve specific datasets, such as an individual’s support history or ongoing service case updates. Cross-Platform Flexibility and API Integration Agentforce offers flexible APIs that enable integration with third-party systems, including CMS platforms like WordPress, Drupal, and HubSpot. This flexibility ensures that AI-powered chatbots can be deployed on organizational websites, providing a seamless experience for customers, donors, and members alike. Whether it’s a nonprofit using Drupal or a business on WordPress, Agentforce acts as the central hub for support and engagement, offering fluid interactions on top of your CMS. HubSpot users can further leverage Agentforce’s marketing features to align lead generation with personalized, chat-based interactions. Use Cases for Agentforce in Nonprofits, National Associations, and Businesses Nonprofit Organizations For nonprofits managing donor, volunteer, and beneficiary relationships, Agentforce offers scalable, automated support: National Associations National associations can use Agentforce to handle high volumes of inquiries from members and professionals: Businesses For service-based enterprises, Agentforce is essential for customer service: Salesforce Agentforce and CMS Integration: WordPress, Drupal, and HubSpot WordPress and Salesforce Agentforce Integration For WordPress users, Agentforce offers customizable chatbot widgets that enhance customer engagement, handle ecommerce inquiries, and integrate with WooCommerce for product support. Drupal and Agentforce Integration Drupal’s modular architecture allows Agentforce to automate membership management, provide multilingual support, and distribute content for nonprofits and associations. HubSpot and Agentforce Integration HubSpot users benefit from Agentforce’s ability to automate lead nurturing, sales and marketing workflows, and customer support, all while keeping HubSpot and Salesforce CRM data synchronized. Tectonic and Salesforce Agentforce Integration At Tectonic, we understand that adopting AI-powered solutions like Salesforce Agentforce is only the first step toward delivering exceptional customer experiences. We specialize in crafting, training, and implementing tailored AI chatbot solutions that enhance engagement, streamline processes, and drive growth, all while seamlessly integrating with your current website or mobile app. As a full-service digital strategy firm, Tectonic excels in integrating advanced tools like Salesforce Agentforce into platforms like WordPress, Drupal, and HubSpot, ensuring your automation strategies are executed with precision. From custom chatbot implementations to comprehensive digital strategy services, our team is dedicated to optimizing your website for engagement and lead generation. 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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October 7, 2024in Agentforce Platform, AI Tools, Data, Enterprise, Salesforce, Salesforce Service Cloud
Salesforce ERP Integration
29Sep

Salesforce ERP Integration

Unlock the Power of Salesforce and ERP Integration Salesforce is known worldwide for its unmatched capabilities as a CRM platform. But when integrated with an ERP system, the potential multiplies. Together, they create a cohesive environment where workflows are streamlined, financial processes are optimized, decision-making is enhanced, and customer relationships are improved—all within one unified system. However, you might have questions like: How does ERP integration with Salesforce work? or What are the benefits of this integration? Let’s jump in and answer all your questions! What is ERP and Its Benefits? ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) is software that integrates multiple business functions into a single platform. It enables you to manage key processes like human resources, accounting, sales, inventory, compliance, and order management. What makes ERP systems unique is the shared database that gives all employees access to the same real-time information across departments. While different from a CRM platform, ERP can be integrated with Salesforce to further boost business efficiency and productivity. Key benefits of an ERP system include: How Do Salesforce and ERP Work Together? Salesforce focuses on managing customer relationships, sales, marketing, and service operations. In contrast, ERP systems handle core business processes like finance, human resources, and supply chain management. When Salesforce and ERP are integrated, they create a seamless data flow between both systems. This integration synchronizes key data, like transactions and customer information, providing unified visibility across departments. It enhances efficiency and delivers better customer experiences by offering personalized services. Why Integrate Your ERP with Salesforce? While Salesforce helps manage customer relationships, integrating it with an ERP system offers additional advantages: Types of Salesforce – ERP Integrations There are various ways to integrate Salesforce with an ERP, depending on your business needs: Choosing the Right ERP to Integrate with Salesforce Not sure which ERP system is right for your Salesforce integration? Consider the following factors: ERP Systems Compatible with Salesforce Salesforce’s flexibility allows it to integrate with most ERP systems, including Sage Intacct, Sage X3, Sage 300, Sage 100, Sage 50 US, and Acumatica, among others. This flexibility ensures you can find the right ERP for your business operations. Key Functionalities with Salesforce – ERP Integration Here are some essential features you can expect from Salesforce and ERP integration: Best Practices for Seamless Integration To ensure a smooth Salesforce and ERP integration, follow these best practices: Conclusion Integrating an ERP system with Salesforce CRM can transform your business by unlocking new levels of productivity, efficiency, and growth. As your integration partner, Tectonic offers expertise in Salesforce and third-party ERP systems. Ready to streamline your operations and boost performance? Contact us today to start your ERP-Salesforce integration journey! 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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September 29, 2024in Data, Enterprise, Salesforce, Salesforce Implementation Services, Salesforce Managed Services, Salesforce Manufacturing Automotive Energy
Salesforce Data Cloud and Zero Copy
28Sep

Salesforce Data Cloud and Zero Copy

As organizations across industries gather increasing amounts of data from diverse sources, they face the challenge of making that data actionable and deriving real-time insights. With Salesforce Data Cloud and zero copy architecture, organizations can streamline access to data and build dynamic, real-time dashboards that drive value while embedding contextual insights into everyday workflows. A session during Dreamforce 2024 with Joanna McNurlen, Principal Solution Engineer for Data Cloud at Salesforce, discussed how zero copy architecture facilitates the creation of dashboards and workflows that provide near-instant insights, enabling quick decision-making to enhance operational efficiency and competitive advantage. What is zero copy architecture?Traditionally, organizations had to replicate data from one system to another, such as copying CRM data into a data warehouse for analysis. This approach introduces latency, increases storage costs, and often results in inconsistencies between systems. Zero copy architecture eliminates the need for replication and provides a single source of truth for your data. It allows different systems to access data in its original location without duplication across platforms. Instead of using traditional extract, transform, and load (ETL) processes, systems like Salesforce Data Cloud can connect directly with external databases, such as Google Cloud BigQuery, Snowflake, Databricks, or Amazon Redshift, for real-time data access. Zero copy can also facilitate data sharing from within Salesforce to other systems. As Salesforce expands its zero copy partner network, opportunities to easily connect data from various sources will continue to grow. How does zero copy work?Zero copy employs virtual tables that act as blueprints for the data structure, enabling queries to be executed as if the data were local. Changes made in the data warehouse are instantly visible across all connected systems, ensuring users always work with the latest information. While developing dashboards, users can connect directly to the zero copy objects within Data Cloud to create visualizations and reports on top of them. Why is zero copy beneficial?Zero copy allows organizations to analyze data as it is generated, enabling faster responses, smarter decision-making, and enhanced customer experiences. This architecture reduces reliance on data transformation workflows and synchronizations within both Tableau and CRM Analytics, where organizations have historically encountered bottlenecks due to runtimes and platform limits. Various teams can benefit from the following capabilities: Unlocking real-time insights in Salesforce using zero copy architectureZero copy architecture and real-time data are transforming how organizations operate. By eliminating data duplication and providing real-time insights, the use of zero copy in Salesforce Data Cloud empowers organizations to work more efficiently, make informed decisions, and enhance customer experiences. Now is the perfect time to explore how Salesforce Data Cloud and zero copy can elevate your operations. Tectonic, a trusted Salesforce partner, can help you unlock the potential of your data and create new opportunities with the Salesforce platform. Connect with us today to get started. 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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September 28, 2024in Data, Google, Salesforce, Salesforce Data Cloud, Snowflake
Integrate Digital Delivery and Human Connection
27Sep

Integrate Digital Delivery and Human Connection

Salesforce’s latest data reveals a complex challenge for banks: while digital excellence is now essential for customer satisfaction, a fully digital experience risks alienating customers who value human connections at critical moments. Banks often feel torn between scaling digital capabilities and preserving the personal touch that fosters customer loyalty. How can they strike the right balance?

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September 27, 2024in Data, Salesforce, Salesforce Financial Cloud, Salesforce Financial Services Solutions
Mapping Data Salesforce to Canva
26Sep

Mapping Data Salesforce to Canva

Mapping Data Fields in Salesforce for Canva Integration Salesforce administrators can map data fields from a brand template to Salesforce objects, enabling data from Salesforce to automatically populate placeholders in Canva designs. This feature is available exclusively for Canva Enterprise users and integrates with Salesforce Professional, Enterprise, or Unlimited editions. Mapping Data Salesforce to Canva. Steps for Mapping Data Fields in Salesforce: Pre-requisites: The following are the steps to set up field mapping using the Canva for Salesforce app. Step 1: Sync Brand Templates Before mapping fields, you need to sync brand templates from Canva to Salesforce. Here’s how: Step 2: Create a Template Mapping Template mapping connects data fields from a Salesforce object to placeholders in a Canva brand template, allowing Salesforce data to autofill the design. You need to create a separate template mapping for each Salesforce object. Unmapped Fields: You don’t have to map every field. If a field is unmapped, the placeholder in the Canva template will remain unchanged in the final design. Additional Information: Connecting Data Source Apps to Canva for Autofill You can connect data sources like Salesforce to Canva to autofill elements in your designs. Here’s a brief overview of how to connect and use Salesforce data: Creating Brand Templates for Salesforce To use Canva for Salesforce to generate sales collateral, brand designers must first create and publish a brand template. These templates include data fields that act as placeholders for Salesforce data. Mapping Data Salesforce to Canva With this setup, Salesforce admins can easily map data fields and auto-generate designs based on Salesforce data. 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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September 26, 2024in Data, Enterprise, Salesforce
Matching Record Check
26Sep

Matching Record Check

Salesforce Matching Record Check in Flow Create Element: Summer ’24 Update With the Summer ’24 Release, Salesforce introduced a new feature allowing users to check for matching records when using the Create element in Flows. This enhancement provides more control over record creation, especially when dealing with potential duplicates. Single Record Creation with Matching Check When a matching record is identified, you have the following options: If multiple matching records are found, you can choose to: It’s important to note that the definition of a “matching record” in this context is not tied to Salesforce’s traditional matching and duplicate rules. Instead, it is determined by the criteria you set within the Create element. You can specify multiple criteria lines and combine them using AND or OR logic. For example, a match could be identified if both the phone number and last name match the values in the record you’re creating. Use Cases for Single Record Creation and Matching Check This feature can be used to create or update various types of records, such as contacts or leads. It is particularly useful in scenarios where duplicate records need to be avoided, like adding campaign members or public group members. Salesforce typically throws an error if a Flow attempts to add a member who already exists, but this new feature allows you to handle such cases more gracefully. Limitations: Creating Multiple Records with Matching Check: Winter ’25 Update With the Winter ’25 Release, Salesforce extended this functionality to handle collections of records within the Create element. When working with multiple records, you can specify the field to identify existing records: You can also decide what happens if a record creation or update fails: This feature is particularly useful for scenarios like importing leads from an external marketing tool or syncing billing and payment activities from an accounting platform. It mimics the upsert functionality found in other data import tools. Limitations: This enhancement offers more flexibility and control when managing records in Salesforce, ensuring that your data remains clean and accurate while avoiding potential errors in automated processes. 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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September 26, 2024in Salesforce
Collaborative Business Intelligence
20Sep

Collaborative Business Intelligence

Collaborative Business Intelligence: Connecting Data and Teams In today’s data-driven world, the ability to interact with business intelligence (BI) tools is essential for making informed decisions. Collaborative business intelligence (BI), also known as social BI, allows users to engage with their organization’s data and communicate with data experts through the same platforms where they already collaborate. While self-service BI empowers users to generate insights, understanding the data’s context is critical to avoid misunderstandings that can derail decision-making. Collaborative BI integrates BI tools with collaboration platforms to bridge the gap between data analysis and communication, reducing the risks of misinterpretation. Traditional Business Intelligence Traditional BI involves the use of technology to analyze data and present insights clearly. Before BI platforms became widespread, data scientists and statisticians handled data analysis, making it challenging for non-technical professionals to digest the insights. BI evolved to automate visualizations, such as charts and dashboards, making data more accessible to business users. Previously, BI reports were typically available only to high-level executives. However, modern self-service BI tools democratize access, enabling more users—regardless of technical expertise—to create reports and visualize data, fostering better decision-making across the organization. The Emergence of Collaborative BI Collaborative BI is a growing trend, combining BI applications with collaboration tools. This approach allows users to work together synchronously or asynchronously within a shared platform, making it easier to discuss data reports in real time or leave comments for others to review. Whether it’s through Slack, Microsoft Teams, or social media apps, users can receive and discuss BI insights within their usual communication channels. This seamless integration of BI and collaboration tools offers a competitive edge, simplifying the process of sharing knowledge and clarifying data without switching between applications. Key Benefits of Collaborative Business Intelligence Leading Collaborative BI Platforms Here’s a look at some of the top collaborative BI platforms driving innovation in the market: Conclusion Collaborative BI empowers organizations by improving decision-making, democratizing data access, optimizing data quality, and ensuring data security. By integrating BI tools with collaboration platforms, businesses can streamline their operations, foster a culture of data-driven decision-making, and enhance overall efficiency. Choosing the right platform is key to maximizing the benefits of collaborative BI. 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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September 20, 2024in Data, Google, Salesforce, Technology
Cross Cloud Zero-Copy Data
15Sep

Cross Cloud Zero-Copy Data

Simplifying Secure Data Access Across Clouds In today’s data-driven world, secure and prompt access to information is crucial. However, with critical analytics data spread across various cloud vendors, achieving this expediency can be challenging. Cross-cloud zero-copy data sharing doesn’t have to be complex. By leveraging your Autonomous Database, you can swiftly establish secure data sharing with your Salesforce CRM Data Stream in just seconds. This guide will walk you through the straightforward process of connecting your Salesforce CRM data to your Autonomous Database using the Salesforce CRM data connector type. Requirements for Salesforce Integration To connect Salesforce CRM data with your Autonomous Database, you’ll need the following: 1. Confirm Data Stream Configuration On the Data Streams Dashboard, verify the Data Stream Name, Data Connector Type, and Data Stream Status. 2. Set Up Your Autonomous Database Create Your Credentials: sqlCopy codeBEGIN DBMS_CLOUD.CREATE_CREDENTIAL( credential_name => ‘<your credential name>’, username => ‘<your salesforce log-in id>’, password => ‘<your salesforce password>’); END; / Create Your Database Link: sqlCopy codeBEGIN DBMS_CLOUD_ADMIN.CREATE_DATABASE_LINK( db_link_name => ‘<your database link name>’, hostname => ‘<your host>.my.salesforce.com’, port => ‘19937’, service_name => ‘salesforce’, ssl_server_cert_dn => NULL, credential_name => ‘<your credential name>’, gateway_params => JSON_OBJECT( ‘db_type’ value ‘salesforce’, ‘security_token’ value ‘<your security token>’)); END; / 3. Check Connectivity Details The HETEROGENEOUS_CONNECTIVITY_INFO view provides information on credential and database link requirements for external databases. For example: sqlCopy codeSELECT database_type, required_port, sample_usage FROM heterogeneous_connectivity_info WHERE database_type = ‘salesforce’; 4. Demonstration: Connecting to Salesforce Data Follow these steps to connect to your Salesforce CRM organization using the Salesforce Data Cloud Sales synthetic data in the Account_Home Data Stream: 5. Set Up Connectivity Using DBMS_CLOUD.CREATE_CREDENTIAL, create the necessary credentials to connect to Salesforce. Then, use DBMS_CLOUD_ADMIN.CREATE_DATABASE_LINK to establish the database link. Once configured, execute the SELECT statement against the ACCOUNT data to verify successful connection. 6. Utilize Zero-Copy Data Sharing With zero-copy data access to the Salesforce CRM Data Lake ACCOUNT object, you can: Conclusion As demonstrated, secure and efficient cross-cloud zero-copy data access can be straightforward. By following these simple steps, you can bypass cumbersome ETL operations and gain immediate, secure access to your Salesforce CRM data. This approach eliminates the overhead of complex data pipelines and provides you with real-time access to critical business data. 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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September 15, 2024in Salesforce Data Cloud

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