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Deep Dive Summer 24 Release
24Jun

Deep Dive Summer 24 Release

Deep Dive Summer 24 Release Get ready, Salesforce fans! The Summer ’24 release is here, and it’s like Christmas morning for tech geeks. We’re talking about new features, enhancements, and improvements that will make you wonder how you ever lived without them. This Tectonic insight is your ultimate guide to all the exciting updates, changes, and key considerations for this release. So hang on tight to your keyboards and let’s dive into the Christmas treat bag of goodies coming your way! Key Highlights – Deep Dive Summer 24 Release What’s New in Einstein AI? 1. Einstein for Flow Meet your new best friend for building Salesforce workflows, Salesforce Flow. Just describe what you need in plain English, and Einstein will whip up the workflow for you. For example, say “Notify sales reps when a lead converts,” and boom, it’s done. Automation just got a whole lot easier and way cooler. How to: Einstein for Flow makes complex processes feel like a walk in the park, letting you deliver solutions faster than you can say “workflow.” Considerations: 2. Einstein for Formulas No more tearing your hair out over formula syntax errors. Einstein for Formulas will not only tell you what’s wrong but also suggest fixes, saving you from endless hours of debugging. How to: Einstein for Formulas cuts down errors and speeds up formula creation, making your life exponentially easier. Like easier squared. Easier to the nth degree. Considerations: UI/UX Enhancements 1. Add New Custom Fields to Dynamic Forms-Enabled Pages Say goodbye to limitations! You can now add new custom fields directly to Dynamic Forms-enabled pages, aligning fields with your ever-changing business needs. Considerations: 2. Use Blank Spaces to Align Fields on Dynamic Forms-Enabled Pages Finally, a way to make your Dynamic Forms pages look neat and tidy with blank spaces for perfect alignment. Considerations: 3. Set Conditional Visibility for Individual Tabs in Lightning App Builder Now you can make specific tabs visible based on user profiles, record types, or other criteria. Customization just got a whole lot more precise. Considerations: 4. Create Rich Text Headings in Lightning App Builder Make your headings pop with bold, italic, and varied font sizes. Your Lightning pages are about to get a visual upgrade. Considerations: Flow Updates 1. Automation Lightning App A one-stop shop for managing and executing all your automation tools and processes. Considerations: 2. Lock and Unlock Records with Action Gain more control over your processes by locking records during critical stages and unlocking them when done. Considerations: 3. Check for Matching Records (Upsert) When Creating Records Avoid duplicates by checking for existing records before creating new ones. One can never have too many de-dupe tools. Considerations: 4. Transform Your Data in Flows (Generally Available) Now generally available, perform calculations, data transformations, and more with the Transform element in Flow Builder. Considerations: Admin Enhancements 1. Field History Tracking Manage tracked objects and fields more efficiently with a centralized page in “Setup.” Considerations: 2. See What’s Enabled in Permission Sets and Permission Set Groups (Generally Available) Enhanced permission set viewing improves visibility and control over security configurations. Considerations: 3. Get a Summary of User’s Permissions and Access Quickly view user permissions, public groups, and queues from the user’s detail page. Help and Training Community: Salesforce is simplifying Permission Set management by phasing out Profiles. Data Cloud Vector Database Vector search capabilities allow the creation of searchable “vector embeddings” from unstructured data, enhancing AI applications’ understanding of semantic similarities and context. Considerations: Deep Dive Summer 24 Release The Salesforce Summer ’24 release is packed with features designed to enhance your Salesforce experience. From a sleek new interface to powerful automation tools, enhanced analytics, and expanded integration options, this release aims to elevate workflow efficiency and data protection. Jump into the exciting updates, and let’s make automation simpler and more user-friendly together! 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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June 24, 2024in Generative AI
Salesforce Feeding Post-Pandemic AI-Powered Digital Transformation
16Jun

Salesforce Feeding Post-Pandemic AI-Powered Digital Transformation

The Digital Transformation Imperative: Salesforce’s AI Solutions The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t just accelerate digital transformation; it cemented it as an existential imperative for businesses across all industries. The sudden shift to remote work, digital customer engagement, and e-commerce highlighted the stark contrast between organizations that had prioritized digitization and those that hadn’t. In the post-pandemic era, digital agility has become synonymous with resilience and competitiveness. Salesforce Feeding Post-Pandemic AI-Powered Digital Transformation with unparalled innovation. However, the path to digital transformation remains challenging for many companies. Legacy systems, data silos, and manual processes continue to hinder adaptation and innovation at the pace demanded by today’s market and consumer. This has led to a certain weariness and skepticism around transformation initiatives, often perceived as an ever-receding target. Salesforce’s AI-Powered Integration Solutions Salesforce’s AI-powered integration solutions aim to revitalize the digital transformation journey. With tools like Einstein for Flow, Intelligent Document Processing (IDP), and Einstein for MuleSoft, Salesforce is embedding AI across its automation and integration portfolio to address some of the most difficult challenges in digitization. Anypoint Partner Manager: Harnessing AI for B2B Integration Salesforce’s latest MuleSoft offering, Anypoint Partner Manager, exemplifies this AI-centric approach. The cloud-native B2B integration solution leverages IDP to streamline partner onboarding and manage API and EDI-based transactions, addressing a key pain point for companies in complex supply chain ecosystems. “EDI has historically been that code-driven solution. You must really know the EDI spec,” noted Andrew Comstock, VP of Product Management at Salesforce. “Partner Manager actually brings the partner definition into a form, and you can just define that, save it, and you’re off and done. We can deploy all the applications that you need for you.” By using AI to extract and structure data from unstructured documents like invoices and purchase orders, Anypoint Partner Manager democratizes B2B integration, making it accessible to businesses beyond the traditional technology sector. The solution is now generally available. MuleSoft Accelerator for Salesforce Order Management: Bridging B2B and B2C Salesforce also introduced the MuleSoft Accelerator for Salesforce Order Management. This tool provides pre-built APIs, connectors, and templates to unify B2B and B2C orders from a centralized hub. By connecting Salesforce OMS with ERP systems in real-time, the accelerator enables end-to-end visibility across channels, a critical capability in today’s omnichannel environment. “For many companies, [order management] is super critical and vital,” emphasized Comstock. “The more that they can standardize and centralize that, the better visibility, controls, and governance they have.” The MuleSoft Accelerator for Salesforce OMS is now generally available. The AI Imperative in Digital Transformation Salesforce’s AI-powered integration solutions come at a time when businesses are grappling with the realities of the post-pandemic digital imperative. Automating complex B2B processes, unifying data flows across ecosystems, and extracting insights from unstructured data is no longer a luxury but a necessity for survival in the digital economy. Salesforce Feeding Post-Pandemic AI-Powered Digital Transformation “A lot of our successes are happening at companies that are not traditional technology companies. Using solutions like MuleSoft and Salesforce allows them to build those technologies better,” noted Comstock. In this context, AI is emerging as a key enabler of digital transformation at scale. By abstracting complexity and automating manual tasks, AI-powered integration tools like those from Salesforce are helping businesses overcome the hurdles that have long stymied digitization efforts. For companies still wrestling with the challenges of digital transformation, Salesforce’s AI-powered integration portfolio offers a glimmer of hope. By harnessing the power of large language models and other AI technologies to streamline integration and automation, Salesforce is providing a new path forward for organizations looking to thrive in the post-pandemic digital landscape. Salesforce Feeding Post-Pandemic AI-Powered Digital Transformation with Einstein, Mulesoft, Flow, and more. 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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June 16, 2024in Salesforce, Salesforce Einstein

AI Agents

Lessons Learned in the First Year of Developing AI Agents In the first year of working on AI agents, valuable insights emerged from direct collaboration with engineers and UX designers, as they iterated on the overall product experience. The objective was to create a platform for customers to use standard data analysis agents and build custom agents tailored to specific tasks and data structures relevant to their business. This platform integrates connectors to databases like Snowflake and BigQuery with built-in security, supports RAG over a metadata layer describing database contents, and facilitates data analysis through SQL, Python, and data visualization tools. Feedback on the effectiveness of these developments came from both internal evaluations and customer insights. Users from Fortune 500 companies utilize these agents daily to analyze their internal data. Key Insights on AI Agents Additional Insights Further insights on code and infrastructure include: These lessons underscore the importance of focusing on reasoning, iterative improvements to the agent-computer interface, understanding model limitations, and building robust supporting infrastructure to enhance AI agent performance and user satisfaction. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more Top Ten Reasons Why Tectonic Loves the Cloud The Cloud is Good for Everyone – Why Tectonic loves the cloud You don’t need to worry about tracking licenses. Read more

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June 4, 2024in Salesforce Einstein
AI Agents and Open APIs
16May

AI Agents and Open APIs

How AI Agents and Open APIs Are Unlocking New Rebundling Opportunities While much of the 2023-24 excitement surrounding AI has focused on the capabilities of foundational models, the true potential of AI lies in reconfiguring value creation across vertical value chains, not just generating average marketing content. The Vertical AI Opportunity Most AI hype has centered on horizontal B2C applications, but the real transformative power of AI is in vertical B2B industries. This article delves into the opportunities within vertical AI and explores how companies can excel in this emerging space. Short-Term and Long-Term Strategies in Vertical AI In the short term, many vertical AI players focus on developing proprietary, fine-tuned models and user experiences to gain a competitive advantage. These niche models, trained on domain-specific data, often outperform larger foundational models in latency, accuracy, and cost. As models become more fine-tuned, changes in user experience (UX) must integrate these benefits into daily workflows, creating a flywheel effect. Vertical AI companies tend to operate as full-stack providers, integrating interfaces, proprietary models, and proprietary data. This level of integration enhances their defensibility because owning the user interface allows them to continually collect and refine data, improving the model. While this approach is effective in the short term, vertical AI players must consider the broader ecosystem to ensure long-term success. The Shift from Vertical to Horizontal Though vertical AI solutions may dominate in specific niches, long-term success requires moving beyond isolated verticals. Users ultimately prefer unified experiences that minimize switching between multiple platforms. To stay competitive in the long run, vertical AI players will need to evolve into horizontal solutions that integrate across broader ecosystems. Vertical Strategies and AI-Driven Rebundling Looking at the success of vertical SaaS over the last decade provides insight into the future of vertical AI. Companies like Square, Toast, and ServiceTitan have grown by first gaining adoption in a focused use case, then rapidly expanding by rebundling adjacent capabilities. This “rebundling” process—consolidating multiple unbundled capabilities into a comprehensive, customer-centric offering—helps vertical players establish themselves as the hub. The same principle applies to vertical AI, where the end game involves going vertical to later expand horizontally. AI’s Role in Rebundling The key to long-term competitive advantage in vertical AI lies not just in addressing a single pain point but in using AI agents to rebundle workflows. AI agents serve as a new hub for rebundling, enabling vertical AI players to integrate and coordinate diverse workflows across their solutions. Rebundling Workflows with AI Business workflows are often fragmented, spread across siloed software systems. Managers currently bundle these workflows together to meet business goals by coordinating across silos. But with advances in technology, B2B workflows are being transformed by increasing interoperability and the rise of AI agents. The Rebundling Power of AI Agents Unlike traditional software that automates specific tasks, AI agents focus on achieving broader goals. This enables them to take over the goal-seeking functions traditionally managed by humans, effectively unbundling goals from specific roles and establishing a new locus for rebundling. Vertical AI Players: Winners and Losers The effectiveness of vertical AI players will depend on the sophistication of their AI agents and the level of interoperability with third-party resources. Industries that offer high interoperability and sophisticated AI agents present the most significant opportunities for value creation. The End Game: From Vertical to Horizontal Ultimately, the goal for vertical AI players is to leverage their vertical advantage to develop a horizontal hub position. By using AI agents to rebundle workflows and integrate adjacent capabilities, vertical AI companies can transition from niche providers to central players in the broader ecosystem. This path—going vertical first to then expand horizontally—will define the winners in the AI-driven future of business transformation. 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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May 16, 2024in Data, Salesforce, Technology
UX Principles for AI in Healthcare
10May

Agentic Era of UX

The Agentic Era of UX The future of digital experience has arrived, but it’s fragmenting into countless micro-applications. The missing piece in AI user experience? The experience itself. It’s been almost a year and a half since generative AI burst onto the scene, heralded as transformative. But what have we actually seen in terms of user experience? Many companies released AI-powered summaries or search features, claimed them as revolutionary, and received applause—until the applause faded. The so-called “next era” of tech hasn’t yet delivered on its promise. We were given “the most profound technology since fire,” yet many implementations feel like candles that barely flicker. Many UX designers continue advocating for AI to solve genuine user needs. Technology must serve users, not just exist for its own sake. The core issue now is broader: AI has often been treated as a quick fix rather than a true UX transformation. Where user experience traditionally supports the entire journey, AI is being wedged into small, isolated tasks, losing the holistic perspective. For most companies, AI feels like a string of individual “use cases” rather than a full, cohesive UX meal. Many consulting firms push companies to prioritize use cases in terms of complexity and value, often resulting in chatbots that address a handful of user needs. There are notable exceptions, though. For example, Loom went beyond simple AI features to enhance the user’s entire workflow, supporting end-to-end functionality for video recording, transcription, editing, and even task management. Welcome to the Agentic Era of AI We’re now on the verge of the “agentic” era of AI. Industry leaders are abuzz with the potential of AI agents. OpenAI’s Sam Altman calls agents AI’s “killer function,” while other leaders predict this future is within reach, possibly within 3–18 months. The agentic promise is profound: AI agents, or “agentic workflows,” break down complex tasks into manageable steps, helping users complete intricate projects with autonomy. As Ezra Klein describes, imagine telling an AI to plan your child’s dragon-themed birthday party in Brooklyn, and the agent handles everything from booking to ordering the cake—transforming a casual AI prompt into tangible results. Today’s general-purpose models can’t handle this level of complexity independently. But agentic workflows make this possible by chaining AI actions, allowing systems to execute tasks step-by-step. A Vision for Agentic UX Design’s role in this era is to bring a vision of agentic UX to life. In traditional digital experiences, we build systems that assist users along their journey, but we still expect users to navigate the journey themselves. With an agentic UX, an AI partner supports the user at every step. This vision means UX will be defined by three pillars: Early examples are emerging, like Adobe’s Gen Studio, Intercom’s Copilot, and Dovetail’s Magic Experience, each taking steps toward a future where AI provides ongoing, meaningful support to users. An agentic UX doesn’t necessarily need to label itself “agent-powered.” Dovetail, for instance, offers a suite of “Magic” features where the AI partner plays a supporting role, from summarizing transcripts to highlighting key points. Over time, as AI evolves, these agents will assume greater responsibility in user journeys, shifting from supportive to proactive. Strategically Reinvent for the Agentic Era Adapting to the agentic era presents an opportunity—and a risk for those who ignore it. Currently, organizations are focused on laying the infrastructure for “AI readiness.” While that’s essential, it can obscure the longer-term vision of what’s possible. Until business leaders fully grasp the agentic UX’s potential, it’s up to design to step into a strategic role and make this vision vivid, relatable, and exciting. This requires more than launching a quick proof of concept; it demands a reimagining of digital experience. Here’s a recommended approach: It’s been a challenging year for design, with layoffs and value debates. But with the agentic era approaching, the strategic potential for UX is immense. Now is the time to rally, to guide organizations into a new era of digital experience where users are truly supported every step of the way. 4ox Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more Alphabet Soup of Cloud Terminology As with any technology, the cloud brings its own alphabet soup of terms. This insight will hopefully help you navigate Read more

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May 10, 2024in Generative AI, Technology
Paradox of Writing With AI
14Apr

Paradox of Writing With AI

It seems like some people honestly believe they can spot AI-generated content immediately, but that’s not always the case. Well-written content isn’t inherently AI-generated, and if it is AI-generated, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s well-written. The quality of writing often depends more on the writer’s skill than the tools they use. Paradox of Writing With AI is that it will make a good writer better. And it will make a bad writer worse. The real difference in human versus AI content lies in the accessibility of writing tools and the lack of proper ethical regulation for their use. This ease of access makes it simple for people to feel entitled to judge written content. True, if you publish your writing – online or elsewhere – you open it up for judgement. But imagine if UX design or data applications were graded as indiscriminately—those discussions would likely be confined to experts rather than becoming public debates on social media condemning all well-written content. Good writing requires creativity, flair, and uniqueness, among other skills, to truly impress readers. Good writing is well-organized and flows well with consistent style or voice from beginning to end. Good writing is also free from mistakes and errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar. But that alone doesn’t make it engaging or meaningful. A good writer will brainstorm for great ideas and follow them up with research. A good writer can think of fresh angles to view a topic. A good writer is sure to re-write and self-edit to make a better draft. AI has been integrated into various tools and applications long before ChatGPT was launched. Search engines use it to provide relevant results; social media algorithms keep your favorite content visible; Siri and Alexa rely on natural language processing and speech recognition; Netflix and Spotify use AI recommendation systems to cater to your tastes, and so on. AI enhances human ideas, not just in writing, but across many fields. Writing With AI is Inevitable For instance, Chinese Nobel laureate Mo Yan surprised everyone at the 65th-anniversary celebration of Shouhuo magazine by revealing he uses ChatGPT. During his speech praising fellow author Yu Hua, he mentioned that he struggled to write a commendation and asked a doctoral student to use ChatGPT for help. This revelation caused quite a stir, as it was unexpected for a Nobel Prize winner to use AI for writing. Why shouldn’t he? If AI makes a good writer better, then most of us should be employing it. Mo Yan isn’t alone. Rie Kudan, the 17th winner of Japan’s Akutagawa Prize, admitted to using ChatGPT for her novel, Tokyo-to Dojo-to. She stated that about 5% of the book consists of AI-generated sentences. Kudan, who is introverted, shared that frequent interactions with the AI tool allowed her to express personal thoughts she couldn’t comfortably discuss with others. ChatGPT’s responses often sparked dialogue in her novel, adding a unique dimension to her writing process. Grammarly, another AI tool, is why some people’s writing doesn’t reflect their irritation when discussing AI-generated content online. Grammarly has been widely used for editing and proofreading, ensuring users’ writing maintains a promotional tone and corrects errors without sounding sarcastic or bored. The Problem with Sounding Alike & The Uniqueness of a Writer’s Voice A significant issue with AI-generated content is that many written works sound similar. Writers need to develop unique voices. While Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, and the Brontë sisters are admirable, emulating their ornate language can interfere with communication’s primary purpose. Excessive fanciness can make speech overly flamboyant, akin to Oscar Wilde’s works. However asking AI to work through your content and put it in the voice of a known writer, add humor, or change the tense is time saving. The problem isn’t that AI enables people to produce well-crafted content. Many individuals have exceptional writing skills and huge vocabularies. The real issue is the uniformity in everyone’s writing, a lack of diversity that AI can perpetuate. Yet, you only have to Google any topic and you will find many blog posts and articles that share the same view, and perhaps the same voice. Some discussions about AI resemble early 2000s conspiracy theories about cell phones. While the context has changed, the tone remains similar. The Importance of Creativity in Writing & Our Language Creativity is essential in writing. Even AI relies on human creativity. Without our input, machines would repeatedly generate the same content. Machine learning in AI is about learning from people. Our role is crucial, demonstrating the value of our unique voices. Developing a unique voice takes time and effort, which is why creatives like Kelly McKernan, Nicki Minaj, Elin Hilderbrand, and Jonathan Franzen are suing AI companies for copyright infringement. These unique voices significantly impact language evolution, and it’s vital for us to continue growing creatively. Writers play a crucial role in language evolution by creating new words or phrases that captivate readers. Over time, these innovations can enrich the language. A writer’s distinctive style can set trends, leading to significant changes in language use. This power must be used wisely. Famous writers’ narrative structures and dialogue usage can inspire others. For example, Dr. Seuss coined “nerd,” J.R.R. Tolkien introduced “tween,” Milton created “pandemonium”, novelist William Gibson first used “cyberspace”, Johnathon Swift gave us “yahoo” in Gulliver’s Travels, and Charles Dickens gave us “boredom.” The core of a good piece of writing is a great idea. With a strong core idea, the writer can easily layer the content around it. Content even can build the framework from which comes a whole new word. Content includes interesting examples to which the reader can relate. That content needs to be well-organized and clear in form so that the reader can easily see the message or find the intended meaning. In addition, the writing should have style and the right voice that matches its topic and theme while also reflecting what the author believes.  Writing Through the Centuries Writing has evolved over centuries, influencing language development. During

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April 14, 2024in Salesforce Einstein
AI Then and Now
30Mar

AI Then and Now

AI: Transforming User Interactions and Experiences Have you ever been greeted by a waitress who already knows your breakfast order? It’s a relief not to detail every aspect — temperature, how do you want your eggs, what kind of juice, bacon or sausage, etc. This example encapsulates the journey we’re navigating with AI today. AI Then and Now. This article isn’t about ordering breakfast; it’s about the evolution of user interactions, particularly how generative AI might evolve based on past trends in graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and emerging trends in AI interactions. We’ll explore the significance of context bundling, user curation, trust, and ecosystems as key trends in AI user experience in this Tectonic insight. From Commands to Conversations Let’s rewind to the early days of computing when users had to type precise commands in a Command-Line Interface (CLI). Imagine the challenge of remembering the exact command to open a file or copy data. This complexity meant that only a few people could use computers effectively. To reach a broader audience, a shift was necessary. You might think Apple’s creation of the mouse and drop down menues was the pinnacle of success, but truly the evolution predates Apple. Enter ELIZA in 1964, an early natural language processing program that engaged users in basic conversations through keyword recognition and scripted responses. Although groundbreaking, ELIZA’s interactions were far from flexible or scalable. Around the same time, Xerox PARC was developing the Graphical User Interface (GUI), later popularized by Apple in 1984 and Microsoft shortly thereafter. GUIs transformed computing by replacing complex commands with icons, menus, and windows navigable by a mouse. This innovation made computers accessible and intuitive for everyday tasks, laying the groundwork for technology’s universal role in our lives. Not only did it make computing accessible to the masses but it layed the foundation upon which every household would soon have one or more computers! The Evolution of AI Interfaces Just as early computing transitioned from the complexity of CLI to the simplicity of GUIs, we’re witnessing a parallel evolution in generative AI. User prompts are essentially mini-programs crafted in natural language, with the quality of outcomes depending on our prompt engineering skills. We are moving towards bundling complex inputs into simpler, more user-friendly interfaces with the complexity hidden in the background. Context Bundling Context bundling simplifies interactions by combining related information into a single command. This addresses the challenge of conveying complex instructions to achieve desired outcomes, enhancing efficiency and output quality by aligning user intent and machine understanding in one go. We’ve seen context bundling emerge across generative AI tools. For instance, sample prompts in Edge, Google Chrome’s tab manager, and trigger-words in Stable Diffusion fine-tune AI outputs. Context bundling isn’t always about conversation; it’s about achieving user goals efficiently without lengthy interactions. Context bundling is the difference in ordering the eggs versus telling the cook how to crack and prepare it. User Curation Despite advancements, there remains a spectrum of needs where users must refine outputs to achieve specific goals. This is especially true for tasks like researching, brainstorming, creating content, refining images, or editing. As context windows and multi-modal capabilities expand, guiding users through complexity becomes even more crucial. Humans constantly curate their experiences, whether by highlighting text in a book or picking out keywords in a conversation. Similarly, users interacting with ChatGPT often highlight relevant information to guide their next steps. By making it easier for users to curate and refine their outputs, AI tools can offer higher-quality results and enrich user experiences. User creation takes ordering breakfast from a manual conversational process to the click of a button on a vending-like system. Designing for Trust Trust is a significant barrier to the widespread adoption of generative AI. To build trust, we need to consider factors such as previous experiences, risk tolerance, interaction consistency, and social context. Without trust, in AI or your breakfast order, it becomes easier just to do it yourself. Trust is broken if the waitress brings you the wrong items, or if the artificial intelligence fails to meet your reasonable expectations. Context Ecosystems Generative AI has revolutionized productivity by lowering the barrier for users to start tasks, mirroring the benefits and journey of the GUI. However, modern UX has evolved beyond simple interfaces. The future of generative AI lies in creating ecosystems where AI tools collaborate with users in a seamless workflow. We see emergent examples like Edge, Chrome, and Pixel Assistant integrating AI functionality into their software. This integration goes beyond conversational windows, making AI aware of the software context and enhancing productivity. The Future of AI Interaction Generative AI will likely evolve to become a collaborator in our daily tasks. Tools like Grammarly and Github Copilot already show how AI can assist users in creating and refining content. As our comfort with AI grows, we may see generative AI managing both digital and physical aspects of our lives, augmenting reality and redefining productivity. The evolution of generative AI interactions is repeating the history of human-computer interaction. By creating better experiences that bundle context into simpler interactions, empower user curation, and augment known ecosystems, we can make generative AI more trustworthy, accessible, usable, and beneficial for everyone. 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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March 30, 2024in Generative AI, Salesforce Einstein
Communications Cloud Summer 24
24Mar

Communications Cloud Summer 24

Salesforce Communications Cloud Summer ’24 Release: Elevating Business Performance and Workflow Efficiency With its Summer ’24 release, Salesforce Communications Cloud unveils an array of powerful new capabilities designed to elevate business performance and optimize workflow efficiency. In this blog, we’ll explore some of our favorite new features, including Field Service improvements that provide technicians with better insights and user experiences, new TM Forum API integrations, and Enterprise Sales Management (ESM) enhancements. Field Service Field Service for Industries optimizes field operations by equipping service teams with advanced tools, enabling companies to maximize asset lifetime value and enhance customer satisfaction. This release includes unique capabilities tailored for field technicians to help with work order execution and asset management. TM Forum In the latest Summer ’24 release, Salesforce has delivered two additional TM Forum APIs, enabling seamless integration of Communications Cloud instances with external systems. These include the TMF620 outbound Product Catalog Management and TMF651 inbound Agreement Management APIs. Enterprise Sales Management Conclusion The main features in the Summer ’24 release allow businesses to operate more efficiently, enhance user experience, and create an open and flexible platform with TM Forum APIs. There are also many other exciting enhancements such as CPQ API improvements, built-in diagnostic tools for EPC configuration, and more. 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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March 24, 2024in Salesforce Communications Cloud
UX Design Trends 2024
08Mar

UX Design Trends 2024

Navigating Design Trends: AI, Discovery, Accessibility, and Collaboration. Salesforce UX Design Trends 2024. As we reflect on the past year and look ahead, design trends are emerging, signaling a pivotal moment in the intersection of creativity, usability, and AI. For developers, admins, architects, and business leaders, understanding these trends is crucial in shaping the future. Here are the four design trends steering this transformative journey: As we move forward, these design trends signify a paradigm shift, emphasizing the significance of AI, streamlined discovery, accessibility, and the growing collaboration between designers and developers. Navigating this transformative landscape requires an adaptable mindset and a commitment to ethical, inclusive design practices from the outset. When you work with Tectonic we take all these considerations to mind as we design or re-design your Salesforce org. Contact Tectonic today. UX Design Trends 2024 Like2 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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March 8, 2024in Salesforce
Sales Cloud Innovation Driven by UX Design Principles
29Feb

Sales Cloud Innovation Driven by UX Design Principles

Driving Sales Cloud Innovation Through UX Design Principles: Sales Cloud Innovation Driven by UX Design Principles Enhancing user experiences and driving innovation within Sales Cloud relies on the fundamental principles of UX design. The core philosophy revolves around understanding users’ needs and ensuring simplicity as the default, allowing for increased trust and success. Here’s how three foundational UX design principles guide the product design team at Salesforce: UX Design in Action: The principles of meeting users where they’re at, maintaining low walls and high ceilings, and favoring simplicity are integral to Sales Cloud’s UX design philosophy. By adhering to these principles, Sales Cloud strives to build confidence among users, fostering a collaborative approach to developing innovative and user-friendly products.  Sales Cloud administrators need to operate with the same thought process. Tectonic is proud to introduce our Sales Cloud Implementation Solutions. Content updated May 2024. 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 50 Advantages of Salesforce Sales Cloud According to the Salesforce 2017 State of Service report, 85% of executives with service oversight identify customer service as a Read more How Travel Companies Are Using Big Data and Analytics In today’s hyper-competitive business world, travel and hospitality consumers have more choices than ever before. With hundreds of hotel chains Read more Why Your Company Isn’t Like a Baseball Team Recently, Chris shared an excellent post about the new World Series Champion Houston Astros. In short, it was a reminder Read more

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February 29, 2024in Salesforce Implementation Services, Salesforce Sales Cloud
Communicating With Machines
20Sep

Communicating With Machines

For as long as machines have existed, humans have struggled to communicate effectively with them. The rise of large language models (LLMs) has transformed this dynamic, making “prompting” the bridge between our intentions and AI’s actions. By providing pre-trained models with clear instructions and context, we can ensure they understand and respond correctly. As UX practitioners, we now play a key role in facilitating this interaction, helping humans and machines truly connect. The UX discipline was born alongside graphical user interfaces (GUIs), offering a way for the average person to interact with computers without needing to write code. We introduced familiar concepts like desktops, trash cans, and save icons to align with users’ mental models, while complex code ran behind the scenes. Now, with the power of AI and the transformer architecture, a new form of interaction has emerged—natural language communication. This shift has changed the design landscape, moving us from pure graphical interfaces to an era where text-based interactions dominate. As designers, we must reconsider where our focus should lie in this evolving environment. A Mental Shift In the era of command-based design, we focused on breaking down complex user problems, mapping out customer journeys, and creating deterministic flows. Now, with AI at the forefront, our challenge is to provide models with the right context for optimal output and refine the responses through iteration. Shifting Complexity to the Edges Successful communication, whether with a person or a machine, hinges on context. Just as you would clearly explain your needs to a salesperson to get the right product, AI models also need clear instructions. Expecting users to input all the necessary information in their prompts won’t lead to widespread adoption of these models. Here, UX practitioners play a critical role. We can design user experiences that integrate context—some visible to users, others hidden—shaping how AI interacts with them. This ensures that users can seamlessly communicate with machines without the burden of detailed, manual prompts. The Craft of Prompting As designers, our role in crafting prompts falls into three main areas: Even if your team isn’t building custom models, there’s still plenty of work to be done. You can help select pre-trained models that align with user goals and design a seamless experience around them. Understanding the Context Window A key concept for UX designers to understand is the “context window“—the information a model can process to generate an output. Think of it as the amount of memory the model retains during a conversation. Companies can use this to include hidden prompts, helping guide AI responses to align with brand values and user intent. Context windows are measured in tokens, not time, so even if you return to a conversation weeks later, the model remembers previous interactions, provided they fit within the token limit. With innovations like Gemini’s 2-million-token context window, AI models are moving toward infinite memory, which will bring new design challenges for UX practitioners. How to Approach Prompting Prompting is an iterative process where you craft an instruction, test it with the model, and refine it based on the results. Some effective techniques include: Depending on the scenario, you’ll either use direct, simple prompts (for user-facing interactions) or broader, more structured system prompts (for behind-the-scenes guidance). Get Organized As prompting becomes more common, teams need a unified approach to avoid conflicting instructions. Proper documentation on system prompting is crucial, especially in larger teams. This helps prevent errors and hallucinations in model responses. Prompt experimentation may reveal limitations in AI models, and there are several ways to address these: Looking Ahead The UX landscape is evolving rapidly. Many organizations, particularly smaller ones, have yet to realize the importance of UX in AI prompting. Others may not allocate enough resources, underestimating the complexity and importance of UX in shaping AI interactions. As John Culkin said, “We shape our tools, and thereafter, our tools shape us.” The responsibility of integrating UX into AI development goes beyond just individual organizations—it’s shaping the future of human-computer interaction. This is a pivotal moment for UX, and how we adapt will define the next generation of design. Content updated October 2024. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more Top Ten Reasons Why Tectonic Loves the Cloud The Cloud is Good for Everyone – Why Tectonic loves the cloud You don’t need to worry about tracking licenses. Read more

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September 20, 2023in Data
Benefits of Salesforce Experience Cloud
11Aug

Benefits of Salesforce Experience Cloud

Salesforce Experience Cloud: Transforming Digital Customer Engagement To understand the Benefits of Salesforce Experience Cloud we must understand what a customer or partner portal is intended to do. Salesforce Experience Cloud, previously known as Community Cloud, is a powerful digital experience platform (DXP) designed to help organizations create and deliver exceptional, customer-centric experiences across multiple channels. This platform goes beyond community management, offering tools for building and managing websites, portals, mobile apps, and integrating social media. Benefits of Salesforce Experience Cloud explored. Built on Salesforce Customer 360, Experience Cloud gives businesses a comprehensive view of their customers by connecting data from various sources. With these insights, businesses can create personalized experiences tailored to each customer’s preferences and needs. Organizations can use Experience Cloud to design portals, websites, and communities, providing seamless access to relevant information, collaboration tools, and resources. The platform’s flexibility allows businesses to enhance customer satisfaction, improve partner collaboration, and boost employee productivity. Key Benefits of Salesforce Experience Cloud Salesforce Experience Cloud offers numerous benefits that help businesses deliver seamless experiences across the customer journey. Here are some of its key advantages: 1. Seamless Integration Experience Cloud integrates effortlessly with other Salesforce products like Sales Cloud and Service Cloud, providing a unified platform for comprehensive customer management. 2. Scalability and Customization The platform is highly scalable, allowing businesses to expand their communities as they grow. With extensive customization options, businesses can tailor the platform to meet their specific needs and branding requirements. 3. Security and Trust Salesforce is known for its robust security features, ensuring customer data is protected at all times. Businesses can confidently manage sensitive customer information within Experience Cloud. 4. Extensive AppExchange Ecosystem Salesforce’s AppExchange marketplace provides access to a wide range of pre-built integrations and apps that enhance the functionality of Experience Cloud, allowing businesses to customize and extend their platform capabilities. Real-World Uses of Salesforce Experience Cloud Salesforce Experience Cloud is used by businesses across various industries to improve customer engagement, enhance collaboration, and boost productivity. Some key use cases include: 1. Partner Portals Experience Cloud enables businesses to create dedicated partner portals where partners can collaborate with internal teams, access resources, and share leads. This accelerates partner engagement and streamlines business processes. 2. Self-Service Portals Businesses can offer 24/7 self-service portals, allowing customers to access product information, troubleshoot common issues, and track their interactions. These portals help reduce the workload on support teams and enhance customer satisfaction. 3. Customer Communities Experience Cloud allows businesses to create customer communities where users can find personalized content, engage with other users, and access self-service resources. This promotes collaboration and reduces the strain on customer support teams. 4. Employee Communities Internal employee communities serve as hubs for company-wide communication, training, and collaboration. Employees can access resources, share knowledge, and seek support, ultimately boosting engagement and productivity. 5. Branded Mobile Apps Businesses can use Experience Cloud to develop branded mobile apps that give customers, partners, and employees convenient access to services, resources, and information on the go. 6. Social Media Integration Experience Cloud integrates with popular social media platforms, allowing businesses to engage with customers directly, share content, and respond to inquiries. Top Features of Salesforce Experience Cloud Salesforce Experience Cloud is packed with features that enhance customer engagement, streamline operations, and improve overall efficiency: Companies Using Salesforce Experience Cloud Nike and PUMA leverage Experience Cloud for personalization. Nike’s loyalty program and Puma’s mobile shopping experience are enhanced by the platform’s built-in mobile UX design and technical architecture, resulting in better customer engagement and increased sales. Bank of America and Wells Fargo use Experience Cloud to offer customer support through self-service portals and community forums, improving customer satisfaction and gathering valuable feedback. IBM uses the platform to create collaborative communities for employees and customers alike. With integrated tools like Salesforce Einstein and IBM Watson, the company has enhanced internal collaboration and customer service. Hulu uses Salesforce to power its Help Center, where customers can find answers, engage with other viewers, and leave feedback that shapes Hulu’s content. OpenTable relies on Experience Cloud for its Diner Help portal, a one-stop shop for dining-related queries, enhancing the user experience and operational efficiency. Choosing the Right Salesforce Experience Cloud Partner for Implementation When implementing Salesforce Experience Cloud, choosing the right partner is crucial to ensure success. Look for a partner with: With the right partner, like Tectonic, businesses can fully grasp the power of Salesforce Experience Cloud to deliver exceptional digital experiences that foster customer loyalty, drive business growth, and improve operational efficiency. Content updated October 2024. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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August 11, 2023in Data, Salesforce, Salesforce Development Services, Salesforce Einstein, Salesforce Experience Cloud
The Evolution of Salesforce Data Cloud
21Jul

The Evolution of Salesforce Data Cloud

The Evolution of Salesforce Data Cloud Salesforce’s journey to Data Cloud started with its acquisition of Krux in 2016, which was later rebranded as Salesforce DMP. This transformation gained momentum in 2019 when Salesforce introduced its customer data platform (CDP), incorporating Salesforce DMP. Subsequent acquisitions of Datorama, MuleSoft, Tableau, and Evergage (now Interaction Studio) enriched Salesforce CDP’s functionality, creating today’s robust Data Cloud. Understanding Customer Data Platforms (CDPs) A customer data platform (CDP) aggregates customer data from multiple channels to create a unified customer profile, enabling deeper insights and real-time personalization. A CDP serves as a centralized customer data repository, merging isolated databases from marketing, service, and ecommerce to enable easy access to customer insights. Salesforce’s “State of Marketing” report highlights the impact of CDPs, noting that 78% of high-performing businesses use CDPs, compared to 58% of underperformers. This analysis explores the evolution of CDPs and their role in transforming customer relationship management (CRM) and the broader tech ecosystem, turning customer data into real-time interactions. Key Functions of a Customer Data Platform (CDP) CDPs perform four main functions: data collection, data harmonization, data activation, and data insights. Origins of Customer Data Platforms (CDPs) CDPs evolved as the latest advancement in customer data management, driven by the need for a unified marketing data repository. Unlike earlier tools that were often limited to specific channels, CDPs enable real-time data synchronization and cross-platform engagement. Advances in AI, automation, and machine learning have made this level of segmentation and personalization attainable. The Future of Customer Data Platforms (CDPs) The next generation of CDPs, like Salesforce’s Data Cloud, supports real-time engagement across all organizational functions—sales, service, marketing, and commerce. Data Cloud continuously harmonizes and updates customer data, integrating seamlessly with Salesforce products to process over 100 billion records daily. With Data Cloud, organizations gain: Benefits of a Customer Data Platform (CDP) CDPs provide comprehensive insights into customer interactions, supporting personalization and cross-selling. Beyond segmentation, they serve as user-friendly platforms for audience analysis and data segmentation, simplifying day-to-day data management. Data Cloud allows organizations to transform customer data into personalized, seamless experiences across every customer touchpoint. Leading brands like Ford and L’Oréal utilize Data Cloud to deliver connected, real-time interactions that enhance customer engagement. The Need for Customer Data Platforms (CDPs) CDPs address critical data management challenges by unifying disjointed data sources, resolving customer identities, and enabling seamless segmentation. These capabilities empower companies to maximize the potential of their customer data. CDP vs. CRM CDPs are an evolution of traditional CRM, focusing on real-time, highly personalized interactions. While CRMs store known customer data, CDPs like Data Cloud enable real-time engagement, making it the world’s first real-time CRM by powering Salesforce’s Customer 360. Selecting the Right CDP When choosing a CDP, the focus often falls into two areas: insights and engagement. An insights-oriented CDP prioritizes data integration and management, while an engagement-focused CDP leverages data for real-time personalization. Data Cloud combines both, integrating real-time CDP capabilities to deliver unmatched insights and engagement across digital platforms. Content updated October 2024. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more

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July 21, 2023in Data, Mulesoft, Salesforce, Salesforce Data Cloud
Salesforce Lightning
03Nov

Why Migrate From Salesforce Classic to Salesforce Lightning?

Why Switch from Salesforce Classic to Lightning? Salesforce is actively advancing the Lightning interface, and the reasons are compelling. The Lightning platform offers numerous advantages, including an improved user interface, quicker development times, and extensive customization options. With user-friendly features like drag-and-drop functionality, Lightning enhances the overall user experience (UX). Many companies are opting to migrate from Salesforce Classic to Salesforce Lightning to leverage these benefits and more. Salesforce Classic Salesforce Classic served as the primary interface until 2016, but today, it is considered outdated. Investing in Lightning Experience is driven by the desire to deliver a superior user experience, adopt features solving business challenges, enhance processes, and gain access to Lightning innovation and rapid app development technology. Given that Salesforce Lightning is faster, provides advanced customization features, and boasts easier navigation compared to Classic, transitioning to Lightning in 2023 can be a strategic decision for your business. Lightning also integrates Salesforce Einstein, offering reporting, analytics, and generative AI capabilities. Salesforce Lightning In contrast to Classic, the Lightning development platform enables non-technical users to effortlessly create customized apps without programming knowledge. Due to its sleek UI, faster performance, regular feature releases, and comprehensive usability, Salesforce Lightning has become the preferred CRM for businesses. Migration However, migrating from Salesforce Classic to Lightning, or any other CRM to Lightning, presents challenges, including high implementation time. Opting for a phased rollout is an effective approach to overcome these challenges. While challenges may arise, a strategic plan executed by experienced Salesforce Lightning Support can ensure a seamless and timely migration. If you’re ready to migrate to Salesforce Lightning, especially if your Salesforce is highly customized, it’s crucial to document all changes made in Classic and identify corresponding solutions in Lightning. If handling the complexities of Classic seems daunting, consider engaging a Salesforce Migration partner like Tectonic to conduct a full Salesforce audit before migrating to Salesforce Lightning, ensuring a smooth transition. Content updated December 2023. 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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November 3, 2022in Data, Generative AI, Salesforce, Salesforce Einstein, Technology

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