In the dynamic landscape of customer service, the future of AI has taken a momentous leap forward with the introduction of Salesforce’s groundbreaking platform, Agentforce. This innovative platform is poised to redefine customer interactions by enabling fully formed conversations with chatbots, transcending the limitations of pre-designed chat trees. Moreover, Agentforce is multi-modal, capable of understanding text, images, and videos, thereby revolutionizing the customer experience.

So, what exactly is Agentforce? It represents a significant leap forward in AI technology, serving as the foundation for the agents built upon it. The enthusiasm surrounding Agentforce is palpable, as Salesforce executives couldn’t contain their excitement during the recent unveiling, underscoring its potential to transform the landscape of customer service.

Salesforce’s vision for the next evolution in AI is truly remarkable. The company has transitioned from predictive AI to autonomous agents, a paradigm shift that promises to unlock new frontiers in customer service. While predictive and generative AI have their merits, autonomous agents embody the future we’ve been promised with AI. This shift is underlined by Salesforce’s commitment to crafting custom agents for various industries, including health agents and industry-specific agents.

The success stories of Agentforce are already making waves, with companies achieving remarkable results, such as a 90% case resolution, through this revolutionary platform. The impact of Agentforce is undeniable, as it extends sales and service organizations, providing an incredible capability to radically enhance customer interactions.

Salesforce’s commitment to innovation is evident in its approach to AI. The company is not only providing out-of-the-box products like Sales and Service agents but also empowering users to build their own custom agents. This democratization of AI technology is a testament to Salesforce’s dedication to driving a quantum leap for AI, as articulated by Marc Benioff.

In the grand scheme of things, while AI chatbots and copilots are undoubtedly cool, they have often been underwhelming. However, with Agentforce, Salesforce is leading the charge in redefining the potential of AI in customer service. The platform’s ability to run 24/7, handling basic queries that can be handed off to a robot, is a game-changer. From answering basic questions to potentially replacing part of a BDR/SDR role and booking meetings for sales reps, Agentforce is set to transform the customer service landscape.

In conclusion, the future of AI in customer service is being reshaped by Salesforce’s Agentforce. The platform’s potential and vision are truly exciting, offering a glimpse into the next frontier of AI technology. As Salesforce continues to push the boundaries of innovation, Agentforce stands as a testament to the company’s unwavering commitment to redefining customer service through cutting-edge AI solutions.

In today’s fast-paced and unpredictable business landscape, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the United States are increasingly turning to advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) to navigate a complex array of challenges and compete with larger brands and big box retailers. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, SMBs account for 99.9% of U.S. businesses, making their adoption of AI and SaaS technologies a significant trend in the business world.

The commitment of SMBs to increasing their technology investments reflects a broader trend toward digital transformation. As SMBs continue to adopt AI and SaaS technologies, we can expect to see more streamlined operations, enhanced customer experiences, and improved financial performance. These technologies provide the agility and innovation necessary for SMBs to respond quickly to market changes and customer demands, enabling them to compete more effectively with larger brands.

One of the key advantages of AI for SMBs is its ability to optimize supply chain operations, reducing lead times and improving delivery performance. Additionally, SaaS platforms offer continuous updates and new features, ensuring that businesses stay ahead of the curve with the latest advancements. The flexibility of SaaS solutions allows businesses to customize their tech stack according to their specific needs, ensuring they only pay for what they use. This, in turn, improves data accuracy and frees up valuable time for their teams to focus on the strategic initiatives needed for growth.

The growing appetite for AI and SaaS technologies among North American SMBs is evident. A recent report revealed that 94% of SMBs intend to increase spending on SaaS technology, and 97% plan to incorporate AI into their business operations this year. Moreover, 77% expect their e-commerce sales to grow this year, highlighting the pivotal role of technology in driving growth and innovation.

Implementing AI and SaaS technologies offers numerous benefits for SMBs, especially in areas such as inventory management and operational efficiency. SMBs in e-commerce and manufacturing must ensure the right products are available at the right time, mitigate the risk of lost sales, and improve customer satisfaction. Inventory management systems provide real-time data analytics, helping businesses maintain optimal inventory levels. AI, in particular, plays a crucial role in analyzing sales trends and seasonal fluctuations, providing insights beyond dashboards and notifications.

The future of SMB success lies in the ability to embrace and invest in these transformative technologies. SMBs are ready and eager to harness the power of AI and SaaS, signaling a promising future for technology-driven growth and innovation.

The increasing adoption of AI and SaaS technologies by U.S. SMBs reflects a significant shift towards digital transformation and innovation. These technologies are empowering SMBs to compete more effectively, streamline operations, and drive growth in an increasingly competitive business landscape. As SMBs continue to invest in AI and SaaS, the future of technology-driven growth and innovation looks promising for businesses across the United States.

In the rapidly evolving world of e-commerce, the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud-based solutions has become a defining factor in shaping the future of customer engagement, operational efficiency, and business growth. Salesforce Commerce Cloud, a leading e-commerce platform, has been at the forefront of this transformation, leveraging AI to drive innovation, enhance customer experiences, and address industry-specific challenges. This comprehensive overview provides insights into the strategic priorities, recent developments, and the future roadmap of Salesforce Commerce Cloud and AI.

AI Integration and Customer-Centric Innovations

The integration of AI into Salesforce Commerce Cloud has revolutionized the way businesses engage with their customers. By harnessing the power of AI, the platform enables businesses to optimize product listings for search engine optimization (SEO), personalize customer interactions, and efficiently manage returns through AI-driven insights. This not only enhances the overall customer experience but also empowers businesses to make data-driven decisions and drive operational efficiency.

Commerce Cloud Expansion and Industry-Specific Use Cases

Salesforce Commerce Cloud’s strategic expansion into diverse regions and industries has been a key focus area. The platform has successfully addressed industry-specific and regional requirements, such as healthcare in the EMEA region, by collaborating with Industry Cloud product teams. This strategic approach has allowed Commerce Cloud to fulfill unique use cases and cater to diverse customer needs, thereby solidifying its position as a versatile and comprehensive e-commerce solution.

Integration with Core Salesforce Platform

The integration of Commerce Cloud with the core Salesforce platform has been a pivotal development. This integration has facilitated seamless data ingestion and activation through Data Cloud, enabling businesses to derive meaningful insights and achieve hyper-personalization. Furthermore, the platform’s alignment with Service Cloud and Sales Cloud ensures that Commerce Cloud continues to evolve in tandem with other Salesforce offerings, creating a more intelligent and interconnected ecosystem.

Strategic Priorities and Future Roadmap

Looking ahead, Commerce Cloud’s strategic priorities are centered around AI-driven goal setting, recommended actions, and the introduction of Einstein Copilots. These initiatives aim to empower businesses with actionable insights, sophisticated analytics, and AI-driven storefront optimization. Additionally, the platform’s commitment to scaling and international growth, particularly in APAC, LATAM, and South Africa, underscores its global relevance and impact.

The Future of Salesforce Commerce Cloud and AI

As the e-commerce landscape continues to evolve, Salesforce Commerce Cloud and AI remain at the forefront of innovation. The platform’s strategic advancements, AI integration, and expansion into diverse industries position it as a comprehensive solution for businesses seeking to enhance customer engagement, drive operational efficiency, and stay ahead of industry trends. With a clear focus on AI-driven customer experiences and seamless integration with the core Salesforce platform, the future of Salesforce Commerce Cloud is indeed promising and exciting.

In-Depth Insights into AI Integration

The AI integration within Salesforce Commerce Cloud extends beyond customer interactions. The platform’s AI capabilities enable businesses to gain deeper insights into customer behavior, preferences, and purchasing patterns. This, in turn, allows for the creation of highly personalized and targeted marketing campaigns, leading to improved customer engagement and higher conversion rates. Additionally, AI-driven analytics provide businesses with the ability to forecast trends, optimize inventory management, and identify opportunities for growth.

Industry-Specific Use Cases and Regional Expansion

Salesforce Commerce Cloud’s expansion into different regions and industries has been a strategic endeavor to address the unique needs of diverse markets. The platform’s success in catering to industry-specific requirements, such as healthcare in the EMEA region, demonstrates its adaptability and versatility. By collaborating with Industry Cloud product teams, Commerce Cloud has been able to deliver tailored solutions that align with specific regulatory, operational, and customer experience needs, thereby solidifying its position as a comprehensive e-commerce solution.

The Role of Data Cloud in Hyper-Personalization

The integration of Commerce Cloud with Data Cloud has been instrumental in achieving hyper-personalization. By leveraging insights derived from data, businesses can create highly personalized customer experiences, targeted marketing campaigns, and tailored product recommendations. This strategic alignment not only enhances customer engagement but also enables businesses to stay ahead of evolving customer preferences and market trends.

Einstein Copilots and AI-Driven Goal Setting

The introduction of Einstein Copilots within Commerce Cloud represents a significant leap forward in AI-driven customer experiences. These copilots empower businesses with the ability to optimize storefronts, write product descriptions, and even enhance product listing SEO. Furthermore, the AI-driven goal setting and recommended actions provide businesses with actionable insights, sophisticated analytics, and the ability to optimize customer interactions, thereby driving operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

The strategic integration of AI into Salesforce Commerce Cloud, coupled with its expansion into diverse industries and seamless integration with the core Salesforce platform, underscores its position as a leading e-commerce solution. The platform’s commitment to innovation, customer-centric approach, and global relevance make it a compelling choice for businesses seeking to thrive in the digital economy. As the e-commerce landscape continues to evolve, Salesforce Commerce Cloud and AI are poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of customer engagement and business growth. With a clear focus on AI-driven customer experiences, hyper-personalization, and seamless integration with the core Salesforce platform, the future of Salesforce Commerce Cloud is indeed promising and exciting.

In a groundbreaking move towards enhancing customer engagement and data integration, Salesforce recently unveiled its latest AI-powered copilots at the Connections 2024 conference. This innovative technology aims to revolutionize the way businesses interact with their customers, streamline marketing strategies, and optimize sales processes.

One of the key highlights of Salesforce’s new AI copilots is the introduction of EinsteinCopilot for Merchants and EinsteinCopilot for Marketers. These AI assistants are designed to provide valuable insights based on data gathered across Salesforce assets, helping merchants identify top-selling products, address sales discrepancies, and optimize their websites for improved customer experiences. On the marketing front, the copilots enable marketers to generate AI-driven content for campaigns, personalize promotions, and deliver real-time customer profiles to drive conversions effectively.

Moreover, Salesforce’s emphasis on data security and customer trust is evident through the implementation of the Einstein trust layer. This layer ensures that customer data remains protected and secure, with a zero-retention policy in place to safeguard sensitive information. By leveraging AI capabilities while prioritizing data privacy, Salesforce aims to build a foundation of trust with its users and empower businesses to make informed decisions based on reliable insights.

The Commerce Cloud updates announced by Salesforce further solidify the company’s commitment to enhancing the customer experience. With features like streamlined checkout processes, headless commerce capabilities for B2B users, and composable commerce enhancements for B2C businesses, Salesforce is enabling companies to create seamless and personalized shopping experiences for their customers. The ability to integrate with various apps through the Salesforce partner ecosystem underscores the platform’s flexibility and scalability in meeting diverse business needs.

Additionally, Salesforce’s foray into digital marketing via WhatsApp showcases the company’s dedication to leveraging innovative channels for customer engagement. By offering abandoned cart alerts and personalized product recommendations through WhatsApp, Salesforce is empowering merchants to connect with customers in a more personalized and interactive manner, ultimately driving conversions and enhancing brand loyalty.

Looking ahead, Salesforce’s new AI copilots are set to be available to customers in the coming months, with the marketing copilot scheduled for release in July and the merchant copilot in October. These AI-enabled tools are poised to transform the way businesses interact with their customers, optimize sales processes, and drive marketing campaigns with personalized content and real-time insights.

Salesforce’s unveiling of AI-enabled copilots at Connections 2024 marks a significant milestone in the realm of customer engagement and data integration. By harnessing the power of AI to deliver personalized experiences, streamline sales processes, and enhance marketing strategies, Salesforce is paving the way for a new era of customer-centric business operations.

According to one recent study, approximately 35% of all global companies use artificial intelligence in some capacity as of 2023 – a trend that shows absolutely no signs of slowing down anytime soon. All told, the global AI market is anticipated to reach an enormous $1.85 trillion in size by as soon as 2030.

In a relatively short amount of time, things have already reached a point where it seems like new companies touting some “innovative AI product or service” are cropping up daily. It’s already difficult for even established companies to stand out in a crowded field – to say nothing of how significant the challenge is when everyone is focused on essentially the same topic, as is true with AI.

Salesforce in particular is focusing its attention on using artificial intelligence to improve things for both B2B buyers and sellers everywhere. It did this by way of the Salesforce Commerce Cloud platform – a powerful suite that aims to help B2B enterprises everywhere get more efficient, increase revenue, and more by leveraging the full might of AI and big data to their advantage.

Breaking Down the AI Pillars of Salesforce Commerce Cloud

All told, Salesforce Commerce Cloud is made up of five distinct applications that are built on a solid foundation of artificial intelligence. The first of these takes the form of the Einstein Copilot for B2B buyers. This allows ecommerce stores to let their buyers use plain-language prompts and photos to learn more about new products, to get personalized recommendations, and more. Essentially, it’s a conversational AI assistant that gives buyers the ability to have more direct, nuanced conversations than they could on virtually any other digital channel.

Another one of the applications that make up the Salesforce Commerce Cloud involves AI-driven goal-setting and recommendation. This is geared towards sellers, allowing them to set their own unique growth targets and goals based on a larger strategy. Once in place, sellers can get AI-powered recommendations that are generated via the Salesforce Data Cloud. Salesforce will use your own data to not only tell you what is possible, but how to go about accomplishing it in the most effective way possible.

Salesforce Commerce Cloud now also offers generative SEO metadata optimization as well. The Einstein AI platform will provide sellers with search engine optimization recommendations so that they can make sure their product titles, descriptions, and other text-based elements are always built with sites like Google in mind. When you consider that the vast majority of all online interactions between a business and its customers still begin with a search engine, it’s easy to see why this is one step that you don’t want to overlook. SEO optimization is nothing if not time-consuming, however, which is a major pain point that Salesforce’s Einstein AI platform wants to address.

Thanks to Commerce Cloud it is now also possible to leverage enterprise scale carts and split segments. Buyers can now add up to 2,000 different line items in a single online shopping cart, supporting the types of large-volume transactions that would have been impossible even as recently as a few years ago. But more than just a minor convenience, enterprise scale carts let buyers split single orders into multiple delivery addresses on an as-needed basis. They can even change shipping speeds for different components of the order based on whatever their current distribution needs are.

Finally, Salesforce Commerce Cloud now offers native merchant services. Processes like integrated shipping, tax, and even checkout are all brought together under one roof. This makes it easier for sellers to get their commerce stores up and running, while also allowing them to focus more of their attention on creating better experiences for customers. Historically, getting these critical integrations working with outside applications has been equal parts frustrating and time-consuming. Now, Salesforce has eliminated a major obstacle.

Ultimately, these five features are merely a beginning for what Salesforce Commerce Cloud will eventually offer. They also serve as further examples of the interesting, forward-thinking, and ultimately secure applications that AI has in many facets of business.

The AI Era: Harnessing Automation to Your Advantage

This all comes during a time when B2B ecommerce sales in particular continue to defy expectations. According to one recent study, the sector saw a 17% year-over-year growth in 2023 alone.

Salesforce itself continues to enjoy tremendous success – this despite the fact that it seems like new competitors are cropping up daily, particularly in the AI space. In February 2024, Salesforce indicated that it had experienced an 11% year-over-year growth itself, hitting 34.8 billion in revenue. Of the many factors that contributed to this rise, Salesforce representatives indicated that their ongoing investment in the development of artificial intelligence and related solutions played a big role in it.

CLOUDSTREET is an example of an organization that has implemented B2B stores for a wide range of different clients using Commerce Cloud functionality. This includes those manufacturers not only in the general industrial field, but also in IT services, and consumer goods as well. CLOUDSTREET offers two distinct Accelerator packages for clients to choose from, both of which help with getting a store online so that selling can begin just as quickly. All told, they’re viable ways to increase sales from existing buyers while also embracing the convenience of having your own custom portal.

In the end, it’s important to acknowledge that the conversation surrounding artificial intelligence is only going to ramp up as time goes on. As the technology becomes more powerful and more ubiquitous, it is going to have an indelible impact on virtually every industry you can name. Ecommerce is certainly no exception. The events of the last few years have already changed the way people shop online forever – now, artificial intelligence seems poised to take those gains to the next level.

To their credit, Salesforce seems to be attempting to cut through the noise to help B2B ecommerce organizations unlock not just the potential of artificial intelligence, but the reality of it. In terms of Commerce Cloud, the generative SEO metadata optimization alone can return literally hours of productivity back to an entrepreneur. But when you also consider native merchant services and AI-driven goal-setting and recommendations, you’re quickly looking at an opportunity that is far too important to pass up.

But Commerce Cloud is also a perfect example of an AI tool that isn’t just by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. Einstein Copilot and features like enterprise scale carts also create better experiences for B2B shoppers, which in and of itself is the most important advantage of all.

Nearly 900 people in white lab coats milled around the conference room at the Trailblazer DX conference, preparing to don wild, gray-haired wigs. The 885 participants were out to make Salesforce a Guinness World Record holder. The task? The largest gathering of people dressed as Albert Einstein.

Guinness confirmed the record on March 6, but that is just the start of the story. Salesforce’s goal was to draw attention to their unique efforts in AI, a field that is both crowded and contentious. They’re making a bet that Einstein, the platform’s AI assistant, is different and helpful enough to be worthy of the revered scientist’s name.

Einstein: A Highly Coveted Image

Salesforce’s quest for the perfect mascot for its Artificial Intelligence features started over a decade ago. Marketers initially floated generic ideas like Salesforce AI and Compass, but felt they weren’t distinctive enough to stand out.

CEO Marc Benioff suggested the idea of adopting Albert Einstein as their mascot. The marketing team initially was hesitant, feeling it was too close to IBM’s AI tool, Watson. But, Benioff persisted, even purchasing the domain einstein.com and taking the first steps to license the famous physicist’s likeness.

The rights to Einstein’s image are owned by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which Einstein helped establish. He left his intellectual property to the school at the time of his death.

The university is vigilant about protecting Einstein’s reputation and turns down far more requests for Einstein’s likeness than it grants. Pitches to put his face on milk jugs or napkins haven’t made the cut. But, the university was intrigued by the idea of applying his name to Salesforce’s AI.

Salesforce ultimately paid $20 million for the use of Einstein’s name and likeness. A cartoon version of the scientist has been adopted as the mascot for the AI tools.

Taking on Concerns About AI

For every positive headline related to artificial intelligence, there seem to be two about the dangers of the technology.

Marc Benioff stands out from other tech CEOs in that he is vocal about both the risks associated with artificial intelligence and the need to manage it ethically. Benioff is especially leery of the large language models (LLM) that are the underpinning of generative AI tools. There is evidence of stolen proprietary data being used as feedstock for the LLMs. Many of these models are prone to “hallucinations,” where they will spit out inaccuracies when they lack the data to answer a query factually. And, there have been incidents of AIs spitting out hostile answers when placed in customer-facing positions.

Clara Shih, the leader of Salesforce’s AI efforts, has emphasized the care taken to avoid these risks. Their Einstein Trust Layer is a filter used to prevent their AI from absorbing proprietary data and to ensure Salesforce chatbots are always polite, accurate, and helpful to those who use them.

What Salesforce’s Einstein Can Do

Salesforce Einstein is an assistance AI that can take on a lot of tasks to make customers’ lives easier. This tool can automate routine CRM tasks to help your business identify sales opportunities, nurture client relationships, and create a more personalized customer experience.

The Opportunity & Lead Scoring function can show the likelihood of garnering a sale. The Account and Opportunity Insights tool analyzes historic CRM data to identify structural changes within existing accounts to alert you to changes like expansions, mergers, and board changes.

Einstein GPT can automatically handle many sales tasks like personalizing emails and scheduling sales meetings.

How CLOUDSTREET Can Help

Salesforce is a powerful toolset, and its new AI capabilities can make it more effective than ever. But, this sprawling set of capabilities can mean a steep learning curve and a complicated path to adoption.

At CLOUDSTREET, we customize Salesforce to meet your specific needs. We have the knowledge and experience to implement the system in a way that integrates seamlessly with the other utilities you use to unleash your business’s full potential.

We have helped hundreds of companies customize Salesforce to take full advantage of this powerful suite of programs, including Salesforce B2B Commerce Cloud, Salesforce Sales Cloud, and Salesforce Managed Support.

CLOUDSTREET offers two Accelerator packages that get your store online and selling fast. Our services can increase sales from existing buyers with the convenience of their custom portal, and help you nurture relationships with new prospects.

As Salesforce continues to add smart technology, we’ll continue to offer the same support to help you get the most out of these systems for your growing manufacturing business.

Find Out What 2700 Industry Leaders Have to Say About the State of Commerce

For years, Salesforce has developed a reputation for being a leading provider of the tools that small businesses in particular need to attract and retain new customers. The company’s revenue hit an enormous $31.35 billion in 2023, so it’s safe to say that it is making good on that promise. It’s also why, when a company like Salesforce offers its own insight into where commerce currently stands and where it might be headed, people tend to take notice.

That’s precisely what the recently released State of Commerce Report is all about. It’s the product of direct communication with more than 2,700 industry leaders, who themselves analyzed data from over 1.5 billion buyers around the world. It’s especially relevant to businesses looking to carve out a new level of success for themselves in the era of AI and the highlights alone are more than worth a closer look.

The Relationship Between Digital Channels and Increasing Sales

It’s no secret that commerce as a concept has been on the rise for decades. For as popular as it already was, activity across the sector positively exploded with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Suddenly, when brick-and-mortar retailers were closed indefinitely, people turned to the Internet to meet even their most basic needs. That boost has only continued and is expected to do so moving forward.

The State of Commerce Report indicated that both B2C and B2B organizations expect the “bulk” of their revenue to come from commerce and various digital channels in the future. Just two years ago, commerce made up 31% of the average company’s sales. Right now, that number is an impressive 42%. Over the course of the next two years, those digital channels are expected to make up about 54% of the average company’s revenue – a powerful trend that shows absolutely no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

The Era of AI in Commerce is Upon Us

You can barely turn on the television or open the newspaper these days without seeing a story about the impact of artificial intelligence on our daily lives. Right now, a lot of the attention is focused on AI-powered automation. There are just as many people worried that computer systems are poised to replace human jobs as they are those looking forward to the opportunity to free up their valuable attention to be used on other matters.

But in the world of commerce, AI is a topic of much discussion for different reasons. The way that it can help organizations automate the data collection and analysis process alone is worthy of attention. The types of insights that it used to take literally weeks or even months to collect are now available in near real-time. This leads to better and more informed decision-making across the board – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Indeed, many commerce professionals currently rank AI as one of their top strategic priorities. Having said that, implementation is still considered by many to be a “work in progress.” As per the State of Commerce Report, just 3% of organizations say that they have “no intention to use” AI for whatever reason. 20% are still in the evaluation stage in that they’re aware of AI and its potential, but are still trying to determine if it makes sense for them.

The most exciting number is that 48% of companies say that they’re currently at least experimenting with AI. Part of the beauty of this technology is that there is no “one size fits all” approach to deployment. It’s inherently flexible, meaning it can be a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Many are currently in the midst of finding that out.

29% of those who responded to the survey said that they have fully implemented AI – at least as far as their current definition is concerned. With attention on artificial intelligence only getting stronger, you can expect this number to climb quickly in the not-too-distant future.

The Popularity (and Power) of Mobile Payments

Another prominent trend taking shape over the last several years has to do with mobile wallet payments. Rather than carrying around large, cumbersome wallets and purses filled with multiple credit and debit cards, consumers can get rid of it all in favor of using the device they already have with them wherever they go.

According to another recent study, the worldwide value of digital wallet transactions was $7.5 trillion in 2022 alone. The global mobile payment market itself was valued at $53.5 billion.

As per the State of Commerce Report, as consumers increasingly embrace this technology, many companies are doing the same. Right now, about 64% of companies currently support Apple Pay, for example. This is notable, because it’s one of the more popular forms of mobile payments there is. That puts it ahead of loyalty cards, gift cards, and certainly cryptocurrencies.

70% of businesses also support PayPal as a form of payment. That service itself has its own mobile payment platform.

When taken together, these statistics show that mobile payments are only going to get more popular as time goes on. The technology is already there to act as a foundation. Companies like Apple are building mobile payments into the operating systems on their hardware, and literally billions of people own iPhones alone. As buyers of all types begin to investigate things like mobile payments to see the real benefits they bring with them, those people will begin to demand it as a part of their everyday lives. Businesses will have no choice but to adopt and support that. Thankfully, things are trending in that direction and the process has proven to be a lot more straightforward than some may have assumed it would be.

Building a Better Customer Journey

At CLOUDSTREET, we’ve seen a lot of these trends play out first-hand through our work with various channels. We’ve implemented B2B stores for a wide range of different manufacturers, for example. This includes those operating not only in the industrial space, but also in IT services, consumer goods, and more.

In the end, it’s clear through reports like these that the world of commerce is changing rapidly. But regardless of the shape that evolution takes, one core idea remains the same: commerce is and always will be embedded across the customer journey.

By organically connecting commerce to sales, service, and even marketing, you create a more robust, personal, and ultimately satisfying experience for buyers. That in and of itself may be the most important trend of all.

If you’d like to find out about even more highlights from the recent State of Commerce Report, or if you’d like to talk to someone about your organization’s own needs in a bit more detail, please contact the CLOUDSTREET team today.

Today’s IT professionals are busier than ever, with demands for IT requests up some 39% over just a few years ago. For many IT leaders, artificial intelligence (AI) seems like the ideal resource, a tool that can help boost productivity and enhance their ability to master tasks and minimize demand on human time. Then, why isn’t it happening yet?

IT Leaders See the Potential in AI

In a recent Salesforce report, 85% of IT leaders said they expect that AI will help them to improve productivity within their business. They also expect to see that improvement in a relatively short period of time: within 3 years. Imagine AI carrying the heavy burden of many of the tedious tasks that IT professionals get bogged down with on a daily basis.

The Problem Is They Lack the Ability to Take Advantage Of This Boost

The same Salesforce report indicates that 63% of those responding to the poll said their organization is not configured or ready to utilize the benefits they know AI can often provide. Without the ability to harmonize data systems in an effective and efficient way to implement and use AI, all of that potential productivity seems lost.

These types of IT struggles are not new. Most organizations continue to struggle to move their operation to a truly digital foundation, with 80% of respondents saying they struggle with data silos and another 72% reporting that they are struggling with symptoms that are dependent on one another rather than operating efficiently.

How Can Organizations Leverage AI in a Meaningful Way and Make the Most Of Its Potential?

With so much potential out there, it’s clear that organizations must be able to embrace AI or get left behind the competition. How can organizations, including those battling digital transformation limitations, make the most out of AI right now?

Develop data integration

One of the most important strategies for organizations who want to leverage the potential benefits of AI is to develop data integration strategies. These strategies help to improve organizations from the top down, from operational efficiencies to productivity and customer experience.

Utilize LLMs

Most organizations plan to incorporate a larger number of Large Language Models (LLMs) they use. The Salesforce survey found that about 80% of reporting agencies say they are already using generative AI models in some form today.

Utilize integrated data

Organizations must also value integrated data. That is, apps must be connected. Creating a fully functional and integrated solution allows for better data access and management. This could prove critical in building out systems that are no longer siloed but able to function together as a single and effective unit. Without this type of resource, IT leaders may find that AI adoption becomes much more challenging (and expensive) to facilitate.

Overcoming security issues

All organizations continue to face the limitations and challenges of security risks. With more focus than ever on security threats for small and larger organizations, many organizations have held back on adopting AI as a result. They are worried that AI presents a potential for additional security threats. The key to this challenge is improving robust network solutions that do not hinder but support AI adoption.

By working to unify all structured and unstructured business data, organizations open the door to AI integration. The key here is deploying trusted and effective AI tools across the functions of the business to alleviate frustration and added costs.

The Cost of Delaying AI Adoption

For IT leaders, every adoption of technology has to be met with some concern. Is this going to improve your bottom line? Is there a true ROI present?

Without the investment and move toward AI, organizations face the potential of slipping behind the competition. Consider, for example, what data insights can offer an organization.

With AI, you gain access to data insights about your customers, website visitors, sales calls, and any other connected data. That data can be used to give you insight into what to do to better your results. Ultimately, without the integration of effective data management to minimize siloed or “stuck” data, you miss key opportunities to utilize those details to influence business decisions.

The other aspect of delaying AI adoption is the loss of productivity. Humans are incredible creatures that are capable of providing a wide range of resources to the world. Tedious tasks are not the best way to use your human talent. By implementing strategies that include automation, it’s possible to build more self-sufficiency and reduce the burden that’s holding your IT team back. Ultimately, your people can handle the more complicated and pressing matters while automation alleviates frustrations.

AI Provides a Viable Solution to Most Organizations

As a business moves closer to fully digital transformation and implementing more of the automation and AI features and resources available to them, they are likely to see remarkable improvement.

• IT teams see a reduction in pressure, allowing them to not only work more productively but also to reduce stress, which leads to high job turnover in many industries.
• AI may help organizations minimize costly mistakes related to compliance concerns and security risks, outright saving the organization money.
• API and other tools allow for the integration of functions seamlessly. They do not require extensive training or hard-to-utilize methods.
• Adopting automation will allow organizations to continue to meet higher demands on IT professionals (it’s not going to slow down anytime soon).

How to Make It Happen: Using API to Master Growth

Nearly all organizations are using APIs to master their effectiveness and growth. APIs work to streamline the way data is accessed and create better insight into what is occurring. By connecting various apps and systems, all of those data insights become accessible and easy to utilize, including AI tools.

API is a solution because it can:

• Improve operational efficiency in every area of the business
• Enhance the productivity of your IT teams
• Reduce IT team stress and improve overall quality of work
• Improve costs by minimizing delays and costly downtime
• Reduce operational costs for various tasks

The utilization of AI is a critical component of business operations moving forward. With the help of the right tools, IT leaders will see improvement in bottom-line profits. The ROI is high for nearly all organizations that successfully adopt these strategies. With the right services and tools, organizations have the ability to advance their bottom line.

How CloudStreet Makes It Happen

At CloudStreet, organizations can tap into the ability to scale their Salesforce platform. CloudStreet has implemented B2B stores for manufacturers in the industrial, IT services, and consumer goods sectors. We have the tools to support your business as you move closer to adopting the strategies that will ultimately allow your business to function at its highest level. Learn more about how we can help you by contacting CloudStreet now.

In the dynamic world of e-commerce, the game-changer is not just about getting online; it’s about doing it fast and efficiently. Enter CloudStreet, the powerhouse that leverages Salesforce Commerce Cloud and Einstein GPT to elevate your online store’s game. Let’s unpack the punch that CloudStreet’s twin Accelerator kits pack, easily propelling your e-commerce to digital stardom. Let’s dive into how CloudStreet is the path to boosting sales and creating a shopping experience that customers will love.

In the fast-paced e-commerce scene, CloudStreet stands out by swiftly and skillfully harnessing Salesforce Commerce Cloud, turning your online shop into a powerhouse with stellar sales and an unbeatable customer experience. As the architect behind your online shopping space, you’re orchestrating every click and scroll to resonate with shoppers.

At the core of CloudStreet’s competitive thrust in online retail is its savvy use of Salesforce Commerce Cloud, which is flipping the script on traditional e-commerce strategies for businesses. Eighty-one percent of consumers create a plan to reassess their budget over the next 12 months. We’re seeing a trend where folks are willing to spend more for experiences that feel tailor-made for them. Retailers who overlook focusing on increased personalization will find their business at risk. Businesses need to step up their game by boosting how well they work – think smart, act fast.

Leveraging Commerce Cloud’s robust suite and intuitive layout, your e-commerce platform gains a steadfast base that smooths out the shopping journey and ensures customers are hooked enough to return. CloudStreet doesn’t just put these features into play; they master the art, making your brand pop in a sea of online shops.

Increase Sales with Custom Portals

One of CloudStreet’s standout features is the creation of custom portals, adding a layer of convenience and personalization for your customers. At CloudStreet, we go beyond just drawing eyes to your brand; we keep your loyal shoppers hooked with a shopping experience that’s both effortlessly smooth and impressively refined.

Accelerate Your Success with CloudStreet’s Packages

CloudStreet doesn’t just get you online; it gets you online at warp speed. CloudStreet’s QuickLaunch and TurboBoost Accelerator packages are the secret sauce for businesses itching to hit the ground running and stand out in the bustling e-commerce marketplace. QuickLaunch and TurboBoost aren’t just about getting your store off the ground; they’re designed to create a buzz, captivate your ideal audience, and shine in the competitive e-commerce spotlight.

Our Business to Business (B2B) Commerce Cloud buyer portal is affordable and quick to implement. The CloudStreet’s Accelerator packages save you time and money and provide an easy means for a short-term return on investment. In no time, you can enable your customers to take buying matters into their own hands, increasing your revenue and bottom line.

Why Consider Quick Start Accelerators?

Upon access to Accelerator, it’s immediately ready to use. Our package has all the tools you need to set up, customize, and link everything together quickly and without fuss. Even better, you receive a fixed price. You won’t have to worry about pricey add-ins. Get your business in the market in weeks, not months. With the ease of this application, you can focus on scaling business growth. We’ve got your back with continuous help, keeping things smooth with regular upkeep, the latest features, timely fixes, and those small but key improvements.

What Else Does Commerce Cloud Have to Offer?

You will have everything your partners need with a Salesforce Business to Business B2B Commerce Cloud for Lightning storefront. It also makes it a breeze for distributors and wholesalers to stock up again, keeping their operations running smoothly. Storefronts have all the features buyers expect from an online portal. Cloudstreet can accelerate it for you in just weeks. You may be surprised at how quickly you’ll be able to launch. Grow your business faster than ever with a digital B2B storefront. You will be able to get to market faster and be more innovative.

CloudStreet is your go-to for cranking up the sales on your online storefront, making it a snap to scale and connect in the digital B2B marketplace. Your business will be able to maximize your online growth with easy-to-use commerce features tailored to B2B customers. Some additional tools that can help include simple, self-service contract pricing. With these tools, you’ll smoothly navigate the twists and turns of B2B sales, making complex deals look simple. With CloudStreet, your sales crew can land new customers and orders faster, cutting down on the expenses for each transaction.

These packages are your ticket to drawing in more clients and ramping up engagement effectively. You will find that your B2B commerce interactions become seamless while making them more relevant and connected. You can configure your B2B storefront to meet the industry-specific needs of varied market verticals. When you tailor the business to your specific industries, you can connect electronically with the increasing interest from manufacturers going digital. By revamping the reordering system, you’re handing customers a no-sweat way to snag what they need. You can offer customers subscription ordering, making purchasing much easier. In addition to subscription orders, you can dive into extra software and services that streamline your operations.

Einstein GPT: The AI Wizard in Your Sales Arsenal

Can you imagine having an AI wizard that understands your customers better than you do? That is exactly what Einstein GPT can do for you. CloudStreet amps up your online store by weaving in Einstein GPT so you can dish out spot-on recommendations and smart predictions that amp up the whole shopping vibe for your customers.

Leverage Einstein GPT’s sharp AI insights with CloudStreet to elevate your sales game, creating a customer experience that’s not just smart but genuinely connects and keeps them coming back. At CloudStreet, we’re not just jumping on the AI bandwagon but leveraging its full power to boost our sales figures. Einstein GPT, with its natural language processing capabilities, understands customer preferences, predicts trends, and recommends products with an uncanny accuracy that sets your business apart in the competitive e-commerce landscape.

Seamless Integration for Maximum Impact

What sets CloudStreet apart is its commitment to seamless integration. With CloudStreet, your leap into digital doesn’t just mix things up; it propels your business forward with finesse. Whether incorporating Commerce Cloud or embedding the prowess of Einstein GPT, CloudStreet ensures that your existing business operations smoothly evolve into a digital powerhouse. CloudStreet has got your back in giving your sales strategies a serious power-up, ensuring the shift is all gain and no pain.

CloudStreet is the unsung hero in e-commerce, quietly driving your venture to new heights with smart tech at its helm. With Salesforce Commerce Cloud and Einstein GPT at its core, CloudStreet doesn’t just implement technology; it crafts an experience. Your path to online success is fast-tracked and redefined. If you’re aiming to stay afloat and lead the pack, CloudStreet is your ace in revolutionizing how you sell.

Bringing Scattered Data Resources Together

Many businesses rely on a mass of customer and client data aggregated from a variety of diverse sources. This mix of first-party and third-party data typically gets siloed into disjointed tech stacks, making easy access and productive use of CRM all but impossible without the adoption of overly costly, complex systems. In fact, the majority of businesses that would like to implement the power of generative AI find that their current systems are too scattered and disconnected to facilitate this forward leap.

Salesforce’s new Unlimited Edition+ solves these frustrations. This technology system brings data, CRM, and generative AI together in a single harmonious package, eliminating the complexities and confusions of disjointed data stacks and siloes. By combining Industries, Tableau, Slack, Data Cloud, Einstein AI, Sales Cloud, and Service Cloud functions, UE+ gives businesses a simple, streamlined set of tools to improve their customer experiences and take their success to the next level.

The Many “Faces” of Salesforce UE+

Salesforce has created several UE+ packages to further optimize their product for specific verticals and use cases. All of these packages are based on the company’s already-popular Unlimited Edition. That edition offers account/contact/lead/opportunity management., forecast management, workflow and process automation, advanced pipeline management, built-in AI, and the Salesforce Premier Success Plan. The UE+ packages also provide tech stack consolidation of multiple sales technologies. Business can choose among such field-specific packages as:

Salesforce UE+ for Sales and Service

Salesforce UE+ Sales and Service breaks down into a Sales Cloud and a Service Cloud. Sales Cloud UE+ focuses on improving the customer experience through generative AI, sales planning, maps, revenue intelligence, data cloud technology, and Slack Sales Elevate, combining CRM and external sources to help businesses target their ideal customers and serve those customers better.

Service Cloud UE+ harnesses generative AI, data cloud technologies, digital engagement, feedback management, CRM analytics, and Service Cloud Voice to help resolve customer problems more quickly and easily. Its data-driven insights can actually help customers resolve their own issues through the power of generative AI search.

Salesforce UE+ for Industries

Salesforce’s newest addition to its suite of solutions, Salesforce UE+ for Industries builds on the feature set of Salesforce UE+ for Sales and Service by adding industry-specific features, providing even more customized answers for different sectors. This category of the product includes:

Financial Services Cloud UE+ – This package, which comes in both Sales and Service variants, allows such diverse parts of the financial world as insurance agencies, banks, and asset management companies unify their shared customer data (from social media follows and previous webinar attendance records to email content) with the aid of embedded AI functionality.

Health Cloud UE+ for Service – This package aims to help healthcare providers and institutions provide a higher standard of care more efficiently. In addition to enabling patients to schedule and coordinate their various appointments through an AI-powered support center, this package’s combination of real-time intelligence and comprehensive patient data aggregation helps medical providers triage patient needs more effectively and deliver care more promptly.

Manufacturing Cloud UE+ for Sales – This package lives up to its name by helping manufacturing companies optimize productivity, make more profit, and scale their businesses more successfully. Its tools allow for AI-embedded data that helps managers follow the entire sales cycle more easily. By getting a 360-degree view of the company’s entire book of business, sales managers can track sales performance and then make use of AI-generated summaries and recommendations to create more productive, lucrative manufacturing sales strategies.

How CLOUDSTREET Improves the UE+ Experience

Both CLOUDSTREET and Salesforce have always understood the need for their business clients to get their online stores up and running as quickly and painlessly as possible. However, even a platform designed to smooth and streamline operations can still pose some significant initial challenges for businesses — especially since not every IT department includes technicians familiar with these kinds of programs.

To help businesses adopt Salesforce tools and make the best use of them, CLOUDSTREET offers Accelerator packages for clients who sign on for the Premier or Premier+ Success Plan. These accelerator packages provide one-to-one coaching sessions with experienced technicians who can answer problems, offer guidance, and help users feel comfortable with the technology. At the same time, a convenient, easy-to-use custom portal helps to boost sales from existing buyers, building powerful forward momentum for new online stores right from the beginning.

Salesforce’s Unlimited Edition+ serves as one of many Salesforce services offered by CLOUDSTREET. The company also aids its clients through Salesforce managed support, staff augmentation, mobile app development, and ongoing implementation services. According to Lum, these services fit right in with the company’s mission to help facilitate digital transformation in the business world. “We recognize the ongoing challenge of ‘man versus machine,’ but we also see the value of embracing that challenge, seeing it as an opportunity to capitalize on new and better ways of doing business. Our Salesforce UE+ services can help countless businesses increase both sales efficiency and sales volume,” says Lum.

Business owners and managers seeking a sleek, sensible, integrated solution to their CRM, AI, or sales cloud aggregation woes will want to check out CLOUDSTREET’s Salesforce Unlimited Edition+ offerings at cloudstreetservices.com.