Salesforce’s D2C and B2B Commerce Cloud continues to evolve, empowering businesses with cutting-edge e-commerce capabilities. The latest release of Salesforce Commerce Cloud brings forth a host of new features and enhancements, designed to elevate the e-commerce experience for businesses and customers. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the key features and improvements introduced in the latest release, highlighting the advancements that are set to shape the future of e-commerce.

Key Features and Enhancements

The latest Winter ‘25 release of Salesforce D2C Commerce Cloud introduces a range of new features and enhancements, catering to various aspects of e-commerce operations. From user interface improvements to advanced integration capabilities, the release is poised to transform the way businesses engage with their customers and manage their online storefronts.

Enhanced User Experience

One of the focal points of the latest release is the enhancement of the user experience. With a revamped user interface, streamlined navigation, and updated design elements, the release aims to provide a more intuitive and engaging experience for both administrators and end-users.

Integration Capabilities

In an increasingly interconnected digital landscape, the latest release emphasizes enhanced integration capabilities. New APIs, improved interoperability with other Salesforce products, and third-party systems enable businesses to create a seamless and unified e-commerce ecosystem, facilitating efficient data exchange and operational agility.

Security and Compliance

Security and compliance are paramount in e-commerce, and the latest release addresses these concerns with advanced security features and compliance updates. From data encryption to enhanced access controls, businesses can ensure a secure and compliant e-commerce environment, fostering trust and confidence among their customers.

Developer-Centric Enhancements

For developers, the latest release offers a suite of new tools and resources. Expanded customization options, improved development frameworks, and enhanced extensibility empower developers to innovate and tailor e-commerce solutions to meet the unique needs of businesses and customers.

Customer Impact and Benefits

The latest release is poised to have a profound impact on businesses and end-users. The introduction of new features and enhancements translates to an enriched customer experience, improved operational efficiency, and the ability to adapt to evolving market demands, ultimately driving business growth and customer satisfaction.

Upgrade Process and Considerations

Existing Salesforce B2B Commerce Cloud users are encouraged to explore the upgrade process and considerations for migrating to the latest release. With careful planning and adherence to best practices, businesses can seamlessly transition to the latest release, unlocking new opportunities and staying ahead in the competitive e-commerce landscape.

The latest release of D2C / B2B Salesforce Commerce Cloud represents a significant leap forward in e-commerce innovation. By embracing the new features and enhancements, businesses can position themselves at the forefront of e-commerce excellence, delivering exceptional customer experiences and driving sustainable growth in the digital marketplace.

With the upcoming end of support for Cloudcraze by Salesforce, many businesses are faced with the challenge of remigrating to a more sustainable platform. CloudStreet understands the complexities and potential setbacks associated with this transition and offers tailored solutions to help businesses effectively manage and realize more benefits from their Salesforce optimization goals.

End of Life for Cloudcraze

The discontinuation of support for Cloudcraze by Salesforce has left businesses vulnerable to security risks and limited upgrade options, impacting customer experiences. CloudStreet recognizes the urgency and importance of addressing this issue and is committed to assisting businesses in navigating the transition to Salesforce B2B Commerce Cloud built on the core lightning framework.

Consultative Approach to Migration

At CloudStreet, we believe in a consultative approach to technology challenges. Our team collaborates closely with businesses to understand their unique needs and develop a comprehensive roadmap for migrating off Cloudcraze while mitigating risks and managing costs effectively.

Framework for Seamless Transition

CloudStreet’s approach to helping businesses remigrate off Cloudcraze involves a structured framework that encompasses the following key phases

• Discovery – Understanding business use cases, journeys, architecture, and integrations needed to transition from Cloudcraze to the next platform.

• Implementation – Delivering user stories, system/integration diagrams, and project plans to lay the foundation for the migration process.

• Stabilization – Mobilization for the development phase, including tools selection and team organization, to ensure delivery readiness.

Seamless Transition Deliverables

Throughout the migration process, CloudStreet provides businesses with a range of deliverables, including working system development using an agile, sprint-based approach, a coordinated go-live plan, and a dedicated team focused on production support.

Salesforce Optimization Solutions In addition to assisting businesses with the remigration process, CloudStreet offers comprehensive Salesforce optimization solutions to help businesses manage and realize more benefits from their sales, marketing, and other digital transformation goals. Our proprietary plugins and transition frameworks are designed to reduce costs and accelerate the time to launch, seamlessly integrating with Salesforce Lightning.

CloudStreet is dedicated to empowering businesses to navigate the transition from Cloudcraze to Salesforce B2B Commerce Cloud Lightning with confidence and efficiency. Our consultative approach, structured framework, and comprehensive deliverables ensure that businesses can manage the migration process effectively while optimizing their Salesforce solutions for long-term success.

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.

To say that a lot has happened in the last year in the world of technology is something of an understatement. The initial public release of ChatGPT only happened a year ago in November 2022 – kicking off an explosion of popularity for artificial intelligence and a race for AI superiority across industries.

This same level of advancement is absolutely being seen in the world of B2B commerce, particularly since the Salesforce winter release is upon us yet again. The Winter ’24 release includes a number of features that are designed to empower product innovations using not only artificial intelligence but also big data, CRM tools, and more.

A Bold Step Forward for Salesforce

The Salesforce Winter ’24 release offers a number of exciting features that are significant for both B2B and D2C users. The Commerce Cloud has been updated in ways that people have been asking about for a long time.

Customers can now add up to 2,000 line items to a cart at any one time, for example. Product fields can also now show “Frequently Purchased” items to customers, information that dynamically changes in real-time thanks to Einstein Generative AI. Not only does this offer a unique way to personalize the shopping experience, but it’s also a great way to automatically embrace cross-sell and up-sell opportunities as well.

AI is making its presence known all across the Salesforce Winter ’24 release. Businesses can now begin selling faster than ever with automated org setup. This helps to streamline the store creation experience, saving a dramatic amount of time that can then be used on more important matters.

This release has also seen some changes to the Salesforce payments process, all of which helps to create a better experience for your own customers. In addition to direct debit techniques like ACH and BACS, organizations can also accept payments through PayPal and Venmo. The “Pay Now” page is now more configurable than it has ever been, offering users a way to access different payment records, share those records with relevant parties, and more.

Salesforce Order Management has also seen some major upgrades, particularly in terms of the “Order on Behalf Of” experience. Products can now be searched by name, key search terms, and more – as opposed to just SKUs and product IDs as it was in the past. Products can now be easily reserved during the ordering process, all to help reduce the chances of getting “out-of-stock” errors that hinder the overall experience.

Innovation Has Never Been Easier

Of course, Salesforce was updated in more ways than just via the Commerce Cloud. One of the biggest has to do with the Salesforce Scheduler. It’s now easier than ever to manage customers who pay a visit to a physical business location for in-person appointments. Actionable lists can be used to send out appointment reminders and a number of enhancements have been made to the “Shifts” feature within the Scheduler itself.

Einstein Search has also seen some positive adjustments. Searchable standard and custom objects can now be easily configured, allowing you to further customize Salesforce to meet your business’ needs. CLOUDSTREET is dedicated to providing cutting edge B2B technology and solutions to manufacturers in virtually every industry, including industrial, IT services, consumer goods, and more. Based on that, we understand exactly how important the need for further customization with a tool like Salesforce always is.

It’s also now possible to get specific answers from a knowledge resource by way of the Einstein Search Answers feature.

In an overarching sense, one of the most important adjustments to the Winter ’24 release has to do with modifications to Salesforce data pipelines. Staged data is now being used instead of datasets as it was in the past, which can dramatically decrease data processing time in most situations. Salesforce is now also compatible with not only the Google GA4 event-based property framework, but with Google Analytics 4 as well.

Finally, the Salesforce B2B Commerce Winter 24 release includes a bevvy of general enhancements that are intended to make the Lightning Experience even better. These include but are not limited to things like:

• Tools have been made available to help prepare for upcoming changes to the way Setup pages will be hosted on a new domain in a future release.
• Multifactor authentication (MFA) has been further enhanced and enforcement is now a permanent part of the direct login process.
• Many non-text UI elements have been improved in terms of buttons, checkboxes, and overall color contrast.
• The News, automated account fields, and automated account logo features are all being retired as of the Winter ’24 release.

To find out more information about the Salesforce B2B Commerce Winter ’24 release, head over to Salesforce’s own Release Notes.

Generative AI is on the forefront of the minds of business leaders who are looking to stay ahead of the competition, improve their sales, and build better relationships with customers. Salesforce is working towards meeting their needs with AI software that fills in many of the gaps that exist between businesses and their customers. Integrating software such as Salesforce’s Einstein GPT into your existing workflows helps improve many internal processes, cuts down on time expenditures, and makes it easier for customers to connect more strongly with a business.

Integrating generative AI services from Salesforce enables you to strengthen your business by eliminating many of the repetitive tasks that eat up valuable time. The human element that’s so important to your processes is still extant, but now your employees can perform their tasks at a higher level because they spend less time with the lower-level work that supports their advanced work. Here’s a look at how generative AI can improve your sales and customer relationships.

Improve customer service and build better relationships with customers

Time is a key element in customer service, and it’s something that both customer and customer rep don’t have a lot of when it comes to their interactions. When a rep is looking for a complex solution to a customer’s problem, the customer has to wait on hold while the rep looks it up. Generative AI can turn a search query into a comprehensive result that provides different approaches to the problem and gives the rep more space to connect with the customer. Now the rep and customer can have a conversation that’s productive instead of providing surface-level information that may or may not give the customer the help they need.

Make content creation easier and more effective

Generative AI is capable of creating an initial draft for any type of marketing copy within a matter of seconds. This greatly reduces the amount of time needed to ideate and build an outline for a marketing campaign. Your staff can spend their time building upon and refining the ideas that were created by AI to create a quality marketing campaign that covers all angles while providing new and fresh concepts for customers to consider.

Sales staff spend a lot of time coming up with an idea, and then building out that idea to figure out if it’s going to be effective or not. They can also overlook things because they’re so focused on creating the core of the message. Generative AI lets them step back from their initial efforts and lets them apply deeper thinking to the generated AI work that reflects the brand, addresses the customer’s needs, and makes it easier to respond to changes as they arise.

Easily deliver a white glove experience for each individual customer

Chances are good that your business is already using some type of software to gain insights into your customer’s preferences. Generative AI pushes that work to a new level by creating marketing content that’s tailored to the customer’s needs, and does it quickly. AI takes a deeper look at the customers’ needs and wants, pain points, and analyzes preferences to create communications that more accurately reflect their needs.

Algorithms can’t go as deep as AI can in terms of anticipating what a customer is looking for. Using generative AI to deliver a personalized experience to the customer goes a long way towards building their trust, giving them a feeling of satisfaction, and improving sales as the customer buys more of your product and returns for future sales.

Enhance the creative aspect of marketing campaigns and product improvements

Creatives are capable of coming up with amazing ideas and concepts, but they’re often limited by the tools they currently have. Generative AI gives creative teams and product designers the ability to expand their ideation processes by suggesting ideas and concepts that weren’t obvious due to limitations. Using AI provides creatives with new design variations they can build upon instead of spending time working out an initial concept.

Everyone in the organization benefits from the creative teams using generative AI. The teams spend less time on ideation and initial concepts and more time on getting finished work out of their offices and into the hands of those who need the work to start their processes. The result is one of a product or service getting to the market in much less time than in the past.

Generate granular sales data based on existing information and boost sales

Sales teams benefit from the ability of generative AI to automate the creation of call summaries and follow-up emails with customers. Now sales reps have more time to work on their customer relationships instead of analyzing their phone calls and creating emails based on that information. Handing the process over to generative AI is a major time saver for individual reps and teams looking to learn more about the results of their efforts.

For managers, they can look at the performance of a sales rep with granular information that delivers insight into the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. The information can reveal if the email resulted in an increase in sales, drove the average invoice price higher, or improved the rate of closures on successful sales pitches. Managers can more easily implement changes in a marketing campaign or help a promising sales rep become a high performer.

Automate repetitive coding processes to free up developers’ time

Developers deal with writing repetitive coding processes that have very little variation but are necessary to create a reliable result. Automating the process with generative AI serves to create code that has the subtle changes needed for it to flow within the larger code framework. Developers have more time to write more complex sections of code and can complete their projects in shorter timelines.

Non-developer team members who don’t have coding experience can also take advantage of generative AI’s ability to write applications that meet their needs. This also takes the pressure off the developers as they don’t have to take time away from their major work to create code for a non-developer’s request.

How CLOUDSTREET Can Help Your Business Take Advantage of Generative AI

Salesforce provides businesses with the tools they need to improve their sales, but integrating their services with your business isn’t always easy or straightforward. At CLOUDSTREET, we’ve helped businesses implement B2B stores in the consumer goods, IT services, and industrial sectors. We’re here to help you integrate Salesforce’s Einstein GPT and other generative AI services into your operations and make sure you get the most out of what Salesforce has to offer.

Contact us today to learn more about our team of Salesforce certified consultants and developers, and how their knowledge can transform your business while improving your ROI.