TechPression

Tag: Salesforce

  • How Agentic AI is redefining CRM, workflow automation at Creation AI

    How Agentic AI is redefining CRM, workflow automation at Creation AI

    In the fast-evolving landscape of enterprise software, AI is not just an add-on but the core of new platforms. During a recent interview on YouTube with Creation AI’s CEO, Katherine Kostevera, the conversation delved into how Creation is challenging established giants like Salesforce and ServiceNow in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and workflow automation through its agentic AI approach.

    Read also: The role of AI in advancing global innovation

    Agentic AI as a new paradigm in enterprise software

    The CEO expressed her unparalleled excitement about the current state of technology, particularly highlighting how Creation AI is poised to redefine CRM and no-code platforms within the next few years. 

    Unlike traditional models where AI might be an additional feature, Creation AI integrates AI fundamentally into its platform, making it inherently AI-native. This approach means users don’t pay extra for AI functionalities; instead, they are part of the core offering, setting Creation apart from competitors who might charge for AI modules separately.

    The dual role of AI at Creation AI

    Creation AI leverages AI in two primary ways: first, in no-code development, where AI helps build applications directly on the platform; secondly, by enhancing end-user functionalities across various business processes like marketing, sales, and service automation. This dual functionality provides a significant edge, as it facilitates the creation of applications and optimises their use in real-world scenarios.

    When asked about market positioning, especially with competitors now offering AI-driven solutions, the CEO pointed out that Creation’s strategy involves not just offering AI but embedding it as a central component of user interaction. The platform is designed so that users interact with AI through natural language, which is seen as the future of programming. This approach aims to make technology more accessible, reduce the learning curve, and enhance adoption.

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    Addressing adoption challenges of Agentic AI

    Adoption has been a focal point, with some enterprises experiencing a plateau in tool usage due to concerns over perceived laziness or lack of proper training. Creation AI tackles this by continuously expanding its skill library, ensuring users can handle various CRM tasks without needing additional interfaces or skills. Katherine Kostevera noted that this strategy speeds adoption and keeps users engaged with the platform’s evolving capabilities.

    According to Katherine, the vision for 2025 is a seamless interface where users interact with all CRM needs through one platform using natural language. This would mean a significant shift from current user experiences to a more intuitive, AI-assisted interaction, potentially setting a new standard for how software is used in businesses.

    The conversation concluded by acknowledging the competitive pricing strategies in the market. Creation AI’s approach of not charging extra for AI features is critical in fostering faster adoption, contrasting with competitors who might require additional investments for AI enhancements. This strategy could be a pivotal reason behind differing adoption rates across the industry.

    The YouTube video can be accessed here for those interested in exploring the discussion.

  • Salesforce expands to Nigeria, appoints Sandra Adesuwa Ebere

    Salesforce expands to Nigeria, appoints Sandra Adesuwa Ebere

    Salesforce, a global leader in customer relationship management (CRM) systems, plans to open a Nigerian office, underscoring the digital ecosystem’s development and potential.

    The company’s strategic growth supports its goal of expanding into new markets and harnessing Africa’s largest economy’s talent and business potential.

    Sandra Adesuwa Ebere’s appointment as business development lead

    Read also: Trump appoints Elon Musk to head newly constituted govt efficiency department 

    Salesforce has appointed Sandra Adesuwa Ebere as the Business Development Lead for Nigeria to lead this initiative.

    It was announced at a media roundtable on Friday by the cloud-based company that provides customer relationship management (CRM) tools.

    With extensive experience in business strategy and development, Ebere is well-regarded for her deep understanding of the African market. Her appointment is expected to drive the company’s mission to deliver innovative software solutions that empower businesses in Nigeria and across the region.

    Ebere is an experienced professional in business development and strategic market expansion. Due to her knowledge of African markets, she leads growth strategies for tech and commercial companies.

    In her career, Ebere has combined innovative concepts with practical solutions to help organisations adapt to evolving market difficulties. She has led teams that build alliances, market presence, and sustained business results.

    Global layoffs amidst strategic shifts

    However, four months ago, the company cut its global workforce as part of a larger initiative to optimise its structure, promote development, and streamline operations.

    Due to considerable layoffs in the technology sector worldwide, the corporation started cutting workers early in 2024. The job cuts affected 10 percent of the company’s workforce worldwide, particularly those in Ireland.

    The company also announced that it continues to witness substantial development in Africa, particularly in South Africa and Morocco, emphasising massive investment returns as AI interest grows.

    Read also: Al Mada Ventures acquires YoLa Fresh to strengthen Morocco’s agritech supply chain

    Strengthening partnerships and regional growth

    A Salesforce representative said, “By keeping an eye out for potential opportunities, Salesforce remains dedicated to expanding its footprint in the region and delivering innovative solutions to meet the growing demands of customers.”

    These may include strategic relationships with Amazon’s cloud marketplace. It has partnered with MTN, Vodacom, and Standard Bank,  to expand beyond South Africa and Morocco.

    Ebere, who has only been with the company for five months, reportedly negotiated the largest Slack deal in Nigeria in just three months.

    “She is a very important and strategic appointment,” the company says.

    While other multinationals have laid off workers, Salesforce is expanding its business operations across Africa. Microsoft Kenya terminated the contract of a chunk of its workers  at Africa Development Centre in Nairobi in 2023.

  • Meta and Salesforce partner to provide WhatsApp customer service

    Meta and Salesforce partner to provide WhatsApp customer service

    Meta, the biggest social media company in the world, and Salesforce, the most comprehensive customer relationship management (CRM) platform in the world, have announced a partnership that will make it easier for many more businesses to connect with their customers through WhatsApp.

    According to a recent post that was made on Facebook by Mark Zuckerberg, “We’re partnering with Salesforce so that all businesses that use their platform can use WhatsApp business messages to answer customer questions, run marketing campaigns, and sell directly in chat.” Texting is quickly becoming the preferred method of communication between customers and businesses. Because of this, we decided to launch our Cloud API earlier this year, and now we are partnering with Salesforce.

    What does the Partnership mean?

    Meta and Salesforce partner to provide WhatsApp customer service
    Meta and Salesforce partner to provide WhatsApp customer service

    Matthew Idema, Vice President of Business Messaging at Meta, said the new integrated system would make it easier for companies to build experiences that allow them to chat with customers on WhatsApp while also allowing them to manage communication directly from the Salesforce platform.

    Read also: Jio Platforms and Meta work together to introduce JioMart shopping on WhatsApp

    “Messages are rapidly replacing phone calls as the preferred method of communication between companies and their clients.”Earlier this year, we opened up the WhatsApp Business Platform to any business in the world to help them get started on WhatsApp in a matter of minutes, deepening customer relationships, driving sales, and providing support in an efficient and pleasant way,” says Matthew. Each week, more than one billion users connect with a business account across all of Meta’s messaging services, and this rate is only expected to pick up speed in the coming years. “Earlier this year, we opened up the WhatsApp Business Platform to any business in the world to help them get started on WhatsApp in a matter of minutes, deepening customer relationships, driving sales, and providing support in an efficient and pleasant way,” says Matthew. “WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in the world, and we wanted to give businesses the ability to use it to their advantage.”

    Both companies are currently running a pilot that includes the L’Oreal group brands. If successful, the pilot will allow the L’Oreal group brands to use WhatsApp to reconnect with customers who had previously abandoned items in their shopping cart and send those customers coupons and offers directly on the chat thread.

    Meta has said that it will keep making tools to help many businesses help their customers, show off and talk about their products, and do other similar things.

    With over two billion monthly active users, WhatsApp is the most popular mobile messenger app. The service was initially introduced in 2009 as a chat and messaging platform.

    About Salesforce

    Salesforce Inc. is a cloud-based software company founded in the United States and has its headquarters in San Francisco, California. It offers software and applications for customer relationship management (CRM), focusing on sales, customer service, marketing automation, analytics, and application development.

    Salesforce, established in 1999 by Marc Benioff, a former executive at Oracle, rapidly expanded to become one of the largest companies in the world before going public in 2004. As a result of its continued expansion, Salesforce will become the first cloud computing company to reach annual revenue of one billion United States dollars by the end of the fiscal year 2009, and it will become the world’s largest enterprise software firm by the year 2022.

    WhatsApp Communities A New Feature For Users to Combine Different Groups

    About Meta

    An American multinational technology conglomerate with its headquarters in Menlo Park, California, Meta Platforms, Inc., also known as Meta and formerly known as Facebook, Inc. and The Facebook, Inc., is a company that does business as Meta. Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are just some of the many products and services that the company owns. Meta is consistently ranked among the most valuable companies in the world. Along with Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft, it is considered one of the Big Five information technology companies in the United States.