Head of Salesforce Strategy at Canidium | Salesforce Ecosystem Growth & Expansion | AI Leadership
Some really interesting takeaways from Salesforce Ben on ecosystem trends in 2024. While I don't share the view that AI is overhyped (is it a bubble? Kind of, but still here to stay), the tightening job market, opportunities for experienced resources to apply niche solutions, and the movement of Data Cloud into a top CDP player are spot on. Half way through 2024 my SFDC predictions look like this: 1. Data Cloud will continue to be Salesforce's fastest grower. I agree with the article's takeaway here: CDP is a huge priority for enterprise clients, and will grow more important for mid-market companies that are adopting data strategies. Expect to see a LOT of Data Cloud info at Dreamforce this year. 2. Einstein 1 will closely follow. Bit of a hot take here (it just went GA in Q1), but I expect a MASSIVE uptick in E1 adoption in Q3 & Q4 as companies buy into the Trust Layer. Data security is probably the biggest blocker of AI adoption right now, and I think SFDC solved it (or at least got 90% of the way there). 3. Salesforce resources will continue to struggle in a weak market. This is especially true for anyone with less than five years experience. I could see it rebounding in 2025, but for the remainder of the year the competition will be fierce and experience will be highly prioritized. 4. But specialized talent will always find a home. CPQ, Data Specialists, RLM, Life Sciences, and other niche specializations will come up on top. I expect most shops to double-down on ICP (no more "We do everything" umbrella), and resources with specializations to match will continue to be in demand. What do you think? Does Salesforce Ben have it right on the state of the ecosystem? What does 2024 look like to you?
