May is over, and now is a chance to reflect on the experiences from Salesforce’s World Tours in New York, Washington, D.C., and London. Each was filled with incredible opportunities to connect and share with others. At the core of each event (and the Salesforce community) are the Trailblazers finding new ways to optimize business and technology processes – and to leverage technology as a force for good. Here are three of our key takeaways from the events.
Business problems are also technology problems.
At World Tour D.C., we learned an alarming statistic: 90% of organizations fail at digital transformation. Why? For a number of reasons, including:
- Skills gap
- Misalignment between business and IT
- Data silos & legacy systems
- Cultural resistance to change
While at face value it might appear that this is entirely an issue with technology, the reality is that this is a much broader issue. As advances like Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and more become mainstream, the line between the digital and physical worlds has blurred, which has profound implications for how organizations operate and connect with others.
Such rapid increases in connectivity necessitate that organizations adapt their processes to meet changing expectations. That’s why it’s important that business and IT leaders alike are able to speak the language of technology. Particularly for mission-based organizations like associations and nonprofits, technology must be a core part of strategies to connect, engage, and advance their missions.
When it comes to technology, trust is the most important currency.
Trust was a key theme at each Salesforce World Tour. With such a great amount of nonprofit organizations in DC, New York, and London, achieving their mission is pivoted on the trust they are able to build with their constituents. From outreach communications to engagement and fundraising, technology should support relationship building. Moreover, technology itself must be trusted. If technology inhibits or slows down operations, it’s more difficult to achieve your goals and advance your mission.
At Salesforce World Tour New York, we saw how part of Salesforce’s mission is to build a culture of trust and philanthropy through their fundraising efforts supporting those affected by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Initiatives like these are what inspire other Trailblazers to leverage technology as a force for good.
The AppExchange ecosystem just became even more powerful.
One of the core parts of the Salesforce community is the AppExchange, the world’s largest business app marketplace. This is where developers, administrators, and other Salesforce users are able to explore over 5,000 solutions and 1,000 consultants to support virtually any need.
At World Tour London, Salesforce announced AppExchange Ecosystem Insights, offering new features like Consultant Finder, the Expertise Tab, Marketplace Analytics, and App Analytics. With these new features, it is becoming easier than ever for customers, consultants, and partners to connect and collaborate with one another. For everyone from small nonprofits to Fortune 100 companies, this new functionality will make technology more accessible than ever before so organizations can leverage technology to achieve their mission, no matter the size or scope.