As the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) gets underway in Dubai, Salesforce is detailing its journey and plans in support of the planet.

Salesforce has been on a sustainability journey for over a decade, and has long been committed to setting ambitious climate targets and supporting initiatives to increase meaningful climate action. 

“At COP28 and beyond, Salesforce is proud to stand alongside our partners in our unified effort to save our planet, protect vulnerable communities through climate justice initiatives, and create a more sustainable world for all,” said Tim Christophersen, VP of Climate Action, Salesforce. 

At COP28 and beyond, Salesforce is proud to stand alongside our partners in our unified effort to save our planet, protect vulnerable communities through climate justice initiatives, and create a more sustainable world for all

Tim Christophersen, VP of Climate Action, Salesforce

As part of Salesforce’s engagements at COP28, the company continues to advocate for the conference’s key objectives — adaptation, finance, renewable energy, and net zero — with learnings gleaned from its own sustainability journey:

Adaptation: 

Climate Finance:

Renewable Energy:

Hamara Grid Project

Net Zero:

Dive deeper into Salesforce’s sustainability journey: 

Southwest has already seen millions of dollars in travel booked on the new platform since its launch last month


Southwest Airlines recently introduced Southwest Business Meetings. Salesforce technology, including Tableau and Experience Cloud, is powering the redesigned experience for meeting and event planners, which makes it easier than ever to manage group travel on Southwest. Using Tableau, operations managers are able to view operational data – ultimately connecting the dots between data, insights and better business outcomes with end-to-end analytics. 

Why it’s important: According to the Global Business Travel Association, global business travel is expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels – for a $1.4 trillion total in 2024 – and grow to nearly $1.8 trillion by the end of 2027.

The impact: Southwest Business Meetings streamlines the process to book group travel for meetings, incentives, and conventions in the managed travel space. For meetings with 25 or more travelers, planners can now tap into new options including automated proposal processes, complimentary name change requests up until 24 hours before scheduled departure, streamlined proposal management, and proposal tracking.

Go deeper: A Salesforce customer since 2007, Southwest Airlines has deployed Salesforce technology across numerous customer- and employee-facing facets of its business, as well as marketing. The carrier is also using Salesforce products, including Einstein, to help power its digital transformation. Some of the products and services it has tapped include:

These new tools, powered by Salesforce, allow planners the ability to focus more on their events and less on travel while letting Southwest create unique solutions designed to provide more benefits to them and their travelers.”

Dave Harvey, Chief Sales Officer and Vice President, Southwest Airlines

Customer perspective: “We have heard from customers that they need flexible, efficient, and easier ways to manage meeting and event travel. Southwest Business Meetings is another step in our commitment to better serve travel programs while removing friction and bringing a new level of digital hospitality to managing meeting travel. These new tools, powered by Salesforce, allow planners the ability to focus more on their events and less on travel while letting Southwest create unique solutions designed to provide more benefits to them and their travelers.” – Dave Harvey, Chief Sales Officer and Vice President, Southwest Airlines

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For the 14th consecutive year, Salesforce Service Cloud has been named a leader in the 2023 Gartner Magic Quadrant for CRM Customer Engagement Center report.

Why it matters: Gartner defines CRM Customer Engagement Center (CEC) as “software applications used to provide customer service and support by engaging intelligently — both proactively and reactively — with customers by answering questions, solving problems, and giving advice.” 

Awards and Recognition

Driving the news: The Gartner Magic Quadrant™ uses a two-dimensional matrix to evaluate CRM CEC companies based on their Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute considering factors such as product/service, overall viability, execution/pricing, market responsiveness and track record, and customer experience. 

The Salesforce perspective: “We’re honored to be recognized as a Customer Engagement Center Leader for the 14th consecutive year,” said Ryan Nichols, General Manager of Service Cloud at Salesforce. “Service Cloud continues to redefine the role of AI in customer service, from self-service bots to contact center agents to field technicians. Our AI-powered innovations are reshaping the service industry, ushering in a new era of extraordinary customer experiences.”

Service Cloud continues to redefine the role of AI in customer service, from self-service bots to contact center agents to field technicians. Our AI-powered innovations are reshaping the service industry, ushering in a new era of extraordinary customer experiences.”

Ryan Nichols, General Manager of Service Cloud at Salesforce

The customer perspective: Gartner Peer Insights is a public platform that offers verified, first-hand reviews of enterprise software and services from experienced IT professionals. “I love the product. It is industry-defining and allows us to build a world-class experience for our customer service agents without needing to reinvent the wheel.” — Senior Customer Experience Design Analyst

About Service Cloud

Go deeper

Salesforce data and insights based on the activity of 1.5 billion shoppers reveal a slow start to the holiday shopping season as consumers hold out for strong Cyber Week discounts

AI influenced 16% of global purchases in the lead up to Cyber Week, while chatbot sessions increased 35% year-over-year globally

Holiday shopping is gaining momentum mid-way through November, but U.S. consumers are largely holding back on purchases as they wait for the best Cyber Week deals. 

Driving the news: Early online holiday sales are down in the United States (-2%) and up only 3% globally year over year (YoY), indicating that consumers are still searching for the biggest and best deals of the season. 

Momentum is picking up as Cyber Week approaches:

The Salesforce perspective: “Consumers are taking control of their budgets and seeking value as they shop this holiday,” said Rob Garf, VP and GM of Retail. “With a quarter of all holiday sales expected to take place during Cyber Week, this will be the time for retailers to pull out all the stops – including promotions, loyalty rewards, financing options, and personalized product recommendations to drive shoppers to buy.”

“AI has already influenced 16% of the purchases made around the globe in the last six weeks. We anticipate retailers leaning into both predictive and generative AI throughout Cyber Week to drive costs down and loyalty up.”

Rob Garf, VP and GM of Retail

Salesforce Shopping Index early holiday indicators (Oct. 1–Nov. 14): 

Commerce

Salesforce’s Cyber Week 2023 predictions: Reviewing real-time aggregate data stemming from Commerce Cloud, Service Cloud, and Marketing Cloud, Salesforce expects to see three major trends during this year’s most critical shopping week:

Explore further:

2023 Salesforce holiday insights and predictions methodology

Powered by Commerce Cloud, Marketing Cloud, and Commerce Cloud, Salesforce analyzed aggregated data to produce holiday insights from the activity of more than 1.5 billion global shoppers across more than 64 countries, with a focus on 12 key markets: the U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, the Netherlands, Australia/New Zealand, the Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan, Australia, and New Zealand), and the Nordics. This battery of benchmarks provides a deep look into the last nine quarters and the current state of digital commerce. Several factors are applied to extrapolate macroeconomic figures for the broader retail industry, and these results are not indicative of Salesforce performance.

The prediction data that we present are from proprietary Salesforce research. The calculations we use blend first-party and third-party data, as well as several market assumptions, to generate the data points we present.

Today, Salesforce launched Service Intelligence, a powerful new analytics app for Service Cloud designed to boost agent productivity, cut costs, and enhance customer satisfaction. 

Powered by Data Cloud, Salesforce’s real-time hyperscale data engine, Service Intelligence gives users access to all of their data directly within Service Cloud, eliminating the need to toggle between screens for information. Pre-built, customizable dashboards inside Service Intelligence provide a view of essential metrics like customer satisfaction and individual and team workloads. And, with Einstein Conversation Mining, service professionals can use AI to analyze customer chat and email conversations to uncover insights — like specific challenges customers face during service interactions — assess the likelihood of complaint escalation, and proactively address the issue with the customer.

Why it’s relevant: AI is gaining prominence among service professionals, with an 88% increase in AI adoption from 2020 to 2022. This is no surprise, as 63% of service professionals say AI will help them serve customers faster. By embracing AI, service professionals can make informed decisions fast and enhance customer satisfaction, securing a competitive edge.

What’s new: Generally available today, Service Intelligence includes:

Coming soon:

Salesforce perspective

With Service Intelligence driven by AI, companies can bridge the gap between data and action, turning raw data into valuable customer insights. This empowers service professionals with the right information to deliver on their core mission: delivering exceptional customer experiences.

Ryan Nichols, SVP and GM of Service Cloud, Salesforce

Reactions to the news: 

Availability:

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Quick take: Salesforce surveyed over 14,000 global workers across 14 countries for the latest iteration of its Generative AI Snapshot Research Series, ‘The Promises and Pitfalls of AI at Work.’ The research reveals that, despite the promise generative AI offers workers and employers, a lack of clearly defined policies around its use may be putting businesses at risk. 


While governments around the world — including the U.S. and the EU — have taken definitive and coordinated action to mitigate risk and commit to responsible use of AI, new data suggests businesses haven’t followed suit in implementing clear policies around its use. 

Recent findings from a survey of more than 14,000 workers across 14 countries uncovers that many users of generative AI in the workplace are leveraging the technology without training, guidance, or approval by their employer. Workers have recognized how critical generative AI is in advancing their own careers, and businesses must quickly respond with clear, trusted guidelines to ensure the technology is enterprise-ready and used responsibly.

Generative AI tools are penetrating the workplace without oversight

Over a quarter (28%) of workers are currently using generative AI at work, and over half without the formal approval of their employers. With an additional 32% expecting to use generative AI at work soon, it’s clear that penetration of the technology will continue — with or without oversight. 

Not only do workplace users tap into unapproved generative AI tools at work, they do so while still recognizing that the ethical and safe use of generative AI means adopting company-approved programs.

Users are also engaging in additional ethically questionable activities at work when using generative AI — for example, by passing off AI as their own work or inflating their ability to use the technology. 

The onus doesn’t fall entirely on the workers themselves — nearly 7 in 10 global workers have never completed or received training on how to use generative AI safely and ethically at work. 

Global workers report ambiguous or non-existent generative AI policies at work

Not only do respondents report a lack of training, workers around the world note their employers’ generative AI policies are not clearly defined or non-existent. 

Certain industries lag behind more than others — for example, 87% of global workers in the healthcare industry claim their company lacks clear policies. With the level of confidential data held in this industry and others, there is an urgency to skill up workers on responsible use. 

In fact, nearly 4 in 10 (39%) global workers say their employer doesn’t hold a strong opinion about generative AI use in the workplace.

To seize the benefits of generative AI, businesses must guide their workforce on responsible use

Whether or not they use generative AI in the workplace, workers recognize the impact of the technology on their careers — nearly half (47%) of workers believe mastering generative AI would make them more sought after in the workplace, over half (51%) believe it would result in increased job satisfaction, and 44% say it would mean they would be paid more than those who don’t master the technology. 

Users also say they are more productive and engaged since using the technology.

And half of global workers surveyed — regardless of whether they use generative AI or not — believe mastering generative AI will result in: 

With clear guidelines, employees will be able to understand and address AI’s risks while also harnessing its innovations to supercharge their careers.

Paula Goldman, Chief Ethical and Humane Use Officer at Salesforce

“To realize AI’s full potential, it’s critical that we invest in the employees using the technology as much as the technology itself,” said Paula Goldman, Chief Ethical and Humane Use Officer at Salesforce. “With clear guidelines, employees will be able to understand and address AI’s risks while also harnessing its innovations to supercharge their careers.”  

More information:

Research methodology

Salesforce conducted a double-anonymous survey in partnership with YouGov October 18 – 31, 2023. It included over 14,000 full-time employees representing companies of a variety of sizes and sectors in 14 countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, the Nordics, India, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates. The survey took place online.

Today at World Tour Atlanta, Aaron’s, a leading, Atlanta-based lease-to-own furniture, electronics, appliances, and home goods retailer, announced it is using Salesforce to boost its ecommerce business and email marketing strategy to help provide a better experience for its customers.

What’s the impact: Since deploying Marketing Cloud Engagement in 2020, which combines marketing channels with campaign management to engage customers throughout their journey, Aaron’s email marketing list has nearly tripled its active subscribers. And, using the tool, Aaron’s has increased its email conversion rate by 53%. 

A deeper look: The company is using Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Data Cloud, and Commerce Cloud to increase web traffic, orders, and conversion rates by delivering more engaging, relevant, and personalized content. With Salesforce, Aaron’s is:

The Aaron’s perspective: “While we continue to build our digital business, our primary focus has always been on our customers. Salesforce provides us with a deep understanding of each customer’s journey so we can build trusted relationships at scale by delivering the right message, at the right time, in the right place.” – Hody Crouch, Vice President, Data & Analytics

Today, digital-first customers expect companies to know what they want and provide relevant experiences at every touchpoint

Bobby Jania, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Salesforce Marketing Cloud

The Salesforce perspective: “Today, digital-first customers expect companies to know what they want and provide relevant experiences at every touchpoint. Aaron’s is delivering on those expectations by using data in a way that fosters trust, understanding, and elevates the entire customer experience.” – Bobby Jania, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Salesforce Marketing Cloud

Fast facts: Through an initiative known as Aaron’s Gives, the company donates time, money, and other resources to strengthen the communities in which they operate, including its hometown of Atlanta.

Learn more:

Salesforce launched new AI and data innovations in Sales Cloud, including embedded AI assistant Copilot for Sales, to empower every sales representative, leader, and operations team to sell faster, smarter, and more efficiently throughout the sales process – boosting seller productivity and business revenue.

These innovations provide sellers with a variety of AI-powered tools to streamline research and manual tasks like summarizing meetings and creating emails. New capabilities also connect real-time internal Salesforce and external data to build prospect lists, identify buyer intent, and optimize performance indicators, as well as enable sellers to bring Sales Cloud directly into Outlook, Gmail, and their web browsers.

All capabilities will be available in the newly integrated Salesforce Sales Cloud Unlimited Edition+ offering, which gives customers a simplified way to buy, implement, and consolidate their sales tech stack – including Slack, Salesforce Data Cloud, and Revenue Intelligence – on one platform. 

Why it’s relevant: Sales teams want to focus on closing deals and increasing profits, but the current sales landscape reveals a gap between ambition and reality:

What’s new: To narrow this gap, Salesforce is bringing new AI innovations to sales teams. With unified data powering trusted AI – and all sales processes integrated on a single platform – sales organizations can transform how they work. New innovations include: 

This means that sales teams can shift their attention from processes to connecting with people, giving them more time to focus on what they do best – selling.

Ketan Karkhanis, EVP & General Manager, Sales Cloud

The Salesforce perspective: “A solid data foundation can unlock AI for all sellers. Built on real-time, connected data, Salesforce’s new innovations integrate powerful AI to support every step of the sales journey. This means that sales teams can shift their attention from processes to connecting with people, giving them more time to focus on what they do best – selling.” – Ketan Karkhanis, EVP & General Manager, Sales Cloud

Reaction to the news: 

Availability: All solutions are available today, except for *Automated Prospecting, which is now in pilot, and *Copilot for Sales, which will be GA early next year. Except for Automated Prospecting and Copilot for Sales, all new capabilities are available in the Salesforce Sales Cloud Unlimited Edition+ offering, which is designed to help businesses drive more value and productivity at any growth stage. Solutions can be purchased individually or in packages that best suit business needs, including Slack and Salesforce Data Cloud, on one platform. 

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“One trillion trees” has become a global movement and a symbol of ecosystem protection and restoration. It started with a revolutionary study, co-authored by Crowther Lab, about the role of forests in combating climate change. What followed was the launch of 1t.org with an audacious but simple goal: conserve, restore, and grow 1 trillion trees by 2030. 

Salesforce has been a proud supporter of the movement, co-founding 1t.org with the World Economic Forum (WEF), and committing to conserve and restore 100 million trees by 2030. The company has also provided its technology to help create WEF’s UpLink digital platform that is bringing together companies of all sizes to develop climate solutions. 

New research from 200+ scientists on the potential of forests to meet climate goals

Today, the Crowther Lab research team at ETH Zürich published a new study in Nature co-authored by more than 220 scientists. The study reaffirms the importance of natural, biodiverse forests in combating climate change. It demonstrates the significant carbon drawdown potential of conserving and restoring natural forests, along with the benefits it creates for local communities, indigenous people, and biodiversity. 

Importantly, the science also highlights that natural forests are no substitute for cutting greenhouse gas emissions or phasing out fossil fuels. This is particularly important as a heating climate will limit forests’ ability to absorb carbon. 

“We need to redefine what restoration means to many people. Restoration is not about mass tree plantations to offset carbon emissions,” said Dr. Thomas Crowther, professor of Ecology at ETH Zurich. “Restoration means directing the flow of wealth towards millions of local communities, indigenous populations, farmers, and foresters that promote biodiversity across the globe. Only when healthy biodiversity is the viable choice for local communities will we get long-term carbon capture as a bi-product.”

The science is clear: trees and natural, biodiverse forests are a crucial part of reaching our global climate goals. We can’t solve the climate crisis with trees alone – but we can’t solve it without them, either.

Suzanne DiBianca, Chief Impact Officer and EVP of Corporate Relations at Salesforce

“The science is clear: trees and natural, biodiverse forests are a crucial part of reaching our global climate goals. We can’t solve the climate crisis with trees alone – but we can’t solve it without them, either,” said Suzanne DiBianca, Chief Impact Officer and EVP of Corporate Relations at Salesforce. 

Key findings from the study include:

1. Forests have the potential to capture 226 Gigatons (Gt) of carbon

Due to ongoing deforestation, the carbon stored in global forests is approximately 328 Gt below the natural state. Outside of urban and agricultural areas, the study highlights that forests could capture approximately 226 Gt if they were allowed to recover in regions with low human footprint. This represents 30% of the world’s carbon drawdown targets.

2. This potential can only be achieved with a healthy diversity of species. 

Biodiversity — or the variety of plants and animals in a specific area – accounts for approximately 50% of the forest’s productivity. This underscores the need to protect existing natural forests and restore degraded areas, in ways that are contextually appropriate and viable for local communities. Monoculture plantations won’t achieve the carbon capture needed and may in fact reduce carbon storage dramatically. 

3. Over half (61%) of this potential can be achieved by conserving the forests that we still have.

The good news is, if we conserve the forests we have, the majority of the potential carbon storage can be unlocked. Most of the world’s forests are highly degraded, and protecting them could allow these ecosystems to recover to maturity.

4. The remaining 39% of carbon storage potential exists outside of urban and agricultural lands, in regions where forests have been removed or fragmented.

Through sustainable ecosystem management and restoration, we can meet the remaining carbon storage potential by reconnecting fragmented forest landscapes like the Pinewoods in the Southeast and the Amazonian Basin. The study’s authors stress that this requires equitable development, driven by policies that prioritize the rights of local communities, Indigenous peoples, and farmers that promote biodiversity.

5. A continuation of business-as-usual emissions could limit forests’ ability to absorb carbon 25% by 2050.

In line with previous studies, if we do not prevent fossil fuel emissions, the capacity of forest ecosystems to capture carbon will be threatened by rising temperature, drought, and fire risks. To achieve an equitable, prosperous future for all, we must have both: rapid decarbonization and nature-based solutions.

Salesforce’s ongoing commitment to protecting and restoring the world’s forests

Together with other nature-based solutions, trees can provide a third of what is needed to limit climate change. 

Salesforce’s remains committed to protecting and restoring the world’s forest ecosystems through 1t.org. Today, the initiative has 90 members who have joined the movement to help conserve, restore, and grow more than 8 billion trees around the world.

Ending deforestation and restoring the world’s forests is a proven, cost-effective solution to climate change — and it can be deployed at scale right now. Conserving and restoring the world’s forests in the right way will help safeguard the future of the planet and of humanity.

More information 


After a decade as a personnel information management specialist in the U.S. Army, Lisa Malmanger thought she’d have no problem landing her post-military dream job. Beyond Malmanger’s technical skills in database systems, she’d accomplished a lot, including managing teams and handling a successful deployment to Bosnia. 

It was a shoulder injury that eventually forced her to leave military life. However, instead of quickly transitioning into a new civilian career that she loved, Malmanger found herself unemployed. 

Finding job fulfillment after military life

During this time, Malmanger became a military spouse. Her career plans were on hold, and she took on a series of short-term jobs as her family moved five times in six years. After getting divorced, she decided to again pursue her career passions, and earned a degree in software engineering while raising her young daughter. 

Now, Malmanger had the skills to land a solid role and start a new, fulfilling career in the tech industry; however, it was more challenging than she realized.  

“I couldn’t get my foot in the door,” she said. “I had the skills, but I didn’t have the support in knowing how to transition my military experience to the civilian side. I was getting very frustrated, and I almost gave up.” 

Ten years after she left the military and after years of job searching, in 2011, Malmanger got a call that altered her career trajectory. A hiring manager from a software company in Texas, who had seen Malmanger’s resume, reached out to her about an opportunity to pursue a job that introduced her to Salesforce. 

“As soon as I started using Salesforce, I fell in love with it and said, ‘I want more,’” Malmanger said.

Salesforce programs supports veterans and military spouses with training, funding

Each year, thousands of veterans like Malmanger transition into the civilian workforce. While they have valuable skills — including agility, leadership, and teamwork — many face challenges in finding employment. In addition, military spouses are unemployed and underemployed at high rates.

Salesforce has a longstanding commitment to the military community, and empowering the workforce of the future with the skills they need for future success. 

A cornerstone of these efforts is Trailhead, Salesforce’s free online learning platform, and Salesforce Military, a free program that helps members of the military community access training and get hired by Salesforce partners and customers. So far, 65,000 veterans and military spouses have joined Salesforce Military to learn new skills. Salesforce also has dedicated resources to training hiring managers on how to hire military talent and has created external resources for companies to hire and create military-friendly workplaces. 

Today, the company is committed to providing 80,000 members of the military community with access to learning Salesforce skills and career opportunities in the Salesforce ecosystem by 2026.

Today, the company is committed to providing 80,000 members of the military community with access to learning Salesforce skills and career opportunities in the Salesforce ecosystem by 2026. As part of this ongoing pledge, Salesforce recently distributed $300,000 in grants and sponsorships to seven nonprofits in the U.S. and U.K. that equip veterans and military spouses with in-demand job skills. 

Forging a new path with the help of community

When Malmanger started working in her first role in the Salesforce ecosystem, she found out about Salesforce Military and immediately signed up. 

“I felt like I was part of a group again like in the military, where everyone helps each other out,” she said. “I could chat with other military members and spouses going through the same issues and challenges.”

Malmanger dove head-first into beefing up her capabilities and skills on Trailhead, eventually earning 15 Salesforce certifications. As a gamer in her spare time, she enjoyed the gamified learning process. “There’s motivation to learn, get certified, and put it on your resume,” she said. “It helped me advance my career.”

Malmanger credits the Trailblazer and Salesforce Military communities with helping her stay up-to-date on best practices, meet and network with others, and explore new roles in the ecosystem. She went on to work as a software engineer at a healthcare company and a Salesforce consultant. Now, she works at Booz Allen Hamilton as a senior solution architect, after a fellow member of the Trailhead community encouraged her to apply for a role at the company.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Salesforce and the community it has — maybe I’d still be doing data entry somewhere,” she said. “Being able to switch roles and try different things within the ecosystem has been great.”

I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Salesforce and the community it has — maybe I’d still be doing data entry somewhere. Being able to switch roles and try different things within the ecosystem has been great.

Malmanger has also been mentoring new Salesforce Military members and giving back to other veterans who have been in her shoes. Through chatting about her career journey and providing feedback on their resumes to better target specific roles, Malmanger hopes to spare them the roadblocks she once encountered. She believes that the military community has a unique set of skills that can benefit the private sector, including adaptability and resilience. 

“We’re used to change, so that doesn’t affect us,” she said. “In today’s world, everything is constantly evolving, so we have to be able to adapt and shift paths often.”

Continuous learning is key in the age of generative AI

Now, Malmanger is using Trailhead to learn about the latest innovations in artificial intelligence, including recently completing the AI Associate certification

“I’m looking forward to implementing the products coming out, like Einstein Copilot, and I’m excited to learn more” she said. “I’m trying to do as many trails as possible, because I know we’re just scratching the surface with AI — there’s going to be a lot more to come.”

Unlocking new career opportunities with Salesforce

Malmanger encourages veterans and their spouses looking to make the leap into the tech sector to learn about the Salesforce ecosystem. 

“If more military members and spouses knew about Salesforce, opportunities would just open for them,” she said. “You can work from home, spend time with your family, and gain all this wonderful experience.” 

Malmanger’s advice for those getting started is to leverage the welcoming Salesforce network. “Don’t be shy to reach out to people,” she said. “You may not know them, but the community is wonderful. If they don’t know the answer, they’ll connect you to someone who does. An individual can achieve a lot, but when we unite as a community like Salesforce, the potential is endless.”

Learn more

Salesforce, along with Deloitte, Citi, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and the World Economic Forum, today announced 14 Top Innovators chosen as part of the Yes San Francisco, Urban Sustainability Challenge (Yes SF). This marks a critical milestone in the effort to make the city of San Francisco a more sustainable and equitable place to live and work.

Winning solutions include hydroponic green roofs, accessible solar storage, AI-driven green technology, and more. 

Significance: Cities produce 75% of global emissions and face the dual challenge of sustainable development and improving residents’ quality of life amid rapid urbanization.

Go deeper: Yes SF received nearly 150 submissions, which were evaluated by a committee of experts. Selected Top Innovators will receive support from:

Meet the Meet the 14 Top Innovators:

Soundbites:

Yes SF is a catalyst for innovation. This cohort of Top Innovators will contribute to the city’s transformation through sustainable innovation and community expertise, benefitting both San Franciscans and the planet. Together with our collaborators and ecopreneurs, we can harness the power of technology, sustainability, and innovation that has been core to the city’s identity for decades.

Suzanne DiBianca, EVP and Chief Impact Officer at Salesforce

More information:

With a real-time view of driver and vehicle data, including location, speed, and in-vehicle apps and systems, Automotive Cloud delivers truly personalized experiences for every driver 

Industry leaders like Toyota use Automotive Cloud to deliver better consumer experiences across every touchpoint


Today, Salesforce announced new Automotive Cloud innovations to help automotive companies harness data and AI to provide more personalized in-car experiences, manage fleets, and simplify auto lending and leasing.  

Automotive Cloud will unify automaker’s data – from vehicle telematics to service records to customer data – to power new features that provide a real-time, contextualized view of what’s going on inside a vehicle so every driver can get a truly personalized experience.


Why it’s important: Connected cars will make up 95% of all new vehicles sold by 2030. Today’s connected cars are already generating an estimated 25 gigabytes of data per hour — data that automotive companies must harness to provide the personalized experiences customers expect and generate new revenue streams

With real-time data, trusted AI, and automation, we’re bringing the automotive industry one step closer to a future where software-defined vehicles are the norm

Achyut Jajoo, SVP & GM of Automotive and Manufacturing

The Salesforce perspective: “With real-time data, trusted AI, and automation, we’re bringing the automotive industry one step closer to a future where software-defined vehicles are the norm,” said Achyut Jajoo, SVP & GM of Automotive and Manufacturing. “Automotive Cloud will provide a real-time digital view of a vehicle’s connected features, services, and telemetry data so automakers can combine it with everything they know about the driver to orchestrate personalized, connected car experiences.”

What’s coming for automakers: 

What’s coming for fleet owners and automotive finance teams:

The customer perspective: “Everything in the industry today is being driven by software. Our customers expect connected, personalized experiences not only in their cars, but however and wherever they are interacting with us. Automotive Cloud will make it easy to provide these exceptional experiences for our customers.” – Amanda Palmay, Senior Director, Strategy, Planning and Innovation, Toyota

Learn more: 

Availability:

Connected car features like Actionable Telematics will be generally available in early 2024. Connected Vehicle Visualization will be available in pilot in early 2024. Additional purchase and terms may apply.