With Dreamforce just a week away, the city of San Francisco is buzzing with energy. In this episode of Belmar Bytes, Scott Billows and Matt Hui are back to share their bold predictions for the biggest announcements and trends you can expect from this year's conference.

From a potential game-changing partnership with Google to the next evolution of AI, the hosts dive into what could be revealed. Scott and Matt discuss what they're most looking forward to, including the speakers, concerts, and connecting with customers in person.

In this episode, you’ll hear predictions about:

• A Google Partnership: Scott predicts a major product partnership announcement between Salesforce and Google, especially with Google's CEO, Sundar Pichai, scheduled to speak.

• The Evolution of AgentForce: Matt expects an "AgentForce 3.0" announcement, with AI interfaces evolving beyond text to include audio, video, and photo inputs.

• Slack as the New Front Door: A deeper integration between Slack and Salesforce could position Slack as the primary interface for users.

• In-Product AI Enhancements: Scott anticipates new, built-in AgentForce features for core products like Service Cloud and Sales Cloud, designed to make everyday use easier and more powerful for all customers.

• Human-Centric Marketing: Matt suggests Salesforce will continue to invest in celebrity endorsements and experience-based partnerships to make technology like AI feel more approachable and human.

Plus, find out about the panel Scott and Matt are moderating at the Philanthropy Lounge on Thursday, October 16th at 10 a.m. PST. They will be joined by Tom Zazueta from Valley Health Foundation and Eleanor Castillo Sumi from Ohana Healthcare Partners for a conversation you won't want to miss.

In this episode of the Belmar Bytes podcast, host Scott Billows sits down with his colleague and friend, Austin Stonebreaker, to discuss modernizing digital communications in the political space. Stonebreaker, who spent a decade as a digital director for prominent U.S. senators, shares his experience and insights on the challenges and opportunities he’s encountered on Capitol Hill and beyond.

The two talk about how congressional offices often use outdated communication strategies and tools, such as sending generic monthly newsletters to static lists. Austin explains that modern tools, like Salesforce Marketing Cloud, allow for targeted, impactful communication by sending the right message to the right person at the right time.

Austin also provides strategic advice for political campaigns, PACs, and membership-based organizations. He highlights the importance of using modern technology and having a solid strategy, including smart data acquisition and a consistent sending schedule, to avoid being flagged as spam by email providers. He explains how his firm, Alpine Data Strategies, helps organizations acquire high-quality, targeted data to better engage with their audiences.

In this episode, Scott Billows and Matt Hui celebrate a significant milestone: the 15th episode coinciding with the company's 15-year anniversary on September 25, 2025. In this episode, Scott and Matt take a trip down memory lane, tracing the company's evolution from a small team working with for-profit and public sector organizations to becoming the Salesforce partner they are today.

Scott shares the company's early days, including the decision to pivot to Salesforce after recognizing its potential dominance in the market. The conversation covers the initial sales strategy of building relationships with Salesforce account executives and the organic growth into the public sector and nonprofit spaces. They also discuss the misconception that nonprofit organizations are unsophisticated and underfunded, highlighting how their needs are often as complex as those of for-profit companies.

Looking ahead, Scott and Matt discuss the future of the company and the broader technological landscape, expressing excitement about the opportunities that artificial intelligence (AI) will bring to their customers. They reflect on the legacy of building enduring tools for public sector and nonprofit clients, and how the company continues to evolve to meet changing needs.

In this episode of Belmar Bytes, Scott Billows and Matt Hui discuss the current landscape and emerging trends within the nonprofit sector. Matt highlights financial challenges, including a reduction in available funding and a decline in donors, which has forced organizations to get creative in how they secure support.

The conversation transitions to how technology can address these challenges, but Matt cautions that it's not a "magic wand". Instead, he frames technology as a way to scale impact, do more with less, and combat staff burnout and high turnover. Scott and Matt explain that many employees, particularly a younger, digital-first generation, are leaving jobs because they are burdened with manual, inefficient tasks like data entry that prevent them from focusing on their core mission.

Beyond internal challenges, Matt also emphasizes that donor and client expectations for a seamless digital experience are at an all-time high. A poor digital experience, such as a difficult-to-use donation form or an outdated client portal, can lead to a loss of support or even prevent vulnerable populations from receiving the services they need.

To address these issues, Scott and Matt recommend that organizations involve their staff in the technology transformation process from the very beginning. By communicating the value and showing incremental progress, leaders can foster buy-in and excitement among their team members. They conclude by encouraging leaders to get started on their digital journey and consider partnering with an expert to develop a technology roadmap, which can help guide them through the process.

Dreamforce 2025, one of the world's largest technology events, is right around the corner! In this episode, Scott Billows and Tom Kadota of Belmar provide an overview of what to expect at the conference, which is happening in San Francisco from October 14th to 16th.

Tom, a Solutions Engineer at Belmar, shares his insights and tips for first-time attendees. He emphasizes the need to plan your schedule ahead of time, noting that with thousands of sessions available, you can filter the agenda by specific roles like administrator, developer, or executive. Scott adds that because the conference spans multiple venues, including the Moscone Center and nearby hotels, it's a good idea to group your sessions by location to avoid fighting the crowds.

If you can't attend in person, the episode also covers virtual options. Tom explains that Salesforce Plus is a free streaming service where you can watch keynotes and speaker sessions live or on demand, but you'll need to create a Trailblazer account to access it. Scott suggests that teams can host watch parties to discuss the big product announcements and vision casting from the keynotes.

Finally, Scott and Tom share some pro tips for anyone attending, including wearing comfortable shoes, staying hydrated, eating breakfast to avoid long lunch lines, and pacing yourself throughout the three-day event. They also highlight the benefits of attending, such as upskilling with workshops and labs, and networking with other people in similar roles.

In this episode, hosts Scott Billows and Matt Hui reflect on the past fiscal year, which wrapped up at the end of August. 

They discuss key wins and highlights, including the widespread adoption of AI, the maturity of Salesforce's Nonprofit Cloud, and a renewed focus on in-person events and partnerships.

The hosts also share what they're looking forward to in the new year, such as bringing major digital transformation projects to fruition and celebrating customer successes.

They touch on the upcoming Salesforce conference, Dreamforce, happening in San Francisco from October 14-16, and how organizations can get involved, whether in person or online.

In this episode, Scott Billows is joined by his colleague, Lana Lincoln, to discuss the unique challenges nonprofits face and how technology can help. Drawing from her decade of experience as a fundraiser, Lana shares her insights on why she transitioned from working in a mission-driven organization to the world of technology consulting. She talks about the common struggles she observed, such as the inefficiency of using multiple systems for simple administrative tasks and the pressure to "do more with less".

Lana and Scott offer practical advice for nonprofits considering a digital transformation. They emphasize the importance of having leadership buy-in and finding a technology partner you can trust. The discussion also covers the growing role of AI in the nonprofit sector, with Lana advising organizations to focus on preparing their data and identifying internal gaps that AI could address in the future, rather than worrying about missing out. 

The hosts conclude by highlighting the value of choosing a partner who understands your mission and can work with your team to achieve your goals.

What happens when your Salesforce implementation goes wrong? This episode dives into the challenges of a failed implementation and how to get things back on track.

Scott Billows and Matt Hui dive into the difficult situation where a customer is midway through a project and things are not going as planned.

What red flags could indicate a project is in trouble, including:

• Lack of Documentation: A absence of documentation for what's being built and the requirements can create an over-reliance on the partner and hinder the organization's self-sufficiency.

• Disproportionate Budget Spend: The project budget is being depleted without proportional progress being made, which often leads to additional change requests or orders.

• Lack of Resource Continuity: A constant change in team members working on the project can make communication and knowledge transfer inefficient.

• Inadequate Expertise: The partner may be "learning on your dollar" if they lack certifications or specific project experience in your space.

Scott and Matt stress the importance of trying to resolve issues with the current partner rather than switching partners, which can lead to delays and increased costs. However, they acknowledge that sometimes a remedy is not possible. For those in that situation, they offer advice on how to move forward, suggesting that customers talk to their Salesforce account executive, conduct independent research on platforms like the AppExchange , or consider bringing in a third-party project manager to provide an objective perspective. They also emphasize that customers will need to be flexible and willing to compromise on their original plans. The episode concludes with a message of hope, reminding listeners that digital transformation should be exciting, not painful, and that a path forward can be found.

Avoid Selecting the Wrong Salesforce Partner. In this episode, Scott Billows and Matt Hui discuss how to choose a Salesforce partner.

They explore various ways to find the right partner, including:

• The Salesforce AppExchange, which is a marketplace for finding partners based on criteria like experience and customer satisfaction ratings.

• Independent online research using tools like Google or AI platforms.

• Referrals from a Salesforce account executive.

Matt and Scott also provide advice on evaluating potential partners. Key considerations include:

• Experience: Does the partner have specific experience in the nonprofit's particular field, such as conservation or an arts museum?

• References: Do they have references from previous projects?

• Organizational Fit: Is the partner's size and team makeup a good match for the nonprofit's size and needs?

• Pricing: Understanding the partner's pricing structure is a significant factor.

• Team Composition: It's important to meet the specific people who will be working on the project, as their soft skills and ability to "gel" with the nonprofit's team are crucial for success.

• Trust and Relationship: A long-term partnership requires a foundation of trust, as projects may not always proceed in a linear fashion.

• Certifications: Salesforce certifications are considered a baseline for a partner's credibility and competency.

Unlock the full potential of your Salesforce platform. This episode provides actionable strategies for organizations looking to maximize their return on investment. We emphasize the importance of clearly defining your objectives and understanding the financial implications of the problems you aim to solve. Learn how to effectively communicate your business case to stakeholders , make informed decisions about Salesforce licenses for long-term growth, and leverage technology consolidation for increased efficiency. Tune in for practical tips to ensure your Salesforce journey delivers maximum impact.