Belmar Bytes

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.

Discover how Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud is revolutionizing the way nonprofits operate. This episode explores the power of Salesforce's dedicated platform for the nonprofit community, highlighting its out-of-the-box capabilities for program and volunteer management. We discuss the critical factors for organizations considering a move from NPSP, including data migration, timing, and preparing your team for a seamless transition to a future-proof solution that continually receives the latest innovations and features from Salesforce.

In this episode, hosts Scott Billows and Matt Hui explore digital transformation within the public sector, defining it as government entities funded by taxes and delivering citizen services.

They contrast it with the nonprofit sector, highlighting similarities in data governance and security needs, while noting public sector's slower, risk-averse nature compared to nonprofits' agility.

The discussion delves into the profound effects of DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) on U.S. federal agencies since Trump's second term began in January 2025, including procurement slowdowns, budget cuts, and a "do more with less" mantra amid disruption.

Scott shares trends like emerging opportunities in communications, where Salesforce Marketing Cloud is replacing legacy tools like Granicus GovDelivery to enable efficient, segmented outreach to constituents.

The episode wraps with exciting news on Salesforce's expanded FedRAMP authorizations for products like Agent Force, Data Cloud, Marketing Cloud, and Tableau, unlocking new possibilities in the federal space.

Join for insights on navigating public sector challenges and leveraging technology for better citizen impact!

Visit https://belmarcloud.com/ for more information!

In this episode, Scott Billows and Matt Hui dive deep into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the workplace. From massive hiring bonuses at tech giants like Meta to layoffs at Salesforce and Microsoft, they explore the excitement and anxiety surrounding AI's rise, comparing it to historic revolutions like the Industrial Revolution. They discuss reskilling, productivity gains, and how AI can augment jobs rather than replace them, sharing real-world examples from their Salesforce consulting work at Belmar. Scott offers his "AI Antidote", a practical framework for organizations to develop digital strategies, foster innovation, and leverage partnerships. Plus, a special shout-out to their ongoing collaboration with Ally Global to combat human trafficking. Tune in for insights on navigating AI's opportunities and challenges!

In this episode, Scott Billows and Matt Hui delve into the critical phase of Salesforce adoption after implementation. They discuss the increasing trend of organizations seeking ongoing support for their Salesforce systems and share insights on what "good" looks like for sustained success. The conversation highlights the importance of partnership and efficiency in post-implementation support. They address the challenge of Salesforce as an ongoing investment, much like employee culture, and how to effectively communicate its long-term value to leadership. The episode also explores strategies for maintaining internal expertise versus outsourcing, advocating for a hybrid approach that leverages both internal knowledge and external technical expertise. Finally, they discuss how to drive and maintain user buy-in, emphasizing the importance of clear communication about the benefits to individual users and fostering a culture of continuous engagement.