Salesforce Commerce Cloud Innovations

Join us in an exploration of the world of luxury e-commerce featuring Monica Villaquiran, Vice President of IT Infrastructure and Client Experience Innovation at Richemont Americas, and Kailin Noivo, President and Co-founder of Noibu. The discussion between Monica and Kailin covers the balance between specialization and creativity in retail technology, the role of boutique vendors, and the potential of VR, AR, and AI in enhancing customer engagement. 

This episode emphasizes a problem-first approach to innovation. It explores frameworks for addressing business challenges, defining KPIs, and leveraging AI to transform customer feedback into actionable insights. It’s an insightful discussion that bridges technical expertise with exceptional end-user experiences, setting new standards for luxury brands in the digital era.

Show Highlights:

• Client-centric innovation blending technology and human touch across Richemont's 26 brands.
• Benefits of collaborating with boutique vendors for personalized relationships in retail technology.
• Problem-first approach to innovation, focusing on identifying business challenges before choosing technology solutions.
• Utilizing AI to transform customer feedback into actionable insights for luxury brands.
• Framework for defining KPIs and leveraging decision trees to address business issues.

Follow and Review:

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Supporting Resources:

Join the Commerce Cloud Community: http://sforce.co/commercecrew

To learn more about Commerce Cloud Innovations, go here: https://www.salesforce.com/commerce/innovations/ 

Interested in being a guest or know someone who should be? Use this nomination form: http://sfdc.co/podnomination 

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know I sent you.

In this episode, we dive into the future of digital commerce with Kelly Thacker, CMO of Commerce Cloud at Salesforce. Kelly shares her journey and passion for e-commerce, emphasizing how Salesforce has been instrumental in helping businesses across various industries navigate the digital shift post-pandemic. She highlights innovative tools like Salesforce Checkout and AI and Data Cloud integration to enhance customer experiences. Kelly also discusses her side hustle, Banalco, a nonprofit supporting human trafficking survivors. 

This episode offers valuable insights into the power of AI and data in revolutionizing the shopping experience, making it a must-listen for anyone looking to stay ahead in the digital commerce game.

Show Highlights:

• The impact of the pandemic on digital strategies and how Salesforce has assisted non-traditional commerce sectors in establishing online presences.
• The importance of delivering seamless, hyper-personalized experiences across various touchpoints.
• Introduction of the innovative Salesforce Checkout feature and its applications in unconventional settings.
• The new pricing model of Salesforce making Data Cloud accessible to all customers and enhancing AI capabilities.
• Exploration of future AI applications in commerce, including autonomous agents and headless checkout experiences.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

Join the Commerce Cloud Community: http://sforce.co/commercecrew

Learn more about Commerce Cloud Innovations, go here: https://www.salesforce.com/commerce/innovations/ 

Would you like to be on the podcast, or do you know someone who should? Check out the nomination form: http://sfdc.co/podnomination 

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know I sent you.

Join us for another fascinating episode of Salesforce Commerce Cloud Innovations as we explore the thrilling intersection of automotive and e-commerce. Our guest is Kent Packman, a Salesforce architect at Aston Martin and a true visionary in the industry. Kent's unique perspective, rooted in his love for all things automotive and tech, provides an insightful look into the challenges and opportunities of online automotive purchasing. From his favorite classic and current cars to his experiences at Dreamforce 2022, Kent's enlightening chat is sure to inspire!

Listen in as we discuss the three pillars of car buying that need to be addressed for a successful customer experience. We also delve into how to improve the car buying experience by bridging the digital and physical worlds and how discount codes could replace traditional haggling and negotiations.

Don't miss this riveting discussion about the future of the automotive industry and the exciting changes on the horizon. Tune in for a ride of a lifetime!

Show Highlights:

• Kent’s vision for the future of online automotive purchasing and customer experience. 
• The three crucial checkpoints for customer experience in car buying.
• Exploration of the concept of a digital-physical hybrid model for car buying, potentially ending the practice of haggling for prices. 
• How technology, such as connected cars and services, can improve the customer experience in the automotive industry. 
• The future of the automotive industry, the role of startups, and the changing nature of traditional dealership networks.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

Join the Commerce Cloud Community: http://sforce.co/commercecrew

Learn more about Commerce Cloud Innovations go here: https://www.salesforce.com/commerce/innovations/ 

Interested in being a guest or know someone who should be? Use this nomination form: http://sfdc.co/podnomination 

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know I sent you.

Ever wondered how to successfully navigate the complex world of B2B and B2G buying? This episode promises to provide illuminating insights on this very topic. Our guest is Kim Brown, CMO of Darley, a manufacturing company that serves national heroes and has successfully transformed its B2B and B2G buying experience. Kim shares her expertise on the evolving landscape of B2B and B2G buying, the role of Salesforce Commerce Cloud, and the future of e-commerce adoption. 

Technology and its effects on the future of business is a major focus of our conversation. We explore the rise of digital natives in leadership positions, new workplace security regulations, and how these are reshaping online transactions. Kim shares how Darley has leveraged tech-enabled digital experiences, editorial content, direct mail, and CRM to facilitate large, complex business transactions and deliver unparalleled customer experiences. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to understand how technology is revolutionizing business and the complexities of B2B and B2G buying.

Show Highlights:

• Role of millennials in decision-making and the impact of inclusive innovation frameworks in businesses. 
• Importance of Salesforce CRM and PIM in maintaining complex customer relationships, particularly when dealing with entities like the Department of Defense. 
• Insight into the complexities of B2B and B2G buying experiences and the significance of native integrations and emotional facets of these transactions. 
• The impact of technology in reshaping businesses, including the rise of digital natives in leadership roles, changes in workplace security regulations, and the role of marketing, branding, and public relations. 
• Showcase of how Darley leverages a well-honed tech stack, digital experiences, editorial content, and CRM to facilitate large business transactions and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
• The importance of creating a diverse and inclusive workforce in data and technology fields and the need for ethical considerations in data usage and AI development.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

• Darley: Global Manufacturer & Distributor for Today's Heroes: https://www.darley.com/ 
• Kimberly Brown | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-weisensee-brown/ 

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know I sent you.

In this episode, we are joined by Carolyn Goncoe, Senior Director of Solution Engineering for Digital Commerce at Salesforce. Carolyn shares her story, from supporting ERP systems for state and local governments to leading the specialist B2C Commerce Cloud team at Salesforce. We explore the impact of social shopping platforms like TikTok on e-commerce, addressing initial skepticism from IT departments about cloud solutions and their evolving perceptions. 

Carolyn also goes into the significance of composable commerce, emphasizing the necessity of an API-first, headless architecture for robust omnichannel experiences. The episode culminates with a discussion on the revolutionary role of predictive and generative AI in enhancing merchant efficiency and the emerging imperative for brands to optimize for GPT. Tune in for forward-thinking strategies that are shaping the future of digital commerce.

Show Highlights:

• Evolution of e-commerce and the impact of cloud solutions on IT department perceptions.
• Role of social media platforms like TikTok in transforming shopping behaviors.
• Benefits and challenges of composable commerce and API-first, headless architecture.
• Salesforce's solutions for composable commerce, including pre-built vendor connections and managed runtime environment.
• Impact of predictive and generative AI on merchant efficiency and the need to optimize for GPT.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

• Join the Commerce Cloud Community: http://sforce.co/commercecrew
• To learn more about Commerce Cloud Innovations, go here: https://www.salesforce.com/commerce/innovations/ 

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know I sent you.

Vinod Kumar, former Head of Business Insights at Salesforce Commerce Cloud and current CEO of Syntheum AI, brings deep expertise in e-commerce and data analytics. Syntheum AI is the first Merchandising Operations Platform that works natively with Salesforce B2C Commerce Cloud to increase merchandising speed, improve merchandiser productivity, and unlock merchandiser capacity.

 Learn more about Syntheum AI and how they aim to bring joy back to digital merchandising here - www.syntheum.ai.

Beyond tech, he’s the proud owner of Kushala Sip Coffee House, a community-centric business where he combines digital innovation with local impact. If you are looking for a place to grab coffee and meet people over small bites in metro Boston, try - www.kushalasip.coffee.

To contact Vinod Kumar, DM him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kvinod77/.

Show Highlights:

• Introduction to the concept of "merchandising operations" or "MerchOps" and its significance post-COVID.
• The role of AI and algorithmic intelligence in transforming digital merchandising tasks.
• Best practices and pitfalls in optimizing digital merchandising strategies.
• The importance of integrating digital product managers to support merchandisers.
• Future trends in digital merchandising, including the shift towards more creative and collaborative tasks.
• Balancing automation with the human touch through data interpretation and leveraging customer feedback.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

• Join the Commerce Cloud Community: http://sforce.co/commercecrew

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know I sent you.

Headless e-commerce might be the future, and Colin Tracy from Black Rifle Coffee Company is here to tell you why. This episode features Colin Tracy, Director of Engineering at Black Rifle Coffee Company, who shares his pioneering journey from Shopify to a robust serverless and headless-first technology stack with Salesforce Commerce Cloud.

Explore the innovative shift to Commerce Cloud and Builderio CMS, which allowed Black Rifle Coffee's marketing and e-commerce teams to gain unprecedented independence. Colin dives into the benefits of a headless CMS setup, explaining how it offers an elegant, maintainable, and scalable solution compared to traditional templatized approaches.

Maximizing the capabilities of a fully headless, composable solution, Colin shares the advantages of adaptable deployments across web and mobile platforms. This episode is packed with insights into the flexibility of headless commerce, the power of Salesforce's ecosystem, and the future of technology in crafting personalized user experiences. Tune in to hear how a strong mission combined with cutting-edge tech can drive unprecedented success in the e-commerce landscape.

Show Highlights:

• Insights into the unique founding of Black Rifle Coffee by a former Green Beret and its mission to serve veterans.
• Exploration of how moving to Commerce Cloud and Builderio CMS has reduced developer dependency, allowing marketing teams more autonomy.
• Discussion on the agility and scalability provided by a headless, composable solution, enhancing web and mobile application management.
• The role of AI in coding, testing, and the future potential of AI-driven development in e-commerce.
• The importance of accessibility and personalized experiences in e-commerce, facilitated by Commerce Cloud's capabilities.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

• Join the Commerce Cloud Community: http://sforce.co/commercecrew
• To learn more about Commerce Cloud Innovations, go here: https://www.salesforce.com/commerce/innovations/ 
• Register for the B2C Commerce Roadmap Webinar on August 21 at 1 pm ET: http://sfdc.co/B2Croadmap 

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know I sent you.

Join us as we explore the innovative landscape of AI-powered personalized search and product discovery with our guest, Paige Tyrell, Chief Growth Officer of Prefixbox. Paige shares her insights into the company’s evolution from an autocomplete solution to a comprehensive search engine with advanced personalization features. We'll uncover the intricacies of vector search and its advantages, as well as the impact of GPT on search behaviors.

Discover how vector search and AI, including ChatGPT, are revolutionizing consumer experiences and retailer efficiencies. Learn how the interaction with search has shifted from simplistic keyword queries to more conversational and context-rich interactions. We also discuss the implications of these advancements for e-commerce and how retailers can better compete and cater to evolving customer expectations. Lastly, we delve into the ethical implications of AI and GPT in retail.

Listen in as we envision a future where AI makes travel planning and e-commerce a seamless, conversational experience.

Show Highlights:

• How vector search and GPT are transforming search behaviors and improving product discovery.
• The impact of AI on consumer experiences, retailer efficiencies, and the future of e-commerce.
• Addressing bias, inclusivity, and the ethical implications of AI in the fashion and retail industries.
• Strategies like managing synonyms and blending vector and keyword search methodologies to enhance search effectiveness.
• Envisioning a seamless, conversational experience in travel planning and online shopping using AI tools like ChatGPT.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

• Join the Commerce Cloud Community: http://sforce.co/commercecrew
• To learn more about Commerce Cloud Innovations, go here: https://www.salesforce.com/commerce/innovations/ 
• Holiday Preparedness Guide co-authored with Paige and Nat: https://www.prefixbox.com/blog/boost-holiday-sales-smart-merchandising-analytics/
• B2B & D2C Commerce, Payments and OMS Roadmap Webinar on August 8th at 11am ET: http://sfdc.co/B2Broadmap
• B2C Commerce Roadmap Webinar on August 21 at 1pm ET: http://sfdc.co/B2Croadmap

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know I sent you.

In this episode, we dive into the dynamic world of modern commerce with Kyle Montgomery, Head of Commerce at Astound Digital. Kyle shares his extensive experience, detailing how Astound Digital's 20-year partnership with Salesforce has been instrumental in pioneering the Storefront Reference Architecture (SFRA).

The episode explores the potential of composable commerce and generative AI, offering insights on whether long-standing Site Genesis users should transition to more modern platforms. Kyle also highlights the significance of accessible sandboxes for developers and the role of open-source projects in fostering community collaboration and innovation. 

Tune in to learn how generative AI and tools like Salesforce's PWA kit are setting new standards for the future of retail.

Show Highlights:

• Astound Digital's 20-year partnership with Salesforce and pioneering efforts in Storefront Reference Architecture (SFRA).

• Insights into the Unofficial SFCC community and the OpenSFCC initiative.

• Discussion on composable commerce benefits.

• Examination of generative AI's role in modern commerce.

• Practical advice on the costs and benefits of migrating to composable solutions.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

• Join the Commerce Cloud Community: http://sforce.co/commercecrew

• To learn more about Commerce Cloud Innovations, go here: https://www.salesforce.com/commerce/innovations/ 

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know I sent you.

Join us as we welcome Adrian Corral, the business and technical product manager at Avalara, to discuss their Salesforce connectors and comprehensive tax solutions. Adrian also highlights the complexities of taxability across different industries and how Avalara’s sophisticated tax engine simplifies these challenges. In this episode, we explore the future trends in composable architecture, particularly focusing on Salesforce and its compatibility with headless architecture. Learn about the advantages of using APIs over traditional SDKs and how KPIs drive executive buy-in for cutting-edge technologies. 

We discuss the benefits of hybrid composable architecture and its competitive edge in hiring developers. Additionally, Adrian shares insights on AI-powered note-taking tools and their impact on enhancing user experiences. Tune in to gain a comprehensive understanding of Avalara’s role in ensuring tax compliance and supporting the infrastructure of an effective e-commerce storefront.

Show Highlights:

• Future trends in composable architecture and the advantages of using APIs over SDKs

• Simplifying taxability complexities in industries like manufacturing with Avalara's sophisticated tax engine

• Competitive edge of hybrid composable architecture and hiring Node.js developers

• The role of KPIs in driving executive buy-in for new technologies

• The potential of AI-powered note-taking tools to revolutionize user experiences and streamline tasks

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

• Join the Commerce Cloud Community: http://sforce.co/commercecrew

• Learn more about Commerce Cloud Innovations here: https://www.salesforce.com/commerce/innovations/ 

• Avalara AppExchange Listing: https://appexchange.salesforce.com/appxListingDetail?listingId=a0N3A00000FMiPDUA1

• B2B & D2C Commerce, Payments and OMS Roadmap Webinar on August 8th at 11am ET: http://sfdc.co/B2Broadmap

• B2C Commerce Roadmap Webinar on August 21 at 1pm ET: http://sfdc.co/B2Croadmap 

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know I sent you.