This year’s Salesforce Connections felt different.
What stood out was the clarity. The path forward for marketing teams isn’t just about more data or more AI. It’s about doing less busywork, making smarter moves, and building systems that actually scale, and putting an end to traditional “do-not-reply” marketing.
Here’s what we took away from the main stage—and what it means for marketers who want more than a flashy demo.
1. Marketing Cloud Next Is Here
No re-platforming. No rebuild. Marketing Cloud Next is the same foundation you’re already using—just smarter, faster, and finally fully connected.
It’s an all-in-one platform built on top of Data Cloud, with Agentforce embedded into every workflow. Think of it as a marketing command center that unifies ExactTarget, Pardot, and Datorama into a seamless experience with personalization built in from the start.
2. Agentforce Cuts Campaign Timelines from Weeks to Minutes
This isn’t hypothetical. Agentforce lets you build, personalize, and launch campaigns in a fraction of the time—not because marketers are working harder, but because the system is.
- Tell it your goals.
- Watch it generate briefs, create segments, draft flows, and more.
- Let it surface underperforming campaigns and assets plus suggest optimizations in real time.
The result? More time for strategy. Less time in spreadsheets.
3. Two-Way Conversations Are the New Gold Standard
Forget static drip campaigns. With Agentforce + Marketing Cloud Next, every channel—email, social, website—can become live, two-way interactions.
That means:
- Personalized recommendations based on browsing history
- Smart answers to real questions
- Seamless handoffs to representatives when needed
Web agents go way beyond traditional chatbots. They understand intent, pull from your actual product catalog, and keep customers on your site—not off searching for a competitor.
4. The Journey Builder You Know—Now in Flow
Marketers, rejoice. Flow is replacing Journey Builder, but not in a way that forces you to start from scratch.
Here’s what’s different:
- Build campaigns directly in Flow
- Link journeys together without custom code
- Let Agentforce decide which journey is best for each customer
It’s a friendlier, more flexible way to grow relationships—without losing the logic you’ve already built.
5. AI Personalization That Works Like a Brain, Not a Template
Personalization used to mean plugging a first name into an email. Now, it means understanding what someone wants—even before they ask.
With Agentforce + Data Cloud:
- Emails become dynamic, with content and CTAs based on real behaviors
- Campaigns can adapt in real time
- Attribution models reflect what you care about—not just standard benchmarks
And if you’re stuck? Ask the agent for new ideas. Seriously. It’ll give you data-backed suggestions for offers, messaging, and segments you may not have thought of.
6. Consumption Is Finally Transparent with the Digital Wallet
One of the most underrated launches? The new Digital Wallet for marketers.
It gives you a live look at:
- How much of your AI budget you’re using
- Which channels are consuming the most resources
- A centralized marketing calendar the whole team can see
No more over-sending. No more surprise costs. Just visibility that helps you plan smarter.
7. Your Martech Stack Just Got a Lot More Cohesive
Datorama is now built on top of Data Cloud, and it talks directly to Tableau. No duplicate reports, no lag time, and way fewer silos.
Add Agentforce into the mix, and you get a platform that doesn’t just measure performance—it helps you act on it.
Bottom Line: Faster, Smarter, Simpler Marketing
Salesforce isn’t just adding new tools. It’s rethinking how marketers work—and removing friction at every step.
Whether you’re streamlining your campaign workflows or turning your website into an AI-powered conversation engine, the tools to move faster and scale smarter are ready now.
Marketing Cloud Next becomes generally available to customers in July.
If you’re ready to bring the future a little closer, we’re here to help.
