The Week at Nativevideo #2

Let’s continue our posts highlighting our thoughts from the past week. Naturally last week it was all about Dreamforce, and also one of our coolest new features! Read on to find out more!

With my co-founder Nick, I flew over to San Francisco for Dreamforce 2024 and chronicled his time there on LinkedIn.

As expected, the city was buzzing as it got ready for the influx of Salesforce Trailblazers! There was much speculation and anticipation of the big announcements (including our very own latest release).

The clues scattered around San Francisco indicated that Agentforce would take centre stage, with a sense also that Data Cloud, with its potential to unify customer data like never before, would also be in the spotlight.

Marc Benioff didn’t disappoint at the keynote, kicking things off by unveiling Agentforce, a game-changing approach to AI. He openly acknowledged that “Copilot has become the new Microsoft Clippy,” prompting the need for this new evolution. With Agentforce, we’re entering the 3rd generation of AI for enterprise—after Predictive AI and Copilot, the future is all about Agents!

Data is the foundation of AI success, and there was lots of focus on bringing data to the Platform to be activated with Agents. With stats like 41% of work time wasted on low-value tasks, it’s clear that AI can be a massive productivity booster. The demos were nothing short of brilliant, showing how Agentforce can transform various industries and business processes with seamless integration across different clouds.

Marc’s message was clear: “Don’t DIY it.” Companies already have the data and processes in place with Salesforce, and with Agentforce, they now have the superpower to maximize that potential without the need to build on 3rd party systems.

The sun was up early in San Francisco, kicking off a long and exciting day 2 at Dreamforce! We spent the day engaging with clients, partners, and fellow Trailblazers. As the day transitioned into night, everyone headed to Dreamfest. and what a treat it was! Imagine Dragons and P!nk lit up the stage, and a packed stadium screamed to the top of their lungs with excitement. The vibe was unreal, and the experience? Absolutely unforgettable.

Wrapping up the whirlwind week of innovation and connections and new experiences, including driverless cars for one! Now we need to keep the momentum going and build on the ideas generated.

If ever “if-you-can-you-should” was real, it is for in-person meetings!

Although Dreamforce was hectic I just have to share how delighted I was to use one of our newest Vinton features! In-person meeting transcriptions.

I used Vinton on my phone to capture the full transcript and summary of my conversations with clients and partners when meeting them face-to-face. Dreamforce days are often packed with meeting after meeting, so what a relief that my notes were there for me every time!

IMHO, nothing beats a face-to-face interaction with a prospect, customer or partner. I know we’re all very used to doing virtual meetings, but I think in-person conversations are essential for:

1. Building Trust and Relationships

Face-to-face interactions foster a deeper connection. Body language, eye contact, and physical presence create a sense of trust that’s harder to achieve virtually. Informal conversations also occur naturally, enabling you to build a stronger relationship.

2. Non-verbal communication

A significant portion of communication is non-verbal. In-person meetings allow me to read and respond to cues, like body language and facial expressions, to understand others’ needs and concerns. It’s helpful to see the interaction between team members too that might not be so visible in a virtual meeting.

3. Clearer messaging

Complex products or services are often easier to explain in person, especially when I can use physical demonstrations or materials to clarify points.

4. Building credibility

In-person meetings provide the opportunity to address concerns and objections directly, reducing the chances of misunderstandings or hesitations that might arise in virtual communications.

5. Closing deals

In-person meetings can create a more conducive environment for decision-making. People are often more influenced by emotions when they are physically present with others. This can lead to more favourable outcomes in negotiations or when asking for a commitment.

6. Building a Competitive Edge

A salesperson who wants to meet face-to-face might set themselves apart from others who rely solely on virtual interactions. A positive in-person meeting is more likely to leave a lasting impression.

While virtual communication tools have become essential, in-person meetings remain invaluable for building trust, effectively communicating, and closing deals.

The human element and the subtleties of face-to-face interaction can often make the difference between a lost opportunity and a successful sale.