Accelerate Your Salesforce Success: Why Adding Contract Resources Can Be Vital For Salesforce Projects

In the fast-paced world of Salesforce, organizations often require specialized talent for specific durations to address unique business challenges. Whether implementing a new Salesforce solution, enhancing existing processes, or overcoming resource constraints, contract hiring offers a flexible and efficient solution. Partnering with a Salesforce-focused recruiting firm like Hireforce is crucial to unlocking your organization’s true Salesforce potential. In this post, we'll explore a few reasons why companies should hire contract resources for their Salesforce initiatives.

Expertise in Contract Hiring for Salesforce:

• Contract hiring requires a unique understanding of the Salesforce Ecosystem and the intricacies of short-term project requirements. Hireforce specializes in identifying and engaging contract professionals with the precise skill sets and experience to deliver exceptional results within defined timeframes. Leveraging our expertise ensures that your contract positions are filled with qualified candidates who can seamlessly integrate into your team, hit the ground running, and make an immediate impact.

Swift Access to Specialized Talent:

• Contract hiring often involves quickly assembling an individual or a team of experts to address specific project needs or fill temporary skill gaps. Hireforce maintains an extensive network of pre-screened Salesforce professionals who are readily available for short-term engagements. We can swiftly identify and present you with a pool of highly qualified candidates with the niche skills required to execute your Salesforce projects successfully.

Agility and Scalability:

• Salesforce projects are often dynamic and subject to change. Working with Hireforce offers the agility and scalability needed to adapt to evolving project requirements. Whether you need to scale up your team to meet project demands or adjust the skill mix based on shifting priorities, Hireforce can quickly provide the necessary resources to ensure your project stays on track. This flexibility allows you to optimize resource allocation, manage costs effectively, and maintain project momentum without disrupting your core workforce.

Streamlined Recruitment Process:

• Contract hiring can be time-sensitive, and delays in candidate acquisition can impact project timelines and deliverables. Hireforce streamlines the recruitment process, leveraging our expertise and proven methodologies to expedite candidate sourcing, screening, and selection. We handle the administrative aspects, including contract negotiation and onboarding, ensuring a smooth and seamless experience for the candidate and your organization. By minimizing time-to-hire, you can confidently accelerate project kick-off and maintain project schedules.

Cost Optimization:

• Contract hiring provides cost advantages by enabling you to leverage specialized skills for the duration of a project without the long-term financial commitments associated with permanent hires. Additionally, Hireforce can help optimize costs by providing market insights on competitive compensation rates, ensuring you attract and retain top talent within your budget. Hireforce also handles administrative burdens, such as payroll, benefits, and contractor management, streamlining processes and freeing up your resources for strategic project execution.

Hiring a contractor in the dynamic realm of Salesforce offers a flexible and efficient solution to meet specific business needs. Partnering with Hireforce, a Salesforce-focused recruiting firm, ensures you can tap into a vast network of specialized talent, minimize risks, expedite recruitment, and optimize costs. By collaborating with a trusted partner, you can confidently assemble a high-performing contract team that accelerates your project.

Tips and Tricks for Work-From-Home Parents

While there are a number of working parents, especially those in the tech industry, who have experienced years of remote work, there has been a significant shift in recent years due to the unprecedented impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. This sudden shift meant many parents who were previously commuting to work found themselves working from home with a new additional challenge - balancing their work with caring for their children.

Now there are many benefits that work-from-home arrangements provide. For example, remote work has given parents much more flexibility within their schedules, allowing more time to be spent with their children and families. Many parents have reported feeling more connected with their children, having the opportunity to drive them to and from school, sharing more meals with them, and overall being more present with them.

Additionally, working from home has removed the need for long commutes, allowing parents to save time and money on transportation. It has also led to a reduction in the carbon footprint associated with commuting, as well as a reduction in traffic congestion.

Now that the impact of the pandemic has significantly receded three years later, these work-from-home arrangements have remained for many workers. Although there are many benefits, it is important to note that remote work is not a one-size-fits-all solution. There are many challenges and added stressors that can come with this arrangement. Let’s explore some tips for successfully balancing work and parenting from the comfort of your home.

Create a Schedule

Undoubtedly, one of the biggest benefits of working from home is the ability to set your own schedule. However, it can be easy to let your work and personal life blend together without structure. To avoid this, create a schedule that outlines your work hours and blocks of time dedicated to your children. Plan important calls or meetings when your older children are in school or your younger children are taking naps. Be aware of your “non-negotiable” times. Make sure to communicate this schedule with your family so they know when you are available and when you are working. This allows you to be fully present and focused during each respective time block.

Set Boundaries

Working from home can make it difficult to disconnect from work since everything is in one location. It is essential to set boundaries to avoid burnout and to ensure you have time for your family. This could mean setting a specific time each day to log off, turning off work notifications during family time, or having a designated workspace that you leave when you're done working. These are all helpful in creating a situation that most resemble actually leaving an office for the day to return home.

Plan Activities

When your work and home life merges, it can be easy to neglect one or the other. Plan activities for your children to ensure they are still getting the attention they need. It could be something as simple as taking a walk around the neighborhood or doing a craft together. During busier work days, try simply moving your equipment outside to allow yourself some fresh air while your children play outdoors. Having these planned activities can give you a mental break from work and help you recharge.

Utilize Technology

Technology can be a lifesaver for work-from-home parents. Use video conferencing tools or message platforms like Slack to stay in touch with colleagues and attend virtual meetings. You can also use apps and websites to keep your children entertained, such as educational apps or online games. Just make sure to set limits on screen time so they don't spend all day in front of a screen.

Practice Self-Care

This is something that undoubtedly every parent wishes they can do more. Being a working parent allows for very little personal time. It is easy to get caught up in work and parenting responsibilities and neglect your own needs. Practicing self-care is essential to avoid burnout and maintain your mental and physical health. Take time to work this into your schedule. This could mean taking breaks throughout the day to stretch, meditate, exercise, or schedule time for hobbies and activities you enjoy. Additionally, practicing self-care might also just mean letting go of hard days. Not every day is going to go as planned. Your children might get sick, your toddler refuses to nap, or your babysitter cancels unexpectedly. Give yourself grace and allow yourself to re-prioritize to fit the new needs of the day. When it is over, let it go and move on to the next day.

Being a work-from-home parent can be challenging, but it can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience with the right strategies in place. You can successfully balance your work and family life while working from home by creating a schedule, setting boundaries, planning activities, utilizing technology, and practicing self-care.

From Service to Salesforce

Leaving the military can be a daunting experience. After years of serving their country, many military professionals find themselves wondering what's next. One industry that's becoming increasingly popular among transitioning veterans is the Salesforce Ecosystem. Below, we'll explore why military professionals should consider transitioning into a Salesforce profession and the benefits of this career change.

1.     High Demand for Salesforce Professionals

Salesforce is one of the fastest-growing software companies in the world, and the demand for Salesforce professionals continues to rise. According to industry reports, the Salesforce Ecosystem is expected to create millions of new jobs in the coming years. This high demand for Salesforce professionals means that transitioning military professionals have an excellent opportunity to find a job in this field.

2.     Transferable Skills

Military professionals bring unique skills and experiences to the table, many of which are highly valued in the Salesforce Ecosystem. For example, military professionals are often known for their leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities. These transferable skills can make transitioning Veterans an asset to Salesforce teams.

3.     Opportunity for Growth and Development

The Salesforce Ecosystem constantly evolves, providing opportunities for professional growth and development. Military Veterans transitioning to Salesforce can leverage their existing skills and experience to pursue new career paths in various roles within the Salesforce Ecosystem. Salesforce also offers a variety of training and certification programs to help professionals build their skills and advance their careers. Check out Salesforce Military to learn more.

4.     Competitive Salaries

Salaries for Salesforce professionals are highly competitive, making it a lucrative career choice for transitioning military professionals. Professionals in the Salesforce Ecosystem can earn salaries significantly higher than the average salaries for many other industries.

5.     Meaningful Work

Veterans often seek out work that has a significant impact. In the Salesforce ecosystem, professionals can work on projects that help organizations achieve their goals and make a difference in the world. Salesforce's mission is to help companies be more successful and create positive social impact, making it an excellent fit for veterans who want to continue serving their communities.

Transitioning from a military career to a career in the Salesforce Ecosystem is an excellent opportunity for Veterans to build on their existing skills and experiences. With the high demand for Salesforce professionals, transferable skills, opportunities for growth and development, competitive salaries, and meaningful work, it's no wonder that more and more military professionals are considering a career in this field. If you're a transitioning Veteran looking for a new career path, consider exploring the opportunities available in the Salesforce Ecosystem.

March Madness and Data - Can Technology Accurately Predict a Winner?

With Chat GPT, AI, and machine learning making more considerable advancements over the last few years, can it help you win your March Madness Bracket Challenge?

In 2021, Will Geoghegan sure hoped so! After training a machine learning model to fill out his bracket, Geoghegan’s men’s bracket was still intact and in the top 0.2% of more than 14 million brackets on ESPN. 

Geoghegan told Sports Illustrated he “used AdaBoost, which he said is essentially ‘an algorithm for combining a collection of relatively weak predictors into a single strong predictor.’ He pulled data from the Massey Ratings instead of using player or game-level data. 

Essentially, the model aggregated the opinions of experts who create the college basketball rankings. It used the seeds and the various ranking systems as weak predictors with training data going back to 2003.”

Akkio, an easy-to-use, scalable, and affordable no-code AI platform for real-time decision-making, notes, “the strength of any machine learning model is entirely dependent on the quality of historical data you use to train the model. With an application like basketball, there is plenty of data, - so the upfront work was both choosing what data to include in the model and then building the dataset.”

Every year, more and more bracket challengers try to use data to their advantage for predicting the winner of March Madness, but AI predictions have been all over the place in success in the past:

• In 2021, one AI prediction had Ohio State winning it all, who then lost in the first round. Another AI prediction had Gonzaga and Baylor in the championship game, with Gonzaga winning it all when in reality, Baylor won it all. 

• In 2022, AI predictions chose Gonzaga Bulldogs, Kentucky Wildcats, Arizona Wildcats, and Auburn Tigers to make it to the Final Four. In reality, the Final Four came down to the Kansas Jayhawks, Villanova Wildcats, North Carolina Tar Heels, and the Duke Blue Devils.

With continuous tinkering on what data should be used to create predictions, various models, and evergrowing technological advancements, can AI predict the 2023 National Champion? Here are some AI predictions for this year’s tournament:

• Prediction 1: Kentucky is set to win it all against Iowa 84–79 in the National Championship.

• Prediction 2: Creighton Bluejays, Houston Cougars, Duke Blue Devils, and the Kansas Jayhawks for the final four, with the machine picking Houston as the National Champion.

What are your thoughts on the above predictions for this year’s Men’s National Champion? Who do you have winning it all?

Einstein GPT: a breakdown

Earlier this month, Salesforce unveiled a new AI service called Einstein GPT, an AI bot similar to the popular Chat GPT but catered toward employees in corporate settings. With Microsoft partnering with OpenAI to integrate its chatbot tech into Bing and Google releasing a Chat GPT competitor named Bard, it wasn't a matter of "if" but "when" Salesforce would get in the game.

Let's back up and start with "what is Chat GPT"?

Chat GPT is an AI chatbot auto-generative system created by Open AI for online customer care. It's a pre-trained generative chat utilizing Natural Language Processing (NLP). Chat GPT's data source is textbooks, websites, and various articles, which it uses to model its language for responding to human interaction. The main feature of Chat GPT is to generate responses as humans would. Chat GPT with chatbots, AI system conversations, and virtual assistants in mind. Furthermore, Chat GPT can also give natural answers to questions in a conversational tone and generate stories, poems, and more. 

Salesforce's AI service, Einstein GPT, will integrate with Salesforce's customer relationship management (CRM) system and allow users to type in prompts to generate client summaries, personalized emails, marketing copy, or code. Einstein GPT can also create images, such as promotional headers, for businesses to use in campaigns. Salesforce partnered with ChatGPT maker OpenAI, allowing the model to pull from the enterprise version of ChatGPT and other sources, including public information and Salesforce data. Companies can also train Einstein GPT using their company data. 

During the Salesforce TrailblazerDX 2023 Innovation Preview on Tuesday, March 7, Sanina Parulekar, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Salesforce, said Einstein GPT would combine data from publicly available and private sources to train models with CRM data. This data will enable Einstein GPT to deliver AI-generated content for Slack, sales, service, marketing, commerce, and IT. Here's what Salesforce has launched so far:

• Einstein GPT for Sales: Auto-generate sales tasks like composing emails, scheduling meetings, and preparing for the next interaction. 

• Einstein GPT for Service: Generate knowledge articles from past case notes. Auto-generate personalized agent chat replies to increase customer satisfaction through personalized and expedited service interactions.

• Einstein GPT for Marketing: Dynamically generate personalized content to engage customers and prospects across email, mobile, web, and advertising.

• Einstein GPT for Slack Customer 360 apps: Deliver AI-powered customer insights in Slack, like smart summaries of sales opportunities and surface end users' actions like updating knowledge articles.

• Einstein GPT for Developers: Improve developer productivity with Salesforce Research's proprietary large language model by using an AI chat assistant to generate code and ask questions for languages like Apex.

Salesforce also announced a new ChatGPT app for Slack, where customers can:

• Get up to speed faster on channels or threads: AI-powered conversation summaries help users quickly catch up on what's happening.

• Instantly find answers on any project or topic: with AI-powered research tools, users can learn and build expertise faster right from Slack — whether they're researching best practices, prospecting a new account, and more.

• Draft messages in seconds to communicate with customers and teams: with AI-powered writing assistance, users can spend less time crafting replies, status updates, and meeting notes — and more time putting the plan in action.

Clara Shih, CEO of Salesforce's Service Cloud business, said in CNBC's Squawk Box last week, "You look at how salespeople work today, and most of them, they dread writing sales emails; they'd much rather be out there with customers… they can offload those tasks that are more mundane … they want to focus on engaging with the customer and problem-solving."

While Einstein GPT is currently in closed pilot, we're excited and interested to see how our clients utilize Einstein GPT when it's launched. Will your company integrate Einstein GPT upon release?