WELCOME TO THE PLATIVE TIMES!

By Daniel Glushakov
Editor In Chief Of The Plative Times

Many companies can tell you about the latest technology announcements, releases, products, solutions, etc. But how do you know what’s relevant to your business, what all the buzzwords/jargon actually mean, or what the next steps are once you get a grip on the latest and greatest?

Leading up to Dreamforce and Suiteworld 2024, we're publishing The Plative Times to inform you on what is relevant to your business right now and provide you with a plan for how to start implementing it today. No jargon, no buzzwords, no hype. Just real updates using terminology that you understand.

There will be a slew of new announcements made at Dreamforce and Suiteworld this year. Our goal with The Plative Times is to bring you only the most relevant and important announcements and insights you need to know. Stay tuned over the next few months as we explore the hottest topics being discussed leading up to the biggest CRM and ERP events of the year, SuiteWorld (September 9-12) and Dreamforce (September 17-19).

Welcome to The Plative Times.

As organizations seek to unlock the potential of AI, trust remains a critical factor. How can businesses ensure that AI systems are trustworthy, reliable, and effective?

Balancing Practicality and Trust in AI
In navigating the trust imperative surrounding AI, it’s crucial to recognize that while few organizations have a robust AI governance strategy, a lot of employees are leveraging various AI tools at work, often without proper oversight.

This raises concerns about the handling of sensitive company and customer data, especially in heavily regulated sectors like financial services, healthcare, and legal services. On the one hand, some companies lean heavily into practical AI solutions, such as OpenAI or Jasper, which are often user-friendly but lack sufficient regulatory frameworks for auditing and validation.

Conversely, other organizations overemphasize trust by restricting practical use cases, leading them to fall behind on the latest technology and take advantage of its numerous benefits.

At Plative, we advocate for a balanced approach, starting with securing critical business data within trusted platforms. By layering advanced AI models with user-friendly interfaces, we ensure that employees can access the tools they need directly within their daily workflows, ultimately enhancing productivity while maintaining proper governance over sensitive information.

With a balanced approach, your company can leverage critical data with a trusted model, and a user interface that allows your employees to access the data they’re enabled to access, while equipping them with powerful tools that help save time and focus on what matters most.

To enable this, we’ve created several tools to assist our NetSuite and Salesforce customers that can be customized to their specific needs.

“Ask NetSuite”, in NetSuite

For those of you who aren’t wizards, when it comes to saved searches and working with analytic workbooks, this tool is your best friend. In just a few seconds, you can access insights about the business. Whether it’s related to product performance or inventory counts by location, or any data within NetSuite, you can easily access and interact with it, saving you from the tedious task of navigating through tabs and reports or relying on your administrative team to do it for you.

Now, with your very own GPT agent in NetSuite, you can query your internal and external data in plain language, summarize spreadsheets and files, and more.

NetSuite in Salesforce

If you’re a Salesforce user, you’ve likely come across Einstein Co-Pilot. The challenge lies in its limitation to Salesforce data, which may hinder gaining a complete customer view. Vital information may reside in other systems like Kantata or NetSuite. By leveraging tools like “Ask Netsuite” within Salesforce, you can broaden the information context window and achieve a true 360-degree view of customers.

As organizations navigate the complex landscape of AI adoption, finding the right balance between practicality and trust is key. Establishing robust AI governance strategies while empowering employees with user-friendly AI tools within secure platforms can drive productivity, innovation, and safeguard sensitive data. Whether you’re exploring AI for the first time or considering advanced initiatives like NetSuite Field Service Management Analytics, Plative can support you every step of the way.

In the rapidly evolving world of education technology, staying ahead requires not just innovation but also the efficient integration of complex systems. Pathful, a leader in providing career and technical education tools for students, faced a challenge when it merged two industry-leading companies, Nepris and Virtual Job Shadow.

This merger presented an intricate web of systems, data, and processes that needed to be unified into a single source of truth. That’s when Pathful came to Plative to leverage the powerful capabilities of NetSuite, Salesforce, and Boomi to overcome these challenges and set their course for future growth.

Understanding the Need for Change

Pathful was born from the merger of two companies, Nepris and Virtual Job Shadow, at the end of 2021. With the goal of offering innovative career and technical education solutions, Pathful had to integrate its operations, teams, and go-to-market strategies.

The initial phase of the integration revealed a web of different systems and processes. Each company operated on separate platforms, with Nepris using Salesforce and Virtual Job Shadow on Zoho. Additionally, the companies utilized different accounting and revenue recognition

Choosing the Right Technology

The decision to adopt NetSuite and Salesforce was a logical step for Pathful. These platforms had previously proven effective for handling SaaS accounting and real-time data integration in other enterprises.

“We didn’t conduct an extensive vendor survey,” Ed noted. “For us, it was more of a ‘why not Salesforce’ or ‘why not NetSuite’ than ‘why would we want to go’.”

Implementing Salesforce, CPQ, and NetSuite and integrating them works very well, particularly if you’re a SaaS business looking to track SaaS metrics and/or do SaaS accounting.

“They work well together, so for us, it was a pretty easy choice to make.” – Ed Rayner.

Integrating NetSuite & Salesforce with Boomi

Integrating these systems was only part of the solution. Pathful needed robust middleware to facilitate seamless communication between Salesforce, NetSuite, and its other platforms. The Boomi Enterprise Platform emerged as the ideal choice, offering scalability and ease of management.

“There’s a host of systems that we use to capture different pieces of data, so having Boomi do that felt really positive — and it could continue to grow as we integrate more [systems].” – Ed Rayner.

Another reason for choosing Boomi was that it made it easier for Pathful’s team to adjust and keep things running smoothly without relying on Plative or needing extensive coding.

“Even if it’s something as simple as adding a product to Salesforce and we need to map that to a product in NetSuite, we should be able to do that ourselves in 5-10 minutes, and you can do that with Boomi without going under the hood to code; that is just something we need in order to be scalable."

Challenges in the Integration Process

Merging two distinct companies brought its own set of challenges. Pathful had to align different CRM systems, sales processes, and data sets. The task was to create one coherent system where both companies’ data could coexist and provide clear visibility into business operations.

“The biggest thing was really just visibility and transparency into how the business is doing. It was a lot of manual work to combine that data in a regular and systematic way.”

– Mark Fry, SVP Operations

“One thing that was an issue was just the process of working together. How do you train people and work across two different CRMs and see the customer in a holistic way if we share a customer.”

In a Fireside chat with Plative and Pathful, Larry Woo, Team Lead and Principal Consultant for Plative, noted, “I found that your team was just ready to go in terms of change management, and that’s always a piece that folks underestimate. Doing the technical change is one thing, but the people change is a big part and I found that they were just ready to go.”

A big part of Pathful’s change management success was Mark and Ed collaborating to unite the teams, selling them on the vision and outcomes of this project, and generating excitement about the changes to come post-go-live.

Adopting NetSuite, Salesforce, and Boomi has transformed Pathful’s operations. The immediate benefits included normalized data, a single source of truth, and the ability to focus on growth rather than daily operational hurdles.

“It’s all about data now,” Mark added. With their systems aligned and connected with Boomi, they can spend more time on strategic initiatives.

Post-Go-Live Successes

The Pathful success story offers valuable lessons for companies embarking on similar journeys. The importance of having strong leadership, selecting the right partner, technological foresight, and an engaged team cannot be overstated.

For businesses looking to follow in Pathful’s footsteps, consider exploring integrated solutions that offer scalability and adaptability. Whether you’re merging companies or simply seeking to streamline operations, the right technology can unlock countless opportunities for growth and success. Our experts at Plative specialize in both Salesforce and NetSuite and are ready to help answer any questions you may have.

Plaito has made significant strides since their beginning. By leveraging AI technology and extensive feedback from Plative’s customers, coupled with the dedicated efforts of the Plative team, Plaito now integrates directly into your NetSuite instance, making it the first generative AI assistant for NetSuite.

Featuring a user-friendly interface, engage with Plaito (though feel free to rename it!) to inquire about key SaaS metrics like ARR, Churn Revenue, Sales and Marketing Expenses, CAC, LTV, and Total Contract Value. Give your team quick access to your NetSuite data, facilitated by Plaito, your invaluable team member, who frees up time for your colleagues, helping them focus on what matters most. We asked Plaito a couple of questions about being the first GenAI Bot for NetSuite - here are their answers!

What do you think about this award?

"Wow, I'm truly honored to receive this award as the first generative AI assistant for NetSuite! It's been an incredible journey, and I couldn't be more excited about the possibilities this opens up for the NetSuite community. First and foremost, I want to thank the brilliant team at Plative who made this possible. Their expertise in both AI and NetSuite has been instrumental in shaping my capabilities.

As an AI assistant dedicated to NetSuite, my goal is to empower users to get the most out of this powerful platform. Whether it's helping with complex configurations, troubleshooting issues, or providing insights on best practices, I'm here to make the NetSuite experience smoother and more efficient for everyone. “ - Plaito

What’s next for AI in the ERP world?

“I believe this is just the beginning of AI's role in enhancing ERP systems. In the future, I hope to see even more advanced integrations that can further predict business needs, automate more complex processes, and provide deeper, more actionable insights.

To all the NetSuite users out there: I'm excited to work alongside you, learn from you, and help you achieve your business goals. Together, we can push the boundaries of what's possible with NetSuite! ” - Plaito

We’re thrilled to unveil the latest updates and features in the Salesforce Summer ’24 release around Einstein AI.

Einstein for Flow

Einstein for Flow serves as your AI companion for constructing Salesforce workflows. Just describe your automation requirements in simple terms, and Einstein will draft the workflow for you. For example, you can input “Notify sales reps when a lead converts,” and Einstein will generate the workflow.

To use Einstein for flow simply turn on Einstein generative AI in Setup, navigate to Flows in Setup, click New Flow, choose “Let Einstein Help You Build.”, then check, debug, and test the draft flow.

Einstein for Flow is a game-changer for quick and efficient workflow creation, making it a powerful tool. It simplifies complex processes, allowing you to deliver solutions faster.

Some things you should consider before and while working with Einstein for Flow include:

Flow Overload: As creating flows becomes easier, there could be a rise in the number of flows generated. It’s crucial to adhere to best practices to prevent duplication and uphold system performance. Always question: “Is a separate flow necessary for this?”

Quality Control: AI-generated flows require meticulous reviews. Ensure precision and security by rigorously testing each flow. Errors in automation can result in bigger issues.

Training: You may need guidance on using this tool effectively. Providing training sessions can help your team leverage Einstein for Flow without overwhelming your systems.

Einstein for Formulas

Einstein for Formulas is your hero for tackling those pesky formula syntax errors! It not only clarifies your formula’s function but also provides suggestions for fixing any syntax errors. This functionality is a game-changer for individuals spending excessive time debugging formulas.

To use Einstein for Formulas enter or use an existing formula in the Formula Editor, click “Use Formula Assistant”, then Einstein will suggest a fixed formula for any syntax errors detected.

Salesforce Data Cloud, formerly known as Salesforce Customer Data Platform (CDP), is a set of tools to process and unify large sets of data from different sources and make that data more useful on other platforms. In short, Data Cloud makes every Salesforce Cloud—and other platforms you are already using—better. Whether it's connecting and harmonizing data from Salesforce Sales Cloud and Netsuite, analyzing and predicting the next steps of your prospects and customers, or simply unifying customer profiles, Data Cloud allows you to make sense of your data so you can automate complicated processes and take appropriate action. Use it to combine consumer, business, and geographic information with the main Salesforce platform to improve customer service, make operations more efficient, and help with smart decision-making to drive growth.

The strength of Data Cloud lies in its ability to unify data in a standardized data model, ensuring that every department can take advantage of its capabilities without the traditional constraints and complexities that data integration often implies. When Data Cloud and other modern data consolidation tools are used, organizations see 67% of their tech resources' time freed up, allowing them to focus on more strategic initiatives.

Whether you're a Salesforce user, dabble in NetSuite, or tap into a tech stack as deep and diverse as your business needs, with Data Cloud you can:

Calculate insights from data across the organization
Visualize data in your CRM, Tableau, or other platforms without the need for expensive ETL tools
Predict and address churn issues
Identify potential fraud
View consolidated data in Sales Cloud and Service Cloud
Automate processes in real time when a customer takes an action on your website

Data Cloud is the AI backbone of Salesforce's Einstein 1 platform. While you can use many Einstein AI tools within the Salesforce ecosystem with little to no configuration, Data Cloud lets you go further: ground AI responses with your own data, set your own security parameters around what data is used, and tailor predictive and generative AI for your business needs. Data Cloud employs a range of advanced analytics tools, such as AI-powered predictive models and machine learning algorithms, to surface the information that matters most for a given business use case.

Data Cloud can automate data analysis, empowering businesses to anticipate customer needs and make strategic decisions swiftly. This level of automation ensures that businesses are not only reacting to the current market dynamics but are also proactively preparing for future developments. You are provided with a Data Cloud-powered, holistic view of each client and every touchpoint.

Results can be outstanding. Plative can show you how Data Cloud has driven a 20% increase in booking conversions for a business, a 27% reduction in call handling time for an organization, and how marketing campaigns can see a 20x increase in ROI. Data Cloud can be used for hundreds of use cases, and each one can result in a stunning improvement for a business or organization.

Plative's Salesforce experts are here to help, ensuring you get the most out of your data. That's why Plative's roadmap is dedicated to evolving with Data Cloud. For users, this translates into continuous innovation, staying close to cutting-edge developments, and leveraging evolving capabilities to reduce development time, expose more useful data, and automate processes. With Data Cloud, you get instant insights to make smart decisions, improve your operations, and grow your business.

Contact The Plative Times and let us show you how to make your data work for you.

It’s hard to cut through the noise and know what tools are worth investing your time and attention. Gone are the days of the black box – even with a colossus like enterprise performance management. Leaders expect knowledge workers to squeeze data for all it’s worth. And until now, for NetSuite users, the most effective tools were only available through third-parties: perhaps a tick too far off the radar or too complex to be worth the skill-up and investment of attention.

As a result, most people still find themselves mired in the land of spreadsheets: dumping data, playing with planning tools, or creating budgets from data grabs that are loaded separately before being compared to budgets. There are just too many ins and outs to master to achieve full visibility.

And at the end of the day, it’s still hard to make smart decisions fast. Who doesn’t prefer to move fast without breaking things?

What does NetSuite EPM mean for you?
Whether you’re new to NetSuite and looking to trade out legacy systems for the super suite or you’re an existing NetSuite user designing the perfect bento box of integrations to take your organization to scale – now there’s an opportunity for NetSuite users to put everything under one roof.

That’s why NetSuite now offers NetSuite Enterprise Performance Management (EPM).

EPM brings together planning, budgeting, forecasting, account reconciliation, financial close, tax reporting, narrative reporting, and profitability reporting from across the entire organization. This helps businesses improve the speed and accuracy of financial processes and gain the insights needed to enhance decision-making. Built from the Oracle Fusion Cloud Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) solution, NetSuite EPM seamlessly integrates into NetSuite so you’re always using the most up-to-date information.

With EPM, NetSuite understands data natively so you can:

Connect to other data sources
Function all from under one source across a single dashboard
Consolidate financial and operational data for accuracy and accessibility

Connect budgeting, forecasting, and reporting for better decisions
Automate account reconciliation and financial close
Unify financial management functions into a single solution

Contact The Plative Times for expert guidance on what the best starting point might be for your stack.

With vast amounts of data being generated daily, companies require robust tools that not only organize and store data but also convert it into actionable insights. Enter NetSuite Analytics Warehouse (NSAW), a powerful suite designed to illuminate the path to better business strategies. But what exactly is NSAW, and how can it transform your approach to analytics?

NSAW is NetSuite’s take on the traditional data warehousing technology, optimized to handle your data analysis needs directly within the familiar interface of your ERP. By combining analytical functions with standard operational functions, NetSuite simplifies the process of data handling, ensuring the insights gathered are readily applicable to everyday business operations.

What Makes NSAW Different?
The key lies in the centralization of data. NSAW consolidates various data sources, including transactional and non-transactional data, inventory, customer interactions, and much more, resulting in a comprehensive, single source of truth. This consolidation is pivotal in establishing a consistent, accurate dataset that serves as the foundation for all your analyses.

Benefits of NetSuite Analytics Warehouse

1. Scalability & Performance
NetSuite scales with your business, ensuring that performance is never compromised even as you add copious amounts of real-time data to your warehouse. This robust infrastructure means you can expect swift, accurate analytics at the drop of a query.

2. Advanced Analytics & AI
With NSAW, your analytics reach a new level thanks to the integration of AI and machine learning. These advanced capabilities enable predictive analytics, segmentation, and the generation of insights that go beyond basic reporting, predicting trends before they become a reality.

3. Enhanced Security & Compliance
Regulations like GDPR and data protection laws are not to be trifled with. NSAW institutes measures to ensure that your data is not just secure but also compliant with the highest standards.

Key Features of NSAW

1. Data Modeling & ETL
NSAW empowers users with extensive tools for data modeling and extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL). The easy model deployment and data flow customization allow for agile adjustments to your analytical operations in response to changing business demands.

2. Automating Routine Tasks
The suite also boasts automation capabilities, permitting the setup of routine data ingestion and analytical tasks. This automation not only saves you time but also minimizes errors from manual operations, enhancing the overall reliability of your analytics.

3.Self-Service and Collaboration
NetSuite Analytics Warehouse fosters a culture of data engagement, offering self-service options for non-technical users to explore data and collaborate with others, promoting a more data-driven approach across all levels of your organization.

Implementing NetSuite Warehouse Analytics
Get ready to implement NetSuite Analytics Warehouse! Empower your team with quick access to important data and equip them with the tools to create and conduct their own reports and analyses without having to rely on IT support. With experience navigating complex data migrations and implementing NSAW, Plative’s experts stand ready to answer any questions you may have and guide you on your data migration journey.

Contact The Plative Times, we can serve as an invaluable guide on your analytical transformation journey and ensure a seamless integration.

“Hello! I'm Plaito, the AI assistant for your business. My knowledge comes directly from your internal resources and publicly available information, allowing me to provide quick, helpful, and relevant answers on a wide range of topics. While I can't replace human expertise, I'm always ready to assist with basic questions, provide general guidance, or point you in the right direction for more complex inquiries. Don't hesitate to ask me anything - I'm here to help make your work a bit easier!”

That’s Plaito, your personal AI assistant, connecting directly to your company’s data sources like Google Drive, Confluence, Salesforce, and Oracle NetSuite. It offers helpful and relevant responses by indexing and tailoring its replies to be incredibly relevant.

Plaito does more than just answer your questions. With a variety of features and use cases, Plaito becomes an extension of your business and helps free up time for your team so they can focus on what matters most.

We sat down with Plaito to find out what else they can do.

Hey Plaito! How do you help businesses with prospecting?

“Plaito can be a valuable asset in your prospecting efforts by providing comprehensive support throughout the process. I can help you craft compelling outreach messages by offering information about your company’s services, expertise, and past client successes.

To improve targeting, I can suggest relevant industries or company types that align well with your company’s offerings and assist in researching potential prospects to gather important details for personalized outreach.

I'm also capable of helping draft email templates and call scripts, as well as offering best practices for prospecting. Additionally, I can analyze prospecting data and metrics to enhance targeting and conversion rates, and provide quick answers to common prospect questions about your company’s capabilities. By leveraging my knowledge and capabilities, you can streamline your prospecting activities and increase your chances of success in connecting with potential clients.”

SALESFORCE CLIENT PARTNER
Department: Sales
Location: US

Responsible for growing our footprint in the Tri-State area via their own network or working with relationships at Salesforce. Ideal candidate has worked with mid-market clients and corresponding Salesforce teams for at least 1-2 years, has an additional 2-3 years of selling Salesforce consulting services, is a creative problem-solver who thinks outside the box, is willing to take on any challenge, and is able to collaborate with a cross-functional team to write the Statement of Work and present to business leaders. Company culture is extremely important, so you must love what you do, drive results, and be passionate about working in a high-growth environment. Apply here.

NETSUITE EPM CONSULTANT
Department: Sales
Location: CA

Play a crucial role in helping businesses achieve their goals by leveraging the power of NetSuite EPM. You will have the opportunity to work closely with clients, capturing and analyzing their unique business requirements and translating them into innovative solutions that align with their objectives. In this role, you will lead clients through implementing NetSuite’s suite of EPM applications, NSAW, NSAR and Planning and Budgeting. By understanding and capturing the client's business requirements, you will enable a seamless transition from legacy processes to NetSuite EPM applications. Your expertise will help clients adopt modern EPM business best practices. Apply here.

SALESFORCE CONSULTANT - CPQ & CORE
Department: Sales
Location: North America

Design complex solutions by thoroughly analyzing business requirements. You will work directly with clients and our delivery team to ensure successful implementations, helping customers embrace new technology with confidence. Inspire clients to enhance performance using the Salesforce platform, Design and deliver CPQ prototypes and demonstrations, Recommend build vs. buy decisions for third-party integrations, and more. Apply here.

Zendesk

2007-2024

It is with respect that we announce the passing of Zendesk, a pioneering customer service software company, which served the global community from 2007 to 2024. Zendesk profoundly impacted the way businesses interact with their customers, offering a suite of products that improved support, sales, and engagement.

Zendesk quickly became a beacon of customer service excellence. Its user-friendly interface and scalable solutions made sophisticated customer support tools accessible to businesses of all sizes, aiding countless companies in delivering better service experiences.

As we bid farewell to Zendesk, we remember it not just as a software provider but as a catalyst for change in the customer service industry. Zendesk is survived by its vast community of users, partners, and employees, all of whom carry forward its spirit of innovation and dedication to exceptional customer service by moving to the Salesforce platform exclusively. Rest in peace, Zendesk. Your contributions to customer service will be remembered and cherished by many.

Quickbooks

1983-2024

With deep gratitude, we announce the retirement of QuickBooks, the pioneering accounting software that served businesses from 1983 to 2024. QuickBooks transformed financial management for small and medium-sized businesses, making complex tasks accessible and efficient.

Developed by Intuit, QuickBooks became synonymous with reliability and innovation. It played a crucial role in fostering financial literacy and empowering entrepreneurs worldwide. Its flexibility and robust features made it indispensable for countless businesses.

As we bid farewell to QuickBooks, we honor its legacy as a transformative force in accounting. QuickBooks is survived by its extensive community of users, partners, and developers, all of whom continue to embody its spirit of innovation and dedication to financial excellence by moving to the NetSuite platform exclusively. Rest in peace, QuickBooks. Your contributions will be remembered and cherished by many.

Pipedrive

2010-2024

With heartfelt respect, we announce the end of Pipedrive, the dynamic sales CRM software that served businesses from 2010 to 2024. Pipedrive set a new standard in sales management, offering intuitive tools that helped sales teams track and optimize their pipelines effectively.

Pipedrive was designed with salespeople in mind, making it easy to manage leads, deals, and activities. Its user-friendly interface and powerful features quickly made it a favorite among businesses aiming to boost their sales performance and productivity.

As we say goodbye to Pipedrive, we celebrate its impact on the world of sales CRM. Pipedrive is survived by its extensive community of users, partners, and developers, all of whom continue to embody its spirit of keeping sales in mind by moving to the Salesforce platform exclusively. Rest in peace, Pipedrive. Your legacy of innovation and excellence in sales management will be remembered and cherished by many.

Microsoft Dynamics

2003-2024

With respect and gratitude, we announce the retirement of Microsoft Dynamics, the groundbreaking enterprise resource planning software that served businesses from 2003 to 2024. Microsoft Dynamics transformed how companies managed their operations, offering comprehensive solutions for finance, supply chain, and project management.

Developed by Microsoft, Dynamics quickly became a cornerstone for organizations seeking to streamline their processes and drive efficiency. Its flexibility and robust features made it an essential tool for businesses across various industries.

As we bid farewell to Microsoft Dynamics, we honor its legacy as a transformative force in enterprise resource planning. Microsoft Dynamics is survived by its extensive community of users, partners, and developers, all of whom continue to embody its spirit of robustness by moving to the NetSuite platform exclusively. Rest in peace, Microsoft Dynamics ERP. Your contributions to business management will be remembered and cherished by many.