This year, 3000 attendees packed the Kyalami Convention Centre in Johannesburg, including six proud members of Team V5 Digital.
As trusted members of the partner ecosystem, we were excited to explore Salesforce's latest innovations and gain insights into the company's plans for the African continent and how they could benefit our digital marketing agency and the clients we serve.
The event showcased Salesforce's cutting-edge solutions, highlighting why CRM + AI + Data + Trust is such a powerful formula in 2024.
V5 Digital's the name, driving success is our aim!
Insights from Salesforce World Tour Johannesburg
Our team got some great ideas and inspiration at the event. Here are some of the highlights:
Which session or keynote did you enjoy the most, and why?
Armin: "I enjoyed all the sessions, but the highlights for me were, in no particular order:
The opening keynote provided an insightful overview of the four waves of the AI revolution. It highlighted that we are currently in Wave 2 and are already transitioning into Wave 3. The Weelee case study was particularly impressive, showcasing the power of hyper-personalization."
"In the session "The Imperative of Data Cloud for Every Company," Victoria Botella and Charles Nzimande discussed the challenges of connecting enterprise data and emphasized why data-driven companies outperform their peers."
"Lastly, the "Power of Marketing Cloud Intelligence" session explained that in today’s dynamic marketing landscape, success hinges on the ability to harness data-driven insights in real time.
Marketing Cloud Intelligence offers a transformative solution by seamlessly unifying all your marketing data and presenting AI-powered actionable insights in a single, intuitive dashboard."
Brad: "A standout for me was one of the opening keynotes, the Weelee.co.za case study. Russel Steyn and Adeline Cruywagen guided us through the transformation achieved by integrating Data, CRM, and AI.
They covered both the internal journey from a Salesforce user perspective and the client journey, emphasizing the seamless interactions facilitated by valuable information at every touchpoint."
Jürgen: "The main keywords for the conference were "AI and Data." Throughout the entire event, the importance of these two concepts was stressed. They demonstrated how AI and Data work together to save time, provide actionable insights, and improve overall customer satisfaction and business ROI.
My favourite keynote was Exah’s "AI Everywhere Today," which provided an excellent example of how AI is applied to both micro and macro problems, utilizing data and AI to build robust solutions."
Were there any speakers or presentations that particularly stood out to you?
Zoe: “Yes, the Women in Tech Panel comes to mind. It was eye-opening to see the challenges faced by women in the technology sector, especially in South Africa and by extension Namibia. The statistics shared highlighted the need for greater diversity and inclusion in these workspaces. As a woman in tech, it was inspiring to see this issue being recognized and valued.”
What new insights or trends did you discover at the event, and how will you apply them to our current projects or strategies?
Jessica: "The event emphasized the power of automation and AI. Salesforce is focused on using AI to handle everyday tasks, freeing up time for more important work. As a creative, having so many of my routine duties managed by AI would mean more time to come up with awesome designs for our clients."
How will the knowledge and skills gained from this event benefit our current and future clients?
Jessica: "I realized how much digital maturity Namibia could achieve with the right tools and information. Many businesses could greatly benefit from programs like Salesforce. By utilizing these programs and partnering with V5 Digital, we can help drive tech growth and innovation in Namibia. It’s an exciting prospect connecting our local businesses to the exciting world of AI and Customer Success."
Did you make any valuable connections or network with industry leaders at the event?
Armin: "It was great to finally meet Linda Saunders, Head of Solution Engineering for Africa, as well as Ileana Diaz, Strategic Account Director - Digital, and Robin Fisher, Head of EMEA Growth Markets for Salesforce. I also had the pleasure of meeting Ursula Fear, Senior Talent Program Manager.
It was wonderful to see José Pereira Rodrigues, Alliances & Channels Regional Director for Africa at Salesforce, and Russel Steyn, Principal Solution Engineer at Salesforce. We also met some fantastic people from the Salesforce partner team, most notably Tiaan le Roux from Exah and Bradley Greenwood from SmartenUp."
Were there any technologies or tools introduced that you believe could be beneficial for us to adopt?
Damian: “The Slack app immediately stood out to me and prompted me to attend the breakout session. One notable feature is how it allows higher-ups to extract summaries of employees' interactions with clients, providing better context before reaching out.
This would greatly benefit the V5 Digital team by enhancing our communication efficiency and ensuring we are always well-informed when engaging with clients.”
What was your biggest personal takeaway from the event?
Jessica: "I learned that AI isn't new; it's been around for a while. Just because something is trending doesn't make it an emerging concept. We need to build trust around using AI, as we've been unknowingly utilizing it for years.
I also realized how many barriers women face in the tech field, whether due to financial hurdles or other challenges. Creating a more inclusive workspace can eliminate bottlenecks and bring in fresh, essential ideas."
How has attending this tour inspired you in your role at V5 Digital?
Jessica: "I realized I can be more than just a graphic designer. Growth isn’t linear, and there are many topics and fields that interest me. Being multifaceted could be a significant asset to V5 Digital."
What was the overall experience like for you?
Jessica: “This trip was truly eye-opening, underscoring the potential for advancement in Namibia's tech space. It made me extremely proud of V5 Digital for being innovative and ahead of the curve with Salesforce and related products. I hope that more Namibian companies can come to understand how much easier and more efficient their work can become with these advanced solutions.”
Armin: "I have had the opportunity to attend multiple Salesforce events in San Francisco, Cape Town, and Johannesburg. Each event is electrifying. The way they tell a story about their incredible values is simply customer magic."
Are there any memorable moments or anecdotes you’d like to share?
Jessica: “A standout moment not related to the speakers or tech was seeing our global team come together and bond, especially with new member Brad joining us. It felt like we'd known each other for years, without any stress or awkwardness. Building these bonds enhanced our trust and respect for each other even more.”
Armin: "Being a huge Motorsport fan, visiting the legendary Kyalami is a dream come true. Amazing memorabilia and photos of the glorious Formula 1 days can be seen in between the various breakaway rooms. Boardrooms and conference rooms bear the names of past greats like Jacky Ickx, Jacky Stewart, Niki Lauda, Jody Scheckter, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Sarel van der Merwe."
Wrapping Up
Attending the Salesforce World Tour Essentials Johannesburg was an invaluable experience for the V5 Digital Team. We left with a wealth of knowledge, new connections, and innovative ideas that we are eager to implement.
V5 Digital is a proud Salesforce Partner. If you want to learn more about how Salesforce can benefit your business, please reach out to a team member below:
Thank you, Joburg. 🏎️
Thank you, Trailblazers. 🤠
Thank you, Salesforce! 💙
