Salesforce has revealed its plans to allocate $4 billion toward enhancing its operations in the United Kingdom over the next five years.
The company has been making ongoing investments in the UK for several years, and this recent commitment of $4 billion builds upon its previous five-year investment of $2.5 billion, which was announced in 2018. By continuing to invest in the UK, Salesforce aims to foster innovation and provide comprehensive support to its expanding customer base.
"This significant investment builds on our long-standing commitment to the UK. The UK is home to some of the world's most incredible, innovative companies, and we're thrilled to work together with them to drive the next wave of digital transformation in this new AI era," said Marc Benioff, Chair and CEO, Salesforce.
During the World Tour London: AI Day, Salesforce showcased its latest advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) products. Attendees have the opportunity to learn how organizations across various sectors and sizes are leveraging AI, data, and CRM solutions to establish novel connections with their customers.
“Salesforce’s major investment in its UK business over the next five years is a ringing endorsement of our economy. It will strengthen the company’s UK presence, increasing capacity, as well as creating vital jobs, reinforcing our position as one of their largest markets outside of the U.S. This investment sits alongside my key priority to grow the economy and pledge to make the UK the best place in the world to start, grow and invest in tech businesses,” said UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.
According to the latest IDC Software Tracker, Salesforce holds the top position as the leading CRM provider in the UK.
Earlier this year, Salesforce introduced Einstein GPT, the world's first generative AI designed specifically for CRM applications. This month, Salesforce unveiled AI Cloud, an integrated platform that combines AI, data, analytics, and automation to deliver real-time, open, and trustworthy generative AI capabilities suitable for enterprise deployment.
In addition, Salesforce launched the Salesforce Accelerator – AI for Impact, a philanthropic initiative to assist purpose-driven organizations in equitably accessing reliable generative AI technologies.
Fueling growth across the UK
Salesforce and its UK ecosystem are projected to create 271,700 jobs and generate £52 billion ($66 billion) in business revenues by 2026, as per IDC research. However, the rise of generative AI highlights the digital skills gap UK businesses face. Salesforce is investing in digital skills training through grants, advocating for a national online platform.
New Sales GPT and Service GPT for Productivity and Personalization
At the event, Salesforce also unveiled generative AI capabilities for Sales Cloud and Service Cloud. The Sales GPT will automate tasks such as generating customer emails, call summaries, and account research. At the same time, the Service GPT will assist in generating service replies, creating knowledge articles, and preparing field service agents.
The introduction of trusted generative AI across various applications aims to transform sales and service processes, enhancing productivity and customer experiences. These advancements address the need for upskilling sales and service professionals, with more than 60% believing generative AI can improve customer service.
“When it comes to sales, AI is the new UI. The confluence of generative AI, data, and CRM will help every sales leader unleash growth and elevate sales productivity. These exciting new Sales Cloud capabilities are transforming how sales teams work so sellers can work more efficiently — all while driving increased revenue and growth,” said Ketan Karkhanis, EVP & General Manager, Sales Cloud, Salesforce
