The first thing I saw were the signs. It had been years since I'd been to San Francisco and the Union Square district of my memory had become a Salesforce wonderland. The signs were huge and draped over everthing. Massive arches proclaimed that Dreamforce had arrived.
This was my first Dreamforce, and I hadn't quite expected the grandeur of it all. I'd just driven up the Calfornia coast from LA with a team member and hurried to meet the rest of the team to discuss how to maximize our Dreamforce experience. After an incredibly simple sign-in at the Dreamforce Registation desk, using my existing Partner Portal credentials, I made my way over to a nearby building to pick up a Salesforce backpack. This would prove invaluable over the next few days. I stocked up on snacks and water and headed out to find my first Dreamforce session.
Pardot
Down escalators and through crowds of milling attendees, I found my first session about the Pardot Roadmap. It was here that I was to meet up with a Pardot client with whom we have been expanding a rudimentary implementation into a more robust one. The client and I were both eager to learn about what was on the horizon. I got to see, face to face for the first time, representatives from Pardot who I'd spoken to on calls about implementing cutting-edge Pardot functionality. Their presentation did not disappoint. Wave Analytics, they told us, would bring its data-crunching power to supplement the Pardot platform. As a consultant, I see that one of the biggest difficulties with large amounts of data is not knowing how to display it usefully. In addition, Pardot's reporting is one of its notable limitations, and the ability for clients to add the power of Wave will be significant.
Einstein
Einstein was fascinating. I got to hear how Einstein's AI engine would boost the automated marketing features of Pardot. Another building hosted the Einstein exhibit where I got to learn about how the AI module was designed to be a plug-and-play module incorporated into the heart of Salesforce. The idea is a constantly learning processing center that uses pre-programmed algorithms to give customers individualized experiences. The Einstein AI analyzes the data in Contact and Prospect records, gauges activity, and demographic information and uses them to make predictions about client behavior. The more data that Einstein processes, the better it gets at anticipating what clients will need from Sales and Marketing teams. I found myself astounded by the technology and excited to get a chance to implement it for a client.
Learning & Skill-Building, Salesforce Style
Heading out from the futuristic world of AI, I ventured out to the Trailhead Lodge, a outdoor adventure-themed learning playground. The number of presentations to watch, hands-on activities to engage in and opportunities to learn were just behind the line of overwhelming. I chose to go to a developer's challenge section where I was allowed to select from multiple difficulties of configuration challenges. Cards picked up from the sign-in table each presented a specific user request to be fulfilled without using code. Unit tests checked to see if we accomplished our goals. Experienced developers stood by to assist if problems arose. The mind-bending challenges were a great way to hone my skills as a delivery consultant.
Enjoying Everything Dreamforce has to Offer
There's so much to Dreamforce that I can't contain it all here. I had a chance to speak with Salesforce reps about features on the horizon, socialize and enjoy nightlife with partners and customers, sing on the stage at Dreampark, volunteer a local soup kitchen and engage in other hands-on training geared toward sharpening Lightning Component skills. You can't see everyhting at Dreamforce. There's too much. Before I came, I feared there wouldn't be enough to fill all the days, and now I look forward to returning and experiencing everything I missed.
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