Salesforce 2024 Recap – A Year of AI Breakthroughs, Industry Transformations, and Game-Changing Innovations, Partnerships and Achievements

As we look back on 2024, it’s clear that Salesforce has not just adapted to the evolving landscape of technology but has reshaped it entirely. This transformative year has been defined by a relentless focus on AI, propelling industries into the future with unprecedented advancements. 

Salesforce started by deepening its AI capabilities, then introduced Einstein Copilot to revolutionize user interactions and finally redefined entire industries with the launch of autonomous AI Agents. 

These upgrades have set new benchmarks for innovation and efficiency, making 2024 a landmark year in the AI era. 

This blog is designed to give you a clear and structured overview of Salesforce’s journey this year. 

To make it easier to navigate, we’ve divided it into sections focusing on Growth, Achievements, Partnerships, Acquisitions, Product Launches, Announcements, and Industry Solutions. Each segment provides a detailed look at how Salesforce shapes the future across various domains. 

Let’s begin by uncovering the key milestones that defined Salesforce’s growth and shaped its journey throughout 2024.

Growth: Salesforce’s Remarkable Progress in 2024

As the global leader in AI-powered CRM, Salesforce showcased impressive growth throughout 2024, marked by exceptional financial performance, strategic investments, and market expansion. Here’s a snapshot of Salesforce’s journey of growth this year: 

Financial Milestones 

1. Annual Revenue

• The Salesforce closed fiscal year 2024 with a revenue of $34.9 billion, a robust 11% year-over-year (Y/Y) increase.
• For fiscal Q3 2025, revenue reached $9.44 billion, maintaining an 8% Y/Y growth rate. 

2. Operating Margins

• A fiscal 2024 GAAP operating margin of 14.4% and a non-GAAP margin of 30.5%, reflecting disciplined and profitable growth.
• Q3 FY25 GAAP operating margin reached 20%, setting a new benchmark.

3. Cash Flow

• Fiscal 2024 generated $10.2 billion in operating cash flow, up a staggering 44% Y/Y. 
• By Q1 FY25, operating cash flow surged by 39% Y/Y, reaching $6.25 billion. 

4. Shareholder Returns

• Salesforce initiated its first-ever quarterly dividend of $0.40 per share, showcasing confidence in its profitability. 
• Over $20 billion was returned to shareholders through share buybacks and dividends, underscoring its commitment to shareholder value. 

5. Market Expansion 

• Subscription Revenue: Subscription and support revenue accounted for $8.88 billion in Q3 FY25, growing 9% Y/Y.
• Remaining Performance Obligation (RPO): The total RPO stood at $56.9 billion by the end of fiscal 2024, reflecting a 17% Y/Y increase. 

6. AI Investment and Ecosystem Growth 

• Salesforce Ventures announced a new $500 million AI fund, bringing its total commitment to AI innovators to $1 billion over 18 months.
• Investments in over two dozen AI startups, including Anthropic, Cohere, and Hugging Face, demonstrate Salesforce’s focus on scaling AI innovation.
• Agentforce, Salesforce’s revolutionary AI system, is transforming industries by introducing autonomous AI agents to enhance enterprise efficiency. 

7. Strategic Guidance for FY25 

• Revenue Projections: Full-year FY25 revenue is projected to reach $37.8–$38 billion, representing an 8%–9% Y/Y growth.
• Operating Margins: FY25 GAAP operating margins are expected to increase to 19.8%, with non-GAAP margins at 32.9%.
• Cash Flow Growth: Operating cash flow growth for FY25 is projected to be between 24% and 26% Y/Y. 

Salesforce’s exceptional growth in 2024 sets the stage for continued success, bolstered by its commitment to innovation, shareholder value, and delivering transformative AI solutions for its global customers. 

Achievements: Recognizing Salesforce’s Leadership and Excellence in 2024

Salesforce has solidified its position as an industry leader and innovator through numerous accolades and recognitions in 2024. These achievements underscore the company’s commitment to ethical practices, visionary leadership, and excellence across its product suite. Here’s a look at Salesforce’s key accomplishments this year: 

1. World’s Most Ethical Companies 

The Ethisphere Institute once again recognized Salesforce as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies™, reinforcing its dedication to ethical business practices and corporate responsibility. 

2. Legend in Leadership Award 

Marc Benioff, Salesforce’s Chair and CEO, was honoured with the prestigious Yale Legend in Leadership Award at the Yale CEO Summit, celebrating his transformative leadership and global impact. 

3. #1 CRM Provider 

Salesforce was ranked as the #1 CRM provider for the 11th consecutive time by International Data Corporation (IDC) in its 2024 Worldwide Semiannual Software Tracker®, highlighting its dominance in the CRM market. 

4. Leader in Team Collaboration 

Slack, a Salesforce product, was recognized as a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Team Collaboration Applications 2024 Vendor Assessment, reflecting its excellence in driving seamless team communication. 

5. Sales Cloud 

Recognized as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Sales Force Automation Platforms for the 18th consecutive year, Sales Cloud ranked highest for both Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute. 

6. MuleSoft 

MuleSoft was named a Leader in the 2024 Forrester Wave™ for API Management Software, receiving the highest possible scores in 11 evaluation criteria, showcasing its unmatched API management capabilities. 

7. Marketing Cloud 

• Account Engagement: Recognized as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for B2B Marketing Automation Platforms for the 7th consecutive year. 

• Multichannel Marketing Hubs: Positioned as a Leader in the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Multichannel Marketing Hubs, powered by Data Cloud for Marketing, Personalization, and Intelligence. 

8. Digital Commerce 

Salesforce maintained its leadership position in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Digital Commerce for the 9th consecutive year, recognized for its execution and visionary approach to digital transformation. 

These accolades are more than just awards—they signify Salesforce’s unwavering commitment to innovation, customer success, and ethical leadership. By consistently being at the forefront of AI, digital transformation, and enterprise solutions, Salesforce continues to shape the future of how businesses operate and grow. 

Partnerships: Expanding the Salesforce Ecosystem in 2024

In 2024, Salesforce strengthened its position as a leader in the enterprise software landscape by forging and expanding strategic partnerships with some of the world’s most innovative companies. These collaborations focused on enhancing AI capabilities, driving customer success, and redefining industry standards. 

Here’s a closer look at the key partnerships that defined Salesforce’s collaborative approach this year: 

1. Salesforce and IBM 

Salesforce expanded its strategic partnership with IBM, integrating the IBM Watsonx platform and Granite series models into the Salesforce Einstein 1 Platform. This collaboration allows for enhanced generative AI use cases, pre-built CRM actions, and secure, zero-copy data integration via the Salesforce Zero Copy Partner Network. 

2. Salesforce and NVIDIA 

Salesforce partnered with NVIDIA to co-innovate advanced AI capabilities for enterprise software, including autonomous agents and interactive avatars. This partnership integrates NVIDIA AI Enterprise with Salesforce Agentforce, enabling enterprises to optimize predictive and generative AI workflows. 

3. Salesforce and Google Cloud 

An expanded collaboration with Google Cloud introduced Agentforce agents that work across Salesforce Customer 360 and Google Workspace apps, including Gmail, Docs, and Slides. This integration ensures secure, privacy-first collaboration powered by AI. 

4. Salesforce and Workday 

The partnership with Workday aims to create AI-powered employee service agents that unify HR and CRM data. These agents automate tasks such as onboarding, health benefits management, and career development while providing natural language support. 

5. Salesforce and IQVIA 

Salesforce partnered with IQVIA to accelerate the development of the Life Sciences Cloud, combining IQVIA’s data and analytics with Salesforce CRM to enhance healthcare professional (HCP) and patient engagement. 

6. Salesforce and Box 

Slack and Box expanded their partnership, allowing users to perform unlimited Box AI queries within Slack. The integration enhances workflow automation, secure file sharing, and enterprise-grade AI insights directly within Slack. 

7. Salesforce and Saks Fifth Avenue 

A collaboration with Saks Fifth Avenue is transforming the luxury shopping experience using Salesforce Customer 360, Data Cloud, and Agentforce. This partnership enhances customer loyalty through personalized, data-driven interactions. 

8. Tableau and Microsoft 

Tableau deepened its collaboration with Microsoft by integrating with Teams for seamless interaction with Tableau insights and connecting Tableau to Microsoft Fabric OneLake for enhanced data exploration. 

9. Tableau and Databricks 

Tableau’s partnership with Databricks introduced the Tableau Delta Sharing connector, enabling real-time data sharing and collaboration. This integration improves data governance and provides live insights without replication. 

10. Salesforce and Slalom 

Salesforce named Slalom the first strategic System Integrator partner for Data Cloud and Einstein 1. Together, they launched an AI Accelerator to empower customers’ data-driven AI transformations. 

These partnerships underscore Salesforce’s commitment to innovation and collaboration, driving transformative value across industries through cutting-edge AI and seamless integrations. 

Acquisitions: Expanding Salesforce’s Innovation and Capabilities in 2024

In 2024, Salesforce strategically enhanced its platform by acquiring key companies that align with its vision of delivering cutting-edge technology and customer-centric solutions. These acquisitions strengthened Salesforce’s offerings in AI, data management, retail, and service automation. Here’s a look at the notable acquisitions: 

1. Spiff 

Salesforce acquired Spiff, a leading provider of incentive compensation management (ICM) software. 

• Enhance Sales Cloud’s Sales Performance Management capabilities.
• By integrating Spiff’s intuitive low-code UI and robust processing engine, Salesforce aims to automate commission processes, increase visibility, and unlock growth for its customers. 

2. Tenyx 

Tenyx acquired by Salesforce, a developer of AI-powered voice agents, was acquired to advance Salesforce’s autonomous agent capabilities. 

• Strengthen Agentforce Service Agent with innovative voice AI solutions tailored for customer service.
• This acquisition empowers Salesforce to deliver more natural, intuitive, and seamless customer interactions. 

3. Own Company 

Salesforce acquired Own Company, a data protection and management solutions leader, for approximately $1.9 billion. 

• Enhance Salesforce’s data security, compliance, and insight capabilities.
• Own Company’s technology ensures mission-critical data is secure and unlocks new opportunities for AI-driven insights. 

4. PredictSpring 

Salesforce signed a definitive agreement to acquire PredictSpring, a modern cloud-native retail point-of-sale (POS) software vendor, which joined Salesforce’s portfolio. 

• Expand Customer 360 capabilities into physical retail channels.
• PredictSpring enables Salesforce to offer a unified omnichannel platform, empowering store associates with mobile POS, clienteling, store fulfilment, and endless aisle solutions. 

5. Zoomin 

Salesforce acquired Zoomin, a provider of data management solutions for unstructured data, was acquired to boost Salesforce’s Data Cloud. 

• Enable AI agents in Agentforce to leverage unstructured data for more personalized and context-aware customer interactions.
• This integration makes Salesforce’s AI agents more intelligent and effective in providing real-time, tailored responses. 

These acquisitions underscore Salesforce’s commitment to innovation, positioning it as a leader in AI and customer experience across digital and physical channels. By strategically enhancing its capabilities, Salesforce ensures it remains at the forefront of delivering transformative solutions for its customers. 

Product Launches: Salesforce’s Innovations in 2024

In 2024, Salesforce unveiled a range of groundbreaking products and enhancements designed to empower businesses with AI, automation, and integration capabilities. These innovations highlight Salesforce’s relentless pursuit of excellence and commitment to transforming how organizations operate. Here’s a comprehensive overview: 

1. Agentforce  

Salesforce Agentforce revolutionized workforce scalability with AI agents capable of handling service, sales, marketing, and commerce tasks. This limitless digital workforce empowers businesses to scale operations effortlessly and enhance productivity. 

• Automates tasks like qualifying sales leads and optimizing campaigns.
• Enables companies to deploy AI agents for industry-specific use cases. 

2. Agentforce Testing Center 

Agentforce Testing Center introduced secure environments to test and deploy AI agents, ensuring confidence and accuracy without disrupting production, pioneering agentic lifecycle management. 

• Automates testing and monitoring for agentic systems.
• Optimizes agent deployment with no-code tools. 

3. Industries AI  

Salesforce Industries AI tackled specific challenges with pre-built, customizable AI capabilities embedded across Salesforce’s 15 industry clouds, empowering businesses to automate operations and deliver value faster across sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, and public services. 

• Automates tasks such as matching patients to clinical trials.
• Provides proactive maintenance alerts for vehicles and machinery. 

4. Slack AI  

Slack AI redefined collaboration by embedding generative AI into Slack, enabling users to access knowledge faster through features like search, recaps, and thread summaries for more productive teamwork. 

• Summarizes channel discussions to spark actionable insights.
• Guides users to relevant answers with AI-powered search. 

5. Einstein Copilot  

Salesforce Einstein Copilot transformed customer engagement by delivering personalized responses grounded in unique company data, automating actions, and boosting productivity across Salesforce applications. 

• Generates dynamic content and automates workflows.
• Enhances customer relationships with deeply contextual insights. 

6. Einstein 1 Studio  

Salesforce Einstein 1 Studio gave admins and developers tools to build, customize, and embed AI into Salesforce workflows, unlocking comprehensive customer data for actionable intelligence and seamless automation. 

• Integrates AI into every Salesforce app and workflow.
• Simplifies app development with intuitive tools for Trailblazers. 

7. Einstein 1 Field Service Edition  

Einstein 1 Field Service Edition equipped field technicians with AI-driven tools to access real-time knowledge, enhancing productivity and ensuring higher first-time-fix rates for efficient operations. 

• Provides unified data summaries, including customer history.
• Turns service appointments into revenue-generating opportunities. 

8. MuleSoft’s Anypoint Partner Manager 

MuleSoft’s Anypoint Partner Manager streamlined B2B and B2C integrations, enabling businesses to unify data across systems for end-to-end order lifecycle visibility and improved efficiency. 

• Connects data from third-party apps and Salesforce OMS.
• Enhances customer satisfaction with AI-driven efficiency. 

9. Data Cloud Vector Database 

Data Cloud Vector Database unlocked unstructured data trapped in emails, PDFs, and transcripts, enriching customer profiles for deeper insights and actionable strategies. 

• Integrates unstructured data into customer profiles seamlessly.
• Surfaces insights for strategic sales and marketing campaigns. 

10. Data Cloud on Hyperforce 

Data Cloud on Hyperforce provided businesses with secure, scalable data solutions, leveraging the public cloud for compliance and agility while enabling rapid deployment of Salesforce products globally. 

• Enhances compliance and data security for global customers.
• Scales operations effortlessly with public cloud architecture. 

11. MuleSoft AsyncAPI 

MuleSoft AsyncAPI advanced event-driven architectures, enabling businesses to process real-time interactions and unlock new AI use cases like predictive maintenance and fraud detection. 

• Simplifies real-time communication between applications.
• Supports diverse API integrations for better performance. 

12. Tableau Pulse  

Tableau Pulse empowered businesses with real-time analytics, helping organizations make faster, better decisions with trusted generative AI insights included across Tableau Cloud editions. 

• Provides timely data-driven alerts and actionable insights.
• Drives collaboration by surfacing critical trends and updates. 

13. Zero Copy Partner Network 

Zero Copy Partner Network created a global ecosystem for secure, bidirectional data integration with Salesforce Data Cloud, enabling seamless data sharing across platforms without duplication. 

• Supports open data lakes and Apache Iceberg formats.
• Streamlines data collaboration for enhanced decision-making. 

14. Partner Connect 

Partner Connect enhanced partner relationship management by enabling real-time visibility into shared sales channels, simplifying coordination across teams and improving partner sales strategies. 

• Facilitates collaboration across different CRM platforms.
• Streamlines deal management for better partner experiences. 

15. Einstein SDR and Sales Coach Agent 

Revolutionize your sales strategy with Einstein SDR and Sales Coach Agent, Salesforce’s AI-powered autonomous agents, designed to boost efficiency and empower sales teams. 

• Einstein SDR Agent: Engages inbound leads 24/7, qualifies prospects, and schedules meetings autonomously, freeing sales reps to focus on high-priority deals.
• Einstein Sales Coach Agent: Simulates realistic buyer scenarios, offering tailored feedback to refine seller skills and close deals more effectively.

Also, check out Personal Shopper Agent and Campaign Agent 

16. New Service Cloud Tools 

Salesforce’s new Service Cloud tools enhance agent efficiency, streamline processes, and scale support capabilities with innovative features like Identity Verification, Business Rules Engine, and My Service Journey for seamless customer service management. 

• Identity Verification: Streamlines customer identity checks within the Service Console for secure and faster resolutions.
• Business Rules Engine: Enables no-code automation, dynamic case routing, and quick adaptation to organizational process changes.
• My Service Journey: Guides users to discover features, provides deployment best practices, and offers metrics to measure success. 

Salesforce’s 2024 product innovations reaffirm its leadership in AI, data integration, and customer experience. By addressing real-world challenges with cutting-edge solutions, Salesforce continues to empower businesses to operate smarter, faster, and more effectively across industries. 

Announcements: Salesforce’s Key Initiatives in 2024 

1. Salesforce appointed Brad Arkin as Chief Trust Officer to prioritize security and trust in an AI-first world, leveraging his 20+ years of experience in enterprise security leadership at Cisco and Adobe.
2. Salesforce joined the U.S. AI Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC) to contribute expertise in trusted AI development, advancing ethical AI innovation in response to the White House’s AI Executive Order. 
3. Salesforce welcomed Ally Siegel as Chief Equality Officer to lead global equality strategies, leveraging her extensive experience in diversity and inclusion to further Salesforce’s mission of creating a more equitable workplace. 
4. Jason Yau, former CTO of Shopify, joined Salesforce as SVP and Architect in the Office of the CEO, focusing on accelerating digital transformation for Fortune 500 customers using Salesforce’s AI and Data Cloud. 
5. Salesforce launched the UK AI Center in London, investing over $200 million in UK-based AI startups and fostering collaboration to advance AI innovation while providing upskilling opportunities in the AI economy. 
6. Salesforce introduced the world’s first LLM benchmark for CRM, providing businesses with a comprehensive framework to evaluate large language models based on accuracy, cost, speed, and trust for CRM use cases. 
7. Salesforce expanded its Professional Services to offer CTO advisory support, helping organizations innovate faster, connect data, and achieve AI and data goals with tailored strategies for future growth. 
8. Salesforce announced $23 million in grants to U.S. schools and global education nonprofits, advancing STEM and AI literacy while empowering students and educators for an AI-driven future. 
9. Salesforce launched the Agentforce Partner Network, a global ecosystem enabling partners to build and distribute specialized AI agents, expanding the capabilities of Salesforce’s autonomous Agentforce platform for complex business tasks.
10. Salesforce celebrated its 25th anniversary, marking $700 million in grants, 8.7 million volunteer hours, and technology donations to over 56,000 nonprofits while expanding its focus on climate justice and AI for impact initiatives. 

Industry Highlights – AI-Driven Solutions by Salesforce in 2024 

Salesforce redefined industry standards in 2024, unveiling groundbreaking AI-powered tools and solutions to transform healthcare, retail, education, and beyond, fostering efficiency, personalization, and innovation across all sectors. 

1. Retail 

Salesforce introduced generative AI-powered tools in Commerce and Marketing Cloud to help retail businesses optimize customer interactions, boost loyalty, and increase revenue by analyzing real-time shopper behaviour. 

• Einstein Copilot for Shoppers enables personalized interactions on digital storefronts and messaging apps.
• Inventory Insights ensures real-time product availability for improved customer service. 

2. Healthcare 

Salesforce announced Life Sciences Cloud, an AI-powered platform for pharmaceutical and Medtech organizations that will personalize patient engagement and streamline clinical operations 

• Participant Recruitment matches eligible patients with trials to reduce onboarding delays.
• Unified Data Platform creates holistic patient profiles for better engagement.
• Einstein Copilot for health automates care workflows with conversational AI.
• Assessment Generation digitizes patient assessments for streamlined data entry. 

3. Nonprofits 

Salesforce unveiled AI capabilities for Nonprofit Cloud to personalize donor engagement and improve operational efficiency. 

• Fundraising Gift Proposals use generative AI for tailored donor communications.
• Data Cloud for Nonprofits creates a unified view of donors, volunteers, and participants.
• AI agents manage donor engagement, fundraising, and logistics autonomously.
• Customized solutions enhance operational efficiency for participating nonprofits. 

4. Automotive 

Connected Vehicle for Automotive Cloud allows automakers to deliver personalized, tech-driven experiences using IoT and real-time data. 

• Remote Vehicle Actions enable seamless in-app feature control.
• Vehicle Status Monitoring provides proactive alerts for maintenance needs. 

5. Financial Services 

Financial Services Cloud for Insurance Brokerages combines AI and CRM tools to enhance client engagement and simplify operational workflows. 

• AI-Powered Client Engagement identifies retention risks and coverage gaps.
• Commissions Management automates complex commission allocations. 

6. Energy & Utilities 

Clean Energy Program Management for Energy & Utilities Cloud simplifies program oversight and customer engagement to promote sustainability. 

• Program Management Console tracks energy savings and compliance.
• The Customer Self-Service Portal connects users to rebates and incentives. 

7. Public Sector 

Public Sector Einstein 1 for Service enhances government services by automating administrative tasks using AI. 

• Caseworker Narrative Generation automates case summaries and reporting.
• Interaction Notes for the Public Sector centralize constituent interaction history. 

8. Education 

Introduces AI tools for education cloud to map student success and streamline institutional workflows. 

• Intelligent Degree Planning customizes paths to graduation.
• Einstein Mentorship Summaries pair students with ideal mentors. 

9. Manufacturing 

Connected Assets for Manufacturing Cloud provides a real-time, unified view of assets to improve maintenance and customer satisfaction. 

• Asset Service Prediction delivers AI-driven maintenance insights.
• Telematics Framework ingests real-time data for actionable insights. 

10. E-commerce 

Commerce Cloud innovations unify B2C, B2B, and D2C channels for seamless shopping experiences. 

• Salesforce Checkout enhances buyer conversion with a universal checkout system.
• Composable Commerce tools enable tailored, scalable commerce sites.
• Agentforce agents handle tasks like order tracking and customer support autonomously.
• In-store Inventory Planning integrates real-time stock data to meet demand.

Salesforce Pro Suite expands e-commerce capabilities for growing businesses with integrated sales, service, and marketing tools.

• Low-code design tools simplify branded storefront creation.
• Centralized merchandising streamlines product and pricing management. 

Also, discover Why Rahul Dravid’s partnership with Salesforce is a perfect match for Indian Businesses -

Wrapping Up 

As 2024 comes to a close, Salesforce’s relentless pursuit of innovation has reshaped industries, redefined customer experiences, and showcased the transformative power of AI. This year wasn’t just another chapter in its journey; it was the year that changed everything. 

From groundbreaking advancements like AI Copilot and autonomous Agents to strategic partnerships and industry-specific solutions, Salesforce demonstrated how innovation can drive profound transformation. In the era of AI, Salesforce didn’t just adapt—it reimagined what’s possible, setting the standard for an AI-driven future. 

This year has been a testament to how vision and technology can revolutionize business processes and entire industries. As we look ahead, one thing is clear: Salesforce is not just responding to the future of business—it’s creating it. 

Stay inspired, stay innovative, and join the journey as Salesforce continues to lead the charge into 2025 and beyond. 

What were your favourite highlights from this transformative year? Let’s discuss it!