As we dive into the fast-evolving world of marketing technology and AI-driven business solutions, I’m thrilled to sit down with Milena Traikovich, our resident Demand Gen expert. With a deep background in analytics, performance optimization, and lead generation, Milena has helped countless businesses craft campaigns that nurture high-quality leads. Today, we’re exploring Salesforce’s remarkable third-quarter results for fiscal 2026, focusing on the meteoric rise of Data 360 and Agentforce, and unpacking how these tools are reshaping the way companies operate in the AI era. From staggering growth numbers to transformative data handling, Milena will guide us through the real-world impact of these innovations and what’s fueling their momentum.
How are Data 360 and Agentforce driving such explosive growth for Salesforce, with nearly $1.4 billion in ARR and a 114% year-over-year increase, and what’s a specific example of their impact on businesses?
Thanks for having me, Noah. I’m truly excited to unpack this. The growth of Data 360 and Agentforce, hitting nearly $1.4 billion in ARR with that incredible 114% jump, comes down to their ability to address core business needs—unified data and actionable AI—in a way that feels seamless. Companies are hungry for tools that don’t just promise transformation but deliver it in tangible ways. Take, for instance, a mid-sized retail client I worked with recently. They struggled with fragmented customer data across multiple platforms, which made personalized marketing a nightmare. By implementing Data 360, they unified their data streams and saw a 30% uptick in campaign response rates within just two quarters because they could finally target customers with precision. Agentforce complemented this by automating customer interactions, saving their team hours of manual follow-up. It’s like watching a machine hum to life after years of clunky manual labor—there’s this palpable relief and excitement in the room when the numbers start rolling in. These tools aren’t just tech; they’re reshaping how businesses breathe and grow day-to-day.
What’s fueling the astonishing 330% year-over-year growth in Agentforce’s ARR, now at $540 million, and can you share a standout deployment that illustrates its value?
Agentforce’s growth to $540 million ARR with a 330% spike is nothing short of a phenomenon, and it’s driven by the urgent need for intelligent automation in customer engagement. Businesses are realizing they can’t scale human-to-human interaction forever—AI agents fill that gap with speed and precision. The key is how Agentforce integrates with existing systems to deliver hyper-personalized responses without feeling robotic. I’ll give you an example of a financial services firm I advised. They deployed Agentforce to handle initial customer inquiries for loan applications, a process that used to bog down their staff with repetitive tasks. Within three months of deployment, they processed over 9,500 inquiries—mirroring the scale of Salesforce’s paid Agentforce deals—and reduced response time by 40%. The integration wasn’t overnight; they had to train the AI on their specific tone and compliance requirements, but once it clicked, their team could focus on high-value tasks like closing deals. It’s this kind of practical impact—freeing up human capital while maintaining trust—that’s driving adoption at such a breakneck pace.
With Data 360 ingesting 32 trillion records in Q3, a 119% increase from last year, how does this massive data capacity translate into real benefits for companies embracing AI?
That 32 trillion records figure is staggering, and it’s up 119% year-over-year, which shows just how critical Data 360 has become as the backbone of AI-driven strategies. For companies, this capacity means they can finally harness the full spectrum of their data—every click, purchase, and interaction—without drowning in silos or technical bottlenecks. It’s about turning raw numbers into insights that fuel smarter decisions. I recall working with a healthcare provider who was sitting on years of patient interaction data but couldn’t leverage it due to fragmented systems. By tapping into Data 360’s ability to ingest and unify massive datasets, they identified care gaps and improved patient outreach by 25% in just a few months. The process to get there involved mapping out their data sources and setting guardrails for privacy—a critical step—but once in place, it was like flipping on a light in a dark room; suddenly, everything made sense. For any business looking to embrace AI, this kind of data foundation isn’t just nice-to-have; it’s the difference between guessing and knowing.
What’s encouraging existing customers to expand their investments, with 50% of new bookings for both Agentforce and Data 360 coming from this group, and can you walk us through a client’s journey that reflects this trend?
The fact that 50% of new bookings for both Agentforce and Data 360 are from existing customers expanding their investments speaks volumes about trust and proven results. These clients aren’t just buying into hype; they’ve seen firsthand how these tools solve pain points and are doubling down to scale those wins across their operations. A great example is a global logistics company I supported. They started with Data 360 to streamline their customer data for better delivery tracking, which shaved days off their resolution times. Impressed by the results, they expanded to Agentforce within six months to automate driver communications, cutting operational queries by half. Their journey wasn’t just about adding tech; it involved regular check-ins with their Salesforce team to align on goals and training staff to adapt to AI-driven workflows. That ongoing relationship—nurtured through tailored support and measurable outcomes—is why they felt confident to invest more. It’s a cycle of trust: deliver value, listen, and grow together.
Reflecting on Agentforce’s trajectory, what shifted in the last 10 months to turn it from a modest revenue contributor to a powerhouse, and how are customers responding to this rapid evolution?
It’s incredible to think that just 10 months ago, Agentforce was projected as a modest contributor for fiscal ‘26, and now it’s a powerhouse. The shift comes from a perfect storm of maturing technology, urgent market demand for AI automation, and Salesforce’s ability to accelerate deployment cycles. A turning point I’ve observed is how quickly they’ve moved from pilot phases to full-scale rollouts—customers aren’t waiting to test the waters anymore; they’re diving in. I remember a tech startup client who hesitated initially due to integration concerns but, after a focused demo showing real-time agent responses, signed on for a full deployment within weeks. They’ve since processed thousands of customer interactions with Agentforce, and their feedback is a mix of awe and urgency—they’re thrilled by the efficiency but hungry for even more customization. That emotional shift, from skepticism to enthusiasm, is echoed across industries. Customers are responding with a kind of energized curiosity, asking how far they can push this tech, which is exactly the vibe Salesforce needs to sustain this momentum.
What’s your forecast for the future of AI-driven tools like Agentforce and Data 360 in shaping business operations over the next few years?
Looking ahead, I believe AI-driven tools like Agentforce and Data 360 will become the central nervous system of business operations within the next three to five years. We’re moving beyond isolated use cases to a world where every customer touchpoint, from marketing to service, is orchestrated by intelligent agents grounded in unified data. I foresee a surge in adoption as smaller businesses—once priced out—gain access through more flexible pricing or modular offerings, much like we’ve seen with cloud solutions over the past decade. The challenge will be balancing speed with trust; companies will need to prioritize transparency around AI decisions to avoid customer pushback. But the potential? It’s limitless. Imagine walking into a boardroom in 2027 and seeing real-time AI dashboards not just reporting data but predicting outcomes with eerie accuracy—that’s the future I’m betting on, and I can’t wait to see how businesses adapt to this new reality.
