Totally Predictable Your Guide To Analytics At Dreamforce

Published on July 8, 2023 by David Zhang

Totally Predictable Your Guide To Analytics At Dreamforce

Navigating Dreamforce — Salesforce's annual extravaganza of learning, innovation, and community engagement — can be a formidable prospect, particularly when you have specific professional goals in mind. Attendees passionate about data and analytics might be concerned about the sprawling scope of the event diluting their focus. However, with careful planning and strategic foresight, your Dreamforce experience can be singularly tailored to enhance your analytics expertise, network, and career growth.

In this guide, we’ll lay out how you can predictably navigate the world of analytics at Dreamforce. Whether your interest lies in transforming data into actionable insights or mastering the latest visualization tools, Dreamforce has the spectrum covered. Here’s how to stay ahead of the curve.

Planning Your Analytics Agenda

Before you even set foot in San Francisco, arm yourself with a robust game plan. The first step? Deep-diving into the Dreamforce schedule. Salesforce thoughtfully organizes numerous sessions and workshops focused on analytics.

1. Identify Keynotes and Breakout Sessions

Scan the program for analytics-themed keynotes featuring Salesforce executives and industry leaders who unpack the newest trends and product roadmaps that will shape analytics in the upcoming year.

Equally, if not more crucial, are the smaller breakout sessions. Here, you delve deeply into specialized topics such as artificial intelligence-powered analytics, customer data strategies, or industry-specific analytics tactics.

2. Register for Hands-On Workshops

Dreamforce hosts an array of hands-on workshops where you can play with new tools and platforms under expert guidance. These interactive experiences are pivotal for understanding how theory translates into practice and for gaining practical knowledge you can take back to your team.

3. Network with Analytics Experts

Part of Dreamforce’s allure is the opportunity to rub elbows with thought leaders and like-minded professionals. Pre-event, identify key individuals and user groups you aim to connect with, and make a point to attend networking events, particularly those tailored toward the analytics community.

Key Analytics Topics To Explore

At Dreamforce, there's no shortage of cutting-edge topics. Here are some you'll likely want to focus on:

Customer 360 and Data Integration

Salesforce’s Customer 360 platform is continually evolving to offer a more integrated view of customer data. Expect sessions that detail how to extract, transform, and load (ETL) data from various sources into a cohesive, analyzable whole.

AI and Machine Learning

Salesforce Einstein is at the forefront of integrating AI with CRM. Look for sessions that showcase how Einstein Analytics can help predict sales trends, recommend next steps, or personalize customer experiences through data.

Data Management and Governance

Ensuring data quality and maintaining regulatory compliance are pressing issues. Keep an eye out for workshops that explain best practices for data stewardship within the Salesforce environment.

Analytics for Industry Verticals

From finance to healthcare, Dreamforce often presents sessions tailored to the analytics needs of specific verticals. These are crucial for gaining insights into the application of analytics tools within your domain.

Visualization and Dashboard Design

A picture is worth a thousand words, and this is especially true when it comes to data visualization. Seek out sessions that illustrate how to create compelling visual stories using Salesforce analytics.

Maximizing Dreamforce Experiences

To translate what you learn at Dreamforce into actionable results, you'll want to adopt a few strategies:

  • Stay Organized: With so much information and so many people, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Use the Dreamforce mobile app to manage your schedule, and take notes you can refer to later.
  • Be Engaged and Inquisitive: Ask questions during sessions and engage speakers and other attendees. Healthy discussion often leads to deeper understanding and unexpected insights.
  • Share Real-Time Insights: Utilize social media platforms like LinkedIn or Twitter to document your learnings and start discussions online, in turn expanding your professional network.
  • Follow Up Post-Event: Reach out to the connections you’ve made, keep the dialogue going, and share your Dreamforce takeaways with your team.

Post-Dreamforce Actions

While the days at Dreamforce are populated with events, the real work often begins once the conference concludes.

  • Implement Learnings: Work on integrating the tools, strategies, and knowledge you've acquired into your current projects.
  • Stay in Touch: Keep in contact with the people you meet. Offer value-add information as a way of nurturing professional relationships.
  • Follow Salesforce Updates: Many announcements at Dreamforce will have timelines attached to them. Keep abreast of these developments to stay ahead of the curve.

The Aomni Connection

For sales analytics professionals, the heart of Dreamforce’s value may tie back to how you apply insights within your B2B sales strategy. AI platforms like Aomni can be pivotal post-Dreamforce, simplifying the integration and analysis of data to produce actionable insights.

By embodying lessons from keynote speeches and hands-on training, you can leverage platforms like Aomni to interpret customer data, optimize sales strategies, and deliver personalized sales content that resonates with prospects. The challenge lies in translating the aspirational into the practical—and Dreamforce, with its wealth of workshops and networking opportunities, is an excellent place to start this translation.

In conclusion, Dreamforce isn’t just about the pomp and the parties—it’s a confluence of the best minds in the analytics space. With the right planning and execution, you can make Dreamforce a predictable step in your journey to analytics mastery. Use the tips shared in this guide, and you’re sure to harness the full power of the event to fuel your data and analytics initiatives.

Take your workflow to the next level