Category: News

Student engagement is the foundation of academic success, but institutions often struggle to provide personalized, timely support. Salesforce Agentforce, combined with SUMO Scheduler, streamlines communication, automates scheduling, and ensures students connect with the right resources at the right time. Here’s how this powerful combination transforms student engagement.

1. Provide Instant, AI-Powered Support

Students expect fast responses to questions about enrollment, financial aid, class schedules, and more. Agentforce delivers real-time answers via chat, email, and SMS — ensuring 24/7 support and reducing wait times.

2. Seamlessly Schedule Appointments

With SUMO Scheduler for Agentforce, students can book advising, tutoring, and career counseling sessions directly within chat interactions. No back-and-forth emails—just instant scheduling aligned with staff availability.

3. Personalize Every Interaction

Agentforce taps into Salesforce data to provide tailored responses based on a student’s academic history, support requests, and upcoming deadlines—offering a seamless, personalized experience.

4. Improve Student Success with Smart Case Routing

When human assistance is needed, Agentforce ensures inquiries are routed to the right advisor, professor, or department. SUMO Scheduler then allows students to book follow-ups instantly, ensuring no request goes unanswered.

5. Leverage Data for Proactive Engagement

Agentforce tracks common student concerns and engagement trends, helping institutions proactively address issues and optimize student outreach strategies. By integrating SUMO Scheduler, schools can automate reminders and follow-ups to keep students on track.

PRO TIP:

Combine Agentforce AI chat with SUMO Scheduler to automate appointment booking for student services—reducing administrative workload and increasing engagement.

PRO TIP:

Use Agentforce analytics to identify high-demand services and adjust staffing or outreach strategies to better support student needs.

PRO TIP:

Expand Agentforce across multiple channels—chat, SMS, email, and social platforms—to ensure students can engage on their preferred platform.

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Discover how Salesforce Agentforce and SUMO Scheduler can revolutionize student engagement at your institution!

Ready to streamline communication, automate scheduling, and provide personalized support to your students? Book a free consultation with our experts today and see how this powerful combination can transform your student experience.

Dreamforce, the flagship event of Salesforce, is a massive convergence of industry leaders, professionals, and enthusiasts from around the globe. With hundreds of sessions, networking opportunities, and countless activities, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But with the right strategy, you can turn this whirlwind of information and connections into a highly productive experience. Here’s how to make the most out of your time at Dreamforce, with a bonus tip on how SUMO Scheduler can help you stay on track.

1. Plan Your Dreamforce Schedule Well in Advance

Dreamforce is known for its extensive agenda. Before the event, spend time reviewing the session catalog and decide which sessions are most relevant to your goals. Prioritize keynotes, breakout sessions, and hands-on workshops that align with your current projects or areas of interest.

Bonus Tip: Use the Dreamforce mobile app to mark sessions and set reminders so you don’t miss anything important.

2. Define Clear Objectives to Achieve During Dreamforce

What do you want to achieve at Dreamforce? Whether it’s learning about the latest trends, networking with potential partners, or discovering new tools, having clear objectives will help you stay focused. Write down your top three goals and refer back to them throughout the event to ensure you’re staying on track.

3. Maximize Networking Opportunities with Strategic Engagement

Dreamforce is a prime opportunity to meet industry leaders, peers, and potential clients. Make the most of it by attending networking events, joining group discussions, and even striking up conversations between sessions. Carry business cards and be prepared to introduce yourself and your company succinctly. Follow up with new contacts after the event to nurture the relationships you’ve started.

4. Stay Agile and Adapt to Unexpected Opportunities

While it’s important to have a plan, it’s equally important to stay flexible. Dreamforce is full of surprises, from impromptu meetups to last-minute session changes. Be open to adjusting your schedule to accommodate unexpected opportunities.

5. Capture Key Takeaways with Effective Note-Taking Strategies

With so much information coming your way, it’s easy to forget key takeaways. Use a notebook, your phone, or a note-taking app to jot down important insights, ideas, and action items during sessions. This will help you remember and implement what you’ve learned once you’re back at work.

6. Balance Your Time Between Learning and Networking

It’s tempting to attend as many sessions as possible, but don’t forget to make time for networking. Balance your agenda with a mix of learning and connection-building activities. Sometimes, the most valuable insights come from conversations outside the formal sessions.

7. Prioritize Self-Care: Schedule Time to Recharge

Dreamforce can be exhausting, so make sure to schedule time for breaks. Use these moments to recharge, grab a coffee, or simply reflect on what you’ve learned. Staying refreshed will help you maintain your energy throughout the event.

8. Create a Post-Dreamforce Action Plan to Implement What You’ve Learned

The real work begins after Dreamforce. Review your notes, reflect on your goals, and create an action plan based on what you’ve learned. Reach out to new contacts with a personalized follow-up message, referencing your conversation to keep the connection alive.

Streamline Your Dreamforce Experience with SUMO Scheduler

Navigating the chaos of Dreamforce can be challenging, but SUMO Scheduler, built natively within Salesforce, offers a seamless solution. Here’s how:

• Automated Scheduling: SUMO Scheduler automates meeting bookings directly within Salesforce, allowing you to schedule from any object, case, or Community across all Salesforce clouds—no custom build or external integration required.
• Seamless Calendar Management: Since SUMO Scheduler is natively built within Salesforce, it keeps all your data securely within the platform. This means you can manage your calendar, sessions, and meetings in one place, without the risk of double bookings or data loss.
• Highly Configurable: SUMO Scheduler’s flow-based scheduler is easy to customize, enabling quick implementation so you can focus on optimizing your Dreamforce experience without technical headaches.

By leveraging SUMO Scheduler’s native Salesforce capabilities, you can streamline your schedule, enhance your productivity, and make the most out of Dreamforce. See you there!

The SUMO Scheduler team recently attended Midwest Dreamin’ 2024, and we couldn’t be more excited to share our experiences! As Platinum Sponsors of this fantastic event, we had the opportunity to showcase our latest innovations, participate in the thrilling Demo Jam, and host a memorable Happy Hour.

Demo Jam Victory

Our team brought their A-game to the Demo Jam with an unforgettable performance themed around auditions for a ‘Prince’ cover band.

Unforgettable Happy Hour

In collaboration with Work-relay (a Neostella product), we hosted an amazing Happy Hour at The Local Minneapolis. This old-world tavern was the perfect setting for attendees to unwind, network, and swap stories. The evening was a hit!

Join Us Next Time

We had an incredible time at Midwest Dreamin’ 2024 and can’t wait to participate again. Stay tuned for more updates and join us at our next event. Together, we’ll continue to dream big and achieve even greater heights!

We are thrilled to share that SUMO Scheduler had an unforgettable time as a Platinum Sponsor at Southeast Dreamin’ 2024! This fantastic event took place on June 27-28 in the heart of Atlanta, GA, and was a brilliant opportunity to connect with the vibrant Salesforce Community.

Our booth buzzed with excitement as we met countless friends and partners, showcasing our latest innovations and exchanging invaluable insights.

In addition to all the excitement, SUMO loves giving back to the Salesforce Community. Our Senior Solution Engineer, Chantell Armstrong, led a fantastic class for Salesforce consultants and admins. Attendees learned how to implement Salesforce native scheduling for their clients and stakeholders. A big thank you to Chantell for her commitment to the community!

The standout moment of our participation was definitely the Demo Jam. We wowed the audience with the power and versatility of SUMO Scheduler, leaving everyone excited about what we can do.

But the fun didn’t stop there! We also hosted an epic Happy Hour, which drew in over 70 attendees. It was a night filled with great conversations, hearty laughter, and genuine camaraderie. It was the perfect setting to unwind and strengthen our bonds within the community.

A huge thank you to everyone who visited our booth, cheered us on at the Demo Jam, and joined us for the Happy Hour. Your enthusiasm and support made this event truly special. We can’t wait to see you all again next year!

We are delighted to share that SUMO Scheduler had an incredible experience as a Platinum Sponsor at Texas Dreamin’ 2024! The event, held on May 30-31 in Austin, TX, was a fantastic opportunity to engage with the vibrant Salesforce Community.

At booth #13, we connected with countless friends and partners, showcasing our latest innovations and exchanging valuable insights.

The highlight of our participation was undoubtedly the Demo Jam, where we demonstrated the power and versatility of SUMO Scheduler to an enthusiastic audience.

Additionally, we hosted a memorable Happy Hour at Lucille Patio Lounge, where we enjoyed great conversations, laughter, and camaraderie. It was a wonderful opportunity to unwind and strengthen our bonds with the community.

Thank you to everyone who visited our booth, joined us for the Demo Jam, and attended our Happy Hour. Your support and enthusiasm made this event truly special. We look forward to seeing you all again next year!

SUMO Scheduler recently participated in the Salesforce World Tour NYC 2024. Our team enjoyed meeting numerous friends and partners at our booth #230, where we had the opportunity to discuss our innovative customer engagement platform. It was a pleasure to demonstrate how SUMO Scheduler is enhancing scheduling solutions.

A highlight of the event was the Happy Hour we co-hosted with Orion Global Solutions and Sprout Social. The gathering took place at Creatures at Selina Rooftop, located in the heart of Manhattan. The evening was filled with engaging conversations and new connections, providing a great conclusion to the day’s activities at the conference.

We appreciate everyone who visited our booth and joined us for the Happy Hour. Your support made the event special. We look forward to seeing you at the next Salesforce World Tour.

Take your business to new heights with SUMO Scheduler and Salesforce at the World Tour NYC on May 4th, 2023!

Whether you join us online or in-person, we’re excited to bring you amazing education opportunities, inspiring speakers and technologies that will help you to better engage customers and grow your business.

Don’t forget to stop by our booth (#154) to say hi to our team and learn more about SUMO.

For updates, join us on LinkedIn, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and visit our blog.

With SUMO Scheduler’s “Curbside Pickup” and “Schedule Private Consultation” features, retailers are quickly adapting to meet consumers safety needs.

Starting in May, Best Buy plans to gradually reopen its stores to customers with appointments, CNBC reported. Shoppers will be able to schedule a time to meet with a sales associate to discuss a potential purchase of an appliance, talk through technology needs, and more. Best Buy, which has 1,000 U.S. stores, will begin by offering this service in about 200 locations. Consumers will be able to make an appointment online, by phone or through Best Buy’s app, and prior to the appointment an employee will call the customer to explain how the consultation will work. Once in-store, a specific employee will shop with each customer while remaining socially distanced, and if the customer requests to try a product, it will be wiped down before and after use. The customer will be escorted to the register and out of the store by the employee, CNBC reported.

Best Buy will also be resuming in-home delivery, installation and repairs in early May, but with new safety precautions. The retailer’s employees will be required to wear masks and gloves provided by the company, and will need to do a health check before working their shift via an app developed by Best Buy. During the COIVD-19 pandemic, Best Buy temporarily shut its stores, suspended all in-home services and shifted to a curbside pickup model. Best Buy also furloughed about 51,00 employees earlier this month, CNBC reported.

Total Retail’s Take: Best Buy is one of the first retailers to release a reopening plan since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and not many have shared what the shopping experience will look like post-coronavirus. This announcement shows that the consumer electronics retailer is prioritizing getting its stores open and some of its employees back to work. The consultation aspect of the stores reopening may even boost in-store sales for the retailer. It will be interesting to see how consumers respond to Best Buy’s reopening plan, and how other retailers’ reopening plans compare as they start sharing them with the public. Best Buy’s reopening will be closely monitored by other retailers eager to see what works — and what doesn’t — as they look to bring their own physical stores back into the fold.

Post contributed by Total Retail

SUMO Scheduler Offers $10m COVID-19 Software Care Package to Enable Remote Workers

UPDATE: May 1, 2020 — Due to strong demand, the SUMO Scheduler COVID-19 Software Care Package deadline has been extended until May 31st, 2020.

ATLANTA (April 1, 2020) — SUMO Scheduler pledges to donate up to $10M of software to organizations impacted by COVID-19. The Care Package is immediately available and includes one year of software to qualified organizations at up to 80% OFF regular pricing. This $10M will be realized through deeply discounted software coupled with rapid implementation services and is available to organizations who sign an annual contract before April 30th, 2020.

“We recognize the current economic climate is challenging for many organizations. We’re grateful for our unique position to have software that enables remote workers and drives revenue in this time of need. My implementation and support teams are currently working overtime to help impacted companies transition to a remote workforce by automating virtual meetings, video conferences, and phone consultations.” – Shazia Khan, VP of Customer Success

SUMO offers a host of cloud software solutions that automate appointments for in-person and virtual meetings. Demand for SUMO Scheduler has surged amid the Coronavirus outbreak, due to the emerging trend of “social distancing” and the need for organizations to transform to a more remote workforce model. The software is proven to increase appointment volume, employee utilization, and drive revenue.

SUMO is currently helping:

• Sales & supports teams automate the scheduling of remote video conferences from home.
• Healthcare clients transition to telemedicine phone consultations.
• Financial services clients automate phone consultations.
• Call centers smart-route phone consultation requests to the right field rep.
• Retail clients automate “Talk to an Expert” buttons on their website and social media profiles.
• Government agencies to transition to phone consultations.
• Interpreters to automate scheduling of video conferencing.
• And more…

SUMO’s CEO, Jason North, explains “For years our software has been adding up to 4X more appointments to our customers calendars, including remote appointments. This capability is in even greater demand due to COVID-19, since it has a reputation to help enable remote workers and drive greater appointment volume, necessary to stabilize and grow revenue. I’m happy to announce our $10m COVID-19 Care Package to help. If your organization is impacted by COVID-19, I encourage you to apply today.” – Jason North, CEO

CLICK THIS LINK TO APPLY TO SUMO SCHEDULER’S COVID-19 CARE PACKAGE.

ATLANTA (March 11, 2020) — Appointment Scheduling software company, SUMO Scheduler, is seeing a huge spike in demand in 2020, amid corporate concerns about the spread of coronavirus. Similarly, demand for video conferencing and collaboration tools from Microsoft, Google, and Zoom is skyrocketing and expected to increase more as the number of cases rise.

The increase in customer demand demonstrates one organization flourishing while others are seeing a downturn on account of the worldwide outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. Recently, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention authorities proposed that, given the opportunity of the coronavirus being announced a pandemic in the nation, individuals working for organizations can use tools like SUMO Scheduler to book virtual meetings over voice or video conferences as opposed to meeting face to face.

In February so far, 77 public company transcripts mention “work from home” or “working from home,” according to financial data platform Sentieo. That’s up from only four mentions of the phrase around the same time a year ago. The vast majority of those documents also mention coronavirus.

SUMO Scheduler’s 10-year partner, Salesforce.com even announced this week, “Along with our employees in Washington State, we are strongly encouraging all employees across California to work remotely for the month of March.” Further, Alibaba CEO Daniel Zhang told investors on a recent earnings call, “the crisis is a very, very big challenge to the society,” but it also gives people a “chance to try a new way of living and new way of work.”

SUMO CEO, Jason North states, “It’s critical to our customers’ success that they are able to keep utilization up as workers transition to work-from-home and this is exactly the strength of our software. Our appointment scheduling automation software adds up to 75% more appointments to our users calendars and does a fantastic job facilitating remote meetings.”

SUMO’s VP of Product Architecture, Nick Zenko adds, “As a heavily customer-focused organization, SUMO Scheduler is even taking it a step further to work closely with key customers and ensure additional priority is put on any product enhancements that may further support remote workers.”

SUMO is currently running promotions to help prospective customers during these uncertain times and encourages interested organizations to contact us to use SUMO to schedule a virtual meeting with our product experts and learn more”.