VML Netherlands Wins Salesforce Hackathon

VML Netherlands is celebrating success after taking first place at the Salesforce Hackathon held on January 16th at the Salesforce Innovation Center in Amsterdam. The team wowed judges with "Barry," an innovative AI-powered project assistant built on Salesforce's AgentForce.

The hackathon challenged participants to leverage design thinking to develop agent-driven solutions focused on jobs to be done, growth opportunities, and revolutionizing the user experience. VML rose to the occasion, prototyping and pitching Barry, demonstrating the power of grounded prompts and Salesforce's Gen AI capabilities.

Meet Barry: Your AI Project Management Guru

Barry isn't your average project management tool. This intelligent agent is designed for teams managing recurring projects, offering a streamlined approach to workflows. Imagine the impact for:

Marketing teams: Launching campaigns with precision and efficiency.
Localization managers: Seamlessly handling translations and branding across multiple markets.
Media organizations: Orchestrating show launches across social media, branding, and international rollouts.
Retail organizations: Managing seasonal campaigns and new product launches with ease.

Essentially, Barry empowers anyone managing workflows, even those without traditional project management experience, to take control and achieve optimal results.

The AgentForce Advantage

Built on the robust AgentForce platform, Barry addresses key project management challenges by:

Automating project setup: Leveraging templates and Salesforce data for a quick start.
Real-time progress tracking: Flagging potential delays before they impact deadlines.
Streamlining scheduling and follow-ups: Managing meetings, capturing transcripts, and defining new tasks.
Optimizing resource allocation: Assigning tasks based on availability and expertise.
Centralized logging: Recording all updates directly into Salesforce for complete transparency.

The Barry Effect: Faster, Smarter, More Efficient

The benefits of using Barry are substantial:

Faster Delivery: Simulations predict up to a 50% reduction in project delays, ensuring on-time launches.
Cost Savings: Prevents costly overages like rush fees, saving valuable budget per campaign/project.
Time Saved: Automates manual tracking and follow-ups, freeing up hours each week for project owners.
Smarter Decisions: Provides predictive insights for resource allocation and risk management based on historical data.

The Tech Behind the Magic

Barry seamlessly integrates with Salesforce Core, harnessing the power of Einstein Analytics for AI-driven insights and automation. It leverages the core platform for centralized collaboration, including Chatter and Experience Cloud, ensuring seamless communication and information sharing.

Real-World Impact: Transforming Project Management

Barry can orchestrate social media campaigns, translations, localization, and branding rollouts within a single platform. It simplifies complex workflows, boosts efficiency, and delivers stronger results, project after project, by identifying pain points, bottlenecks, and areas for improvement with each iteration.

Barry's ultimate goal isn't just task management; it's transforming how projects are run and continuously improved. It's a smarter, faster, and more accessible approach to project management for everyone.

Can Barry help you?

Are you a marketing team, localization manager, media org, or retail team handling campaigns, translations, social media show launches, or product rollouts?

If so, Barry or AgentForce is perfect for anyone managing workflows - especially non-traditional project managers. To find out more about how Barry can you help you contact Dienand Christie below.

Double Celebration: VML Experts Join Salesforce Advisory Boards

The win is even sweeter with the announcement that Paul de Groot, Solutions Director, VML Netherlands has been invited to join the Salesforce Partner Advisory Board and Penny Townsend, VP Alliances – Salesforce at VML has been asked to join the Agentforce Partner Advisory Board. This recognition further solidifies VML's expertise and leadership within the Salesforce ecosystem.

Congratulations to the VML Netherlands team for this impressive achievement! Barry is a testament to their innovative thinking and the transformative potential of AI-powered solutions within the Salesforce ecosystem.