At the Agentforce World Tour in Sydney, business leaders from across APAC gathered to discuss the future of digital transformation. Among them was Tim Maxwell, FLO’s Regional Sales Director in APAC, who took part in conversations on the real priorities shaping business strategy today. While AI remains a major focus, many organisations are grappling with more immediate challenges. In this article, Tim shares his perspective on how companies can move beyond the AI buzz and drive meaningful transformation.
Moving Beyond the AI Buzz: Three Key Priorities for Business Transformation
I recently attended World Tour Sydney along with thousands of Australian and APAC business leaders, and while AI is certainly the next step for many companies, the conversations I had suggested a broader set of priorities for the year ahead. AI-powered solutions like Agentforce are exciting, but many leaders are grappling with more fundamental challenges:
Strategically reviewing their tech stack and disconnected data to better unify and mature their capabilities, ultimately accelerating both internal and external customer experience.
Reigniting their current investments in the Salesforce platform by adopting new thinking and developing a unified multi-cloud strategy.
Designing and delivering proof of concept that aligns internal stakeholders and demonstrates speed to value for larger projects.
These themes kept coming up in discussions, so I wanted to break them down and share how organisations are tackling them in practice.
Unifying the Tech Stack & Data to Accelerate Customer Experience
Many organisations have outgrown their tech stack. Siloed systems, fragmented customer data, and outdated legacy tools are holding businesses back from operating at the pace they need. A strategic review is essential, not just to consolidate technology but to unlock new efficiencies and elevate customer experiences.
82%
According to IBM, 82% of enterprises report that data silos disrupt their critical workflows.
73%
According to Forrester, up to 73% of all data within an enterprise goes unused for analytics.
This highlights just how widespread the issue is—businesses are struggling to integrate their technology, and as a result, their operations and customer experiences suffer.
This process starts with a thorough assessment of the current landscape—identifying gaps, inefficiencies, and opportunities to integrate disconnected systems. By implementing a unified strategy, organisations can ensure their technology works together seamlessly, reducing friction across teams and improving operational efficiency. AI and automation can then be layered in to personalise customer interactions at scale, helping businesses deliver meaningful, data-driven engagement rather than just reactive service. A structured, data-led approach ensures that modernisation efforts aren’t just about technical upgrades but drive tangible business outcomes.
By taking a structured, data-driven approach, we enable organisations to modernise their tech stack while driving real business value – not just technical change.
Key Insight: Integration Drives Efficiency
Unifying systems isn’t just about removing technical debt—it’s about creating a foundation for seamless customer experiences, data-driven decision-making, and long-term agility.
Reigniting Salesforce Adoption with a Multi-Cloud Strategy
Salesforce is a significant investment for many businesses, yet I often hear frustration that they’re not maximising its full potential. Whether it's underutilisation, siloed cloud instances, or misaligned processes, companies frequently find themselves in a state of stagnation rather than ongoing innovation.
A well-defined Salesforce strategy ensures that every aspect of the platform is aligned with broader business objectives. This involves connecting multiple Salesforce Clouds—Sales, Service, Marketing, Commerce, Data Cloud, and AI-driven solutions—into a cohesive, scalable platform that grows alongside the business. Establishing governance frameworks, continuous optimisation, and best practices helps to ensure the platform remains dynamic and delivers long-term value. When done right, Salesforce transforms from a collection of standalone tools into a powerful ecosystem that drives efficiency, collaboration, and customer engagement at scale.
By taking a strategic and technical approach, we help businesses move from using Salesforce as a set of standalone tools to a cohesive, high-performing ecosystem.
Key Insight: A Unified Salesforce Drives Business Growth
A connected, multi-cloud strategy ensures that Salesforce is more than just a CRM—it becomes the central nervous system of the business, driving growth, efficiency, and innovation.
Aligning Stakeholders with a High-Impact Proof of Concept
One of the biggest challenges in digital transformation is securing stakeholder alignment. Businesses often struggle to justify continued investment in new solutions when they don’t see immediate, tangible results. This is where a well-executed proof of concept (PoC) becomes critical—it provides real-world validation and builds internal confidence.
"Businesses often struggle to justify continued investment in new solutions when they don’t see immediate, tangible results."
A PoC should be designed to address a specific business challenge, showcasing how AI-driven innovation and Salesforce capabilities can solve real problems. The most effective PoCs are delivered quickly, generating measurable results within weeks rather than months. A strong focus on collaboration ensures that leadership, IT teams, and end-users are aligned from the start, smoothing the path for broader transformation efforts. Instead of theoretical discussions, businesses gain a clear vision of what’s possible, backed by tangible, data-driven outcomes.
Our approach ensures that businesses can move beyond theoretical discussions and into real-world, validated solutions that drive momentum for long-term transformation.
Key Insight: Proving Value Early Drives Adoption
A well-executed proof of concept is the fastest way to gain stakeholder buy-in—delivering quick wins and setting the stage for successful transformation at scale.
Moving Beyond the Hype
AI will continue to shape the future of business, but it’s clear that many leaders are prioritising the fundamentals—ensuring their technology is fit for purpose, making the most of their existing platforms, and delivering real, validated value before embarking on larger transformation initiatives. The challenge isn't just adopting AI but creating the right foundation so that innovation can thrive.
"The most forward-thinking businesses aren’t just chasing trends—they’re making deliberate, impactful decisions that drive lasting results."
For organisations looking to move beyond the AI buzz and focus on meaningful transformation, the key lies in strategic execution, seamless technology integration, and a clear roadmap for change. The conversations I had at World Tour Sydney reinforced that the most forward-thinking businesses aren’t just chasing trends—they’re making deliberate, impactful decisions that drive lasting results.
Author: Tim Maxwell, FLO Regional Sales Director APAC
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