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Expert insight
Keir Bowden is the CTO for Salesforce at Credera, a Certified Technical Architect, and Salesforce MVP Hall of Famer with 36 years’ IT experience. He’s a blogger at the Bob Buzzard Blog and Substack, and a speaker at various Salesforce events. After interviewing him in last year’s guide, we caught up with Keir again to see what’s changed in Salesforce AI across the past 12 months.
To learn and upskill in AI, the first port of call is Trailhead (as always!).
“To learn and upskill in AI, the first port of call is Trailhead (as always!). There are now multiple trails targeting machine learning, predictive and generative AI, and Salesforce tools like Prompt Builder and Copilot.
On the certification front, we have AI Associate and AI Specialist. Completing this training will allow you to implement the Salesforce generative AI tools, but it won’t give you the depth of understanding you need to stand out from the pack.
For that, I’d recommend additional training from providers like DeepLearning.AI, DataBricks, LinkedIn Learning, and Udacity. The more you understand generative AI and the machine learning underpinning it, the better you’ll be able to advise your stakeholders and customers.
How can employers help lay the foundations for this AI adoption? First, they need to decide what they’re trying to achieve in order to determine the skills needed and identify any gaps within teams. The most important aspect, in my view, is to help staff get the skills they’ll actually use—learning all about generative AI but not having the opportunity to apply that knowledge will inevitably lead to dissatisfaction.
There’s also job security to consider. Autonomous Agents that can handle basic tasks at scale will mean fewer humans are needed in that business area, but I’d recommend companies exercise caution before removing entire teams. You need seniors to handle the more complex requests that the agent can’t, and if you don’t have any juniors, where will your next generation of seniors come from?
Communication is vital to any business change—in this instance, arguably even more so given the blanket news coverage that generative AI enjoys. If you don’t explain the motivations and objectives of AI integration, rumors will take control and staff will assume the worst. Be clear that the goal is to do more with the same number of people, not the same output with fewer people. Engage early and often, and you’ll bring your teams on this journey along with you.”
Be clear that the goal is to do more with the same number of people, not the same output with fewer people.
Salesforce Trailhead
Salesforce offers a complimentary training program that enables users to learn the key features of Salesforce for free. By successfully finishing modules and acquiring Trailhead badges, learners can attain Trailblazer ranks, starting from Scout and advancing up to All Star Ranger.
The majority of our respondents (95%) use Salesforce Trailhead.
Breakdown of Trailblazer ranks
Scout
0 Badges / 0 Points
0%
Hiker
1 Badge / 200 Points
1%
Explorer
5 Badges / 3,000 Points
4%
Adventurer
10 Badges / 9,000 Points
4%
Mountaineer
25 Badges / 18,000 Points
7%
Expeditioner
50 Badges / 35,000 Points
14%
Ranger
100 Badges / 50,000 Points
33%
Double Star Ranger
200 Badges / 100k+ Points
16%
Triple Star Ranger
300 Badges / 150k+ Points
10%
Four Star Ranger
400 Badges / 200k+ Points
2%
Five Star Ranger
500 Badges / 250k+ Points
2%
All Star Ranger
600 Badges / 300k+ Points
6%
What are the benefits of gaining Trailhead badges?
Salesforce events
Is the Salesforce community planning on attending events in the coming year?
Yes
No
Not sure
| 72% | 10% | 19% |
|---|
| 47% | 26% | 28% |
|---|
MASON FRANK’S
CAREERS AND HIRING GUIDE
KEY FINDINGS 2025
