Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff: This isn’t our first SaaSpocalypse

Salesforce reported a solid year-end earnings and then pulled out all the stops to ward off more talk of the death of its business to AI. In an interview with TechCrunch, CEO Marc Benioff acknowledged that the company has faced similar challenges in the past, but emphasized that it has adapted and come out stronger.

The company's acquisition of MuleSoft in 2018 was a major turning point, Benioff said, as it allowed Salesforce to expand its reach into the enterprise market. He also pointed to the company's investments in AI and machine learning as key drivers of its growth.

Despite the challenges posed by AI, Benioff remains optimistic about the company's future. "We're not just a software company, we're a platform company," he said. "We're not just a platform company, we're a cloud company. And we're not just a cloud company, we're a AI company." ^[6]

Benioff's comments come as Salesforce prepares to release its latest earnings report. The company has faced increased competition from rival software providers, including Microsoft and Oracle, and has been under pressure to demonstrate its ability to adapt to changing market conditions.

In a statement, Salesforce said that it is "confident in its ability to continue to innovate and deliver value to its customers". The company has also announced plans to invest $1 billion in AI research and development over the next five years.

While the challenges posed by AI are significant, Benioff's comments suggest that Salesforce is well-positioned to navigate them. "We're not just a company that's trying to survive, we're a company that's trying to thrive," he said. "And we're going to continue to do that." ^[6]

Sources

[6] Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff: This isn’t our first SaaSpocalypse