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Ajay Achuthan

I am adept at leading cross-functional teams and managing budgets effectively. I am a creative problem solver, always seeking innovative solutions to marketing challenges.

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  • Ajay Achuthan

Ajay Achuthan

I am adept at leading cross-functional teams and managing budgets effectively. I am a creative problem solver, always seeking innovative solutions to marketing challenges.

  • Home
  • Ajay Achuthan
Blog

The AI Agent Stack Decoded: When to Use MuleSoft, Data Cloud, or MCP

November 11, 2025 Ajay Achuthan

Every week, a new AI platform promises to “revolutionize” your business, but which ones actually fit your use case? Should you be building with MuleSoft, Data Cloud, or MCP? The answer depends on what you’re trying to make your agents do: connect systems, understand data, or take action. This post breaks down how these three technologies work together and includes a handy heatmap that shows which tool is best for each AI use case, from order-to-cash automation to personalized marketing. The “front end” of modern applications isn’t just a screen with buttons anymore – it’s becoming a team of smart agents that can talk, think, and get things done for you. The real magic happens when those agents are trained with the right, high-quality data and equipped with the right tools so they can take meaningful action. Without that, they’re just chatbots in nicer clothes. This is where MCP is changing the game – making it easier for agents to securely connect to any system, share context, and deliver real results. MCP, or Model Context Protocol, is quickly emerging as the universal language for AI agents. Traditionally, each agent needed custom integrations – a messy, repetitive, and fragile approach. MCP solves this by providing a secure, standardized handshake between agents and the tools or data they need. Think of it as giving every agent a universal passport and translator, allowing them to tap into Salesforce, ERP, analytics platforms, and even niche APIs without complex rewiring. This doesn’t just accelerate development – it tears down the silos that have kept enterprise data and actions locked away, unlocking a new era of collaborative, context-aware agents. MCP has moved from concept to reality with stable message types, multiple transports, and official SDKs and native support in Claude Desktop, Cursor, and OpenAI’s Responses API. Salesforce is going all-in with Agentforce 3, letting agents connect to any MCP server without custom code, while shipping built-in MCP servers for CRM data, Salesforce DX developer tasks, and Heroku app management. The real breakthrough is MuleSoft MCP integration – any MuleSoft API instantly becomes an MCP-ready tool, giving agents secure access to their vast integration network of Salesforce, ERP systems, databases, and more. Next up: multi-agent orchestration by pairing MCP with the upcoming A2A protocol for agent-to-agent collaboration. But connectivity is only half the equation. To make agents truly intelligent, they need the right data at the right time. That’s where Salesforce’s Data Cloud steps in. Acting as the real-time unified data backbone, Data Cloud merges structured and unstructured information from CRM, data lakes, warehouses, videos, audio, and more – without duplication – into a rich, governed Customer 360. Features like real-time ingestion, hybrid search for Retrieval-Augmented Generation, vectorized knowledge, and semantic models keep agents contextually sharp and action-ready. Whether it’s resolving a support ticket, spotting a fraud pattern, or triggering the next best action in Slack, Data Cloud ensures agents respond with both speed and precision. Choosing the Right Pillar for AI-Driven and Agentic Workflows MuleSoft – Deep system reach for agentsWhen AI agents need to navigate a web of enterprise systems – ERP, CRM, finance, supply chain, or even mainframes – MuleSoft is the bridge. Its API-led approach transforms complex integrations into reusable building blocks that agents can call in real time. Perfect for workflows like creating a sales order, updating inventory, and triggering logistics all in one go. Data Cloud – Context-aware, data-driven agentsEven the smartest agent is useless without good context. Data Cloud builds the live, unified, governed Customer 360 that powers AI decision-making. It’s the choice when the mission is deep personalization, accurate recommendations, and real-time insights – like tailoring an offer on the spot or solving a service issue before the customer even calls. MCP – Secure, consistent action-taking agentsWhen the goal is enabling agents to do things, MCP is the standard. It gives agents a secure, governed “command panel” to access approved tools and APIs without custom connectors. Ideal for workflows that require agents to pull live data, update records, and trigger actions across SaaS, on-prem, and cloud systems – all in a single conversation. Heatmap of Use Cases Across MuleSoft, Data Cloud, and MCP Use Case Best with MuleSoft Best with Data Cloud Best with MCP Order-to-Cash Automation Orchestrating ERP, CRM, and payment systems into a seamless workflow Not primary use Agent triggers order creation, invoicing, and payment collection across systems Customer 360 for Service Agents Connecting siloed systems (support, billing, product usage) Creating a unified, real-time view of the customer for context Agent retrieves and updates records on the fly during a support chat Fraud Detection Aggregating data feeds from banks, payment gateways, and risk engines Running real-time fraud detection models across unified data Agent blocks a suspicious transaction or alerts compliance team Personalized Marketing Journeys Integrating ad platforms, CRM, and campaign tools Powering segmentation, next-best-action, and personalization models Agent auto-creates campaigns or updates segments dynamically Inventory Supply Chain Visibility Connecting warehouse, logistics, and ERP systems Analyzing trends and predicting shortages with real-time signals Agent reorders stock or reprioritizes shipments automatically Healthcare Patient Experience Integrating EHR, scheduling, and billing systems Creating a longitudinal patient record with context Agent books appointments, updates charts, and sends reminders Sales Forecasting Consolidating CRM, ERP, and partner sales data Running predictive models on live pipelines Agent updates forecasts, sends reports, and flags risks Field Service Management Connecting IoT device data, parts inventory, and service apps Providing predictive maintenance insights Agent schedules technician visits, orders parts, and closes tickets Multi-Agent Orchestration Providing APIs from enterprise systems into orchestration layer Supplying context data across agents Enabling agents to securely call each others tools and coordinate tasks

AI-powered Salesforce Admin Assistant Blog Post Header Image
AI, Agentforce

Will Agentic Experience Replace Salesforce Admin App?

May 13, 2025 Ajay Achuthan

Still navigating the maze of Salesforce Admin menus? Click after click, it goes on and on— just to check a user’s permissions or debug an error buried in classic UI. Not anymore, thanks to our AI-powered Salesforce Admin Assistant. Admin tasks shouldn’t feel like an obstacle course. As AI transforms every corner of business operations, why are admins still stuck in a manual, outdated workflow? The future isn’t another clunky dashboard, it’s an interactive AI-powered agent that automates tasks, simplifies troubleshooting, and makes administration effortless. It’s time to rethink how we manage enterprise platforms.  This curiosity started a journey for us. First stop: Has anyone asked these same questions, and what have they done so far? After exploring a few companies and their offerings in this space, one thing became clear: While AI-powered admin solutions exist, they often fall short in critical areas. They either lack the depth to truly automate complex workflows, or they compromise on security and compliance—two non-negotiables for any enterprise. With years of managed services expertise, we saw an opportunity to craft something different: An AI-driven admin experience that doesn’t just execute tasks, but does so with enterprise-grade security, full auditability, and compliance embedded at every step. The goal isn’t just to replace manual clicks, it’s to redefine what administration should look like in an AI-first world. We foresee a major shift toward AI agents handling up to 80% of Salesforce admin work, freeing up human teams to focus on high-value strategic initiatives. So, what exactly falls under this 80%? After years in the Managed Services business, we’ve built a precise catalog of admin functionalities that Salesforce operations teams rely on daily.  These include: User Management: Provisioning, deprovisioning, and managing permissions with full compliance tracking. Data Management:  Automated deduplication, data enrichment, and cleanup tasks to keep CRM data pristine. Security & Compliance: Proactive monitoring, audit logging, and anomaly detection to prevent misconfigurations. Automation & Workflow Optimization: Intelligent process automation to reduce manual interventions and inefficiencies. Issue Resolution & Debugging: AI-driven troubleshooting to diagnose errors and recommend fixes instantly. The journey from idea to execution was intense. After three months of relentless coding, testing, and refining, we soft-launched the beta version of Admin Assistant, equipped with a subset of critical functionalities designed for select clients and built to handle the most time-consuming Salesforce admin tasks with speed, security, and precision. Here is a quick preview: https://youtu.be/0p6dDYiyHMg So, what have we learned so far? Business Sense: Every client we’ve introduced this to goes absolutely bananas over how it takes their admin game to the next level. Two things are clear: 1. Those mind-numbing admin tasks they’ve been drowning in? Gone. They couldn’t hit “delete” fast enough, and 2. No more digging through Google or wading through Trailheads for answers to the tough stuff. They just chat, get it done, and move on. This level of excitement? It’s been a game changer for us. Technical Sense: Security and compliance? Front and center in our design thinking. While some of the alternatives out there take the risky route of executing Salesforce APIs with its data from an external data center, we purposely went all-in on a fully Salesforce-native design. Our solution is built 100% on Salesforce, leveraging the full power of AgentForce. No shortcuts, just raw, unfiltered security and performance. What’s Next from our AI-powered Salesforce Admin Assistant? With these early wins, we’re doubling down. Expanding Functionality: Our goal is to cover 100% of critical admin workflows, ensuring teams can operate with near-zero manual effort. Deepening Security & Compliance: Built 100% on Salesforce native architecture, we’re eliminating external API risks while integrating auditability and governance at every level. User Experience at the Core: We’re refining the AI’s conversational capabilities to make interacting with Salesforce as seamless as texting a colleague—no more endless clicking, searching, or troubleshooting. Our Admin Assistant app is designed to complement Salesforce’s new “Agent for Setup.” While Agent for Setup is an AI-powered tool that helps admins navigate, configure, and manage Salesforce more efficiently using natural language, offering quick access to tasks like managing permissions and creating report types, N28’s Admin Assistant goes further. It supports more complex administrative workflows such as report rationalization, permission set optimization, metadata cleanup, and advanced configuration management, enabling admins to drive greater efficiency, governance, and scalability within their Salesforce environments. The days of navigating clunky admin interfaces are numbered. The future? A fully AI-powered, self-optimizing Salesforce environment. And we’re just getting started. Get In Touch

Salesforce CPQ for Medical Manufacturers
Blog, Salesforce CPQ, Salesforce Revenue Cloud

Salesforce CPQ for Medical Manufacturers

March 19, 2025 Ajay Achuthan

Medical equipment manufacturing sales is a tooth and nail business. What we often hear from our clients is the need to be flexible when it comes to pricing. That translates to the ability to support different pricing strategies for different buying groups.  Recently, we  delivered a transformative pricing project with a global medical equipment manufacturer. There were three key components to this transformation project: Agility  Transparency  Workforce enablement  The overall challenge was simplifying the processes involved in delivering quotes to clients. The legacy process required coordination across multiple teams and systems. Getting a simple quote to the client required coordinations between three different teams using multiple systems.  Our objective was to consolidate these disparate processes under one roof: Salesforce CPQ. The aim was to not just streamline operations but to empower Sales and Marketing with self-service pricing capabilities. Given that medical manufacturers operate in a highly regulated market, it can take years—from initial concept—to putting out a saleable product. Therefore, go-to-market pricing strategies are often kept simple using a combination of cost- and reference-based pricing.  After the product is launched, the next big game is the ‘buying group’. The top three buying groups in the industry are group purchasing organizations (GPOs), aggregation groups (Agg Groups) and integrated delivery networks (IDNs—often also referred to as health systems). The size and volume of business these groups deal with often varies geographically. For instance GPOs are large, powerful groups in the US, but not so in Canada.  Here is an example of how a hospital is aligned to an IDN, GPO and Agg Group: Salesforce’ CPQ offers a wide array of pricing-related functionalities out of the box. Examples include product and pricing rules, product bundling, and so on. At N28, the art and science of configuring Salesforce CPQ for simple quoting has been done and dusted many times over for various clients. The complexity in this instance was due to the intricate web of buying groups and their overlapping pricing structures. A single hospital was accessing pricing from the IDN it belonged to and also from all the GPOs and aggregation groups it was associated with. The N28 team implemented a tailored Salesforce CPQ system that enabled multiple tiers of pricing access for a single SKU. This includes:  Tiered pricing for influential buying groups  Bundled packages for value-based pricing, and…  Support for distributor/reseller models.  Here is a custom pricing access view component we developed to simplify the complexity of the underlying business model. N28 equips medical manufacturers with the tools to master the complexities of pricing strategies. Our expertise in Salesforce CPQ implementation ensures that clients can seamlessly adapt to the diverse demands of various buying groups while optimizing internal processes. The result? Enhanced efficiency and profitability in an ever-evolving and competitive market landscape. Get In Touch

get started on Agentforce
Agentforce, AI

How Should You Get Started on Agentforce

February 24, 2025 Ajay Achuthan

Most people we talk to share a common challenge: they recognize the potential benefits of Agentforce and are eager to explore but are uncertain about how to proceed. Many struggle to bridge the gap between Salesforce’s AI vision and the tangible value it can deliver to their organization. These conversations often highlight recurring themes: determining the most effective Agentforce use case for the business, assessing the effort required to bring it to market, and understanding the financial implications. Effective Agentforce use cases Different types of agents available with Agentforce. Salesforce’s Agentforce offers businesses customizable AI agents that automate routine tasks such as order tracking, customer support, and troubleshooting. These agents integrate seamlessly into various communication channels, improving operational efficiency and delivering personalized service. As AI handles simple tasks, it frees human agents to tackle more complex issues. The platform also uses AI for knowledge assistance and can escalate complicated queries to human agents when necessary, ensuring that businesses can provide the right support to their customers. For more details, check out Salesforce’s Agentforce Use Cases. At N28, we have successfully assisted clients in a variety of impactful use cases to get started on Agentforce. Here are some examples: Sales and marketing use cases Generate quotes: Where our AI agents interact with Sales staff to produce customized quote PDF documents for specific customers. AI Account manager: Recommend products based on insights from current orders and market data, optimizing sales strategies. Operational use cases Validate purchase orders: Automating tasks like price checks, identifying complex offer pricing, and initiating rebate calculations Admin AI: Automates routine administrative tasks within Salesforce orgs, saving time and reducing manual effort. Technical framework behind Agentforce Agentforce’s architecture is built on four fundamental components that work in harmony to deliver intelligent, secure, and effective agent-based solutions: Data for AI: Foundation begins with comprehensive data integration capabilities, supporting both structured and unstructured data from internal and external sources. This robust knowledge base serves as the fundamental building block that powers agents’ decision-making and operational capabilities.  Large Language Models (LLMs): Leverages state-of-the-art LLMs to transform raw data and analytics into natural, conversational interactions. This technology enables fluid communication between users and agents, making complex data accessible and actionable through intuitive dialogue. Agent Core: A sophisticated suite of tools for designing customized agent experiences. This framework enables organizations to: Define Topics: Create precise agent parameters through detailed instructions, descriptions, and clearly defined operational scope Configure Actions: Establish specific, executable tasks and operations within each defined topic area Trust framework: A comprehensive security and governance layer that ensures controlled access management, secure channel operations, compliant agent interactions and protected data handling. This integrated architecture ensures that Agentforce delivers not just powerful AI capabilities, but does so within a secure, controlled, and trustworthy environment. Other common questions Data Cloud: Agentforce leverages the power of Data Cloud while maintaining implementation simplicity. While Data Cloud activation is a prerequisite for Agentforce deployment, organizations can begin operations using solely their CRM data—eliminating the need for extensive Data Cloud configuration at launch. Key architecture points: Data Cloud houses the Vector Database infrastructure required for RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) implementations Initial deployment can operate efficiently with existing CRM data Flexible architecture allows for gradual expansion of Data Cloud functionality This approach enables rapid deployment while preserving the option for enhanced Data Cloud integration as organizational needs evolve. LLM options: Out-of-box support: Pre-configured integration with select OpenAI models Pre-configured integration with select Anthropic models Flexible deployment: Support for custom LLM integration (“bring your own model”) Maintain control over your preferred large language models This flexible architecture allows organizations to leverage either pre-integrated models or implement their preferred LLM solutions based on specific requirements. Financial overview License cost: Unlike traditional user licensing, Agentforce employs a conversation-based pricing structure, charging $2 per agent interaction, with potential volume discounts. This model shifts costs from upfront licensing to usage-based fees, potentially reducing initial expenses but increasing costs with higher usage. There might be additional costs associated with Data Cloud credit usages and LLM model usages. With this on-demand pricing model, organizations must evaluate the trade-off between automating tasks through Agentforce and the associated per-interaction fees to determine the most cost-effective approach. N28 implementation cost: Staged implementation approach. Understanding that AI adoption requires careful consideration, we’ve designed our AI services to support a measured, step-by-step implementation journey. Click the link below to review our Agentforce offerings. Check Out Our Agentforce Offerings Here.

Why Smart Companies Are Doubling down on Salesforce AgentForce
Agentforce, AI

Why Smart Companies Are Doubling down on Salesforce Agentforce

January 22, 2025 Ajay Achuthan

Dreamforce ’24 was an outstanding event for Salesforce AgentForce. I gained valuable insights into Salesforce strategy, engaged in productive client meetings, and, most importantly, had meaningful conversations with peers about what customers are seeking in Data Cloud and Gen AI. For large companies with established data engineering capabilities and existing investments in business intelligence, what’s the value in further investing in Data Cloud and AgentForce? And for smaller companies, is AgentForce truly affordable? So, what is Agentforce? Salesforce’s solution empowers clients to build autonomous agents on top of their existing Salesforce platforms. It goes beyond traditional bots with integrated GenAI capabilities and surpasses standard data warehouses by grounding responses in real-time data. The standout feature is the intelligent learning engine, Atlas, which identifies the next-best action based on ongoing interactions. For me, the best part of AgentForce is its no-code/low-code functionality, enabling faster use-case deployment and significantly reducing time-to-market. Here is a summary of all the components that make up AgentForce: Why would Agentforce need Data Cloud? Data Cloud, on the other hand, serves as a microcosm of broader business intelligence capabilities—typically offered by comprehensive platforms like Snowflake or Databricks—integrated directly within the Salesforce ecosystem. It provides out-of-the-box extract, transform, and load (ETL) capabilities for data residing both within and outside of Salesforce organizations, laying the groundwork for advanced in-platform analytics. The platform’s zero-copy capabilities address the persistent data duplication challenge, ensuring data integrity and security. AgentForce relies on Data Cloud to deliver transformed business insights, enhancing response accuracy and relevance by incorporating contextually relevant information, regardless of data location. Here is a top-down view of how it works: Should larger companies adopt Agentforce? Absolutely—and for a straightforward reason: speed to market. For companies that prioritize building from the ground up and have substantial engineering resources, creating a fully customized AI capability in-house is achievable and may lead to standout, GenAI-driven innovations—you might be the next technology product unicorn start-up on Gen AI. However, for most companies where rapid market deployment is essential to maintain a high standard of user experience for both internal and external users, AgentForce offers a streamlined path to implementing GenAI use cases on the business front lines. This empowers agents to enhance sales and service team support with minimal lead time. Should smaller companies venture into Agentforce? Unequivocally, yes. With 45% of the U.S. population already using Generative AI, these capabilities are becoming a necessity. It’s only a matter of time before customers and employees demand GenAI features in every platform they interact with. While building in-house GenAI expertise and infrastructure can be costly—not to mention the ongoing operational expenses—AgentForce offers a compelling solution. Its on-demand pricing model, combined with a no-code/low-code platform, significantly mitigates investment risks, while the faster time-to-market makes it an obvious choice for smaller companies. What should the roadmap for Agentforce look like? This is not an easy question to answer, but there are several clear and established approaches for enabling the organic adoption of this new technology. To begin with, GenAI use cases focused on workflow automation represent the low-hanging fruit—such as automating customer interactions for service requests or automating lead qualification, for example. Future phases should concentrate on creating entirely new workflows driven by GenAI: replacing manual, time-consuming processes (like navigating through countless clicks) with more efficient, streamlined solutions. Additionally, developing next-best-action use cases will be key in maximizing the potential of GenAI. What is more important than all the tech talk is to STOP procrastinating. N28 is here to help. Use the form below to get in touch regarding your next project. Get In Touch

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  • Part 2: Agentforce Revenue Management Advanced vs Growth vs. Billing – Which Path is Right for Your Business?
  • The AI Agent Stack Decoded: When to Use MuleSoft, Data Cloud, or MCP
  • Part 1: From Salesforce CPQ to Revenue Cloud — What This Shift Means For Your Enterprise
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