Salesforce Trading Volume Drops 29.7% Despite Stock Price Rise, Klarna Shifts to AI for Efficiency

On March 24, 2025, Salesforce's trading volume reached $19.27 billion, marking a 29.7% decrease from the previous day. Despite this, the company's stock price rose by 1.90%, marking the second consecutive day of gains and a total increase of 2.48% over the past two days.

Klarna's CEO, Sebastian Siemiatkowski, recently clarified his company's decision to discontinue using Salesforce in favor of its own AI tools. This move was part of a strategic shift to consolidate data and improve efficiency. Siemiatkowski emphasized that this decision does not signal the end of Salesforce, but rather a shift in how companies manage their data and operations. He noted that Salesforce, being more than just a CRM platform, is likely to remain a key player in the market.

Siemiatkowski's comments came after Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff questioned Klarna's decision to move away from the platform. Benioff expressed concerns about data management and compliance without a CRM system. Siemiatkowski addressed these concerns, stating that Klarna had developed an internal tech stack to manage data more effectively. He also highlighted the potential for fewer SaaS platforms to consolidate the market and offer similar solutions to others.

Klarna's shift towards AI has been significant, with the company rolling out a generative AI assistant that can handle the work of 700 employees. This has led to increased efficiency and a halt in new hiring, allowing natural attrition to reduce headcount. Siemiatkowski noted that the money saved from these efficiency gains would be reinvested into the wages of remaining employees.