Salesforce's Agentforce: A Slow Start, But Still a Promising AI Play

Salesforce's Agentforce, an AI-driven platform for building and deploying autonomous agents, has been a topic of much discussion since its launch. However, the platform's adoption and revenue contribution have been slower than initially expected. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind Agentforce's slow start and discuss its potential for future growth.



Agentforce's Slow Adoption
Agentforce's slow adoption can be attributed to several factors:

1. Steep Learning Curve: Implementing and mastering Agentforce can be complex, which may hinder its adoption by businesses.
2. Performance Issues: Reports of slow load times and occasional unresponsive features may discourage potential users from adopting Agentforce.
3. Limited Customization: Some advanced customization features may not be supported, limiting the platform's appeal to businesses with specific needs.
4. Integration Challenges: Issues with third-party integrations causing data sync errors can make Agentforce less attractive to businesses that rely on multiple systems.
5. High Costs: The overall cost of ownership may be prohibitive for smaller businesses, limiting the potential customer base for Agentforce.

These challenges have contributed to slower-than-expected adoption of Agentforce, which has impacted Salesforce's revenue projections for 2025. In its fiscal 2025 fourth quarter and full year results, salesforce reported that Agentforce had handled 380,000 conversations with an 84% resolution rate, but this still falls short of the company's expectations.



Industry analysts, such as Rebecca Wettemann of Valoir, have noted that companies are being cautious about investing in Agentforce until they see concrete evidence of its effectiveness. The next quarter or two will be critical for Salesforce to demonstrate the value of Agentforce and accelerate its adoption.

Strategies to Drive Agentforce Adoption
Salesforce has implemented several strategies to address the slower adoption of Agentforce and drive user engagement and revenue growth. These strategies include:

1. Integration with Existing Platforms: Salesforce has integrated Agentforce with its existing platforms, such as CRM, Slack, MuleSoft, and Tableau, making it easier for users to adopt and utilize the AI agent builder platform.
2. Customization and Flexibility: Salesforce offers customization options for Agentforce, allowing businesses to tailor the platform to their specific needs. This flexibility enables users to create AI agents that can handle complex tasks and improve efficiency.
3. Pricing and Packaging: Salesforce has implemented a pricing model for Agentforce that is based on usage, with each conversation costing $2. This approach encourages users to engage with the platform more frequently, as they only pay for the AI agent interactions they use.
4. Marketing and Sales Efforts: Salesforce has been actively marketing and selling Agentforce to its customers. In December 2024, the company announced that it had closed 5,000 Agentforce deals, including more than 3,000 paid deals. Additionally, Salesforce has been offering Agentforce as a bundled product with its other services, such as Data Cloud, to encourage adoption.
5. Continuous Improvement and Updates: Salesforce has been continuously improving and updating Agentforce based on user feedback and market demands. In February 2025, the company announced that it had handled 380,000 conversations on help.salesforce.com using Agentforce, achieving an 84% resolution rate with only 2% of requests requiring human escalation. This demonstrates the platform's effectiveness in handling customer inquiries and providing support.

These strategies have been effective in driving user engagement and revenue growth for Salesforce. The company has seen an increase in Agentforce adoption, with nearly half of the Fortune 100 companies becoming both AI and Data Cloud customers. Additionally, Salesforce has reported that Agentforce has handled 380,000 conversations on help.salesforce.com, achieving an 84% resolution rate. These metrics indicate that Salesforce's efforts to address the slower adoption of Agentforce have been successful in driving user engagement and revenue growth.

In conclusion, while Agentforce's adoption has been slower than initially expected, Salesforce's continuous improvement and marketing efforts have shown promise in driving user engagement and revenue growth. As the platform continues to evolve and gain traction, it has the potential to become a significant contributor to Salesforce's revenue in the coming years.