Salesforce Rewards its Partners with Awards for Delivering Growth in the Region
Salesforce has announced that its partner ecosystem in the Middle East experienced a 23% year-over-year growth in fiscal year (FY) 2025, reaching a cumulative total of 275 partners. Furthermore, these partners have expanded their expertise through a 24% increase in certifications over the same timeframe, resulting in a cumulative total of more than 5,800 certifications.
Meanwhile, Salesforce Certified Individuals increased by 9% year-on-year in FY 2025, giving a total of 1,403 Salesforce Certified Individuals in the region. Additionally, Agentforce Specialist Certifications – a new category of certification – reached 194.
Salesforce shone a spotlight on its top-performing partners last Wednesday at the Middle East Partner Awards, held at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai as part of the Agentforce World Tour Dubai, which gathered more than 2,000 attendees across Salesforce's regional ecosystem.
This year saw the introduction of two new award categories to recognise the importance of Agentforce and AI-powered digital labour as a catalyst for transformation: The Agentforce Readiness Partner award and the Agentforce Live Use Case Partner award underscored Salesforce's commitment to empowering its partners to help drive AI transformation in the region.
Mukesh Kumar, Regional Vice President for Salesforce Alliance and Channels Middle East, said: 'The growth and development of our partner network in the past year has been phenomenal, with solid growth of the network and an increase in the depth of knowledge and skills, which will enhance Salesforce's ability to deliver AI transformation in the region. Our partner network has also been very excited by the introduction of Agentforce which is making agentic AI and safe, efficient, digital labour a reality for organisations in the region.
'The Salesforce Middle East Alliance & Channels Awards truly underscored the immense value and expertise our partners bring to the entire Salesforce ecosystem. This event showcased the impact of a truly empowered partner network, celebrating the remarkable success they deliver for our shared customers,' Mukesh added. 'The continuous expansion, innovation, and unwavering dedication within our partner community made the 2025 awards a memorable occasion, and I extend my congratulations to all the winners for their outstanding work and well-earned recognition.'
The winners of the 2025 Awards were as follows: Customer Success Partner : EI Technologies MENA
EI Technologies MENA Outstanding Knowledge Partner : Publicis Sapient
Publicis Sapient Sales Excellence Partner : Arcsen
Arcsen Community Impact Partner : Cloud 11
Cloud 11 Digital Partner of the Year : ConX Digital
ConX Digital Outstanding New Logo Partner : Globant
Globant Data and AI Partner of the Year : PwC
PwC One A&C Partner of the Year : Leadex
Leadex Rising Star Partner : T1A – Databorn
Databorn Agentforce Readiness Partner : Deloitte
Deloitte Agentforce Live Use Case Partner: Horizontal
Horizontal Overall Partner of the Year: ConX Digital 0 0
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
6 days ago
- Zawya
Unglamorous world of 'data infrastructure' driving hot tech M&A market in AI race
Weighed down by tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty, dealmaking has slowed to a crawl across most industries except one: the unglamorous world of data infrastructure. The companies that process the data used to build advanced AI models have become highly sought after targets for legacy tech companies like Meta, Salesforce, and ServiceNow in the scramble to stay competitive against the likes of OpenAI, Google and Anthropic. 'AI without data is like life without oxygen, it doesn't exist,' said Brian Marshall, global co-head of software investment banking at Citi. 'Because of that, data is having a zeitgeist moment right now driven by AI,' Marshall said. Tech deals are one of the few bright spots in an otherwise gloomy M&A market, accounting for $421 billion of the $1.67 trillion in global deals announced in the first five months of the year, or about 25% of total M&A, according to preliminary data compiled for Reuters by Dealogic. That's up from about 20% last year and 17% in 2023, the data shows. Of the tech deals, those involving AI software makers accounted for almost three quarters of the overall value, the data shows. SPEED MATTERS Goldman Sachs Managing Director Matthew Lucas, who focuses on M&A relating to all aspects of computing, said enterprise data, as it applies to use in AI, is the 'most dynamic area in software M&A right now.' 'There's a very strong perception that speed matters a lot, getting there first matters a lot, and that tends to lend itself to doing M&A,' Lucas said. The software firms that help companies manage their data on cloud-based systems are increasingly valuable commodities as the number of such potential targets is rapidly shrinking. Enterprise data infrastructure and analytics companies like Confluent, Collibra, Sigma Computing, Matillion, Dataiku, Fivetran, Boomi, and Qlik, could become targets for legacy tech providers in the near term, investment bankers say. The companies, they say, may help businesses integrate, analyze, and store information better. Executives for Boomi, Dataiku, Fivetran, and Qlik all said they weren't surprised by the attention. "Messy, siloed data has long undermined the attempts of enterprises to deliver on the transformative potential of analytics. Now, with the urgency to deploy effective AI, fixing it isn't just essential — it's existential," Florian Douetteau, co-founder and CEO of Dataiku, said in a statement. Requests for comment from Confluent, Collibra, Sigma Computing, and Matillion weren't immediately returned. LEGACY TECH BUYS IN Several multibillion-dollar deals for data infrastructure companies have been struck or closed just in the last few weeks. Meta announced Friday a $14.8 billion deal for a 49% stake in data-labeling company Scale AI. Salesforce announced plans last month to buy data integration company Informatica for $8 billion. Artificial intelligence is driving a once-in-a-generation makeover in tech that's forcing several of the largest social media platforms and software makers to buy companies that help AI-backed systems run smoothly. Worldwide, generative AI spending is expected to total $644 billion in 2025, an increase of 76.4% from 2024, according to a forecast by technology data provider Gartner. In early May, IT management provider ServiceNow said it was buying data catalogue platform which will allow ServiceNow to better understand the business context behind data, executives said when it was announced. The Salesforce acquisition of Informatica, announced late last month, will allow Salesforce to better analyze and assimilate scattered data from across its internal and external systems before feeding it into its in-house AI system, Einstein AI, executives said at the time. IBM closed on its acquisition of data management provider DataStax the very next day. IBM said the deal, announced in February, will allow it to manage and process unstructured data before feeding it to its AI platform. BAD AI ADVICE Those deals highlight the strategic importance for legacy software players to own all aspects of data management, and M&A is often the fastest way to achieve it. Instead of building complex data systems from scratch, they are acquiring specialists that can help organize, clean, and connect data from across their business. Would-be targets have sometimes become the hunters as was the case when Databricks, a leader in data processing and AI that was recently valued at $62 billion, announced plans last week to buy serverless database manager Neon for $1 billion. But dealmakers warned that companies can't just buy any kind of data and throw it into an AI system and expect good results. Air Canada was found liable in small claims court and forced to refund airfare last year after one of its AI chatbots gave a customer bad advice. Those types of errors can happen if the wrong kind of unfiltered data is imported into an AI engine, tech dealmakers say. 'A lot of companies have a huge amount of data, but I think they're learning that you can't just funnel every piece of data you have into an AI engine with no organization, and hope that it spits out the right answer,' said Brian Mangino, partner at Latham & Watkins. (Reporting by Milana Vinn in New York Editing by Nick Zieminski)
Khaleej Times
7 days ago
- Khaleej Times
Unglamorous world of 'data infrastructure' driving hot tech M&A market in AI race
Weighed down by tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty, dealmaking has slowed to a crawl across most industries except one: the unglamorous world of data infrastructure. The companies that process the data used to build advanced AI models have become highly sought after targets for legacy tech companies like Meta, Salesforce, and ServiceNow in the scramble to stay competitive against the likes of OpenAI, Google and Anthropic. 'AI without data is like life without oxygen, it doesn't exist,' said Brian Marshall, global co-head of software investment banking at Citi. 'Because of that, data is having a zeitgeist moment right now driven by AI,' Marshall said. Tech deals are one of the few bright spots in an otherwise gloomy MA market, accounting for $421 billion of the $1.67 trillion in global deals announced in the first five months of the year, or about 25% of total MA, according to preliminary data compiled for Reuters by Dealogic. That's up from about 20% last year and 17% in 2023, the data shows. Of the tech deals, those involving AI software makers accounted for almost three quarters of the overall value, the data shows. Speed matters Goldman Sachs Managing Director Matthew Lucas, who focuses on M&A relating to all aspects of computing, said enterprise data, as it applies to use in AI, is the 'most dynamic area in software MA right now.' 'There's a very strong perception that speed matters a lot, getting there first matters a lot, and that tends to lend itself to doing MA,' Lucas said. The software firms that help companies manage their data on cloud-based systems are increasingly valuable commodities as the number of such potential targets is rapidly shrinking. Enterprise data infrastructure and analytics companies like Confluent, Collibra, Sigma Computing, Matillion, Dataiku, Fivetran, Boomi, and Qlik, could become targets for legacy tech providers in the near term, investment bankers say. The companies, they say, may help businesses integrate, analyze, and store information better. Executives for Boomi, Dataiku, Fivetran, and Qlik all said they weren't surprised by the attention. "Messy, siloed data has long undermined the attempts of enterprises to deliver on the transformative potential of analytics. Now, with the urgency to deploy effective AI, fixing it isn't just essential — it's existential," Florian Douetteau, co-founder and CEO of Dataiku, said in a statement. Requests for comment from Confluent, Collibra, Sigma Computing, and Matillion weren't immediately returned. Legacy tech buys in Several multibillion-dollar deals for data infrastructure companies have been struck or closed just in the last few weeks. Meta announced on Friday a $14.8 billion deal for a 49% stake in data-labeling company Scale AI. Salesforce announced plans last month to buy data integration company Informatica for $8 billion. Artificial intelligence is driving a once-in-a-generation makeover in tech that's forcing several of the largest social media platforms and software makers to buy companies that help AI-backed systems run smoothly. Worldwide, generative AI spending is expected to total $644 billion in 2025, an increase of 76.4% from 2024, according to a forecast by technology data provider Gartner. In early May, IT management provider ServiceNow said it was buying data catalogue platform which will allow ServiceNow to better understand the business context behind data, executives said when it was announced. The Salesforce acquisition of Informatica, announced late last month, will allow Salesforce to better analyze and assimilate scattered data from across its internal and external systems before feeding it into its in-house AI system, Einstein AI, executives said at the time. IBM closed on its acquisition of data management provider DataStax the very next day. IBM said the deal, announced in February, will allow it to manage and process unstructured data before feeding it to its AI platform. Bad AI advice Those deals highlight the strategic importance for legacy software players to own all aspects of data management, and MA is often the fastest way to achieve it. Instead of building complex data systems from scratch, they are acquiring specialists that can help organize, clean, and connect data from across their business. Would-be targets have sometimes become the hunters as was the case when Databricks, a leader in data processing and AI that was recently valued at $62 billion, announced plans last week to buy serverless database manager Neon for $1 billion. But dealmakers warned that companies can't just buy any kind of data and throw it into an AI system and expect good results. Air Canada was found liable in small claims court and forced to refund airfare last year after one of its AI chatbots gave a customer bad advice. Those types of errors can happen if the wrong kind of unfiltered data is imported into an AI engine, tech dealmakers say. 'A lot of companies have a huge amount of data, but I think they're learning that you can't just funnel every piece of data you have into an AI engine with no organization, and hope that it spits out the right answer,' said Brian Mangino, partner at Latham Watkins.
Khaleej Times
13-06-2025
- Khaleej Times
Leading the Charge in AI-Powered CRM: How Salesforce Is Shaping the Digital Future of the Middle East
Mohammed Alkhotani shares how innovation and a people-first approach are transforming businesses across the region It's not often that you meet a business leader who speaks about digital transformation with the ease of someone recalling a personal journey. For Mohammed Alkhotani, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Middle East at Salesforce, that journey is very much a present-day reality - one defined by innovation, bold regional expansion, and a deep commitment to customer-centricity. Over the past two decades, Salesforce has evolved from a cloud pioneer into a global CRM powerhouse. But Alkhotani believes the company's long-term success rests on two enduring principles: innovation and quality. "Salesforce essentially pioneered the Software as a Service (SaaS) model," he says. "Back in the mid-2000s, we were among the very first to deliver a complete, end-to-end SaaS system and that foundational innovation gave us a significant early advantage." From that launchpad, Salesforce built a platform designed for rapid deployment, seamless customisation, and faster time-to-value. The SaaS model allowed businesses to scale quickly and flexibly - something that's now a critical requirement in today's fast-moving digital economy. Staying Ahead with AI-Powered Innovation What sets Salesforce apart today is its unwavering commitment to staying ahead of the curve. 'Innovation has always been at the heart of everything we do,' Alkhotani explains. "We lead the market in introducing new features and adapting to evolving business needs, both globally and locally." A standout example is ' Agentforce', which he describes as "the first AI-powered digital labour solution in the SaaS world." Deployed across sectors - from call centres to online service assistants, Agentforce is helping businesses reduce reliance on human intervention for repetitive tasks while boosting overall productivity. Aligning with a Digital-First Global Vision Salesforce's long-term strategy aligns seamlessly with the world's shift to a digital-first workforce, particularly in high-expectation regions like the GCC. "Customers today expect services to be delivered in minutes, not days," Alkhotani notes. "If governments can process applications almost instantly, the private sector is under pressure to keep up." But while expectations soar, human capacity remains stretched. Studies show nearly 41% of daily tasksare low-value - things like answering phones or handling simple lead generation. "These are the tasks digital agents can manage effectively," he says. "Our job is to help organizations offload repetitive work to AI, so their people can focus on more strategic, impactful roles. It's about making work more meaningful and more efficient." Putting Customer Success First For Salesforce, product development is driven not by guesswork, but by real-world feedback. "Everything starts with listening," Alkhotani shares. "Our user groups and customer communities are essential. Their insights go directly into our product roadmaps." This approach has paid off. The company consistently ranks high in customer satisfaction across markets. "Here in the UAE, customers are even willing to pay more up to 75–80% for a better experience," he adds. "And we're committed to delivering on that promise." A Business Platform for Change Beyond product innovation, Salesforce takes its role as a responsible corporate citizen seriously with sustainability and social impact embedded in its DNA. "They're not just values - they're core to who we are," says Alkhotani. "Even our canteen suppliers must meet strict sustainability standards." Since joining four months ago, Alkhotani has led multiple community initiatives. During Ramadan, the Salesforce UAE team organised a charity Iftar, providing over 5,200 meals to workers. The next day, they visited a school for children with special needs, engaging with students through art and creative activities. "CSR isn't an annual checkbox," he says. "It's a monthly commitment. It keeps us grounded and connected. Rethinking AI While AI adoption is accelerating in the region, Alkhotani urges companies to rethink their approach. "I see a lot of bottom-up strategies where businesses start by investing in models or infrastructure, but don't define their use cases," he explains. "That's backwards." Instead, Salesforce recommends a top-down, purpose-driven AI strategy: begin with the business need, identify pain points, and only then build the tech to support the solution. "Before spending on AI, ask yourself why," Alkhotani advises. "Start with the outcome. That's how you unlock real value." Salesforce's Agentforce, an autonomous AI application that provides specialised, always-on support to employees or customers, is at the centre of its AI strategy and Alkhotani is clearly excited about its impact. "We're not just pushing data or technology. We explore specific, high-impact use cases with our clients," he says. From predicting customer drop-off in real-time to identifying cross-sell opportunities in complex conglomerates, Agentforce uses existing customer data to recommend the next best action, making engagement smarter and more effective. "It helps employees become more knowledgeable and proactive," he says. "It sits on top of your systems as a digital agent, service rep, or business development tool - all in one." And it's fully compatible with any existing AI investments or large language models businesses might already have. Deepening Regional Roots Salesforce's commitment to the Middle East goes far beyond product deployment. "We recently opened our regional headquarters in Riyadh and launched new data centres in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia," Alkhotani shares. The company is also nurturing local talent through partnerships with educational institutions, including Princess Nourah University in Saudi Arabia, to develop digital skills aligned with market needs. Salesforce has also launched a Middle East Innovation Center with IBM, reinforcing its goal of building a self-sustaining regional ecosystem of tech innovation. "We're not here to make promises, we're here to deliver," Alkhotani says with conviction. "Every quarter, we're seeing real results. And we're just getting started."
