In a significant leap toward operationalizing AI across enterprises, IBM and Salesforce are teaming up to provide customers seamless access to their business-critical data housed in IBM Z mainframes and Db2 databases. This collaboration enables that data to fuel next-generation AI use cases on Salesforce Agentforce, the platform designed to augment human teams with autonomous AI agents.
IBM Z systems have long served as the backbone for mission-critical workloads across industries due to their unmatched reliability and security. Now, these systems are set to become foundational data sources for AI-powered agents by integrating with Salesforce’s digital labor platform.
New IBM AI Agents and Enhanced Granite Model Performance Unveiled at IBM Think
At the upcoming IBM Think conference, the company will showcase new AI agents developed with IBM watsonx Orchestrate that integrate with Salesforce technologies. These agents, alongside the high-performing IBM Granite models, are engineered to support end-to-end enterprise automation.
Slated for release in June, a new integration will allow AI agents to perform front-to-back office operations using IBM Z data, which underpins roughly 70% of the world’s transactional value*. This advancement utilizes Salesforce Zero Copy, an innovation that connects IBM watsonx.data to Salesforce Data Cloud—a native, hyperscale data engine within the Salesforce Platform. This setup eliminates the need for data duplication or movement, enabling high-speed, secure data access.
With this integration, IBM becomes the first to provide Salesforce customers with direct, real-time data connectivity between IBM Z and Salesforce Data Cloud for analytics and AI workloads. This is particularly valuable in regulated sectors like banking and financial services, where stringent compliance requirements often hinder data mobility.
“In today’s dynamic landscape, data fluidity is paramount. Data Cloud’s Zero Copy Partner Network helps address this need by providing highly secure and rapid connectivity to their IBM Z data,” said Rahul Auradkar, EVP & GM, Unified Data Services & Einstein, Salesforce. “This eliminates the friction of traditional data movement, enabling utility and value for previously trapped information. By unlocking this access, we’re helping customers derive real-time insights and activate the full potential of their data ¾ regardless of where it resides to drive AI-powered customer experiences with Agentforce, across applications and the broader ecosystem.”
Accelerating Sales with AI-Driven Prospecting Agents
IBM and Salesforce are also co-developing a suite of pre-configured sales agents, combining the capabilities of watsonx Orchestrate and Agentforce. Leading this lineup is the IBM watsonx Sales Prospecting Agent, designed to help sales teams improve targeting, retrieve account contacts, and craft personalized sales pitches. Featuring a conversational interface, the agent connects across Agentforce, watsonx Orchestrate, and third-party platforms. It will soon be available through both watsonx Orchestrate and the Salesforce Agent Exchange.
Also Read: BigID Redefines Data Lifecycle to Curb AI Sprawl & Risk
Boosting HR Efficiency with IBM watsonx in Slack
Slack, known as the digital workspace that connects people, processes, and data, now becomes a hub for AI-powered HR assistance. The IBM watsonx Employee Support Agent, built using watsonx Orchestrate, integrates with Slack’s conversational interface to answer common HR inquiries and even take action autonomously.
Backed by IBM’s own successful internal use, this HR agent has resolved 94% of basic employee queries across the company, significantly reducing HR workload and enabling staff to focus on complex human-centric tasks. The agent is expected to launch in the Slack Marketplace this June.
IBM Granite Models Excel in Salesforce CRM Benchmarks
Enterprises seeking specialized, lightweight large language models (LLMs) can now tap into IBM Granite models, the company’s flagship AI suite built for business. These models are available as a Bring-Your-Own-Model option on the Salesforce Platform and are fully compatible with Agentforce.
In recent tests, the Granite 3.1 8B model demonstrated outstanding accuracy in the Salesforce LLM Benchmark for CRM—the first industry benchmark evaluating generative AI models for customer relationship management applications.
IBM Consulting: Driving Value from AI and CRM Investments
As businesses confront the dual challenge of evolving CRM ecosystems and fast-paced AI innovation, IBM Consulting is equipped to help them maximize their Salesforce investments. Through the synergy of Agentforce, watsonx, and IBM’s consulting expertise, clients benefit from strategic, AI-driven transformation.
The IBM Consulting Advantage platform—powered by Salesforce-specific AI agents trained on domain knowledge and proprietary models—enables rapid, high-impact delivery. These agents support consultants in orchestrating scalable, sustainable AI ecosystems with reduced total cost of ownership.
