Agentforce vs Einstein: What’s the Difference?

With Einstein, marketers gained powerful capabilities like predictive analytics and content recommendations, streamlining workflows and enhancing campaign performance. But as technology advances, so do customer expectations, leaving many wondering what’s next in the evolution of AI for marketing.

Enter Agentforce, Salesforce’s newest AI offering that’s capturing the attention of Trailblazers worldwide. Designed as an autonomous AI agent, Agentforce promises to revolutionise how marketers manage their campaigns, analyse data, and demonstrate ROI. 

Unlike Einstein, which requires user input to function effectively, Agentforce is capable of acting independently, processing complex tasks with little to no intervention. For marketing teams already stretched thin, this could massively change the game.

That said, the buzz around Agentforce hasn’t come without questions. How does it differ from Einstein? Can it really deliver on its promises, or is it simply the latest tech trend? The Trailblazer community is alive with discussions, ranging from cautious optimism to outright scepticism. Some are excited about the potential for automation and operational efficiency, while others are concerned about the learning curve and implementation challenges.

This blog cuts through the noise to clarify the differences between Agentforce and Einstein, their unique benefits, and how they can work together to support marketing professionals. If you’re a Salesforce customer trying to decide whether Agentforce is right for your team - or simply want to understand its capabilities better - read on.

Let’s start with the familiar. Einstein is Salesforce’s AI suite that enhances various CRM functionalities, including predictive analytics, personalisation, and automation. For marketers, Einstein’s most popular tools include:

• Predictive analytics: Einstein helps predict customer behaviour, such as who’s most likely to open an email or convert from a campaign.

• Send Time Optimization: Einstein analyses and suggests when campaigns should be sent for maximum engagement.

• Content recommendations: Einstein suggests personalised content for email campaigns, landing pages, and other customer touchpoints.

However, Einstein isn’t a fully autonomous AI. While it offers valuable insights and suggestions, it requires significant input, known as ‘prompts’, from users. You need to set up journeys, define criteria, and continually refine processes to get the best results. This is where its limitations start to show, particularly for businesses stretched thin on time and resources.

Agentforce is Salesforce’s new autonomous AI agent platform, and it’s making waves in the Trailblazer community. Unlike Einstein, Agentforce is designed to operate independently, taking on tasks with minimal user intervention. Here’s what sets Agentforce apart:

• Autonomous task execution: Agentforce doesn’t just suggest actions - it executes them. Whether it’s creating reports, updating data, or optimising campaigns, it works behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly.

• Unstructured data processing: Agentforce can process both structured and unstructured data, making it more versatile than Einstein. For example, it can analyse text data from emails or social media to uncover insights.

• Advanced reasoning: By integrating with large language models (LLMs), Agentforce can make complex decisions, like prioritising tasks based on organisational goals or customer urgency.

This level of autonomy positions Agentforce as the next evolution in AI for Salesforce users. It’s not here to replace Einstein but to complement it, filling gaps in areas where more manual effort is required.

1. Autonomy

Einstein serves as an assistant. It provides predictions, recommendations, and tools to optimise your campaigns, but it still relies on user input. Agentforce, on the other hand, acts more like a colleague. It identifies tasks, prioritises them, and completes them without waiting for instructions.

2. Data processing

Einstein excels at handling structured data, like CRM fields and campaign metrics. Agentforce goes further by processing unstructured data, such as email text or social media comments. This capability allows it to uncover insights Einstein might miss.

3. Flexibility

Einstein is tightly integrated into specific Salesforce products, such as Marketing Cloud and Sales Cloud. Agentforce is designed to operate across the entire Salesforce ecosystem, making it a versatile tool for businesses using multiple Salesforce products.

4. Ease of use

While Einstein requires users to set up journeys and define rules, Agentforce takes a “set it and forget it” approach. Once implemented, it operates independently, freeing up time for marketers to focus on strategy rather than execution.

Adopting new technology can be daunting, especially when resources are already stretched thin. However, the benefits of Agentforce are hard to ignore, particularly for marketing professionals facing these common challenges:

1. Limited time and/or resources

Marketers juggle multiple responsibilities, from strategy development to campaign execution. Agentforce automates routine tasks, such as data updates and reporting, allowing teams to focus on high-value activities like creative planning and customer engagement.

2. The need for better ROI

Reporting and demonstrating ROI is a major challenge and goal for marketers. Agentforce’s ability to process unstructured data and integrate insights across platforms means you can build more accurate attribution models and optimise campaigns in real time.

3. Staying competitive in a fast-moving landscape

AI is no longer a “nice-to-have”, it’s a necessity. Businesses that fail to adopt advanced AI tools risk falling behind competitors who can execute faster, smarter campaigns. Agentforce offers a way to stay ahead without overburdening your team.

Agentforce has sparked plenty of discussions in Trailblazer forums. Many users are excited about its potential, describing it as a “game-changer” for operational efficiency. However, there’s also some scepticism, with questions about data security and the learning curve for implementation.

On platforms like Reddit, some users have expressed concerns about Agentforce requiring a full Data Cloud implementation. It’s worth noting that this isn’t the case - Agentforce can function with existing Salesforce data, making it accessible to a wider range of businesses.

Learn more about how Salesforce is addressing AI concerns for customers.

If you’re still on the fence, consider this: in Q4 2024 alone, MarCloud received a surge in requests for Agentforce support. This high demand indicates that businesses are recognising its value and moving quickly to adopt it.

Thinking about introducing Agentforce to your organisation? Here are some best practices to ensure a smooth transition:

• Assess your readiness

Before implementing Agentforce, evaluate your current Salesforce setup. Are your data sources clean and well-organised? Do you have clear goals for what you want to achieve?

• Start small

Begin with a pilot project to test Agentforce’s capabilities. For example, use it to automate reporting or optimise a single campaign. This approach allows you to measure its impact and refine your strategy before scaling up.

• Leverage expert support

Implementing new AI tools can be complex, so don’t hesitate to seek help. MarCloud’s team of Salesforce experts can guide you through the process, ensuring you get the most out of Agentforce from day one.

Agentforce represents a significant step forward in how Salesforce users can leverage AI. By combining autonomy, flexibility, and advanced reasoning, it offers a solution to many of the challenges marketers face today.

While it may not replace Einstein, it’s clear that Agentforce is designed to complement existing tools and take your marketing operations to the next level. As AI continues to evolve, adopting tools like Agentforce will be crucial for staying competitive, achieving better ROI, and freeing up time for the strategic work that truly drives results.

The excitement around Agentforce is well-deserved, but implementation can feel overwhelming. That’s where MarCloud comes in. Our team specialises in helping businesses integrate and optimise Salesforce tools, including Agentforce.

Request a call to learn how Agentforce can transform your specific marketing efforts and help you achieve your goals.