The ServiceNow and Salesforce clash.... and other stuff

The twenty-seventh episode of the podcast you know and love, "We Love Ugly Data!", is now available. You can find it in audio form on your preferred podcast platform and in video form on YouTube, which we've embedded below. As usual, it’s three topics in (just a touch over) 30 minutes, and the show notes are included just below the embedded video. We're back with Matt and Alan again this month, featuring discussions on planning for agents (with a return of the "5 Questions" graphic), a major dispute between business application vendors (with a mention of a breaking M&A transaction), and the distinction between tactical and strategic advice.In this month’s episode:Topic 1: 5 questions for agentic planningTo kick off this month, Matt and Alan discuss last year's infographic "Is your organization ready for Artificial Intelligence?" that Deep Analysis produced in association with AIIM, in light of a blog post that Matt published, where he takes those original 5 questions and asks them again specifically for agentic. There's a big discussion about projects; discovery phases, go-no go decision, subject matter experts, and process analysis (because, of course).Topic 2: Biz App Knife FightBack on the January edition of the pod, Matt and Alan discussed the concept (popularized by Satya Nadella) that business applications are in danger of seeing their business logic being ripped out and placed with agents. With regard to recent comments from both Salesforce and ServiceNow, Reworked recently published an article with comments from both Alan and Matt, largely concerned with their public battle to be the AI platform for business. Here, the pair discusses this battle, what it means about M&A, and the core business application market. Right at the end, Salesforce's deal to acquire Informatica, which was announced 5 minutes before recording, is discussed in the context of this battle. Topic 3: Tactical vs StrategicAlan's been writing about the difference between strategic and tactical and how they need to be aligned. He and Matt discuss this in the light of the work that Deep Analysis does on a day-to-day basis for our clients.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U1-jqWhNkw Related Links for Series 4 Episode 5Matt's "5 Questions for Agentic Planning" blog postThe original AIIM infographic "Is your organization ready for Artificial Intelligence?"The article on Reworked "ServiceNow and Salesforce Fight to Be the Center of AI Agent Operations"The "....a load of CRUD?" topic on business applications, agents and business logic" in January's podcast (it's topic 2)Salesforce announce the acquisition of Informatica (dropped aboSupport the show