Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) announced:

• Apple Messages for Business in Service Cloud allows customers to get AI-assisted support, schedule appointments, complete purchases, and more
• Apple’s ARKit in the Salesforce Field Service mobile app brings augmented reality capabilities to field technicians, helping them resolve service issues more efficiently

Today, Salesforce announced an expansion of its partnership with Apple to bring Apple innovations into Service Cloud and Field Service for customers, service agents, and field technicians.

“We’re thrilled to deepen our partnership with Apple, further integrating the world’s #1 AI CRM with Apple’s incredible business devices and apps,” said Ryan Nichols, Chief Product Officer of Service Cloud, Salesforce. “These features are helping companies implement cutting-edge technology and augmented reality in a practical way, improving every interaction a company has with its customers.”

We’re thrilled to deepen our partnership with Apple, further integrating the world’s #1 AI CRM with Apple’s incredible business devices and apps.

RYAN NICHOLS, CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER OF SERVICE CLOUD, SALESFORCE

Why it matters:

• There are over 2 billion active Apple devices in the world, and over half of the American population uses iPhones.
• Messaging — including chat, email, and text messages — is the preferred customer service channel among consumers ages 18-34, and over 50% of app users are more likely to interact with a business if they can message it.