One of the key points in the architecture that we can create in Data Cloud is the possibility of zero-copy integrations. With this type of integration, we have access to large amounts of data to build relevant segments and deliver unique, hyper-personalised customer experiences without the need to copy and duplicate data.
The zero-copy architecture is designed to help marketers address the challenge of unifying customer data from multiple sources in a faster and more efficient way, in real-time and with significant sustainability benefits. In addition, this approach is particularly important in the era of AI and data-driven decision making, as it provides access to much more data to work with predictive and generative AI.
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What is Zero-Copy?
Zero-copy is a method of data management whereby a system has access to data from external sources and can use it without the need to duplicate it or store it within the platform itself.
Traditionally, to integrate data from external databases into Salesforce we had to copy the data via APIs, thus generating records in a system that were duplicates of those in the source system. Zero-copy eliminates this need and allows us to work with a reference-based approach whereby the data remains in its original source but can be leveraged within the Salesforce Customer Data Platform, Data Cloud.
Salesforce partners and key technologies to consider
The concept of zero-copy came to the Data Cloud with the Snowflake partnership announced in 2022. Salesforce then announced the ability to integrate Data Cloud with this data lake with a zero-copy architecture allowing access to its data without the need to physically transfer it.
Since then, Salesforce has expanded its partnerships to integrate with other solutions using this same methodology, allowing us to build increasingly complete, efficient and powerful architectures thanks to zero-copy with other partners such as AWS, Amazon Redshift, Databricks, Microsoft Azure Synapse or Google BigQuery.
Benefits of a Zero-Copy architecture
Storage Efficiency
Traditional data integration involves storing duplicate data within Salesforce, consuming significant storage resources. Zero-copy reduces this need for storage by referencing data instead of duplicating it, leading to cost savings and more efficient storage utilisation.
Speed and Real-Time Access
Referencing data is much faster than synchronising and storing it. This agility is crucial for building use cases real-time or near real-time, as it allows the Data Cloud to make decisions quickly and activate the most appropriate experience at the right time.
Environmental Sustainability
Reducing the need for data duplication and extensive storage reduces the energy consumption required to manage that data. In this way, zero-copy contributes to more sustainable IT practices, as integrations between applications using this method are an improvement in terms of environmental responsibility.
Implications of zero-copy in AI
Zero-copy is particularly beneficial in the context of AI assistants like Salesforce’s Einstein. By integrating Data Cloud with external data platforms, we facilitate Einstein’s more complete, real-time access to much more information without the overhead of duplication.
Speaking of AI and zero-copy we have to keep in mind: grounding, which allows us to index Salesforce objects and fields so Einstein knows what information to base recommendations on; Einstein Copilot, the conversational AI assistant that provides answers and solutions based on unique data and metadata from each customer’s Salesforce ecosystem and is able to handle natural language questions and provide relevant answers based on secure data; and the Einstein Trust Layer, the set of features and barriers that protect the privacy and security of data in Salesforce, eliminating toxicity and accuracy of AI results while promoting the responsible use of AI across the Salesforce ecosystem.
With more data and more efficient systems, AI can generate more accurate and relevant results. And this means a clear improvement in the user experience with Copilot. Because on a broader grounding based on unified data and connected through the Einstein Trust Layer, the results are secure and much more tailored to each company.
The Future of Zero-Copy
Salesforce’s commitment to an open and extensible platform, as evidenced by Data Cloud’s zero-copy partner network, suggests a future in which data integration and accessibility will become increasingly seamless. As more companies adopt zero-copy architecture, the efficiency and sustainability of data management will continue to improve, supporting the broader goals of innovation and environmental responsibility in the technology industry.
In conclusion, the zero-copy architecture represents a significant advancement in data management within Salesforce in general and the Data Cloud in particular, addressing key issues of storage, velocity, AI scalability and sustainability in an increasingly interconnected digital landscape.
