Session Details
Scaling AI for Developers: Lessons from the Inside at Salesforce
1. Adoption Is Earned, Not Assumed
We treated adoption like a product, not a rollout. Early success came from empowering champions, building trust, and designing for how developers actually work.
2. Measure What Matters, Then Iterate Fast
We focused on impact, not just adoption. Metrics like code acceptance rate, time saved per PR, and cycle time reduction helped us identify what worked, where AI helped, and where it didn’t. That clarity let us move faster with confidence.
3. Tell the Right Story to Executives
Executive buy-in was essential, but we had to speak their language. We framed AI not as a cool tool, but as a force multiplier for delivery, velocity, and developer experience.
meet the speaker
Nick McDuffie
Nick McDuffie is a seasoned technology executive and Vice President of Product Management at Salesforce. He leads the strategy and development of the internal Developer Platform used by over 15,000 engineers across the company. His work centers on building scalable, developer-first tools that accelerate software delivery through intelligent automation and streamlined workflows.
Nick also spearheads Salesforce’s AI for Developer Productivity initiatives, embedding large language models across the software development lifecycle. These efforts aim to boost engineering efficiency through AI-driven capabilities throughout the SDLC. He works closely with engineering leaders to define and track key developer productivity metrics ensuring measurable impact across the SDLC.
Nick is also a frequent speaker at Dreamforce and other technology conferences, where he shares insights on platform strategy, AI-driven engineering, and the future of developer experience.
