Insights

unctional consultants used to differentiate themselves by designing processes. Designers stood out by crafting thoughtful experiences. But when AI can generate workflows, wireframes, and requirements in minutes, the artifact itself is no longer the advantage. The real differentiator becomes judgment—the ability to step back and ask not just how to build something, but whether it should be built at all.

Most companies are trying to deploy AI on top of fragmented data foundations. The issue isn’t the models—it’s the lack of shared meaning across systems. As AI begins reasoning, acting, and automating across the enterprise, data governance must evolve into a C-suite priority. The real shift isn’t just better data management. It’s ontology: defining the concepts and relationships that allow AI to understand your business.

If you want AI to be a meaningful partner in developing applications that can grow, you have to bring a framework of principles the agent can align itself to.

We live in a world increasingly shaped by symbols and technology, where AI blurs reality and representation. Only by grounding ourselves in what is real can we guide progress instead of being consumed by it.

In this edition of The Intersection, we're sharing two things we've been talking about at ODNOS: how we’re using AI to prototype platform portals faster, and our data team's advice for managing data when the stakes are high.

Org migrations surface the mess: duplicates, outdated categories, unclear ownership. And the way you approach it sets the tone for your new system. Our team pulled together a few answers to the questions we hear most often, and some tips that can make the difference between a rough cutover and a clean start.

Next up in our mini-series into Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud is Grantmaking. We’re not just walking through features. We’ll dig into how to actually use them: structuring application workflows, knowing when native tools make sense, and understanding the tradeoffs we’ve seen between older solutions like Outbound Funds and Grants Management vs. the new Nonprofit Cloud Grantmaking.

We can't assume to know what our teams or employees need just because we've mapped their processes, reviewed the data, or talked to a few SMEs. The biggest shift toward inclusion starts with the simplest gesture: asking. When people feel included and feel their voices shape what’s being built, they’re more likely to adopt it, advocate for it, and help others use it too. Because people don’t resist change. They resist feeling like change is being done to them.

Dive into how we helped the Center for Conflict Resolution uncover key opportunities, validate ideas with a working Salesforce prototype, and walk away with a clear, people-centered path forward with IGNITE, our fast-start strategy sprint.