- Salesforce is entering the world of Web 3.0 with NFT Cloud
- NFT Cloud will allow clients to launch brands and the digital realm and built NFTs with utility
- Salesforce employees signed a petition when plans were first announced in February
American software giant Salesforce has surprised the tech world by announcing a venture in the world of Web 3.0 thanks to a new product called NFT Cloud. The company announced plans to join the NFT space back in February, which led to a mini revolt by employees, but the company has pushed on regardless, with NFT Cloud its virgin offering. Salesforce says that it is bowing to demand, following interest from various sectors, including retail, media, fashion and consumer goods.
February Announcement Turned Nasty
Salesforce announced its plans to enter the NFT world back in February, a move that led to hundreds of employees signing a petition against the move, citing environmental concerns over NFTs as the reason.
This was before Salesforce had announced which blockchain the NFTs would be launching on, illustrating once again the lack of understanding that those outside of the NFT and crypto space have when it comes to blockchain technology, and the power of mainstream media to influence their opinions.
Salesforce pressed ahead with its plans to launch a platform that it says will allow users to “mint and sell NFTs on a trusted, sustainable platform”, with the crucial addendum that “NFT Cloud does not support energy-wasting proof-of-work blockchains, resulting in 99% fewer emissions.”
NFT Cloud is a Response to Demand
Salesforce says that its decision to enter the NFT market is not driven by FOMO, which is a good thing because it would have massively mistimed the market if that was the case. Instead, Adam Caplan, SVP of Emerging Technology at Salesforce, told TechCrunch that Salesforce was responding to demand:
“Salesforce is seeing interest from CMOs and CDOs who are asking for help entering web3, and we are enthusiastic about bringing new innovations, products and offerings to our customers in a way that allows them to build and maintain meaningful relationships with their customers.”
Caplan added that NFT Cloud is not about monkey jpegs but is focused on utility:
“And what we mean by utility is as an NFT holder, I receive certain benefits. It could be something in a digital world, or it could be something in the physical world,” he said. That could include receiving a new type of clothing every quarter in exchange for owning the NFT, or in a game environment, you might get special powers that non-NFT owners can’t access.”
Salesforce’s NFT Cloud is currently in closed pilot, with no guidance from Salesforce as to when it will be generally available.
