(This column originally appeared in Forbes)
Here are five things in tech that happened this week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?
This Week in Business Technology News
Business Technology News #1 — Salesforce preps price hike amid AI blitz.
Salesforce is rolling out major pricing and product changes across its ecosystem –including Slack — to embed AI more deeply into its offerings: Slack’s Business+ plan now costs $15 per user/month (up from $12.50), while a new Enterprise+ plan introduces advanced AI features like enterprise search and task management. All paid Slack plans now include access to AI agents from Agentforce, and Salesforce customers on the free Slack plan gain access to Salesforce Channels for CRM collaboration. Salesforce’s core clouds (Sales, Service, Field Service, and select Industries) will see a 6 percent price increase effective August 1st. The company is retiring standalone AI add-ons and replacing them with Agentforce bundles — priced from $125 to $550 per user/month — depending on features. Analysts warn these bundled changes could lead to unexpected costs and complexity, especially if organizations aren’t prepared to manage AI governance and contract transparency. (Source: CFODive)
Why this is important for your business:
It’s a risky game. Salesforce is, without question, the CRM leader and holds the largest market share in the industry. But ask anyone and they’ll tell you how it’s very pricey…and that’s even before these announced increases. There are many excellent CRM platforms that are available at a much lower price point and that can serve the needs of most small and mid-sized businesses. I know that you get what you pay for. But people will question whether they’re being forced to overpay for the privilege of using Salesforce.
Business Technology News #2 — LinkedIn CEO says AI writing assistant is not as popular as expected.
LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky revealed that the platform’s AI writing assistant — designed to help users polish their posts — hasn’t gained the traction he anticipated. He attributes this to the high stakes of posting on LinkedIn, which he calls “your resume online.” Users worry that AI-generated content could damage their professional credibility, especially if they’re publicly called out. Despite this, AI adoption on LinkedIn is booming in other areas: job listings requiring AI skills have increased sixfold, and users adding AI skills to their profiles have surged twentyfold. Roslansky even shared that he personally uses Microsoft Copilot to refine emails to his boss, Satya Nadella. “Every time, before I send him an email, I hit the Copilot button to make sure that I sound Satya-smart.” (Source: TechCrunch)
Why this is important for your business:
Here’s a tip: when posting your thoughts on LinkedIn, don’t use their AI tools. Why? Because it’s your thoughts, not a bot. LinkedIn is excellent because people can be their (professional) selves on the platforms, sharing advice and insights. I believe that AI takes something away from that and — thank goodness — we humans can detect it. Go ahead and use the tools to make resumes or job listings better. But your thoughts are your thoughts and should always be 100 percent you.
Business Technology News #3 — Walmart unveils new AI-powered tools to empower 1.5 million associates.
Walmart has launched a suite of AI-powered tools aimed at transforming the work experience for its 1.5 million U.S. store associates: A new AI task management system helps prioritize and recommend tasks, cutting shift planning time from 90 minutes to just 30. A real-time translation tool supports 44 languages, enabling smoother communication between associates and customers — especially useful in multilingual settings. Walmart’s conversational AI assistant is getting a GenAI upgrade, turning complex process guides into step-by-step instructions. It already handles over 3 million queries daily from 900,000 weekly users. The tools are accessible via the Walmart associate app, designed to make work more intuitive, efficient, and rewarding. (Source: Walmart)
Why this is important for your business:
Walmart will soon be facing what every business faces when rolling out new technology: training. These features sound great and I do believe they can add a significant amount of value to the in-store experience, both for customers and employees. But only if employees know how to use this application correctly. It’ll be interesting to see how Walmart implements training company-wide.
Business Technology News #4 — Employers: A cautionary tale about new cyber threats involving employee handbooks.
International law firm Clark Hill is warning employers about a new cyber threat involving fake employee handbooks. Hackers are distributing what appear to be legitimate handbooks via spoofed company emails. These emails prompt employees to scan a QR code to “acknowledge receipt,” but the code leads to a malicious website that mimics corporate login portals like Microsoft 365. Once employees enter their credentials, attackers gain access to internal systems or install malware. (Source: JD Supra)
Why this is important for your business:
Wow. Say what you want about hackers but that’s pretty ingenious. As the article points out it’s important to train employees on email security using this scam as a case study; clarify how handbooks are distributed and acknowledged; strengthen IT defenses with multi-factor authentication and anti-malware tools; ensure HR portals and third-party vendors follow strong security protocols. It’s a sharp reminder that even routine HR documents can be weaponized in sophisticated phishing attacks.
Business Technology News #5 — The best email marketing software: Expert tested.
ZDNet’s 2025 roundup of the best email marketing software highlights how AI has transformed the landscape. These tools now do much more than just send emails — they help craft content, optimize timing, personalize messages, and adapt in real time based on user behavior. Here are their top picks:
-Mailchimp: Best overall for its simplicity and robust features.
-HubSpot: Ideal if you want CRM integration and advanced automation.
-MailerLite: Great for creators and small teams focused on automation.
-Brevo (formerly Sendinblue): Best for multichannel campaigns.
-Klaviyo: Tailored for e-commerce automation.
ZDNet tested these platforms for ease of use, AI capabilities, automation, and pricing –making them suitable for everyone from solo entrepreneurs to large marketing teams. (Source: ZDNet)
Why this is important for your business:
No surprises here. One other important thing to note: if you’re sending bulk or mass emails it’s important to use a good e-mail marketing service like the ones listed above. Their job is to get your emailed delivered and they’ll put you through due diligence to make sure you’re abiding by their best practices. That’s a good thing.
Each week I round up five business technology news stories and explain why they’re important for your business. If you have any interesting stories, please post to my X account @genemarks
