SA's AI transformation will be driven by the ecosystem, not individual companies

As businesses across South Africa look to increase revenue, improve productivity and unlock the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, one message emerged with clarity from the AgentForce World Tour Johannesburg: No organization drives transformation alone.

Held at the Kyalami International Convention Center on 3 June 2026, the AgentForce World Tour Johannesburg attracted approximately 2,000 business leaders, technologists and innovators for a full day of keynote lectures, expert-led sessions, live demonstrations and partner showcases. This event – ​​the most significant Salesforce ecosystem gathering on the African continent – ​​made clear that South Africa's AI moment is not a distant ambition. It's happening right now, and it's being built by the ecosystem.

Supported by South Africa's leading Salesforce partners – spanning global systems integrators, expert consultants, independent software vendors and proudly South African technology firms – the event brought together the full breadth of Salesforce expertise available to South African organizations today. Their collective attendance was a powerful statement: world-class AI and CRM capability is being built, delivered and maintained right here on the continent.

“South Africa’s AI transformation will be driven by the ecosystem, not individual companies,” said Ushal Moonsamy of Alliances and Channels of South Africa. “The opportunity ahead is significant and the challenges will not be solved by organizations working in isolation. Success will come from customers, partners and technology providers working together – transforming innovation into measurable business outcomes.”

Across all industries, South African organizations are decisively moving forward with AI experimentation. The conversations at the Agentforce World Tour Johannesburg reflect a market that is ready to act – looking for practical, scalable ways to improve customer experiences, empower employees, streamline operations and drive sustainable growth.

Through customer stories, expert-led breakout sessions, and live AgentForce demonstrations, attendees saw firsthand how trusted AI can be deployed responsibly and at scale. The event also included exclusive executive programming – including an Executive AI Lunch co-hosted with AWS – that brought senior business leaders into direct conversation with the ecosystem experts best positioned to guide their transformation journey.

The result was not just inspiration. This led to new relationships being formed, customer commitments deepened and a shared conviction that South Africa's AI future is being built – now, together.

What sets the Salesforce Partner ecosystem apart is not just its technical depth – it's its commitment to building lasting capabilities in the markets it serves.

Through continued investment in certifications, industry expertise, delivery capabilities and innovation practices, Salesforce partners are together accelerating customer transformation and expanding South Africa's pool of globally recognized digital talent. Each certified Salesforce professional working within the partner ecosystem represents a career built on a world-class platform – and makes a direct contribution to the country's broader technology economy.

It is this dimension of ecosystem investment that matters most in the long run: not just customers converted or projects delivered, but skills transferred, careers built and the economy become more competitive as a result.

Salesforce's global organization has made a deliberate commitment to enabling this outcome – through structured partner investment programs, co-go-to-market support, and a partnership-aligned growth model that provides local firms with the tools, credibility, and resources to scale.

“We are extremely grateful to our partner community for their support, collaboration and unwavering commitment to customer success,” said Graeme Leslie, RVP EMEA Growth Markets, Alliances and Channels. “Our partners amplify what makes the AgentForce World Tour Johannesburg possible – bringing the expertise, commitment and local insight that turns global innovation into real results for South African businesses. Together, we are helping clients navigate one of the most significant technology shifts of our generation, while building capabilities that will benefit South Africa for years to come.”

As demand for AI, data, analytics, integration and digital customer experience capabilities continues to accelerate, the message from the AgentForce World Tour in Johannesburg was clear: technology and people can power change, but ecosystems make it bigger.

South Africa has the talent, the ambition and – as June 3 demonstrated – the ecosystem to lead. Salesforce, its customers, and its partners are committed to building trusted, future-ready businesses that create lasting value for customers, employees, and communities across the country and continent.