How to combine Salesforce innovation with European data standards for a competitive edge in 2026
Fresh back from Kap Europa in Frankfurt, the Scalefree Salesforce team has unpacked a lot of inspiration. While our daily focus is on evolving Customer Relationship Management, IT-Tage 2025 offered an impressive 360-degree view of the IT landscape.
One thing became clear immediately: The “Sovereignty Blues” of recent years has evaporated. The industry is no longer complaining about dependencies; it is in full execution mode.
Here are our top takeaways for decision-makers and admins on how to navigate the future of Salesforce and Digital Sovereignty.
Digital Sovereignty: The New “Freedom of Choice”
Sovereignty was the red thread running through the keynotes (Jutta Horstmann’s talk on digital strategy was a standout).
The Scalefree Take: Sovereignty is not a “Cloud Ban.” It is the ability to actively manage your technological dependencies.
- Best of Breed: The 2025 standard is combining global innovation (SaaS giants like Salesforce) with local security standards.
- Data Control: In our discussions, it became clear that “Data Residency” isn’t enough. True sovereignty comes from Process Excellence. You are only sovereign if you understand your data architecture and own your business logic.
- The Result: We can use modern integration architectures to give you the best of both worlds—US innovation with EU compliance.
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Subscribe MeArchitecture & GenAI: Looking into the Crystal Ball
The sessions on Generative AI and software architecture were eye-openers. But we also saw the need for a reality check.
The Scalefree Take: AI is not a strategy; it’s a tool.
- Lifecycle over Code: LLMs change how we write code, but they don’t replace the need for planning. If anything, the ethical responsibility and security of the generated logic matter more than the programming language itself.
- No AI without Clean Core: For our Salesforce clients, this confirms our mantra: AI-driven automation must be embedded in a robust architecture. If you automate chaos with AI, you just get faster chaos. Data Quality is the prerequisite for AI success.
Sustainability: More Than Just Marketing
“Green IT” wasn’t just a buzzword this year; it was about hard metrics. We saw deep dives into how energy-efficient algorithms can minimize CO2 footprints.
The Scalefree Take: Efficiency equals Stability.
- Resource Intensity: A reflective talk by Hannah Herbst highlighted the resource cost of LLMs.
- Scale Smart: For Salesforce Admins and CFOs, this is crucial. A bloated Salesforce instance isn’t just expensive to license; it’s technically “unhealthy.” Optimizing your Org isn’t just good for the planet—it’s good for your bottom line.
Conclusion: Our Roadmap for 2026
IT-Tage 2025 confirmed that we are on the right track.
Digital Sovereignty and high-efficiency Customer Management with Salesforce do not contradict each other—they condition each other.
Whoever maintains control over their architecture (Sovereignty) and enforces strict Data Quality (Excellence) can use the best and most innovative tools (Salesforce) safely and sustainably.
Frankfurt, see you in 2026!
– Markus Lewandowski (Scalefree)