Spring '26 sandbox previews go live today, Salesforce opens Agentforce to ISV partners in a major platform expansion, and new AI security features signal where the admin role is heading. Here's what matters this week.
Top Stories
Spring '26 Sandbox Previews Go Live Today
The wait is over. Salesforce is upgrading preview instances to Spring '26 today (January 9), with production sandbox upgrades starting tomorrow. The full rollout continues through February 21 across three deployment weekends. Key features to test include the new Error Console for admins, malware scanning for file uploads (beta), and Flow Builder enhancements like collapsible Decision and Loop elements.
Why it matters: If you haven't logged into your sandbox yet, today's the day. As we covered last week, the instance redirect deprecation is the integration change to watch. Your testing window before production is tight, so prioritize My Domain URL validation and external system connectivity checks.
Agentforce 360 Opens to ISV Partners
Salesforce has opened Agentforce 360 to ISV partners for the first time, calling it "the platform's most significant expansion since Force.com's launch 18 years ago." Partners can now embed and commercially distribute AI agents, with access to industry-specific capabilities including Financial Services, Automotive, and Marketing agents, plus flexible monetization options through Flex Credits.
Why it matters: Expect a wave of AI-powered apps on AppExchange in 2026. For customers, this means more pre-built agent solutions for specific use cases. For those evaluating third-party apps, pay attention to how partners are implementing agent governance and data access controls. The Partner Marketplace app is expected later this year with auto-provisioning and billing.
Agentforce for Security: Automated Risk Assessment
The Salesforce Admins Podcast highlighted a new capability coming in 2026: Agentforce for Security. This feature uses AI agents to provide automated risk assessment and proactively detect unusual activity in your org. It's part of Salesforce's broader push to make security governance a core part of the Agentforce rollout strategy.
Why it matters: As organizations deploy more AI agents, security governance becomes critical. Agentforce for Security addresses this head-on by helping admins identify risks before they become incidents. For organizations evaluating Agentforce adoption, this signals that Salesforce is thinking seriously about the governance layer, not just the automation layer.
Agentforce Voice Transforms IVR Systems
Agentforce Voice is now available, transforming traditional IVR systems into natural, real-time conversations. The feature includes low-latency transcription, realistic speech synthesis, and deep Salesforce integration. It works with major contact center platforms including Amazon Connect, Five9, Genesys, NICE, and Vonage.
Why it matters: Voice has been the missing piece of the Agentforce story. While chat and email agents got early attention, phone-based customer service still handles a massive volume of interactions. Agentforce Voice closes this gap by allowing agents to update CRM records, trigger workflows, and call APIs during live voice conversations.
Industry Spotlight: Financial Services
The Agentforce 360 partner expansion includes Financial Services Cloud agents, opening new possibilities for ISVs building banking, lending, and wealth management solutions. With Salesforce appointing new regional leaders focused on "agentic enterprise transformation" (including Paul Carvouni for ASEAN this week), expect accelerated partner activity around compliance automation, KYC workflows, and customer service optimization. For banks and credit unions, the combination of partner-built agents and industry-specific capabilities could significantly expand what's achievable without custom development.
Recommended Trail
Get Ready for Agentforce (~2 hours)
With Agentforce 360 opening to partners and new capabilities like Voice and Security rolling out, this trail helps you understand how AI agents can transform your business. You'll learn how Agentforce fits your goals, launch your first agent, and build a plan for AI success. A solid foundation before the AppExchange flood of agent-powered apps arrives.
Quick Takes
- Qualified Acquisition Update: The deal remains on track to close in Q1 FY27 (February-April 2026). When it does, expect "Piper" to become a native Agentforce marketing agent for autonomous pipeline generation.
- New Slackbot GA: The reimagined Slackbot and enterprise search connectors are now generally available. The new experience helps employees find information, prepare for meetings, and turn knowledge into action using AI.
- Agentforce World Tour Boston: Mark your calendar for January 14th. The Boston stop features expert panels, live demos, and hands-on Agentforce experiences.
That's a Wrap
Spring '26 is here, the partner ecosystem is getting access to Agentforce, and the security and voice capabilities show the platform maturing rapidly. Questions about Spring '26 prep, Agentforce architecture, or how any of these updates affect your org? Get in touch - always happy to discuss.