Salesforce

Salesforce delivered exceptional Q3 2026 results, reporting total revenue of $10.3 billion, up 9% year over year. The company's subscription and support revenue reached $9.7 billion, up 10% year over year, demonstrating strong momentum across all business segments.

Salesforce's non-GAAP operating margin reached 35.5%, while operating cash flow grew 17% year over year to $2.3 billion. The company generated $2.2 billion in free cash flow, up 22% year over year, and returned $4.2 billion to shareholders, including $3.8 billion in share repurchases and $395 million in dividends.

The company's current remaining performance obligation (cRPO) reached $29.4 billion, up 11% year over year, while total RPO climbed to $59.5 billion, up 12% year over year. Salesforce raised its full-year FY26 revenue guidance to $41.45 billion to $41.55 billion, representing 9-10% year-over-year growth.

Salesforce was founded in 1999 by former Oracle executive Marc Benioff, along with Parker Harris, Dave Moellenhoff, and Frank Dominguez. The company was established with the vision of delivering business applications through the internet, pioneering the software-as-a-service (SaaS) model.

The company launched its first CRM product in 2000, offering sales force automation tools through a web-based subscription model. This approach challenged traditional enterprise software that required on-premise installation and maintenance.

Throughout the 2000s, Salesforce grew rapidly, expanding its CRM platform with additional modules for customer service, marketing automation, and analytics. The company went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2004 under the ticker symbol CRM.

In 2006, Salesforce launched AppExchange, an enterprise app marketplace that allowed third-party developers to build and sell applications on the Salesforce platform. This created a thriving ecosystem of business applications.

Throughout the 2010s and 2020s, Salesforce expanded through strategic acquisitions, including Slack (2021), Tableau (2019), MuleSoft (2018), and many others. These acquisitions expanded Salesforce's capabilities beyond CRM into collaboration, data visualization, and integration.

Salesforce has developed comprehensive sustainability initiatives focused on environmental responsibility, ethical technology practices, and community engagement. The company has committed to ambitious climate goals while maintaining its position as a global leader in cloud computing and CRM software.

Salesforce has set science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across its operations and supply chain. The company has committed to achieving net-zero emissions from its operations by 2040 and has implemented programs to increase renewable energy usage in its data centers and offices. Salesforce has invested in energy efficiency improvements and sustainable cloud processes across its global operations, achieving approximately 100% renewable energy usage as of 2024.

In sustainable cloud development, Salesforce has focused on reducing environmental impact across its digital infrastructure and software lifecycle. The company has implemented programs to reduce energy consumption in data centers, develop more sustainable cloud solutions, and optimize software development for energy efficiency. Salesforce's commitment to sustainable technology includes initiatives for green computing, carbon-neutral cloud services, and responsible supply chain management.

Salesforce addresses ethical considerations through its commitment to responsible AI development, ethical business practices, and digital inclusion. The company maintains comprehensive ethical standards and has implemented programs to ensure ethical conduct in its operations, particularly in areas like AI ethics, data privacy, and responsible innovation. Salesforce's ethical guidelines emphasize responsible technology, ethical AI development, and corporate governance.

The company has strong community engagement programs, including the Salesforce Foundation which supports education, youth development, and community initiatives in communities where the company operates. Salesforce employees volunteer thousands of hours annually, and the company provides significant support for education programs, workforce development, and community initiatives worldwide.

Salesforce has received recognition for cloud innovation, workplace practices, and corporate responsibility:

• Fortune 500 Most Admired Companies (2024 and 2025): Ranked among the world's most admired companies in software
• Fast Company Most Innovative Companies (2020-2025): Multiple years of recognition for cloud innovation and AI solutions
• Great Place to Work Certification (2024 and 2025): Certification for workplace culture across multiple regions
• Technology Innovation Awards (Multiple years): Recognition for CRM innovation and cloud computing excellence
• Environmental Leadership Awards (2024): Recognition for sustainable cloud services and environmental initiatives
• AI Excellence Awards (2023): Recognition for artificial intelligence innovation and deployment
• Supply Chain Excellence Awards (2023): Recognition for supply chain management and ethical sourcing
• Safety Awards (2024): Recognition for workplace safety and employee well-being programs

Salesforce has faced several controversies and challenges throughout 2025, primarily related to data privacy, regulatory compliance, and competitive practices. The company has maintained comprehensive compliance programs while addressing various regulatory and public scrutiny concerns.

Salesforce has not experienced major product recalls comparable to those affecting hardware companies, as its business model focuses on cloud-based software services. The company maintains rigorous quality assurance programs and works closely with regulatory agencies to ensure data security and service reliability when issues arise.

The company has faced scrutiny regarding data privacy practices, particularly concerning customer data protection, consent management, and compliance with regulations like GDPR and CCPA. Salesforce has implemented comprehensive privacy programs and compliance measures but continues to face regulatory scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions.

Salesforce has been involved in controversies related to its acquisition strategy, particularly regarding purchases of competing companies and technologies that could reduce market competition. The company has worked with regulators to address these concerns while maintaining its growth through strategic acquisitions.

The company has faced criticism regarding its pricing practices and contract terms, particularly concerning enterprise software licensing and subscription models. Salesforce has worked to address these concerns through transparent pricing and flexible contract options.

Salesforce has faced scrutiny regarding its workplace practices and employee treatment, particularly concerning remote work policies and diversity initiatives. The company has implemented comprehensive workplace programs and has been recognized for its workplace culture while continuing to address these concerns.