We help clients scale smarter, optimize costs, and transform their customer data into AI-powered engagement with Salesforce Data 360’s reimagined credits-based billing model.
Salesforce Data 360’s recent shift from entitlement-based billing to a flexible, credits-driven model can help organizations directly align spending with business impact. By enhancing scalability, transparency and control, teams now only need to pay for the data services that drive outcomes.
So, what is the best way for organizations to get started with Salesforce’s credits-based consumption model?
The best way to get started is to first connect and organize your organization’s core data, then use AI-driven tools to personalize customer engagement, and finally, actively monitor and manage credit usage.
We work together with Salesforce Data 360 to help guide clients through this journey. We use Agentforce automation to enhance consumption visibility and help clients make informed decisions that maximize return on investment.
From entitlements to credits
Legacy model: Entitlements via contract
When Salesforce Data 360—formerly known as Salesforce Data Cloud—was introduced as a customer data platform (CDP), billing was based on three key entitlements:
This framework is predictable but rigid, with limited levers for cost optimization.
Modern model: Credits-based consumption
Salesforce Data 360 customers can now purchase credits, which are consumed across multiple billing categories. Consumption is directly tied to instances of CDP usage, such as:
This model can help enhance flexibility and drive alignment with business value but requires careful monitoring through Salesforce’s Digital Wallet.
Activate value in every credit
Salesforce Data 360’s move to a credit-based billing model redefines how organizations manage and harness value from their customer data. This evolution introduces both opportunity and complexity for leaders weighing their options between entitlements and credits-based billing.
While this shift can help build greater alignment between spend and value, it also demands new levels of financial visibility, forecasting and governance. Organizations must rethink how they plan, monitor and optimize consumption for their CDP to avoid cost overruns and maximize returns.
Five strategic levers to optimize credit use
Use batch ingestion for efficiency and reserve streaming for critical real-time use cases
Audit publish frequency and consolidate redundant activations
Turn credit management into a strategic advantage by linking forecasts to business outcomes and setting guardrails to avoid overruns
Harness customer data profiles to create AI-driven, personalized customer journeys that help translate credits into measurable returns on investment
Offload heavy data prep and storage to cloud providers, so Salesforce Data 360 credits stay focused on activation and personalization
Looking ahead
Together with Salesforce, our Deloitte Digital team can help you incorporate Salesforce Data 360 consumption awareness into your enterprise data strategy, design and operations. By combining intelligent credit management with Agentforce’s AI-powered activation, you can transform unified customer data profiles from your CDP into the personalized experiences that customers seek. If you’d like to work with us to help design your ideal Salesforce Data 360 approach, reach out to our professionals below.
About the authors
Syed Mir is a managing director at Deloitte Consulting LLP with over 16 years in MarTech and analytics, helping organizations leverage CRM, AI and Salesforce to create personalized, high-impact customer experiences. He leads complex digital transformations and is a recognized thought leader in Salesforce Data 360, serving on advisory boards and speaking at top Salesforce events.
Nick Ingham is a principal at Deloitte Consulting LLP. He works in Deloitte’s Marketing Technology practice and has over 15 years designing and implementing large-scale CRM and AI-driven marketing solutions. Nick leads Deloitte’s Salesforce Data 360 and Personalization offerings, helping clients transform customer engagement with advanced data, real-time messaging, and predictive analytics. He also serves on Salesforce’s Partner Advisory Board.
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