I’ve spent a lot of time recently talking to Customer Data Platform vendors, or companies that looked like they might be. One that sits right on the border is Reltio, which fits the CDP criteria* but goes beyond customer data to all types of enterprise information. That puts it more in the realm of Master Data Management.

Acxiom has added self-service access to its massive Audience Cloud database of cross-channel customer data, Marketers can specify segments, set up test groups, and distribute audiences to their own systems or to advertisers through Acxiom’s LiveRamp partner network.  It’s just another step in making third party data more widely and easily available.

Salesforce has agreed to buy Troops.ai, which helps sales teams use CRM data without actually opening their CRM system.  Modules include tools to update CRM records, send Slack notifications of changes in CRM data, and collaborate on deals using a hub within Slack.  Troops.ai will be part of Salesforce’s Slack division when the deal closes some time this summer.