AI is changing enterprise SaaS profoundly, says Emergence Capital

The worst-kept secret about enterprise software is that it doesn't get used very much. Or at least, it doesn't get used nearly as much as you would think given that companies pay millions of dollars in seat licenses for the stuff. That's why a whole industry of startups has arisen such as People.ai to automate tasks like filling out forms in Salesforce. Thus, the great challenge of enterprise software is engagement, how to get people to use it. Is it possible that some kind of artificial intelligence code, by giving constant feedback on signals in data, can solve that problem? That's the bet being placed by venture capitalist Jake Saper, who is a partner with Emergence Capital, which has offices in San Francisco and nearby San Mateo, California. Saper has invested in a slew of startups that are using machine learning in ways he expects will change what it means for an employee to interact with software. They include Vymo, Guru, Textio, and Chorus.ai.