Should You Go to Dreamforce? The Pros and Cons

Dreamforce is Salesforce’s flagship event, attracting tens of thousands of professionals from around the world. For some, it is a must-attend highlight of the year. For others, the cost and scale outweigh the benefits. Here are five reasons you should go to Dreamforce, and five reasons you might not need to.

5 Reasons You Should Go

1. Networking at Scale

Dreamforce brings together executives, admins, developers, partners, and thought leaders. If you want to connect with people across the Salesforce ecosystem, there is no bigger stage.

2. Learning Opportunities

From keynotes to hands-on workshops, Dreamforce offers thousands of sessions covering the latest Salesforce products, best practices, and industry trends. It is one of the fastest ways to stay current.

3. Direct Access to Salesforce Experts

Whether it is a product manager, solution engineer, or ecosystem partner, you have opportunities to ask questions and get advice directly from the people shaping the tools you use.

4. Inspiration and Vision

Salesforce knows how to put on a show. The keynotes often unveil the company’s future direction, showcase customer success stories, and energize attendees with a sense of possibility.

5. Community and Culture

Dreamforce is not just a conference, it is an experience. Between the concerts, volunteer opportunities, and community events, attendees often describe it as unforgettable.

5 Reasons You Might Not Need to Go

1. Cost

Dreamforce is expensive. Registration, travel, hotels, and time away from work can add up quickly. For some teams, that budget could be better spent elsewhere.

2. Content Availability

Many sessions, keynotes, and highlights are available online for free or at a fraction of the cost. If your main goal is education, you may not need to attend in person.

3. Overwhelming Scale

With tens of thousands of people and hundreds of sessions, it is easy to feel lost. For some, a smaller, local Salesforce community event (like a World Tour or Dreamin’ event) may be more valuable.

4. ROI Uncertainty

If you are not actively selling into the Salesforce ecosystem or driving a Salesforce transformation internally, the benefits of attending may not justify the expense.

5. Time Commitment

Dreamforce demands several days of focus, plus travel. For busy professionals, that can mean lost opportunities or projects delayed back at the office.

The Bottom Line

Dreamforce can be transformative, but it is not for everyone every year. If your goals are networking, inspiration, and ecosystem immersion, it is worth the trip. If you are focused on cost efficiency, targeted learning, or managing competing priorities, you may get just as much value from virtual content or smaller community events.