In early 2025, we published our perspective on the shifts we believed would redefine customer advocacy—from stronger measurement and deeper GTM alignment to the growing role of community and storytelling. With a year of execution behind us, those predictions largely held true, but the pace and depth of change exceeded expectations. Advocacy teams are now being measured on pipeline influence, retention, and expansion, personalization has become table stakes, and community has emerged as a long-term strategic investment rather than a programmatic feature. This retrospective looks at what we got right, where our thinking has evolved, and what advocacy leaders should be preparing for as AI-driven orchestration accelerates into 2026.

To better understand the approach of SlapFive and strengthen Referential’s ability to advise clients on connected advocacy ecosystems, earning a Workato Level One Certification was a priority.

When launching a customer advocacy program, many teams struggle with limited tools, unclear strategies, and competing priorities. A global tax compliance company overcame these hurdles by partnering with Referential for expert platform selection, Salesforce integration, and long-term strategic support. The result: a scalable advocacy program aligned with business goals and designed to drive measurable impact.