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Creating Customer Portals with a Salesforce-Integrated Platform

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On January 13, 2024

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This guest post has been delivered by Nikita R., media-savvy content creator, with a curiosity for all Salesforce experiences.

A customer portal is a quick way to improve customer experiences when interacting with your business. They are often used to create a central location that customers can visit to read up on any of your announcements, shop for products and services, or even log calls for assistance with their previous purchases.

Continue reading our blog to find out more about customer portals built with Titan Web that can connect to Salesforce seamlessly and bi-directionally. But we first start with the basics…

What’s a Customer Portal?

Customer portals are platforms or digital spaces used to showcase business content, documentation, and announcements to customers in a central location. But more importantly, it’s a space where customers get to interact with self-service options, like logging tickets or watching tutorial videos.

Customer portals are also good tools to alleviate pressure on sales and customer service agents as these platforms let visitors independently edit and track their personal details, account information, and payment options.

Add Inspiring UX Features

Are you ready to rush off and start building your latest web project? Well, make sure to add the following features to your customer portal. Each one will bring a breath of fresh air to your user experiences and keep your visitors returning to your portal every time.

The first feature we need to discuss is a way for your customers to manage and edit their account information on a customer portal. This independence and freedom will free up a lot of your customer service agents time which they can use to spend on higher-priority tasks. And while you’re adding this feature request, make sure to also provide options for logged in visitors that want to create user profiles and configure personal preferences on the customer portal.

The next feature is essential for those businesses who sell products online. You can use your customer portal to track orders efficiently so make sure to add this feature to yours. For instance, customers can log into the portal to check their order status and previous purchases. You could take it a step further and raise your customer expectations by sending alerts to them when their order has been scheduled and is out for delivery.

The last feature we would like to discuss, although there are plenty more, is a knowledge base. It’s an extremely helpful feature to add to your customer portal. The knowledge base is a dedicated space that displays videos and articles on how to troubleshoot products that are broken. Its purpose is to give customers a way to find information quickly to resolve issues without the need to wait for a technician or a customer service agent. It’s a wise decision to also add a frequently asked questions page to impart wisdom and solutions to common problems that may exist.

Why do I need a Platform that integrates with Salesforce?

As we are all aware, Salesforce is the world’s leading customer relationship management (CRM) platform. So, it will come as no surprise to us that you are also using it to streamline sales, marketing, and customer service tasks. If this is you, why not take full advantage of all that Salesforce has to offer. It’s easy when you integrate your customer portal and Salesforce.

The first advantage you will get for your teams when you integrate Salesforce with a customer portal, is a complete 360° view of your customer data. If Salesforce is your main database for storing all customer details, you can go ahead and easily track transactions, interactions, and any other data collected from your customer portal.

Additionally, if you install smart software such as Titan Web, you can sync your Salesforce data to and from your customer portal in real-time.

Essentially all of these points show that integrating Salesforce with a customer portal lets your teams collect detailed information to understand customers on a deeper level. After analyzing the data, you can then create custom marketing and sales strategies to keep and nurture customer relationships.

Who can Give me Portal Services?

If you are looking for a third-party app that can provide you the power to build customer portals, websites, forms, and surveys without any coding skills, then we suggest getting Titan Web.

It’s a powerful tool that creates any web project on its single Salesforce-integrated platform. It is considered to be the complete solution to support any business process. Here are a few examples of other portals that your teams can easily create with no code when using Titan:

  • Customer Service Portals
  • Customer Support Portals
  • Customer Engagement Portals
  • Customer Self-Service Portals
  • Client Portals

Try Titan Web for Customer Portal Software

With Titan Web, businesses certainly get more for less. For starters, Titan Web’s drag-and-drop builder is user-friendly and fully accessible to create the specific portal that you need. And once your customer portal is up and running, you know that you are going to start collecting vast amounts of private information. For this reason, Titan Web ensures that its apps are secure and compliant with HIPAA, SOC 2, ISO, GDPR, and other leading frameworks.

Titan Web can extend your Salesforce capabilities with its host of robust tools. Take a look at some of the best features you gain access to when using Titan Web.

  • Titan Web integrates directly into Salesforce with 3 simple steps!
  • When you integrate Titan Web with Salesforce, you get to push and pull data between the two platforms in real-time.
  • You have the option to choose to work with Titan Web as a powerful alternative to Experience Cloud.
  • Go ahead and build branded web apps and portals to suit any use case you can imagine with zero coding skills.
  • With Titan Web, you get full design and customization options to brand your web projects the way you want.
  • Your web projects can have responsive designs to work on multiple devices.
  • Get access to a variety of engaging elements to add to your web projects, like maps or schedulers.
  • Create more than just websites and portals. You can use Titan Web to generate documents, build surveys, and design forms, which all push and pull data from Salesforce.
  • Titan Web helps you perform your business processes from start to finish, such as generating and signing dynamic documents that are pre-filled with Salesforce data.
  • You get Salesforce automation that can be configured with no code to support your complex approval flows.
  • All your web projects have access to advanced 2FA security with Titan Web.
  • Easily create progress reports with your Salesforce data to support business decisions.
  • You can secure your web projects with Titan Web’s multi-user permission options.

A Salesforce & Titan Web Integration for the Best User Experiences

Thanks for reading our article on Salesforce and Titan Web, our client portal software of choice for creating customer portals, and more. We hope we have shed some light on how you can use the powerful Salesforce-integrated platform to obtain the best user experiences tailor-made to your business requirements. Good Luck!

Integrating SalesForce with AWS

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On December 20, 2023

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This guest post is presented by Gilad David Maayan is a technology writer who has worked with over 150 technology companies including SAP, Imperva, Samsung NEXT, NetApp and Check Point, producing technical and thought leadership content that elucidates technical solutions for developers and IT leadership. Today he heads Agile SEO, the leading marketing agency in the technology industry.

In today’s data-driven business environment, the integration of Salesforce with AWS allows organizations to improve customer relationship management and operational efficiency. This article explores benefits and capabilities that businesses can harness by integrating their Salesforce instance with AWS’s native services, such as Redshift, Lambda, and Amazon Connect, as well as third party services hosted on AWS, such as Tableau and MuleSoft.

How AWS Native Services Can Benefit SalesForce Users 

Here are the key capabilities SalesForce users can derive from integrating their SalesForce instance with AWS.

Enhanced Data Storage and Querying

AWS offers a range of powerful data storage and querying services, including AWS database services like Amazon RDS, NoSQL options like Amazon DynamoDB, and Amazon Redshift.

When integrated with Salesforce, these services allow for efficient storage and querying of customer data. This can greatly improve the speed and accuracy of customer insights, enabling businesses to make more informed decisions and improve their customer relationships.

Furthermore, AWS’s advanced analytics services, such as Amazon QuickSight, can provide deep insights into customer behavior and trends. These insights can be used to drive strategic business decisions and improve overall business performance.

Amazon Redshift and Einstein Analytics

Amazon Redshift and Einstein Analytics are two powerful tools that can be leveraged when integrating Salesforce with AWS. Amazon Redshift is a fast, scalable data warehouse that makes it simple and cost-effective to analyze all your data using standard SQL and your existing Business Intelligence (BI) tools.

On the other hand, Einstein Analytics is Salesforce’s native analytics tool, providing AI-powered business intelligence. When used in conjunction with Amazon Redshift, businesses can leverage the high-speed analysis and data visualization capabilities of Einstein Analytics on the comprehensive data stored in Amazon Redshift.

Serverless Function Execution with AWS Lambda

AWS offers scalable, serverless function execution for complex operations, a feature that is particularly beneficial when integrated with Salesforce. With AWS Lambda, you can run your code without provisioning or managing servers.

When integrated with Salesforce, this serverless architecture allows for the execution of complex operations without the need to manage or scale servers. This can greatly simplify the management of complex operations, increase operational efficiency, and reduce costs.

Amazon Connect and Salesforce Service Cloud Voice

Amazon Connect is an easy-to-use omnichannel cloud contact center that helps businesses provide superior customer service at a lower cost. When integrated with Salesforce Service Cloud Voice, it brings together voice, digital channels, and CRM data in real-time.

This integration allows for a unified agent and manager experience within Salesforce, enabling businesses to deliver more personalized and effective customer service. It also provides valuable insights into customer interactions, which can be used to improve service quality and drive customer satisfaction.

Integrating SalesForce with Third-Party Services on AWS

Tableau on AWS

Another powerful AWS service that can be integrated with Salesforce is Tableau. Tableau is a powerful data visualization tool that can transform raw data into understandable and actionable insights. When hosted on AWS, Tableau can leverage the scalability, reliability, and security of the AWS cloud.

By integrating Tableau with Salesforce, businesses can visualize their Salesforce data in real-time, enabling them to make faster, data-driven decisions. This integration can also streamline data analysis and reporting processes, saving time, and improving overall business efficiency.

MuleSoft on AWS

MuleSoft, an integration platform for SOA, SaaS, and APIs, is a Salesforce company that provides a seamless way to connect applications, data, and devices. With MuleSoft on AWS, you have the power to unlock your data, integrate your systems, and innovate faster.

With MuleSoft, you can create a connected experience by integrating Salesforce with any system, application, or data source, whether on-premises or in the cloud. You can also expose data as APIs, making it readily accessible for your developers and partners. Moreover, MuleSoft’s Anypoint Platform simplifies the design, deployment, and management of APIs, delivering speed and agility to your business.

Slack on AWS

Slack, a business communication platform, is another Salesforce service that runs on AWS. It offers a myriad of features, such as channels, direct messaging, voice and video calls, file sharing, and integrations with other software. With Slack on AWS, organizations can improve team collaboration, streamline workflows, and ultimately enhance productivity.

By integrating Slack with Salesforce, you can automate routine tasks, get real-time updates on your Salesforce records, and even converse with Salesforce’s intelligent assistant, Einstein, directly in Slack. This integration not only helps in keeping your team informed but also saves valuable time, enabling your team to focus on what matters the most – serving your customers better.

Example Integration Flow: How to Setup Application Integration for Salesforce with Amazon Connect 

Amazon Connect is a cloud-based contact center service offered by AWS, which can be integrated with Salesforce to deliver improved customer experience. Here’s a quick guide on how to set up application integration for Salesforce with Amazon Connect.

Set Up an Amazon Create Instance

The first step in integrating Salesforce with Amazon Connect is to create an Amazon Connect instance. Log into your AWS Management Console and navigate to the Amazon Connect service. Click on ‘Create an instance’ and follow the prompts.

You’ll need to provide a name for your instance and choose settings for data storage, telephony, and data streaming. You can also select optional settings such as contact flow logs, contact lens for Amazon Connect, and hours of operation. Once you’ve configured the settings, click on ‘Create’ to get your instance up and running.

Install the Amazon Connect CTI Adapter

The next step is to install the Amazon Connect CTI (Computer Telephony Integration) Adapter in your Salesforce organization. This adapter enables your Salesforce users to handle Amazon Connect voice and chat contacts directly in Salesforce.

To install the adapter, log into your Salesforce org and navigate to the AppExchange. Search for ‘Amazon Connect CTI Adapter’ and click on ‘Get It Now’. Follow the installation prompts and choose the users who should have access to the adapter. After the installation is complete, the Amazon Connect CTI Adapter will be available in your Salesforce org.

Configure your Salesforce Call Centre

The final step is to configure your Salesforce Call Centre to use the Amazon Connect CTI Adapter. In your Salesforce org, go to ‘App Manager’ and click on ‘New Connected App’. Provide a name for your app, enable OAuth settings, and add the necessary scopes.

Next, navigate to ‘Call Centers’ in Salesforce and click on ‘Import’. Choose the Amazon Connect CTI Adapter file and click on ‘Import’. You can then add users to your call center and assign them the necessary permissions. With this, your Salesforce Call Centre is all set to handle Amazon Connect contacts.

Conclusion

Tools such as Amazon Redshift, AWS Lambda, and Amazon Connect, when combined with Salesforce, empower businesses to operate more effectively and make data-driven decisions swiftly. Additionally, the integration with third-party services like Tableau, MuleSoft, and Slack on AWS further extends the functionality and efficiency of Salesforce. The process of setting up these integrations, as illustrated with the example of Amazon Connect, is straightforward, enabling businesses to quickly reap the benefits of the integration.

5 Tips for Managing Salesforce Cloud Costs

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On December 16, 2023

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This guest post is presented by Gilad David Maayan is a technology writer who has worked with over 150 technology companies including SAP, Imperva, Samsung NEXT, NetApp and Check Point, producing technical and thought leadership content that elucidates technical solutions for developers and IT leadership. Today he heads Agile SEO, the leading marketing agency in the technology industry.

Understanding and effectively managing Salesforce cloud costs can significantly impact a company’s bottom line. Salesforce, as a leading CRM platform, offers diverse functionality that cater to diverse business needs. However, the more of this functionality a business uses, the higher the ongoing cost of the platform. 

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From user licenses to API calls, from data storage to custom developments, each element plays a role in the overall expense structure. To make the most of Salesforce without overspending, businesses must be proactive in their approach to cost management, as part of a holistic cloud cost management strategy. This article delves into the details of Salesforce cloud costs and provides actionable strategies to keep these costs under control.

Factors Affecting Salesforce Cloud Costs 

User Licenses

When it comes to Salesforce cloud costs, user licenses are one of the significant contributors. Salesforce offers different types of licenses, each with its own pricing. The more licenses you purchase, the higher your costs will be.

Note that some licenses offer more features and functionalities but come with a higher price tag. Pricing ranges from $25 / user / month for the Starter tier, all the way up to $500 / user / month for the Unlimited tier. Hence, you need to strike a balance between the number and type of licenses to manage your Salesforce costs effectively.

API Calls

Another factor affecting Salesforce cloud costs is API calls. Salesforce provides APIs to integrate with other systems and applications. However, each API call comes at a cost. The more API calls your business makes, the higher your costs will be.

By managing your API calls, you can control your Salesforce costs. You can identify and eliminate unnecessary API calls, optimize the usage of APIs, and align your API strategy with your business objectives.

Data Storage

Data storage is another factor that influences Salesforce cloud costs. Salesforce provides data storage for your records, files, and other data. However, the more data you store, the higher your costs will be.

By managing your data storage, you can reduce your Salesforce costs. You can identify and delete redundant or obsolete data, optimize your data management practices, and ensure that your data storage costs are in line with your business needs and budget.

Custom Development

The last factor affecting Salesforce cloud costs is custom development. Salesforce offers a highly customizable platform. You can develop custom apps, features, or integrations to meet your specific business needs. However, custom development comes with its costs.

By managing your custom development costs, you can control your Salesforce expenses. You can prioritize your development projects, leverage reusable components, and ensure that your custom development efforts are cost-effective and aligned with your business goals.

5 Tips for Managing Salesforce Cloud Costs 

Let’s dive into five actionable tips that can help you manage your Salesforce cloud costs effectively.

Regularly Review User Licenses

Your Salesforce subscription is primarily based on the number of user licenses. It’s essential to regularly review and adjust these licenses to ensure you’re not paying for more than you need.

Each user license equates to a seat in your Salesforce organization. You pay for these seats whether they are occupied or not. If you have unused licenses, you’re essentially wasting money. Regularly reviewing your user licenses and deactivating unused or unnecessary ones is a simple yet effective way to manage your Salesforce costs.

Also evaluate the types of licenses used by your users. Make sure you’re using the right type of license for each user. Don’t pay for high-end licenses for users who only need basic features.

Optimize Data Storage

Data storage is another significant factor in Salesforce cost. Salesforce provides a certain amount of data storage per user license, and once you exceed this, you need to pay extra. Therefore, optimizing your data storage can help manage your Salesforce costs:

  • Ensure you’re only storing necessary data: Regularly review your data and delete or archive anything that’s not needed.
  • Use efficient data structures: Salesforce has various types of data storage, each with its own storage limit. By using the right type of storage for each piece of data, you can optimize your storage usage.
  • External storage solutions: If you have large amounts of data that don’t need to be on Salesforce, moving them to an external storage solution can significantly reduce your Salesforce data storage costs.

Monitor API Calls

Salesforce limits the number of API calls you can make in a 24-hour period, based on your user licenses. Exceeding these limits can lead to additional costs. Therefore, monitoring your API calls is an important part of cost management.

  • Understand your API usage: Identify which processes generate the most API calls and determine if they are necessary. You may find that some processes can be optimized or eliminated to reduce API calls.
  • Consider using batch processes: Batch processes allow multiple records to be processed in a single API call, reducing the total number of API calls.

Utilize Native Features Before Third-Party Integrations

Salesforce offers a wide range of native features that can meet most business needs. Before resorting to third-party integrations, which can add to your costs, consider if you can achieve your goals using Salesforce’s native features.

Using native features can also improve your overall Salesforce experience. Native features are designed to work seamlessly with Salesforce, ensuring optimal performance and user experience.

Implement Governance Policies

Lastly, consider implementing governance policies to manage your Salesforce costs. Governance policies can help ensure your Salesforce usage aligns with your business goals and budget.

A good governance policy should cover usage guidelines, user licenses management, data storage optimization, API usage, and third-party integrations. It should also include regular reviews and audits to ensure compliance.

Implementing a governance policy may seem like a daunting task, but it’s an investment that can yield significant returns in terms of cost management.

Salesforce is a powerful platform that can drive your business success. However, without prudent cost management, it can become a costly endeavor. By regularly reviewing your user licenses, optimizing your data storage, monitoring your API calls, utilizing native features, and implementing governance policies, you can unlock the power of cost management using Salesforce.

Insider Threats in SalesForce: Understanding the Risk

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On October 18, 2023

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This guest post is written by Gilad David Maayan, a technology writer who has worked with over 150 technology companies including SAP, Imperva, Samsung NEXT, NetApp and Check Point, producing technical and thought leadership content that elucidates technical solutions for developers and IT leadership. Today he heads Agile SEO, the leading marketing agency in the technology industry.

What Are Insider Threats? 

Insider threats are malicious activities that occur within an organization and are carried out by individuals who have inside information about the organization’s security practices, data, and computer systems. These individuals could be current or former employees, contractors, or business associates who have access to the network, system, or data.

The first significant thing to note about insider threats is that they’re not always intentional. Sometimes, well-meaning employees inadvertently become insider threats due to lack of proper training, ignorance, or negligence. On the other hand, there are scenarios where disgruntled employees or malicious insiders intentionally compromise the security of the organization, causing significant harm. Read this in-depth blog post for more background on insider threats.

Why Salesforce is Vulnerable to Insider Threats 

Salesforce, with its extensive user access, sensitive data storage, and complex permission structures, is particularly susceptible to insider threats.

Extensive User Access

Salesforce instances tend to provide broad access, allowing employees across an organization to collaborate and share information seamlessly. However, this strength can also be a vulnerability. When a large number of users have access to Salesforce, there’s an increased risk of insider threats. This risk escalates when users have more access privileges than they need to perform their job functions.

Sensitive Business Data

Salesforce serves as a repository for vast amounts of sensitive data, including customer information, financial data, and strategic business information. This makes Salesforce a lucrative target for insider threats, as the data can be used maliciously for personal gain or to cause harm to the organization.

Complex Permission Structures

The permission structures in Salesforce can be quite complex, which can lead to users unintentionally having more access than they require. This complexity also makes it difficult for administrators to monitor user activities effectively, creating potential opportunities for insider threats.

Common Insider Threat Scenarios in Salesforce 

Let’s look at some common scenarios where insider threats can manifest in Salesforce.

Data Exfiltration

Data exfiltration refers to the unauthorized transfer of data from a computer or network. In Salesforce, this could occur when an employee exports large amounts of data to a personal device or sends it to an external email address. Such activities can lead to data breaches and significant financial and reputational damage for organizations.

Permission Elevation

Permission elevation, also known as privilege escalation, refers to the act of exploiting a bug, design flaw, or configuration oversight in an operating system or software application to gain elevated access to resources that are normally protected from an application or user. In the context of Salesforce, this could involve a user gaining access to functionalities or data that they are not supposed to have access to.

Business Espionage

Business espionage involves the use of covert methods to gather trade secrets or sensitive information from competitors. In the context of Salesforce, this could involve an insider leaking sensitive information to a competitor or using the platform to gather intelligence on competitors.

Mitigation Strategies for Insider Threats 

As a business owner or manager, it is crucial to stay proactive in protecting your organization from insider threats in Salesforce. This requires a combination of effective strategies that focus on technology, processes, and people.

Implement a Least Privilege Access Model

The principle of least privilege (PoLP) is a computer security concept in which a user is given the minimum levels of access necessary to complete his or her job functions. This approach can significantly reduce the risk of insider threats in Salesforce.

In practice, applying PoLP means carefully managing and regularly reviewing user permissions. Not every employee needs access to all data and functions within Salesforce. By limiting access rights, you can reduce the potential for damage if an account is compromised or misused.

This approach also includes segregating duties where necessary. For instance, an employee responsible for inputting data should not have the same access rights as someone who approves those inputs. This segregation of duties can prevent one individual from having too much control or access.

Conduct Regular Audits and Reviews

Regular audits and reviews are equally important in mitigating insider threats in Salesforce. This process involves regularly reviewing user activity and access rights within your Salesforce environment.

Audits can help detect any unusual or suspicious activity that might indicate an insider threat. This might include excessive data downloads, multiple login attempts, or changes to security settings.

Reviews, on the other hand, should focus on ensuring that the access rights of each user remain appropriate for their role. If an employee changes roles or leaves the company, their access rights should be updated or revoked accordingly. This can prevent any potential misuse of access rights.

Employ Monitoring and Alerting Tools

Monitoring and alerting tools form another essential layer of protection against insider threats in Salesforce. These tools can provide real-time visibility into user activity, helping you detect any signs of insider threats early.

Salesforce itself provides several built-in monitoring tools that can be effectively used for this purpose. For instance, Salesforce Shield offers event monitoring that can provide a detailed view of user activity data.

Alerting tools, on the other hand, can notify you in real-time if any suspicious activity is detected. This allows you to act swiftly and prevent any potential damage.

Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is another crucial strategy in the fight against insider threats in Salesforce. DLP focuses on preventing the unauthorized access, use, or transfer of sensitive data.

DLP solutions work by identifying, monitoring, and protecting data in use (endpoint actions), data in motion (network traffic), and data at rest (data storage). In the context of Salesforce, this involves monitoring and controlling the data that users can access and share.

Implementing DLP can help prevent any sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands, whether due to malicious intent or accidental leakage.

Legal and Administrative Measures

While the above strategies focus mainly on technological and process-based measures, it’s equally important to consider legal and administrative measures to mitigate insider threats in Salesforce.

These can include policies and procedures that define acceptable use of Salesforce, non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), and other contractual measures. These measures provide a clear framework for what is considered acceptable behavior and the consequences of any violation.

Furthermore, disciplinary procedures should be in place and communicated to all users. Knowing that there are consequences for inappropriate actions can act as a deterrent for potential insider threats.

Employee Training and Awareness

Employee training and awareness play a crucial role in mitigating insider threats in Salesforce. After all, your employees can be your first line of defense against these threats.

Regular training can help employees understand the risks of insider threats and their role in preventing them. This can include training on good password practices, recognizing phishing attempts, and the importance of reporting suspicious activity.

Awareness campaigns can also help keep the issue of insider threats top of mind for employees. Regular reminders of the importance of data security can reinforce the training and help create a culture of security within your organization.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while insider threats in Salesforce can pose a significant risk to businesses, they can be effectively managed through a combination of technological, process-based, and people-focused strategies. By implementing these strategies, you can protect your valuable Salesforce data and ensure the ongoing security of your business.

Feature image designed by vectorjuice / Freepik

Top 5 Highest-Paying Salesforce Developer Jobs    

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On August 16, 2023

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This guest blog has been written by Shivam Parmar, a content writer who brings his creative skills to the table as a part of the team at Saasguru. With a passion for writing and a keen eye for detail, he crafts engaging and informative content that captivates his audience. Shivam indulges his love of literature when he’s not at work by picking up a good book or getting lost in a new TV series. He’s always looking for new ways to expand his knowledge and improve his writing.

Salesforce is more than just a name in the tech field; it’s a worldwide sensation. According to Ascendix, over 150,000 firms are using cloud-based apps that operate through Salesforce. It is the key to reshaping how businesses connect with their clients. The platform is a powerhouse in sales, service, marketing, and more.

The growing demand for Salesforce has caused a spike in the need for skilled professionals. These professionals can tap into its strengths to boost business growth and development. Salesforce developers, in particular, are crucial. They set up and manage the Salesforce platform, making them central figures in the digital plans of many firms. These pros ensure that Salesforce integrates smoothly with other systems, creates bespoke solutions, and boosts the platform’s effectiveness.

The sharp rise in demand, paired with the specific skills needed, makes Salesforce development a worthwhile career. High pay, job stability, and the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology are just a few of the perks.

If you’re considering a career in Salesforce or looking to learn about the exciting opportunities available, this blog post is tailored for you. Here’s what you’ll discover:

  • Gain insights into what makes Salesforce a leading platform in the technology industry.
  • Learn about the skills, certifications, and qualities needed to excel in the Salesforce ecosystem.
  • Explore the details of these five in-demand positions:
  1. Salesforce Project Management Director
  2. Salesforce Technical Architect
  3. Salesforce Development Manager
  4. Salesforce Technical Consultant
  5. Salesforce Solution Architect

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional in the Salesforce arena, understanding these roles, their responsibilities, and the attractive compensation packages they offer can guide your career choices.

Path to Becoming a Salesforce Developer

To become a good Salesforce developer, you need not just good technological skills but also a love for exploring, a touch of original thinking, and a big helping of problem-solving talent. Let’s dig into the key abilities and knowledge that make a great Salesforce Developer.

  • Know the Salesforce Platform: If you dream to be a Salesforce Developer, you start by mastering Salesforce. You need to learn every bit of the platform, from basic tasks to complex functions. You should know Salesforce objects, fields, and modules well.
  • Coding Ability: Salesforce Developers must also be skilled in specific Salesforce languages, like Apex and Visualforce. Also, they need to know HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These languages are the backbone of any personalized development on the platform.
  • Understanding Databases: As a Salesforce Developer, you’ll also be required to handle data. So, knowing database concepts like SQL is a vital component.
  • Solving Problems: As a Salesforce Developer, you’ll often be in charge when business problems pop up. Being good at solving problems, logical thinking, and analyzing things will help you steer through these problems.
  • Good Communication Skills: Developers often talk with stakeholders, clients, and team members. So, good communication skills are vital to make sure everyone works well together and understands the business’s needs clearly.

In terms of formal education, many times, a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a similar field is preferred. but it’s not a must-have. Many top Salesforce Developers come from all kinds of educational backgrounds. The real game-changer is getting Salesforce certified. A certified Salesforce Developer shows a deep understanding of the platform and dedication to their field. This makes them more attractive to employers.

Highest-Paying Salesforce Developer Jobs

RoleSalary Range
Salesforce Project Management Director$70,000 – $170,000
Salesforce Technical Architect$65,000 – $200,000
Salesforce Development Manager$60,000 – $160,000
Salesforce Technical Consultant$55,000 – $150,000
Salesforce Solution Architect$60,000 – $180,000

1. Salesforce Project Management Director

These Project Management Leaders not only serve as navigators of comprehensive Salesforce plans but also as guardians of project quality, ensuring that it aligns with pre-set standards.

A Project Management Director’s responsibilities are multi-faceted. They dive deep into project planning and craft strategies that harness the capabilities of Salesforce. They lead their teams with fortitude and vision, fostering a culture of collaboration. Spotting potential hurdles before they arise is a crucial part of their role, as is meticulously tracking the budget to safeguard financial resources.

A strong grasp of Salesforce is an absolute must-have for these leaders. They don’t just understand Salesforce; they master it, leveraging its tools to deliver top-tier solutions. Yet, their expertise doesn’t stop there. These leaders also bring strategic thinking skills to the table, enabling them to navigate complex project landscapes.

Adding a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification to your arsenal can enhance your credibility in this role. Of course, experience in managing projects is invaluable. The intersection of Salesforce expertise and project management acumen is where these leaders shine. The typical salary of a Salesforce Project Management Leader ranges between $130,000 to $170,000 annually, as per Talent.com. 

2. Salesforce Technical Architect

Aspiring Salesforce Technical Architects are the masterminds who shape and craft strategic solutions, marrying business objectives with the power of technology. Their responsibilities are not limited to designing efficient and scalable tech solutions on the Salesforce platform but also ensuring the seamless operation of the systems. Often, they find themselves acting as tech troubleshooters, handling complex technical glitches.

Additionally, architectural principles and the ability to solve intricate problems quickly become indispensable tools in their arsenal. The role of a Salesforce Technical Architect goes beyond being a Salesforce user. It requires becoming a technical expert adept at leveraging the full power of the Salesforce ecosystem to meet various business needs.

For individuals hoping to build a career as a Salesforce Technical Architect, having a Salesforce Technical Expert certification can significantly bolster their credentials. This certification is a testament to your in-depth knowledge of Salesforce and your capacity to provide innovative solutions using this technology. Earning it positions you as a strong applicant, making you more attractive to potential employers.

With this significant level of expertise and responsibility, Salesforce Technical Architects are rewarded with handsome compensation. According to industry standards, the average pay scale for this role typically falls between $140,000 to $200,000 per year. The earning potential underscores the value that businesses place on skilled Salesforce Technical Architects, indicating the essential role they play in leveraging Salesforce technology to achieve business goals.

3. Salesforce Development Manager

Navigating the landscape of Salesforce, the globally renowned customer relationship management platform, a Salesforce Development Manager plays a pivotal role. With their duties extending from managing the development team to overseeing the progress of various Salesforce-related projects, they act as a bridge between business stakeholders and developers.

Salesforce Development Managers ensure the strategic utilization of Salesforce, one of the most potent tools in the industry. They accomplish this by implementing the finest development practices known in the Salesforce community. Through their leadership, the execution of Salesforce projects becomes seamless and more efficient, maximizing the return on investment for businesses.

Effective communication forms a substantial part of their role, making sure everyone involved is on the same page. With their in-depth understanding of Salesforce and its diverse applications, they guide the developers on best practices, ensuring that the platform’s full potential is exploited.

However, acquiring such a critical role isn’t straightforward. Apart from demonstrating solid leadership skills, a prospective Salesforce Development Manager must possess credible certifications such as the Certified Salesforce Developer title. This certification, along with substantial experience in team leadership, is generally required to meet the expectations of this role.

Salaries for Salesforce Development Managers are a testament to the importance of their role in the industry. Depending on experience and location, these professionals can earn between $120,000 to $160,000 annually.

4. Salesforce Technical Consultant

As a Salesforce Technical Consultant, your primary responsibility revolves around ensuring that Salesforce solutions are tailored to align perfectly with your business requirements. This role is crucial, for it is this strategic alignment that fuels efficiency and productivity in your organization.

You would also need to craft suitable Salesforce solutions. The goal is to address these business needs through Salesforce, a dynamic and versatile platform. A combination of your solid grasp of Salesforce and your understanding of the client’s needs allows you to tailor Salesforce solutions that are optimal for the client.

Once these Salesforce solutions are designed, it’s time for rollout supervision. It’s your responsibility to ensure a smooth and seamless rollout. This doesn’t just mean a glitch-free execution, but it also implies ensuring the organization is ready for the change that’s about to happen.

Being a Salesforce Technical Consultant requires a set of unique skills. Good analytical abilities are crucial to comprehend complex business needs. Business savvy is required to design effective Salesforce solutions. And a solid grasp of Salesforce is a must, for it’s the platform you’d be working with.

Holding a Salesforce Consultant certification can significantly increase your credibility in the field. This certification is a testament to your proficiency in Salesforce and your ability to leverage it to fulfill business needs.

The average salary for Salesforce Technical Consultants ranges from $110,000 to $150,000 per year. 

5. Salesforce Solution Architect

Salesforce Solution Architects are creative minds who design robust, efficient solutions that are perfectly in sync with the company’s strategy and objectives. The role requires a comprehensive understanding of business operations, as well as in-depth knowledge of Salesforce capabilities.

To excel in their role, Salesforce Solution Architects must be able to shape and articulate the architecture of the solution, ensuring it aligns seamlessly with business needs. Through their effective communication skills, they regularly liaise with stakeholders, including clients and implementation teams, creating a collaborative environment to drive project success.

Moreover, a Salesforce Solution Architect is often seen as the director for implementation teams, steering them toward the accurate realization of the designed solution. Strong leadership, coupled with a deep understanding of Salesforce, is key in this aspect of their role.

One of the ways to demonstrate proficiency in this field is by attaining a Salesforce Solution Creator certification. This certification is regarded as a valuable testament to the architect’s skills, boosting their credibility in the market.

The earnings of a Salesforce Solution Architect vary depending on the complexity of the role and the company’s size. Still, they can generally expect a salary ranging from $130,000 to $180,000 per year, according to Talent.com.

Conclusion

We began our article by looking at how important Salesforce is in IT, and its increasing impact is pretty obvious. Going further, we learned about Salesforce, which is the world’s top customer relationship management (CRM) tool.

Our journey then led us to the top 5 best-paid Salesforce jobs. We opened up on each role, whether it’s a Project Management Director, Technical Architect, Development Manager, Technical Consultant, or solution architect, and showed its main duties, needs, and possible benefits.

In summary, Salesforce gives a wide range of job roles, each with its own color and design. This field is full of chances for anyone who’s ready to explore, study, and adjust. Remember, the secret to opening your Salesforce career lies in knowing these roles and picking the one that fits you the best. 

The Role of Sandboxes and Scratch Orgs in Salesforce DevOps

By

On August 8, 2023

In Post

This is a contributor post. For any question, please contact me for more details.

Salesforce DevOps is the amalgamation of software development and IT operations. It aims to speed up the development cycle, enabling continuous, high-quality software delivery.

In Salesforce DevOps, sandboxes and scratch orgs are essential as they provide isolated environments for development, testing, and staging without disrupting the production environment. 

By facilitating continuous integration, delivery, and collaboration, these tools align with the core principles of DevOps, streamlining the application lifecycle from development to deployment.

Understanding Salesforce DevOps

Salesforce DevOps assists in developing and deploying Salesforce applications. It enables organizations to deliver applications and services rapidly and efficiently.

By promoting collaboration between developers and operations teams, DevOps practices help reduce the time to move from code committed to successfully running production.

Critical Components of Salesforce DevOps

  1. Continuous Integration and Delivery (CI/CD): This is a critical aspect of Salesforce DevOps, where developers frequently commit code to a shared repository, and automated builds and tests are run. Continuous delivery extends this by automatically deploying code to production after it passes tests, ensuring that code is always in a deployable state.
  2. Automation: In Salesforce DevOps, automation eliminates manual efforts, reduces errors, and speeds up processes. It is used in testing, deployment, and monitoring to ensure consistent and error-free operations.
  3. Infrastructure as Code (IaC): This practice involves managing and provisioning computing infrastructure through machine-readable scripts rather than manual processes. It promotes consistency and scalability in the infrastructure.
  4. Monitoring: Monitoring tools track application performance, usage, errors, and other metrics. This data is essential for maintaining system health and for making informed decisions.
  5. Cultural Changes: Salesforce DevOps is not just about tools and technologies; it also involves a cultural shift. This includes breaking down silos between development and operations teams, fostering collaboration, promoting ownership, and encouraging continuous learning and improvement.

Image Source: Salesforce

Process and Workflow in Salesforce DevOps

The Salesforce DevOps process typically involves several stages, each with specific workflows:

  1. Plan: This includes defining the requirements, designing the solution, and planning the work.
  2. Code: Developers use Salesforce’s development tools and environments to code the solution. Code is version-controlled, typically using Git.
  3. Build and Test: Code is built into a release and tested. Automated tests are used to verify that the solution works as expected.
  4. Deploy: The release is deployed to a staging environment for further testing and review. Once approved, it’s deployed to the production environment.
  5. Operate: The application is monitored, and any issues are addressed. User feedback is gathered for future improvements.
  6. Learn and Improve: Data from the operation phase and user feedback are used to learn and improve the application and the development process.

Deep Dive into Salesforce Sandboxes

In Salesforce, a sandbox replicates your production environment for testing and development. It provides a space where developers can safely experiment, build, and test changes without affecting the live application.

4 Types of Sandboxes in Salesforce:

  1. Developer sandboxes: Created explicitly for coding and testing purposes, allowing a single developer to work with a copy of the organization’s configuration without any production data.
  2. Developer Pro: Developer Pro sandboxes are similar to Developer sandboxes but provide more storage. They’re designed to handle more extensive development and testing tasks and accommodate larger teams.
  3. Partial Copy: Contain your organization’s metadata and a sample of your production data. They are used for complex testing and training purposes.
  4. Full: Full sandboxes are a complete copy of your production org, including all data and metadata. They are used for performance testing, load testing, and staging.

How to Use Sandboxes in Salesforce Development

Salesforce Sandboxes are used for development, testing, and training without compromising the data and functionality of the production environment.

Here are the steps to use sandboxes in Salesforce development:

  1. Create or refresh a Sandbox: Based on the requirements, create or refresh a sandbox using (Developer, Developer Pro, Partial Copy, or Full).
  2. Develop and Test: Developers make the necessary changes and additions in the sandbox environment, including creating new features, customizing existing ones, or fixing bugs. Once the changes are made, they can perform unit tests to ensure everything works as expected.
  3. User Acceptance Testing (UAT): After the developer’s testing, the business users or QA team can review and test the changes.
  4. Deploy to Production: After successful UAT, the changes can be deployed to the production environment using change sets, Salesforce CLI, or any third-party CI/CD tool.

Image Source: Salesforce

Benefits and Limitations of Using Sandboxes

There are benefits and limitations to using Sandboxes. Knowing them can help your team utilize them to their full potential:

BenefitsLimitations
Different teams can use multiple sandboxes for simultaneous development and testing.Keeping Sandboxes synchronized with the production environment can be challenging.
Sandboxes can train users and test real-world scenarios without impacting live data.The number of available sandboxes depends on your Salesforce edition and the licenses you have.
A safe environment to develop and test changes without affecting the live production environment.Full and Partial Copy sandboxes have specific refresh intervals (29 days and 5 days, respectively), which can limit their usability in specific scenarios.


In-depth Understanding of Salesforce Scratch Orgs

Salesforce Scratch Orgs are temporary environments that can be fully customized to mirror different Salesforce editions with varying features and preferences. As part of Salesforce DX, Scratch Orgs are source-driven, disposable deployments of Salesforce code and metadata.

Setting up and Configuring Scratch Orgs

Setting up a Scratch Org involves these steps:

  1. Install Salesforce CLI: Salesforce Command Line Interface (CLI) is a powerful tool required to create and manage Scratch Orgs.
  2. Authenticate Dev Hub: You must authenticate with your Dev Hub org before creating a Scratch Org. Dev Hub is the central hub that controls creating and provides services for Scratch Orgs.
  3. Create a Scratch Org: After authentication, you can create a Scratch Org using the “sfdx force:org:create” command.
  4. Push Source to Scratch Org: You then push your source into the Scratch Org using the “sfdx force:source:push” command.

Image Source: Salesforce

Use Cases and Best Practices for Scratch Orgs

Here are a few use cases and best practices:

  1. Feature Development and Testing: Scratch Orgs are perfect for developing and testing a new feature or bug fix. Each developer can have their own Scratch Org to work independently.
  2. Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery: Scratch Orgs can be used in CI/CD pipelines where automated tests are run in a Scratch Org to ensure code quality.
  3. Source-Driven Development: One best practice with Scratch Orgs is to always pull changes from the Scratch Org to keep the version control system current.
  4. Dispose after use: As Scratch Orgs are temporary, dispose of them after developing or testing to effectively manage the available Scratch Orgs.

Benefits and Limitations of Scratch Orgs

There are benefits and drawbacks to Scratch Orgs that developers must be aware of.

BenefitsLimitations
Scratch Orgs provide isolated environments that can be tailored to match specific development needs.Scratch Orgs are temporary, and keeping track of changes if they’re not correctly pulled into source control can be a challenge.
They support a source-driven development modelThe number of active Scratch Orgs you can have depends on your Salesforce DX edition and licenses.
Scratch Orgs are ideal for automated testing and continuous integration, which promotes rapid, reliable releases.The shift from org-based to source-driven development with Scratch Orgs can be a steep learning curve for some developers.

Relative Analysis of Sandboxes and Scratch Orgs

The following analysis overviews the similarities and differences between Sandboxes and Scratch Orgs.

  1. Environment for Testing and Development: Sandboxes and Scratch Orgs are isolated environments used for development and testing. They allow developers to create, modify, and test features without affecting the production environment.
  2. Replication of Production Environment: Sandboxes and Scratch Orgs replicate your production environment. They can be configured to mimic different Salesforce editions with different features and preferences.

Differences between Sandboxes and Scratch Orgs

Choosing between these tools can be complex, but knowing the difference can help make your decision.

SandboxesScratch Orgs
Include production data (based on the sandbox type.)Scratch Orgs are empty environments that don’t contain any data from your production org.
No expirationLimited lifespan (maximum of 30 days)
Used for multiple stages of development, including development, testing, staging, and training.A source-driven development model where changes are tracked in a version control system.

Use Cases for Each: When to Use Sandbox v.s Scratch Org

The following cases state which tool best suits a specific task.

  1. Sandbox: Use Sandboxes for tasks that require persistence and longer-term stability. Sandboxes are ideal for final-stage testing, performance testing, user training, and for staging environments for quality assurance. They are also helpful when you need a copy of your production data for development and testing.
  2. Scratch Org: Use Scratch Orgs for short-term tasks, such as developing new features or testing the impact of changes. They are best suited for individual developers or teams following a source-driven development model. They are also suitable for automating unit tests and implementing continuous integration/delivery pipelines.

Role of Sandboxes and Scratch Orgs in Salesforce DevOps

Continuous Integration (CI) regularly merges code changes into a central repository. Both Sandboxes and Scratch Orgs play a critical role in CI. Developers can use Sandboxes or

Scratch Orgs to create and test features before integrating them into the main codebase. Scratch Orgs are particularly useful for CI because they’re easily made, disposed of, and can be aligned to specific user stories or tasks, enabling isolated testing and reducing potential conflicts.

Role in Continuous Delivery and Continuous Deployment

Continuous Delivery and Continuous Deployment extend CI by automating the release of changes to staging or production environments. Sandboxes can serve as staging environments for these releases, allowing final testing and review before deployment to production.

On the other hand, Scratch Orgs can be incorporated into delivery pipelines to automate the creation of temporary environments for testing. This ensures that code is always in a deployable state, reduces the risk of deployment failures, and speeds up the delivery process.

How Sandboxes and Scratch Orgs Enhance Collaboration and Efficiency

Sandboxes and Scratch Orgs promote a collaborative approach to development. Multiple developers can work simultaneously in different Sandboxes or Scratch Orgs without affecting each other’s work.

Scratch Orgs are tied to source control, allowing easy tracking of changes and facilitating collaboration across distributed teams. The ability to quickly set up, test, and dispose of Scratch Orgs boosts efficiency. With their persistence, Sandboxes allow for extended collaboration over longer project timelines.

Impact on Testing and Quality Assurance

Testing and quality assurance is integral to the software development lifecycle. Sandboxes enable developers to test new features in an environment closely mirroring production. The ability to copy production data (in Full and Partial Copy sandboxes) allows for realistic and robust testing.

Scratch Orgs, being fully configurable, can mimic very specific testing scenarios, providing an environment for fine-grained, accurate tests. By utilizing these tools, developers can catch and fix issues early, ultimately enhancing the quality of the application.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Salesforce Sandboxes, and Scratch Orgs are critical assets in the Salesforce development environment, enabling safe, flexible, and efficient application creation, testing, and deployment.

The Salesforce DevOps landscape, enriched with the complexities and ever-expanding features of Sandboxes, Scratch Orgs, and the Salesforce DX framework, offers a rewarding journey for novice and experienced developers.

Understanding and mastering these tools is pivotal in delivering robust, high-quality applications and fostering continuous learning, growth, and impactful contributions within your organization.

[AppExchange] Managing Ideas on Salesforce Communities in Experience Cloud

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On July 7, 2023

In Post

This guest post is brought to you by Sandeep Supehia. Sandeep serves as the Head of Engineering/Customer Success at Grazitti Interactive. He is 4x Salesforce certified with extensive experience in service, community, and product development. Apart from providing consultancy, solutions, and delivery, Sandeep has expertise in Salesforce development using Apex Triggers, LWC, Aura, Visualforce, and integration along with Jira services and customizations.

Ideas come in all shapes and sizes. However, you’ll need to manage them effectively in order to stay ahead of your competition.

If you use Salesforce communities for generating ideas, streamlining idea management will enable you to drive innovation, as well as power business growth.

In this blog, we will explore how Salesforce Ideas, along with the powerful idea management applications, can help organizations foster a culture of innovation and drive meaningful organizational change.

IdeasPro: Powering Innovation With Idea Management in 2023

A Salesforce-native solution, IdeasPro enables your customers, partners, and employees to post, share, and vote for ideas on your community in Experience Cloud.

It helps you go beyond the standard idea component in Salesforce and supports both Classic and Lightning Experience. :It provides a range of features to streamline the entire ideas management lifecycle. From idea submission to evaluation, implementation, and tracking, IdeasPro offers a centralized platform to manage idea and enables to:

  • Improve brand transparency & loyalty
  • Drive customer-centric innovation
  • Build a sustainable competitive advantage
  • Improve participation with gamification
  • Increase scalability with quick implementation

 Driving Organization Growth with IdeasPro

With IdeasPro, you can tap into the creativity and knowledge of your community members, fostering a culture of innovation. The platform allows for the exchange of ideas, collaboration, and refinement, leading to breakthrough innovations that drive competitive advantage.

Some of the benefits of implementing IdeasPro include:

  1. Efficient Evaluation

Make idea generation and implementation efficient and quick.This ensures that the most promising and feasible ideas receive the attention they deserve, leading to better resource allocation and improved decision-making.

  1. Better Collaboration

Enable participants to get a real-time view of the idea development process.

IdeasPro fosters collaboration by allowing community members to contribute, discuss, and refine ideas collectively. This collaborative environment promotes cross-functional communication and helps generate more impactful ideas.

  1. Improved Engagement

Engage employees and customers by gamifying the idea generation process.Effective ideas management on Salesforce Communities creates a sense of ownership and belonging among community members. When individuals see their ideas being considered and implemented, they become more engaged and motivated to contribute further, creating a positive cycle of innovation and growth.

Leveraging the collaboration features of IdeasPro to foster idea growth

IdeasPro comes packed with features for streamlined idea management in Salesforce:

  • Map Idea Accounts

 Map user accounts with ideas they have created, liked, or commented on.

  • Prevent Profanity

Block and prevent the posting of profane ideas and comments.

  • Schedule Idea Merge

Merge duplicate or similar ideas under a parent idea.

  • Convert Email-to-Ideas

Auto-convert email into ideas and log them into your Salesforce instance.

  • Deflect Similar Ideas

Show existing ideas and articles to users who post ideas that already exist.

  • Subscribe to Idea Categories

Get notified when an idea gets created or updated in a subscribed category.

  • Gamification

Reward users with badges and points when they create, comment, or vote on an idea.

How to Measure Success With IdeasPro

To measure effectiveness, it is important to quantify the investment made and return expected. Here are some of the parameters with which you can measure ROI:

  • The number of times employees have submitted ideas
  • The number of times employees have participated
  • The departments that have contributed the most
  • The average number of comments made per idea
  • The overall number of votes for ideas
  • The number of ideas with the highest score
  • The number of ideas in the product pipeline
  • The number of implemented ideas

Real-Life Application of IdeasPro

Let’s look at how IdeasPro helped an IT company enable ideas in Salesforce LEX and drive innovation.

The company develops software to consolidate and simplify data management, enabling businesses to resolve issues such as mass data fragmentation.

They wanted to modify the idea component in their Salesforce community, implement it in Salesforce LEX, and prioritize idea development based on associated revenue.

Team Grazitti developed the idea component for the customer’s community and built a configuration page to enable them to manage ideas.

We set up new filters, a search option, and built the UI for Lightning Experience.

Finally, we enabled them to prioritize the development of ideas with higher associated revenue by assigning them to product managers.

With the implementation of IdeasPro, the customer is now able to manage ideas from a single location and calculate the revenue generated from the associated idea.

A Brief Roundoff

Making the most of ideas is now critical to stay ahead of the curve. In fact, innovation is the key to success, as well as business growth.Managing ideas effectively in your Salesforce community will help you drive innovation.

Salesforce Ideas, coupled with the powerful IdeasPro application, offers a comprehensive solution for managing ideas and driving meaningful change.

Embrace ideas management with Salesforce Ideas and IdeasPro. For more information visit – https://www.grazitti.com/ideaspro/.

Overcoming the Challenges of Adding Products and Pricing to Salesforce

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On May 3, 2023

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This guest post is shared by Anisha Chawla, the CEO of Beyond Tech Media. She formerly worked at Google and Facebook, across Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. She helps businesses grow through powerful digital marketing solutions. 

As a Salesforce admin or sales operations professional, you know how
important it is to have accurate product and pricing information in your CRM system. However, adding this information to Salesforce is not straightforward. Read on to explore some of the common challenges that organizations face when adding products and pricing to Salesforce, and some helpful tips and solutions to overcome them.

The Benefits

Once you have added all your products and pricing to Salesforce you can
record exactly what was sold to whom. This digital record can be used
throughout your business by sharing with departments like provisioning,
delivery, finance and billing.

This data is of immense value and will enable you to make better decisions
long term.

Data Complexity

One of the biggest challenges of adding products and pricing to Salesforce is
the complexity of the data involved. Depending on your organization’s size and industry, you may have hundreds or even thousands of different products, each with its own pricing structures, discounts, and configurations. To further compound this challenge your pricing data is almost certainly in a different format than Salesforce requires. Worst of all if you need to get this data into other systems they will almost certainly have a different format again.

Product Line Items and Price Books

Salesforce requires a product line item (all the product data except price) and a price book entry for every price you need to add. You can have multiple price books per product line item if you have multiple sell prices (retail, wholesales etc) or sell in multiple currencies.
If you sell simple products this is relatively easy, if you sell products with
recurring charges or lots of options or variations it is much harder.

EXAMPLE

If you have 20 products that must come with one of 3 different service level
agreements (Gold, Silver Bronze) do you add the products and the three SLAs separately (23 product line items) or do you create all the possible versions as a single line item so that sales can’t forget to add the SLA (60 product line items).
Both options have pros and cons so you will need to check with your
stakeholders to determine what will work best for them.
Getting this structure right is important and if you have not done it before
getting the assistance of a Salesforce integration partner can be a great
investment.

User Adoption

Adding products and pricing information to Salesforce is only half the battle – the other half is ensuring that your sales team actually uses the information. If your team finds the process of adding or updating product/pricing information in Salesforce confusing or time-consuming, they may be less likely to use the system.
To overcome this challenge, focus on user adoption from the start. Ensure
that your Salesforce training program includes clear instructions on how to
add and update product and pricing information, and provide ongoing support as needed. Consider whether you would benefit from implementing automated tools or workflows to simplify the process of adding and updating records.

On-going Management

Finally, keeping the pricing in Salesforce in accurate and up-to-date can be a
challenge. As your organization grows and your product and pricing offerings evolve, you may find this an ever-increasing burden.
To overcome this challenge, plan for ease of management from the start.
Regularly audit your data to check for errors and inconsistencies, and invest in tools and resources that can help you automate and streamline the process of adding and updating records such as ProductEngine.

Conclusion

Adding products and pricing information to Salesforce can be a challenging
task, but by understanding the common challenges and implementing
proactive solutions, you can overcome these obstacles and ensure that your
Salesforce records accurately reflect your product and pricing information. By investing in the right tools, working with a Salesforce implementation partner, focusing on user adoption, and planning for ease of management, you can set your organization up for success and achieve your sales goals more effectively.

[MadeInItaly] SFDX Lens, your italian Debug buddy

By

On April 12, 2023

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For the #MadeInItaly series where I want to showcase amazing artisanal Italian products from our incredible Italian Ohana, today’s guest post is delivered by Paolo Carrara, software developer, tech enthusiast, scrum master. After a Master’s degree in Software Engineering, he approached Salesforce ecosystem during his early career in a consulting firm and since then he’s been learning, coding, and thinking about new ways to improve his and his team’s work. A huge fan of the Agile movement and an active collaborator of the Italian agile community. You can visit his page (watch out for a hidden easter egg) here.

Many time things don’t go as we planned; we certainly don’t wish so but we must be prepared in such occasions, and when problems happen, there’s one just key factor: time.

That’s why I developed a tool that could help me get to the core problem quicker than whatever I was previously doing.

And that tool is SFDX Lens, a VS Code Extension available for free on the marketplace.

The typical scenario is this: you are happily developing the next new business logic in Salesforce when suddenly you get 3 different issues from 3 different users in your ticketing system, all marked with high priority. Ugh.
Now once you’ve read the ticket to understand what’s the problem you have to switch from your code to your QA environment, go to Setup > Debug Logs > New > compile all the required fields .. oh no! you have just created the 10th trace flag for the same user that was in debug last week.
Anyway, now you’re ready and can (if possible) replicate the issue, switch back to VS Code and inspect the log

And you have to do it 2 other times.

Or, you can leverage SFDX Lens’s Command SFDX Lens: Debug user from Org. With this command, the extension lets you pick just 3 options:

  1. An Org from the ones configured in your VS Code
  2. An active user to debug
  3. An amount of time from 15, 30 and 60 minutes

That’s it.

The extension will take care of setting a trace flag for that user with the maximum amount of precision allowed for the trace flag (which is more or less FINEST to everything), a process that usually take 1-2 seconds, and then you’re ready to replicate the issue and get the log in VS Code.

>Can you ask your user to replicate the issue himself?

Even better, “let me just activate the extension”, and 2 seconds after there you go, “go ahead”.

>Are you already connected to the QA environment?

Even better, you can skip point 1. With the command SFDX Lens: Debug user which creates a trace flag in the environment you’re connected to.

>Don’t want to search for the command in VSCode?

There’s a neat button for the command SFDX Lens: Debug user just in the activity bar below your code.

You don’t have to worry about trace flag pollution anymore, the extension ensures there will be just one trace flag per user (which is, the minimum required to set a trace flag)

Here’s a demo:

Right, now you have the log in VSCode and it’s a monolith of 7500 rows so.. what’s exactly happening here?

To address this question I often ask myself, I’ve developed a new command, right now in beta : SFDX Lens: Log Analysis (Beta) 

This command helps splitting the log into its components, each displayed visually and proportionally to its duration, so now you can focus on a single execution event at a time

This is particularly useful even for performance tuning, now you can see how many times a trigger fires per execution for example.

Here’s a demo:

Everything is made possible through the use of the @salesforce/core package available here: https://github.com/forcedotcom/sfdx-core

Now the circle is complete between getting the debug logs and analyzing them without leaving your IDE.

CloudOps Best Practices for Your Salesforce Environment

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On March 30, 2023

In Post

Another guest post by Gilad David Maayan. Gilad is a technology writer who has worked with over 150 technology companies including SAP, Imperva, Samsung NEXT, NetApp and Check Point, producing technical and thought leadership content that elucidates technical solutions for developers and IT leadership. Today he heads Agile SEO, the leading marketing agency in the technology industry.

What Is CloudOps?

CloudOps is the practice of managing and optimizing cloud-based infrastructure and applications to ensure they operate reliably, securely, and efficiently. It involves the use of tools and processes to automate tasks such as provisioning, monitoring, scaling, and backup, which simplifies the management of cloud resources.

CloudOps professionals work to ensure that cloud environments meet business requirements and performance expectations. They collaborate with software development and IT teams to design and implement cloud-based solutions that align with organizational objectives.

CloudOps is critical for organizations looking to leverage the benefits of cloud computing, including scalability, flexibility, and cost savings. By implementing CloudOps, organizations can optimize cloud resources, reduce downtime, and improve overall performance.

The Core Principles of CloudOps

The pillars of CloudOps are a set of guiding principles and best practices that are essential for ensuring efficient and effective cloud operations. These include:

  • Automation: This is the foundation of CloudOps, enabling the rapid and consistent deployment and management of cloud resources. This includes automating processes such as provisioning, configuration, and scaling.
  • Monitoring: Visibility and monitoring are critical to ensure the health and performance of cloud resources. This includes monitoring for availability, performance, and security, and responding to issues quickly and proactively.
  • Cost optimization: Cloud resources can quickly become expensive if not managed properly. CloudOps focuses on optimizing costs by implementing strategies such as resource allocation and usage monitoring, rightsizing, and cost allocation.
  • Security: Securing the cloud workloads is a top priority for cloud operations. CloudOps professionals ensure that cloud environments are secure by implementing best practices such as identity and access management, network security, and encryption.
  • DevOps: CloudOps and DevOps are closely related, with CloudOps supporting the development and deployment of applications in the cloud. This involves collaboration between development and operations teams, and the implementation of agile practices to support continuous integration and delivery.

Why Is CloudOps Important in the Salesforce Environment?

CloudOps is important in any environment that uses cloud services, including the Salesforce environment. CloudOps is important in the Salesforce environment for several reasons:

  • Application performance: CloudOps is important for ensuring that Salesforce applications and services are performing optimally. By monitoring the performance of Salesforce applications, CloudOps teams can identify and address issues that could impact the user experience.
  • Scalability: Salesforce is a popular customer relationship management (CRM) platform used by organizations of all sizes. As a company grows and adds more customers, the demand on its Salesforce environment can increase. CloudOps teams can help ensure that the Salesforce environment can scale to meet demand, by adding more resources or making other adjustments as needed.
  • Security: CloudOps teams are responsible for ensuring the security of the Salesforce environment, including monitoring for threats and vulnerabilities, implementing security controls, and ensuring compliance with industry and regulatory standards.
  • Cost optimization: CloudOps teams can help organizations optimize the cost of their Salesforce environment by identifying ways to reduce costs without impacting performance or security. This can include adjusting resource usage, implementing automation, and leveraging cloud cost optimization tools.

CloudOps Best Practices for Your Salesforce Environment

Implementing CloudOps best practices in a Salesforce environment is important for ensuring optimal performance, scalability, security, and cost optimization. Here are some best practices to consider:

  • Use automation: Automation is a key component of CloudOps best practices. Automation can help reduce the time and effort required to manage the Salesforce environment, and can help ensure consistency and reliability. Some examples of automation in a Salesforce environment include automated deployments, automated backups, and automated testing.
  • Monitor performance: Monitoring the performance of the Salesforce environment is important for identifying and addressing issues that could impact the user experience. CloudOps teams can use performance monitoring tools to identify performance bottlenecks and other issues, and take steps to address them. Performance monitoring should include not only the Salesforce application itself, but also the underlying infrastructure, such as the database and network.
  • Ensure security: Security is a critical component of CloudOps best practices. CloudOps teams should implement security controls, such as access controls, encryption, and multi-factor authentication, to help protect the Salesforce environment from unauthorized access and data breaches. It is also important to monitor for threats and vulnerabilities, and to implement appropriate security measures to mitigate risks.
  • Optimize costs: Cost optimization is another important consideration in CloudOps. CloudOps teams should work to optimize the cost of the Salesforce environment by identifying ways to reduce costs without impacting performance or security. This can include adjusting resource usage, implementing automation, and leveraging cloud cost optimization tools.
  • Leverage DevOps practices: DevOps practices, such as continuous integration and continuous deployment, can help improve the speed and agility of Salesforce development and operations. By automating the deployment process and using automated testing, teams can accelerate the delivery of new features and fixes to the Salesforce environment, while reducing the risk of errors and downtime.
  • Implement disaster recovery: Disaster recovery is a critical component of CloudOps best practices. CloudOps teams should implement a disaster recovery plan for the Salesforce environment to ensure that critical data and applications can be restored in the event of a disaster or outage. This can include backing up data regularly, implementing failover mechanisms, and testing the disaster recovery plan regularly.
  • Implement change management: Change management is important for ensuring that changes to the Salesforce environment are implemented in a controlled and predictable manner. CloudOps teams should implement a change management process that includes testing, approval, and documentation of changes, to ensure that changes are implemented without causing unexpected issues.

Conclusion

CloudOps best practices are essential for ensuring efficient and effective management of a Salesforce environment. By implementing automation, monitoring performance, ensuring security, optimizing costs, leveraging DevOps, implementing disaster recovery, and implementing change management, organizations can ensure that their Salesforce environment is reliable, scalable, secure, and cost-effective.

CloudOps enables organizations to leverage the benefits of the Salesforce platform while reducing the risk of errors and downtime. By adopting best practices for CloudOps, organizations can improve productivity, enhance customer satisfaction, and gain a competitive advantage.

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