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 Luca Daneluzzo is a senior Salesforce developer with a broad consulting experience, ranging from industrial production to fashion industry, all within the Salesforce domain. Two years ago, he chose to work as a freelancer, allowing him to focus on personal Salesforce projects and provide exclusive attention to his customers. Luca has gained a strong reputation among businesses that rely on Salesforce as their operational tool. He delivers high-quality work, ensures customer satisfaction and he provides innovative solutions with a customer-centered approach.
Salesforce developers, rejoice! The era of tethering yourself to a desk for coding is over. 👋
Introducing the ForceDev App, the ultimate mobile toolkit that empowers you to manage your Salesforce organizations with finesse, all from the palm of your hand. 📱💯
ForceDev is the indispensable companion for the modern Salesforce Developer / Administrator, seamlessly blending mobility and productivity. 🏃♀️🚀
Download ForceDev today and experience the freedom to code, monitor, and optimize your Salesforce org from wherever inspiration strikes. 💡🌍
ForceDev is a secure app and does not communicate with any external server outside of Salesforce (using only cutting-edge communication protocols).
It only saves data within the used device, therefore it does not communicate private or sensitive data to third parties in any way.
ForceDev: features ⚙️
Execute Anonymous 💻
With ForceDev you can run Apex code directly from your mobile device.
ForceDev allows you to run Apex code without having to access your computer. You can use the fields’ search to quickly find the fields you need and save your snippets for future use.
Perform Query 💡
With ForceDev you can run queries across your Salesforce orgs. This feature is perfect for Salesforce admins and developers who want to quickly retrieve information. Save your queries and reuse them in the future.
REST Explorer 🛠️
With ForceDev you can invoke Salesforce APIs with few simple clicks. This feature is perfect for Salesforce developers who want to test integrations with external systems or simply take advantage of the most powerful features of the Salesforce system (naturally, you can also save your favorite configurations so you can reuse them in the future).
View Logs 📃
With ForceDev you can view, analyze and filter system logs generated by any user of any Salesforce Org in real time; this will allow you to save time by starting a log monitoring session in 2 simple clicks.
Custom Labels 🏷️
With ForceDev you can easily search for all the labels available in an org. Search for labels by simply typing their name, translation or technical API name.
This feature is perfect for Salesforce developers who want to avoid creating duplicate labels and therefore save time in their developments.
Code Coverage 🔬
With ForceDev you can view real-time code coverage for each Apex class as well as overall coverage across your entire Salesforce organization. How many times did you need to launch a complete execution of all test classes in order to check their coverage? As you might already know, this is an operation that can take a long time: why not monitoring it directly from your mobile phone without any worries? Use ForceDev, take it easy!
View Job Errors 🙈
With ForceDev you can monitor all “Scheduled Apex”, “Queueable” and “Batch Apex” jobs that failed in the last 7 days. Be the first to report any system errors using our application!
Health Check 🩺
With ForceDev you can view the health status of your Org and suggest useful actions to improve its security. Here you will find a list of operations that you can perform in order to make your Salesforce organization increasingly safe and efficient.
in the next release, currently under testing 🤖, an important update will impact the License Verification procedure that you can achieve from the “Options” page on the “PRO” tab, only if you are on paid tier.
You won’t be required to have a synced user on your browser or use Google Authentication to validate your email address anymore, but you’ll simply be required to input your email address and license key to start the validation process: this is a more reliable and easy way to handle your licenses, making the process absolutely smooth! 😎
🚨⚠ Once the release will be live you’ll be required to remove your current license and validate it again ⚠ 🚨
So don’t panic if you’ll temporary see your ORGanizer unlicensed! 😱
NOTE: this update won’t be available to Firefox users at this moment, sorry guys but Firefox has so many problems that its version will stay behind for a while 🦊
📜 The golden rules 👑
You need to validate your license on each browser or browser’s profile you use the license with (if you use Chrome and Edge, you need to validate both, if you use Chrome with many profiles, you need to validate each profile, more or less the same happens now)
The validation process sends a validation email to your licensed email, so you need to have access to your email address and use the provided code to activate your client (you better check your spam folder)
There is a limit on the number of active clients that you can activate with a license (this number depends on the license type, details will be given shortly), but you can deactivate a client to make room for your new client (that’s why you’ll be able to add a Client Name to each client so to point the right client in deactivation)
There is a cooldown for client deactivation (whose duration depends on license type as well) that prevents you from deactivating clients like a crazy 😵
This is how things will change 🤯
The “PRO” tab in the “Options” page (right click on ORGanizer icon and select “Options”) will show new fields:
Client ID (identifies your client, i.e. each browser and browser’s profile you have ORGanizer installed will have its own ID, you cannot change it and please don’t try to do it, it will simply invalidate your client license) and Client Name (as said, you can update this value to clearly identify a client)
Licensing section where you have to set license key and email address as delivered by Gumroad licensing service (your purchase confirmation email, as usual)
When you start a new validation process, you’ll receive the following message:
This is the email you’ll receive (again, check on your SPAM folder):
Now you need to simply copy/paste this code on the activation code on the “Activation Code” field that pops up:
If you reach the max number of active clients you’ll be shown a popup with the details and the list of currently active clients (you decide which one to deactivate, considering the cooldown period):
If you need more details send me a message using the support form.
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 Raffaele Preziosi, a certified Salesforce Developer and Application Architect who was born in Naples (Italy). He is passionate about the Salesforce platform, JavaScript, and DevOps. Currently, he works as a consultant at Accenture Nordics in Copenhagen, where he continues to innovate and develop solutions for clients in the Salesforce ecosystem.
The Javascript Quote Calculator Plugin (QCP) of SteelBrick CPQ is a tool that allows users to enhance the functionality of the quote line editor within Salesforce.
By utilizing JavaScript, users can implement custom logic to manipulate quotes and quote lines both before and after pricing rules are calculated.
This customization extends to managing the visibility and editability of the fields displayed in the quote process.
The Challenge: Managing QCP Code within Salesforce
Unfortunately, the javascript QCP code must be stored as data within Salesforce (in the field SBQQ__Code__c of the object SBQQ__CustomScript__c) making it difficult to manage and track changes effectively. As developer you would like to manage that code in your IDE alongside other metadata within your version control system.
The move-qcp sf CLI plugin can address this issue. This tool allows you to efficiently organize the QCP code, and automate the its deployment.
The move-qcp plugin changes the way you develop and deploy QCP by allowing you to:
Versioning QCP Code: Your code is securely stored, easily accessible, and conveniently managed alongside your other version-controlled assets. This ensures that you have complete control over your qcp code and can effectively track and review changes.
Automated Deployment: The plugin automatically deploys the QCP to the target org, avoiding the need to manually copy and paste the code into Salesforce.
Modularization: Take advantage of modularization by utilizing modules to split the QCP code into multiple files. By splitting your QCP code into multiple files using modules, you can enhance readability, maintainability, and collaboration among your development team.
Code Minification: The plugin automatically minifies the code before deploying it to the target org. This optimization step helps avoid reaching the maximum character limit of the textarea field.
How to Get Started
Open your terminal and run the command (Salesforce CLI is necessary): sf plugins install move-qcp
Within your repository, create a dedicated folder for your QCP using the create command. This is where you’ll organize your QCP-related files. Replace “MyQCP” with your desired custom script name, which will also be the folder name. sf cpq qcp create -n MyQCP
The command will create separate files for each method of the quote calculator plugin. The main.js file will import modules from other files, enhancing code organization. The config.json file can include additional fields for your quote calculator plugin. Main.js and config.json are the only required files, the other ones can be deleted/replaced.
3. When your changes are ready run the following command to insert/update your QCP in the Org. Replace “orgAlias” with the authenticated org alias/username and ./QCP with the directory of your QCP sf cpq qcp deploy -u orgAlias -d ./MyQCP
If the command succeeds, it will print the Id of the custom script:
While you can add multiple custom scripts to your repository, it’s important to note that Salesforce CPQ currently allows only one active script at a time.
You can streamline your deployment process, integrating the command into your CI/CD pipeline!
I want to thank Pietro Piga for involving me in this new (crazy) initiative. 🤪
We have launched a podcast 🎙 titled “Salesforce Sidekicks” (whose temporary home is this blog, click on PODCAST: Salesforce Sidekicks 🇮🇹) with the goal of sharing our (completely off-the-cuff) conversations about the Salesforce world, in an informal 😎, if possible, humorous 🤡, and above all, in Italian. 💙
We would like to attempt to restart ▶ that fantastic “Italia Ohana Community” 🌈🤙 that we tried to kick off some time ago with Nino Guarnacci and the support of Salesforce ☁, aiming to share our passion 💘 for the Salesforce world and, why not, receive feedback and opinions to be shared in other episodes. 🗣
So, we kick off 2024 with the first episode “Salesforce and AI” 🚀 Happy listening! 👂
ℹ️ Di cosa si tratta? / What’s this all about? Salesforce Sidekicks Facciamo una introspezione sulle 25 puntate della prima stagione del podcast e vediamo insieme cosa è accaduto in 8 mesi e quali sono state le nostre impressioni!
ℹ️ Di cosa si tratta? / What’s this all about? Salesforce Sidekicks In questo breve shot, vediamo assieme le tappe salienti della storia di Salesforce, dalla prima Sales Cloud 📈 fino ad arrivare alle recenti grandi acquisizioni come Mulesoft e Slack 💸 Buon ascolto 👂👂
ℹ️ Di cosa si tratta? / What’s this all about? Salesforce Sidekicks Ragazzi prepariamoci per questo evento pazzesco al MiCo di Milano 💙🌍 Quale sarà l’agenda? 📓 La commentiamo nell’episodio! 🗣 Ci vediamo domani! 👀😍 P.S. Ricordatevi di ascoltarci alla YouTube World Tour Radio il giorno 18/06/2024 alle ore 16!!! 👂👂 📅 Link all’evento 📽… Read more: 🇮🇹 Salesforce Sidekicks EPISODE 21: Salesforce Milano World Tour 2024 – Teaser Salesforce Sidekicks
ℹ️ Di cosa si tratta? / What’s this all about? Salesforce Sidekicks Erano vent’anni che le azioni di Salesforce non subivano un drop di questa entità 📉😱 Cerchiamo di dare un contesto a quello che è accaduto 👨🏫 Buon ascolto!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Salesforce Project Management Director
Salesforce Technical Architect
Salesforce Development Manager
Salesforce Technical Consultant
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
Role
Salary 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 certificationcan 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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Monitoring: Monitoring tools track application performance, usage, errors, and other metrics. This data is essential for maintaining system health and for making informed decisions.
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.
The Salesforce DevOps process typically involves several stages, each with specific workflows:
Plan: This includes defining the requirements, designing the solution, and planning the work.
Code: Developers use Salesforce’s development tools and environments to code the solution. Code is version-controlled, typically using Git.
Build and Test: Code is built into a release and tested. Automated tests are used to verify that the solution works as expected.
Deploy: The release is deployed to a staging environment for further testing and review. Once approved, it’s deployed to the production environment.
Operate: The application is monitored, and any issues are addressed. User feedback is gathered for future improvements.
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:
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.
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.
Partial Copy: Contain your organization’s metadata and a sample of your production data. They are used for complex testing and training purposes.
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:
Create or refresh a Sandbox: Based on the requirements, create or refresh a sandbox using (Developer, Developer Pro, Partial Copy, or Full).
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.
User Acceptance Testing (UAT): After the developer’s testing, the business users or QA team can review and test the changes.
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.
There are benefits and limitations to using Sandboxes. Knowing them can help your team utilize them to their full potential:
Benefits
Limitations
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:
Install Salesforce CLI: Salesforce Command Line Interface (CLI) is a powerful tool required to create and manage Scratch Orgs.
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.
Create a Scratch Org: After authentication, you can create a Scratch Org using the “sfdx force:org:create” command.
Push Source to Scratch Org: You then push your source into the Scratch Org using the “sfdx force:source:push” command.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Benefits
Limitations
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 model
The 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.
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.
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.
Sandboxes
Scratch 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 expiration
Limited 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.
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.
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.
