27Oct
Aura Components and Salesforce Development
Aura Components have transformed the way developers design user interfaces in Salesforce.
How to Hire the Right Salesforce Developer
Maximizing Salesforce: How to Hire the Right Salesforce Developer Salesforce has revolutionized how businesses manage customer relationships, becoming a cornerstone for enhancing customer service and engagement. However, to fully leverage its potential, skilled professionals are needed to customize and develop the platform to meet specific business needs. Hiring the right Salesforce developer is crucial for ensuring your organization gets the most out of this powerful tool. In this guide, we’ll explore key considerations before hiring a Salesforce developer, the steps involved in the hiring process, and tips for effective Salesforce recruitment. How to Hire the Right Salesforce Developer. Understanding Salesforce Developer Roles Before diving into the hiring process, it’s essential to understand the different Salesforce roles: Your business needs may require a combination of these roles. Depending on the complexity of your Salesforce environment, you might need more than just a developer. Key Factors to Consider Before Hiring a Salesforce Developer The most critical factor when hiring a Salesforce developer is their skill set. Salesforce development requires deep knowledge of various technologies and tools. Key skills include: Assessing a candidate’s industry-specific experience can provide insight into their ability to address your business challenges. Salesforce certifications validate a professional’s expertise. Key certifications to look for include: These certifications provide assurance of the candidate’s competency. A strong Salesforce developer should not only possess technical skills but also understand business processes. Developers who can translate business requirements into technical solutions will drive business value. Salesforce development often involves troubleshooting complex issues. Assess a candidate’s problem-solving abilities through technical interviews or practical tests. Strong problem-solvers will be invaluable when unexpected challenges arise. Effective communication is vital for a Salesforce developer. They must explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and document processes clearly for future maintenance. How to Hire the Right Salesforce Developer Start by defining the skills, experience, and certifications needed for the role. A well-defined job description will attract the right candidates. Create job postings that reflect the role’s responsibilities and qualifications. Use relevant keywords like “Salesforce job postings” and “Salesforce employment opportunities” to attract suitable candidates. Screen candidates based on their resumes and initial interviews, looking for a strong match between their experience and your job requirements. Evaluate candidates through practical tests to assess their Salesforce-specific coding skills and problem-solving abilities. Conduct multiple interview rounds: Salesforce Recruitment Tips Use platforms like LinkedIn and Salesforce-specific groups to find candidates and connect with the Salesforce community. Partnering with recruitment agencies that specialize in Salesforce roles can streamline the hiring process. Salesforce professionals are in high demand, so offering competitive salaries and benefits is key to attracting top talent. Identify candidates committed to professional development, as Salesforce is constantly evolving with new features and practices. Highlighting your company’s culture, values, and growth opportunities can attract top talent. Why Choose Tectonic – How to Hire the Right Salesforce Developer? Hiring the right Salesforce developer requires a thorough understanding of your business needs, a clear definition of the required skills, and a meticulous hiring process. By emphasizing these factors, you can ensure you recruit the right talent to drive your Salesforce initiatives. However many Salesforce projects don’t require a long term developer, business analyst, or project manager. Outsourcing these roles to Tectonic can provide a valuable savings in cost and improved project outcomes with a clean CRM in place from day one. At Tectonic, we take pride in being a leading Salesforce provider. Our team of certified Salesforce professionals is equipped with the skills and experience to meet your business demands. Whether you need a developer, administrator, or consultant, Tectonic’s rigorous recruiting process ensures we deliver the best talent. Partner with Tectonic to fully harness the potential of Salesforce and elevate your business to the next level. Contact us today to learn more about our Salesforce staffing solutions and how we can help you achieve your CRM goals. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more
22Sep
Is Agentforce Different?
The Salesforce hype machine is in full swing, with product announcements like Chatter, Einstein GPT, and Data Cloud, all positioned as revolutionary tools that promise to transform how we work. Is Agentforce Different? However, it’s often difficult to separate fact from fiction in the world of Salesforce. The cloud giant thrives on staying ahead of technological advancements, which means reinventing itself every year with new releases and updates. You could even say three times per year with the major releases. Why Enterprises Need Multiple Salesforce Orgs Over the past decade, Salesforce product launches have been hit or miss—primarily miss. Offerings like IoT Cloud, Work.com, and NFT Cloud have faded into obscurity. This contrasts sharply with Salesforce’s earlier successes, such as Service Cloud, the AppExchange, Force.com, Salesforce Lightning, and Chatter, which defined its first decade in business. One notable exception is Data Cloud. This product has seen significant success and now serves as the cornerstone of Salesforce’s future AI and data strategy. With Salesforce’s growth slowing quarter over quarter, the company must find new avenues to generate substantial revenue. Artificial Intelligence seems to be their best shot at reclaiming a leadership position in the next technological wave. Is Agentforce Different? While Salesforce has been an AI leader for over a decade, the hype surrounding last year’s Dreamforce announcements didn’t deliver the growth the company was hoping for. The Einstein Copilot Studio—comprising Copilot, Prompt Builder, and Model Builder—hasn’t fully lived up to expectations. This can be attributed to a lack of AI readiness among enterprises, the relatively basic capabilities of large language models (LLMs), and the absence of fully developed use cases. In Salesforce’s keynote, it was revealed that over 82 billion flows are launched weekly, compared to just 122,000 prompts executed. While Flow has been around for years, this stat highlights that the use of AI-powered prompts is still far from mainstream—less than one prompt per Salesforce customer per week, on average. When ChatGPT launched at the end of 2022, many predicted the dawn of a new AI era, expecting a swift and dramatic transformation of the workplace. Two years later, it’s clear that AI’s impact has yet to fully materialize, especially when it comes to influencing global productivity and GDP. However, Salesforce’s latest release feels different. While AI Agents may seem new to many, this concept has been discussed in AI circles for decades. Marc Benioff’s recent statements during Dreamforce reflect a shift in strategy, including a direct critique of Microsoft’s Copilot product, signaling the intensifying AI competition. This year’s marketing strategy around Agentforce feels like it could be the transformative shift we’ve been waiting for. While tools like Salesforce Copilot will continue to evolve, agents capable of handling service cases, answering customer questions, and booking sales meetings instantly promise immediate ROI for organizations. Is the Future of Salesforce in the Hands of Agents? Despite the excitement, many questions remain. Are Salesforce customers ready for agents? Can organizations implement this technology effectively? Is Agentforce a real breakthrough or just another overhyped concept? Agentforce may not be vaporware. Reports suggest that its development was influenced by Salesforce’s acquisition of Airkit.AI, a platform that claims to resolve 90% of customer queries. Salesforce has even set up dedicated launchpads at Dreamforce to help customers start building their own agents. Yet concerns remain, especially regarding Salesforce’s complexity, technical debt, and platform sprawl. These issues, highlighted in this year’s Salesforce developer report, cannot be overlooked. Still, it’s hard to ignore Salesforce’s strategic genius. The platform has matured to the point where it offers nearly every functionality an organization could need, though at times the components feel a bit disconnected. For instance: Salesforce is even hinting at usage-based pricing, with a potential $2 charge per conversation—an innovation that could reshape their pricing model. Will Agents Be Salesforce’s Key to Future Growth? With so many unknowns, only time will tell if agents will be the breakthrough Salesforce needs to regain the momentum of its first two decades. Regardless, agents appear to be central to the future of AI. Leading organizations like Copado are also launching their own agents, signaling that this trend will define the next phase of AI innovation. In today’s macroeconomic environment, where companies are overstretched and workforce demands are high, AI’s ability to streamline operations and improve customer service has never been more critical. Whoever cracks customer service AI first could lead the charge in the inevitable AI spending boom. We’re all waiting to see if Salesforce has truly cracked the AI code. But one thing is certain: the race to dominate AI in customer service has begun. And Salsesforce may be at the forefront. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more
27Jun
Salesforce Flow Efficiency and Automation
Salesforce Flow: For Efficiency with Automation Salesforce Flow enables businesses to create very sophisticated solutions without the need for extensive coding, using a simple point-and-click interface. This capability is particularly beneficial for Salesforce Admins, offering functionalities akin to those of Salesforce developers. In this insight we will explore Salesforce Flow: Understanding Developer and Admin Contributions. Salesforce Flow Efficiency and Automation. Salesforce Flow, originally known as Visual Flow, has evolved significantly with each Salesforce release, culminating in the intuitive Flow Builder interface available today. Its applications are expansive and continually expanding. Key Capabilities of Salesforce Flow Mass Updates: Easily handle batch processing to update thousands of records simultaneously based on specific criteria, significantly saving time and effort. Automated Workflows: Construct intricate workflows with multiple steps and decision points, ensuring consistency and efficiency across business processes. User-Friendly Interface: Designed to be intuitive, Flow Builder allows users of varying technical skill levels to create and manage workflows effortlessly. Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly integrates with Salesforce products and third-party applications, enabling comprehensive solutions leveraging diverse data sources. Continuous Improvement: With each Salesforce update, Flow receives new features and enhancements, continually enhancing its versatility and power. Salesforce Flow serves as a pivotal tool for enhancing productivity and streamlining complex operations, making it indispensable for Salesforce Admins striving to optimize workflows. Understanding Salesforce Flow in Detail What is Salesforce Flow? Salesforce Flow Builder is a robust tool within the Salesforce ecosystem, enabling users to automate workflows and processes. These workflows encompass tasks such as sending emails, updating records, triggering other flows, executing Apex actions, and sending notifications. Flows can be initiated by various events, including user actions, record changes, and scheduled times. Flows comprise elements such as actions, conditions, variables, and screens. The visual, drag-and-drop interface of Salesforce Flow Builder ensures accessibility for users without extensive coding knowledge while offering advanced capabilities for technical experts. Types of Salesforce Flow Screen Flows: Provide a step-by-step user interface to automate tasks, collect data, and guide users through processes. Ideal for systematically capturing and qualifying leads, Screen Flows are straightforward to set up and manage. Record-Triggered Flows: Automate actions based on changes to Salesforce records, like creating, updating, or deleting records. These flows replace older tools like Workflow Rules and Process Builder, offering flexibility and ease of management. Scheduled Flows: Run at specified times or intervals to automate routine tasks or periodic updates. Useful for scenarios such as sending reminders or performing batch operations. Platform Event-Triggered Flows: Respond to events within the Salesforce platform in real-time, enabling instant automation based on critical business events. Requires technical proficiency in integrations and platform events. Autolaunched Flows: Initiated by other processes or external systems without user interaction, making them essential for automating backend processes like updating records based on external triggers. The Role of Salesforce Administrators Salesforce Administrators play a major role in designing, implementing, and managing flows. Their responsibilities span from creating automated workflows to ensuring optimal flow performance and providing user training. Administrators leverage Flow to automate data entry, streamline approval processes, and set up notifications for critical events. Collaboration Between Admins and Developers Effective collaboration between Salesforce Administrators and Developers is important for creating efficient and robust flows. While Administrators focus on designing and implementing simpler flows, Developers enhance capabilities by integrating custom Apex code, performing advanced data manipulations, and optimizing flow performance. This collaboration ensures comprehensive solutions that meet both business requirements and technical standards. Final Thoughts Salesforce Flow closees the gap between manual operations and automated efficiency, enabling businesses to enhance accuracy, reduce operational bottlenecks, and adapt swiftly to market changes. By understanding the distinct contributions of Administrators and Developers and fostering a collaborative environment, organizations can design and implement innovative workflows that drive success and growth. Embracing Salesforce Flow not only optimizes business processes but also positions organizations to thrive in dynamic market landscapes. Staying abreast of Salesforce automation advancements and best practices ensures sustained competitiveness and growth. Like1 Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more
25Apr
Summer 24 Salesforce Development Release Notes
Whether you’re using Lightning components, Visualforce, Apex, or Salesforce APIs with your favorite programming language, these enhancements help you develop amazing applications, integrations, and packages for resale to other organizations. Summer 24 Salesforce Development Release Notes. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more
16Jan
Salesforce Developer Toolkit
Have you ever been overwhelmed by a complex project with numerous tasks and deadlines? I felt the same until I discovered Salesforce tools. One afternoon, a colleague introduced me to these tools, and everything changed. Suddenly, I could manage my work more effectively, collaborate better with my team, and consistently deliver outstanding results. Salesforce tools completely transformed the way I work. They showed me that with the right technology, teams don’t just meet expectations—they exceed them, driving better business performance. Let’s explore how Salesforce tools can lead to better development outcomes and help you stay ahead of the competition. Key Takeaways Understanding Salesforce Development Tools Diving into Salesforce development tools reveals how essential they are for boosting productivity and streamlining processes. Each tool plays a unique role in making Salesforce adaptable for developers. For instance, using the Salesforce Developer Edition allows me to test apps without real data, helping me create better solutions. Scratch Orgs provide a space to develop apps for specific needs, offering flexibility in my work. The Salesforce CLI simplifies managing and integrating different tools, enhancing my overall development workflow. By learning and mastering these tools, I’ve significantly improved my technical skills, gaining confidence to tackle various projects knowing I have the right tool for each task. Key Benefits of Using Salesforce Tools Salesforce tools have revolutionized how we work and engage with clients. One of the standout benefits is the clear visibility into customer data. This makes our interactions more personalized and effective, as everyone on the team has access to the necessary customer information. Team collaboration also becomes more seamless. Sharing vital information removes delays, streamlining the development process and ensuring we all work towards the same goals. Automation is another game-changer. It reduces manual tasks, allowing us to focus on high-value activities. Companies that embrace these tools often see improved sales and overall business performance. Salesforce Tools for Better Development The right tools can transform your development process. Salesforce tools enhance every aspect, from understanding customer needs to improving team collaboration. By making both teams and customers more visible, these tools lead to better strategies and outcomes. Improved Customer Visibility Customer insight is crucial to business success. Salesforce tools provide immediate access to customer data, enabling us to tailor services to meet their needs. I can now predict trends and respond quickly, enhancing the customer experience. This visibility also allows businesses to adjust plans rapidly, leading to faster improvements. Enhanced Collaboration Across Teams Collaboration is key to success. Salesforce tools enable seamless communication and information sharing across teams, reducing errors and making development smoother. As teams work more efficiently together, productivity rises, and customer satisfaction improves. These tools have fundamentally changed how my team operates, driving us toward our goals. Getting Started with Salesforce Tools When I began exploring Salesforce tools, I realized how crucial it was to understand the setup process. It’s not just about choosing the right tool—it’s about selecting one that aligns with your business needs. I spent considerable time researching and selecting the best tools for my organization, which resulted in smoother operations. Setting up accounts in an organized manner also prevented potential issues down the line. Training was equally important. I provided my team with comprehensive resources and hands-on experience with Salesforce tools. This approach ensured everyone was prepared to use the tools effectively and enhance our productivity. Salesforce Developer Toolkit For a Salesforce developer, the Salesforce Developer Toolkit is essential to improving workflow and productivity. Using the right tools significantly enhances both efficiency and output quality. Essential Tools for Every Salesforce Developer The toolkit includes indispensable tools like the Developer Console and Salesforce Extensions for Visual Studio Code. These make coding easier and allow for better testing and debugging. The Ant Migration Tool is invaluable for transferring project components, tracking changes, and deploying updates seamlessly. Streamlining Development Processes with Salesforce By utilizing the Salesforce Developer Toolkit, I’ve accelerated development processes. Integrated environments and robust command-line interfaces make app deployment faster. These tools enhance my coding efficiency, allowing me to deliver exceptional Salesforce apps to clients with speed and precision. Top Salesforce Tools to Consider When starting with Salesforce, it’s essential to identify the tools that best meet your needs. Salesforce Lightning, Salesforce CLI, and Workbench stand out for their powerful features and benefits. Salesforce Lightning Salesforce Lightning simplifies app development with its intuitive interface. Its drag-and-drop functionality enables quick assembly of components, allowing me to focus on adding value rather than technical complexities. Salesforce CLI For developers who prefer command-line interfaces, Salesforce CLI is an excellent choice. It automates tasks, improves workflow efficiency, and reduces errors, ultimately enhancing productivity. Workbench and the Ant Migration Tool Workbench is a versatile tool for managing data and running SOQL queries, making it a favorite among developers. The Ant Migration Tool ensures smooth metadata transfers between Salesforce environments, ensuring seamless development. Optimizing Salesforce Development Processes Optimizing development in Salesforce involves improving efficiency and productivity. Automated testing, for instance, simplifies repetitive tasks, allowing developers to focus on more complex challenges. Using scratch orgs for feature branches is another winning strategy. It enables developers to work on new features without affecting the main codebase—a must in fast-paced environments. Agile methodologies also transform development processes. Iterative practices ensure that workflows stay up-to-date with evolving requirements, and continuous feedback drives consistent improvement. Integrating Third-Party Tools with Salesforce When enhancing my Salesforce setup, I often consider third-party integrations. Salesforce AppExchange offers a variety of apps that can be tailored to fit specific business needs. This flexibility is invaluable. Salesforce API integration makes it easy to connect Salesforce with other apps, allowing for better data management and automation. By leveraging these integrations, I’ve enhanced workflows and improved efficiency across the board. Best Practices for Enhancing Salesforce Development Maximizing Salesforce development success depends on following best practices, such as leveraging automation and community resources. Automating Routine Tasks with Salesforce Tools Automation is central to my daily routine. Tools like Process Builder and Workflow automate repetitive tasks, saving time
03Jan
ORGanizer for Salesforce
ORGanizer Chrome Extension: Your Dev/Admin Swiss Army Knife! The ORGanizer Chrome Extension is a powerful, all-in-one tool designed specifically for Salesforce Developers and Admins. Packed with an array of features, this extension is a must-have for anyone working in Salesforce, making it the ultimate Salesforce Chrome Extension! Key Features: Additional Information: With the ORGanizer Chrome Extension, managing multiple Salesforce orgs becomes a breeze. Set custom labels, colors, and quick links for each org to streamline your workflow and boost productivity. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more
07Dec
Salesforce Developers
Salesforce serves over 150,000 customers across diverse industries, providing a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform and Salesforce Customer 360 that are instrumental in ensuring efficient business operations globally. Developers leveraging Salesforce technologies play a crucial role in solving intricate problems for customers, employing both code and Salesforce’s no-code tools. This context refers to all developers engaged with Salesforce technologies to craft solutions for customers and partners. While Salesforce has its team of developers dedicated to building products (for more details, check out our engineering blog), the insights shared here are relevant to anyone working within the Salesforce ecosystem. What is the role of Salesforce Developer? A Salesforce developer is a special type of computer programmer who writes software on the Salesforce CRM platform or another piece of Salesforce cloud technology. This ranges from creating websites to developing apps. A Salesforce developer works with computer code like JavaScript and HTML on a daily basis. In the realm of Salesforce, developers have the flexibility to create solutions using a combination of no-code tools and code, a methodology known as low-code development. Utilizing no-code customizations enables developers to address certain requirements without resorting to coding, resulting in reduced repetition and boilerplate code when coding is necessary. Salesforce offers a comprehensive range of products spanning sales, service, marketing, analytics, commerce, and more, with each component exposing APIs. Developers leverage these APIs to develop web apps on Heroku, enhance integration through MuleSoft, or customize standard applications. In essence, any developer has the potential to be a Salesforce Developer within this versatile and expansive ecosystem. What tasks does a developer undertake with Salesforce? Developers working with Salesforce technologies are primarily engaged in constructing customized business applications and solutions. They achieve this using either the Salesforce Platform, which encompasses Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and Experience Cloud communities, or by utilizing Heroku. While certain developers specialize in specific areas, the majority can be classified as full-stack developers, adept at handling both back-end logic and front-end experiences. In addition to the Salesforce Platform, developers find diverse opportunities within the Salesforce ecosystem. Some focus on creating tailor-made marketing experiences using Marketing Cloud, while others delve into data analysis and unveil new insights through Tableau. There are developers dedicated to constructing captivating commerce experiences using Commerce Cloud’s PWA kit, and others who contribute to shaping their company’s digital headquarters by developing custom Slack apps. Every developer relies on code as their fundamental toolkit, prompting the question of which programming languages are prevalent in the Salesforce realm. The choice often hinges on the specific domain within the Salesforce ecosystem that one opts to engage with. Languages JavaScript and Apex stand out as the two primary languages in the Salesforce world. JavaScript is employed for front-end customizations, particularly in Lightning Web Components, while Apex is the predominant back-end language in the Salesforce ecosystem. The Salesforce Platform incorporates two domain-specific query languages. Salesforce Object Query Language (SOQL) mirrors SQL and serves as a query language for accessing data in the Salesforce multi-tenant database. On the other hand, Salesforce Object Search Language (SOSL) is a text-based search language designed to locate both data and documents stored on the platform. Certain Salesforce products support additional languages. Python and JavaScript are both supported by the Slack Bolt SDK. For customized marketing experiences in Marketing Cloud, AMPscript is a viable option. Integrations with MuleSoft involve writing data transformations in DataWeave. Working with dashboards in Salesforce CRM Analytics may involve using the Salesforce Analytics Query Language (SAQL) for refining visualizations. The recent addition of Data Cloud allows access to its data using SQL. The technology and language landscape within the Salesforce domain is diverse and extensive. Regardless of one’s interests, there is a niche to specialize in. No-Code Tools Given Salesforce’s provision of no-code customizations, every developer operating within the Salesforce ecosystem inevitably learns to leverage no-code tools supporting their work. Features that might be intricate to implement, such as wizards, data security rules, and basic user interface (UI) customizations, can be accomplished without any coding. While developers with prior enterprise software experience often find a seamless transition to Salesforce, this is not a prerequisite. Any developer, including those entering directly from college or transitioning from other software engineering backgrounds, can become a Salesforce Developer. If you need Salesforce developer help, contact Tectonic today. Like1 Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more
17Sep
Python Alongside Salesforce
Salesforce can integrate with Python, though the platform primarily relies on its proprietary languages and frameworks for core development. Python, however, plays a crucial role in enhancing Salesforce’s capabilities through integrations, automation, data analysis, and extending functionalities via external applications. Here’s an overview of how Python works within the Salesforce ecosystem: 1. Salesforce’s Core Development Stack Before exploring Python’s use, it’s important to understand the key development tools within Salesforce: These tools are the foundation for Salesforce development. However, Python complements Salesforce by enabling integrations and automation that go beyond these native tools. 2. Python in Salesforce Integrations Python shines when integrating Salesforce with other systems, automating workflows, and extending functionality. Here’s how: a. API Interactions Salesforce’s REST and SOAP APIs allow external systems to communicate with Salesforce data. Python, with its powerful libraries, is excellent for interfacing with these APIs. Key Libraries: Example: Extracting Data via API: pythonCopy codefrom simple_salesforce import Salesforce # Connect to Salesforce sf = Salesforce(username=’your_username’, password=’your_password’, security_token=’your_token’) # Query Salesforce data accounts = sf.query(“SELECT Id, Name FROM Account LIMIT 10”) for account in accounts[‘records’]: print(account[‘Name’]) b. Data Processing and Analysis Python’s data manipulation libraries like Pandas and NumPy make it ideal for processing Salesforce data. Example: Data Cleaning and Analysis: pythonCopy codeimport pandas as pd from simple_salesforce import Salesforce # Connect to Salesforce sf = Salesforce(username=’your_username’, password=’your_password’, security_token=’your_token’) # Fetch data query = “SELECT Id, Name, AnnualRevenue FROM Account” accounts = sf.query_all(query) df = pd.DataFrame(accounts[‘records’]).drop(columns=[‘attributes’]) # Process data df[‘AnnualRevenue’] = df[‘AnnualRevenue’].fillna(0) high_revenue_accounts = df[df[‘AnnualRevenue’] > 1000000] print(high_revenue_accounts) 3. Automation and Scripting Python can automate Salesforce-related tasks, improving productivity and reducing manual effort. This can involve automating data updates, generating reports, or scheduling backups. Example: Automating Data Backup: pythonCopy codeimport schedule import time from simple_salesforce import Salesforce def backup_salesforce_data(): sf = Salesforce(username=’your_username’, password=’your_password’, security_token=’your_token’) query = “SELECT Id, Name, CreatedDate FROM Contact” contacts = sf.query_all(query) df = pd.DataFrame(contacts[‘records’]).drop(columns=[‘attributes’]) df.to_csv(‘contacts_backup.csv’, index=False) print(“Salesforce data backed up successfully.”) # Schedule the backup schedule.every().day.at(“00:00”).do(backup_salesforce_data) while True: schedule.run_pending() time.sleep(1) 4. Building External Applications Using platforms like Heroku, developers can build external applications in Python that integrate with Salesforce, extending its functionality for custom portals or advanced analytics. Example: Web App Integrating with Salesforce: pythonCopy codefrom flask import Flask, request, jsonify from simple_salesforce import Salesforce app = Flask(__name__) @app.route(‘/get_accounts’, methods=[‘GET’]) def get_accounts(): sf = Salesforce(username=’your_username’, password=’your_password’, security_token=’your_token’) accounts = sf.query(“SELECT Id, Name FROM Account LIMIT 10”) return jsonify(accounts[‘records’]) if __name__ == ‘__main__’: app.run(debug=True) 5. Data Integration and ETL Python is commonly used in ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes that involve Salesforce data. Tools like Apache Airflow allow you to create complex data pipelines for integrating Salesforce data with external databases. Example: ETL Pipeline with Airflow: pythonCopy codefrom airflow import DAG from airflow.operators.python_operator import PythonOperator from simple_salesforce import Salesforce import pandas as pd from datetime import datetime def extract_salesforce_data(): sf = Salesforce(username=’your_username’, password=’your_password’, security_token=’your_token’) query = “SELECT Id, Name, CreatedDate FROM Opportunity” opportunities = sf.query_all(query) df = pd.DataFrame(opportunities[‘records’]).drop(columns=[‘attributes’]) df.to_csv(‘/path/to/data/opportunities.csv’, index=False) default_args = { ‘owner’: ‘airflow’, ‘start_date’: datetime(2023, 1, 1), ‘retries’: 1, } dag = DAG(‘salesforce_etl’, default_args=default_args, schedule_interval=’@daily’) extract_task = PythonOperator( task_id=’extract_salesforce_data’, python_callable=extract_salesforce_data, dag=dag, ) extract_task 6. Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics Python’s machine learning libraries, such as Scikit-learn and TensorFlow, enable predictive analytics on Salesforce data. This helps in building models for sales forecasting, lead scoring, and customer behavior analysis. Example: Predicting Lead Conversion: pythonCopy codeimport pandas as pd from sklearn.model_selection import train_test_split from sklearn.ensemble import RandomForestClassifier from simple_salesforce import Salesforce # Fetch Salesforce data sf = Salesforce(username=’your_username’, password=’your_password’, security_token=’your_token’) query = “SELECT Id, LeadSource, AnnualRevenue, NumberOfEmployees, Converted FROM Lead” leads = sf.query_all(query) df = pd.DataFrame(leads[‘records’]).drop(columns=[‘attributes’]) # Preprocess and split data df = pd.get_dummies(df, columns=[‘LeadSource’]) X = df.drop(‘Converted’, axis=1) y = df[‘Converted’] X_train, X_test, y_train, y_test = train_test_split(X, y, test_size=0.2, random_state=42) # Train model model = RandomForestClassifier(n_estimators=100, random_state=42) model.fit(X_train, y_train) # Evaluate accuracy accuracy = model.score(X_test, y_test) print(f”Model Accuracy: {accuracy * 100:.2f}%”) 7. Best Practices for Using Python with Salesforce To maximize the efficiency and security of Python with Salesforce: 8. Recommended Learning Resources By leveraging Python alongside Salesforce, organizations can automate tasks, integrate systems, and enhance their data analytics, all while boosting productivity. Content updated August 2024. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more
17Mar
Does Salesforce Have Artificial Intelligence?
Is Salesforce Equipped with Artificial Intelligence Capabilities? Salesforce Einstein is an intelligent layer built into the Lightning Platform, offering robust AI technologies that are seamlessly integrated into the user work environment. The Einstein Platform also provides a comprehensive set of platform services for administrators and developers, enabling the creation of intelligent applications and tailored AI solutions for businesses. Key Einstein Features: Salesforce Einstein is considered genuine artificial intelligence, providing a comprehensive AI solution specifically tailored for Customer Relationship Management (CRM). It eliminates the need for extensive data preparation or model management, seamlessly integrating with Salesforce data. According to Gartner, businesses in Sales, Marketing, Customer Experience, and Digital Commerce express significant interest in AI and Predictive Analytics. Salesforce, holding a substantial 19.5% share in the CRM Vendor Market, has been an early adopter of AI capabilities and technology. For Salesforce developers, embracing AI is crucial to staying relevant. It’s not AI itself that poses a threat but individuals proficient in utilizing AI tools who may replace those who are not. To remain competitive, becoming well-versed in prompt engineering and AI tools is highly recommended. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more
21Feb
Salesforce Developer and DevOps Acronyms
Here is a helpful glossary of Salesforce developer terms you will often here in relation to Salesforce Development. Acronym Meaning Defintion ALM Application Lifestyle Management “How changes and enhancements are rolled out to Salesforce instances. Having a solid ALM process ensures the org continues to work properly and delivers the most value to end-users. Within the ALM process there are three separate development models: change set development, org development, and package development.” (source) API Application-Programming Interface An intermediary that allows two systems to be integrated together. APIs enable us to make two systems “talk” to each other, to successfully exchange data when and how we expect. Salesforce has multiple types of APIs, depending on what your integration requirements are. BYOK Bring Your Own Key When setting up Salesforce Shield, you can use Salesforce’s encryption keys, or bring your own if you already have a key management infrastructure in place. CI/CD Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment/Continuous Delivery A software development practice that refers to different automated processes. Continuous integration (or “CI”) is about automatically moving work items along a release pipeline, through environments for combining and testing packages, before promoting them to production. Continuous deployment is about immediately deploying changes to a downstream environment in your release pipeline as soon as a change or work item has been approved and merged into version control. Continuous delivery is the ultimate goal of CI/CD. It’s a culture or way of working (rather than a type of workflow), which is about releasing added value and new functionality to your end-users as soon after the completion of the development or customization work as possible. CLI Command Line Interface A text-based user interface (UI) used to view and manage files. The Salesforce CLI simplifies development and building automation by:Aggregating all the tools you need to perform commands against your Salesforce org.Synchronizing source to and from scratch org.Creating and manage orgs.Creating and executing tests.Creating and installing packages. COOP Cross-Origin Opener Policy “Shield your custom Visualforce pages from external attacks. When you enable COOP, each top-level custom Visualforce page opens in a new browsing context group. This process prevents direct access between other browser tabs and your Visualforce page and the page’s content.” (source) CPU Central Processing Unit A common computing term that refers to the component that processes instructions based on software and user input. In Salesforce terms, you’ll hear “Apex CPU”. The Salesforce platform imposes a CPU usage governor limit to any given execution context, which is approximately 10 seconds. It means that Apex Code, declarative tools, or a combination in a transaction, must not exceed a ~10-second limit. DML Data Manipulation Language “Provides a straightforward way to manage records by providing simple statements to insert, update, merge, delete, and restore records.” (source) DOC DevOps Center Salesforce DevOps Center is the place to manage releases and to give low-code and pro-code development team members a single set of configuration and code to work with bringing closer collaboration. DORA DevOps Research and Assessment “Research program…that seeks to understand the capabilities that drive software delivery and operations performance. DORA helps teams apply those capabilities, leading to better organizational performance.” – (source)DORA is centered around four metrics, of which testing software is the main component to reducing your change-failure rate. E2E Ecosystem to Ecosystem A test automation concept, E2E testing involves your entire IT stack, no longer testing in silos (one vendor at a time) as was traditionally the case. The complexities of modern-day hybrid cloud architecture can touch hundreds even thousands of upstream and downstream endpoints. ETL Extract, Transform, and Load A category of tools that extract data from one platform, transform the data’s format, and load it into another platform. They have a widely varying set of capabilities, and which you choose will depend on your integration or data migration challenges. GTL Guide Template Language GTL is a Marketing Cloud script language that “provides a declarative syntax used for creating personalized, dynamic, data-driven messages, as well as constructing cross-channel templates and layouts.” (source) GUI Graphical User Interface “A form of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices through graphical icons and audio indicators such as primary notation, instead of text-based user interfaces, typed command labels or text navigation.” (source) IDE Integrated Development Environment “For heavy development work, you need a professional IDE that offers features like integration with source control, syntax highlighting, auto-completion, debugger, offline editing, etc.” (source)Popular examples include Visual Studio Code and the Developer Console. ISTQB® International Software Testing Qualifications Board “Global certification scheme in the field of software testing.” (source)There are multiple certifications to progress through, from the foundation, to agile, core, or specialist pathways. LWC Lightning Web Component An updated web standards-based framework method for creating components on the Salesforce Platform. They are simpler to define and develop because they are in line with updated web standards (like CSS, HTML, and updated JavaScript without requiring a set framework). LWR Lightning Web Runtime Experience Cloud sites built using LWR templates “deliver unparalleled site performance and improve developer productivity…using the Lightning Web Components programming model.” (source) MEL Mule Expression Language “A lightweight, Mule-specific expression language that you can use to access and evaluate the data in the payload, properties, and variables of a Mule message.” (source) MVC Model–view–controller An application design model made up of three parts:Model = an entity representing data or activity.View = visualization of the state of the model.Controller = a facility for changing the state of the model. NACL Not Another Configuration Language NACL is the language Salto has developed especially for readability. Anyone who is familiar with Salesforce will be able to understand the logical display of the XML content in order to understand the purpose of a component, what changes are planned, and even dependencies. OData Open Data Protocol A set of best practices for building and consuming RESTful APIs. (source)Salesforce Connect calls out to external OData endpoints to surface data that’s stored in external objects. PD1 Platform Developer 1 The Platform Developer 1 certification is a
04May
Salesforce Trailheads
Salesforce (or “sforce”) is open to all, whether you’re an admin, user, or developer, with dedicated learning paths available for each role. Salesforce Trailheads Trails are curated learning journeys consisting of modules and projects, designed to guide users through various topics, develop relevant skills, and gain hands-on experience with Salesforce products. Modules break down complex subjects into manageable units, offering insights into features, their functionalities, and step-by-step instructions. Interactive challenges provide opportunities to test your comprehension. Salesforce Trailheads are an integral part of the company’s free online learning platform. This resource assists developers in transitioning from Salesforce Classic to Salesforce Lightning Experience, a modern development platform that utilizes declarative code, making it accessible to individuals with limited coding knowledge. Trailhead’s guided learning paths are freely available, aligning with Salesforce’s commitment to democratize industry knowledge. While some specialized courses are offered through Trailhead Academy for a fee, the majority of content is accessible at no cost. Salesforce’s official learning platform, Trailhead, offers comprehensive interactive learning paths called “trails.” Covering basic to advanced topics, these trails are free and often include hands-on practice through projects and challenges. The time required to learn Salesforce varies based on the area of focus. For Admin skills, it may take three to four months, while Salesforce Developer and Consultant skills may require five-plus months and six or more months, respectively. Trailhead, utilized by over 3 million individuals, is a recommended platform to embark on this learning journey. Trailhead is accessible to anyone with an internet connection, regardless of background, age, gender, or beliefs. Creating a free Trailhead account (no Salesforce CRM account required) is quick and easy at Trailhead.com. Operating on a gamification model, Trailhead awards badges and points to users as they progress through ranks. Achieving the highest rank, ‘Ranger,’ requires earning 100 badges and accumulating 50,000 points, signifying a significant accomplishment for Trailblazers. Trailhead empowers individuals to become Trailblazers by providing in-demand skills for career transformation, globally recognized credentials, and opportunities for connection within the vibrant Trailblazer Community. Learning is made flexible with the Trailhead mobile app, enabling users to upskill anytime and connect from anywhere. Content updated November 2023. Like Related Posts Salesforce OEM AppExchange Expanding its reach beyond CRM, Salesforce.com has launched a new service called AppExchange OEM Edition, aimed at non-CRM service providers. Read more The Salesforce Story In Marc Benioff’s own words How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world’s Read more Salesforce Jigsaw Salesforce.com, a prominent figure in cloud computing, has finalized a deal to acquire Jigsaw, a wiki-style business contact database, for Read more Health Cloud Brings Healthcare Transformation Following swiftly after last week’s successful launch of Financial Services Cloud, Salesforce has announced the second installment in its series Read more
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