Above all else - take care of your data.
Data integrity is the answer to 99% of your problems – whether its data quality issues giving you unreliable insights into the state of your Salesforce org, or a lack of trust in decision-making because you’re acutely aware that your data has gaps. So, how do you combat this? We’ve identified 6 tips to keep your Salesforce Org healthy.
1. Evaluate your data
Begin by taking a relevant cross-section of your data and evaluating it based on the 6 dimensions of data quality:
Accuracy
Is your data accurate? Does it reflect the truth?
Completeness
Is your data missing essential elements?
Consistency
Is your data being collected and entered into the system uniformly? across all sources?
Timeliness
Is your data routinely evaluated and updated?
Uniqueness
Are all your data points unique? Are there duplicates skewing key metrics?
Validity
Does your data contain the correct range of values? Is it formatted correctly?
Now that we’ve established the value of data – here’s how we can maximize that value and use it to get workers on pathways to in-demand careers.
2. Limit permissions and Provide clear documentation
Establish clear permissions based on roles; allow only relevant users to input data, change fields, and make changes to org structure. Providing clear documentation and instructions for data schema is key to ensuring your users uphold your data standards and use Salesforce the way you intend.
3. Focus on the user experience.
Many companies struggle to get universal buy-in with any new technology. CRMs face even larger barriers, as sales teams often have long-established practices they’re hesitant to change (if it ain’t broke . . .) To secure buy-in from all users, you need to clearly demonstrate the value of the platform. That will vary based on your organization’s structure and how you use Salesforce, but the one constant should be understanding the unique needs of your users and showcasing how Salesforce enhances their ability to close deals.
As an example - many salespeople prefer to manage all prospect outreach and may have concerns about letting marketing automation take the reins. Showing them how automation gives them more time to work directly with accounts and taking calls, will make it far more likely they will adopt Salesforce than just telling them processes have changed.
User experience is key – you can optimize salesforce all you want but if you’re not showing your users how Salesforce can serve their needs, adoption will suffer.
4. Tightly manage Integrations.
The AppExchange and other custom integrations represent huge opportunities for your org, but they’re also opportunities for things to go sideways. Consistent processes and data management practices across all apps and integrations is key to your success. Outdated integrations and poorly integrated apps aren’t just data integrity concerns – they often pose serious security risks that could compromise your org.
5. Benchmark regularly!
We recommend running monthly scheduled reports to keep an eye on org health benchmarks. Salesforce provides several automated internal reports, we recommend automating the reporting schedule so that you get clear indicators of your org’s health delivered to your inbox.
Learn how to set up these reports here:
6. Work with your users.
While working directly with your users does not directly contribute to the health of your org, it helps create an environment that allows you to more easily identify and address practices that compromise data integrity. Start by creating a feedback loop - feedback loops are critical for all technology initiatives. Salesforce allows for limitless customizability no matter what your user’s needs. Establish a regular feedback loop with your entire team to ensure those needs are met on an ongoing basis.
Establish clear goals as an organization to work backwards from. Once you establish adoption and utilization goals you can work backwards and create process goals to support them. It’s not enough to say, “We want to improve Salesforce adoption by 90%”, you need to identify the adoption gaps, and address the conditions that created them. Check out our video guide on improving Salesforce adoption below.
Start transforming your Salesforce Org today
Salesforce is a powerful tool A healthy, optimized Salesforce Org is the key to success. Focusing on the tips we’ve identified will put you well on your way. Nee help? That’s where we come in. Our Salesforce Healthcheck evaluation process provides insights and recommendations that revive, refine, and transform your Org. Many organizations are eligible for a no or low-cost assessment. Start your Healthcheck today!
About the Author: Cameron Avrigean
Cameron Avrigean is a Marketing Coordinator at fivestar*. Cameron is an analytics fanatic with a penchant for copywriting and social media. He works with the marketing team to create engaging content, and is looking for the next big thing. Cameron holds a B.S. in Business Management from Point Park University.