Salesforce has been a leading CRM platform for over two decades, providing businesses with a powerful toolset for managing customer relationships. Salesforce Classic, the original version of the platform, has been the go-to option for many companies, but it is now being phased out in favour of Salesforce Lightning. With ongoing innovation, firms must establish strategies for their staff to prepare them for salesforce certifications.
Lightning is a more modern and intuitive version of the platform that offers many benefits, including a cleaner interface, improved productivity, and better mobile support. According to Salesforce, Lightning can increase productivity by up to 41%. However, migrating from Classic to Lightning is not always a straightforward process. And there are many things to consider before making the switch. In this article, we will explore the key things to consider when migrating from Salesforce Classic to Lightning. This includes the benefits of Lightning, potential challenges, and the steps involved in the migration process.
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What is Salesforce Lightning?
Salesforce Lightning is a newer, more modern version of the Salesforce CRM platform. It offers a range of benefits compared to the original Salesforce Classic. Lightning features a more intuitive and streamlined user interface, improved mobile support, better reporting and analytics, increased automation capabilities, and more. Lightning is designed to help businesses streamline their operations and boost productivity. Also, allowing users to find information more quickly and efficiently, and complete tasks more easily. And make better-informed decisions based on up-to-date data.
Benefits of Salesforce Lightning
Salesforce Lightning is a significant improvement over Classic, offering several benefits that can help businesses streamline their operations and boost productivity. Some of the key benefits of Lightning include:
Improved User Interface
Lightning is designed to be more intuitive and easier to navigate, with a cleaner and more modern look and feel. It helps users find information more quickly and efficiently, which results in improved productivity and a better overall user experience.
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Enhanced Mobile Support
A Mobile optimized CRM platform is essential. As people use mobile devices more to access the internet. Salesforce Lightning is designed to work seamlessly across a range of devices, including smartphones and tablets. Making it easier for users to access their data and work on the go.
Improved Productivity
Lightning offers several features designed to help users be more productive. This includes a more customizable homepage, drag-and-drop capabilities, and streamlined navigation. These features can help users complete tasks more quickly and efficiently, saving time and improving overall productivity.
Better Reporting and Analytics
Lightning offers improved reporting and analytics capabilities, including interactive dashboards and real-time data visualization. This results in better-informed decisions based on updated information which also results in improving outcomes and better overall performance.
Increased Automation
Lightning offers increased automation capabilities. Making it easier to automate repetitive tasks and streamline workflows. Helps in time-saving and reducing errors. Also, frees up users to focus on higher-value tasks.
Challenges and Pitfalls
While there are many benefits to migrating to Salesforce Lightning, there are also several potential challenges and pitfalls to be aware of. Some of these include:
Compatibility Issues
While Salesforce Lightning is designed to work seamlessly with existing Classic features, there may be some compatibility issues that need to be addressed during the migration process. This can include issues with customizations or third-party integrations, which may need to be updated or modified to work with Lightning.
Training and Adoption
Moving to a new platform can be a significant change for users. And it is essential to provide adequate training and support to ensure a smooth transition. This can include providing training materials, offering hands-on support, and setting up a helpdesk to answer any questions or concerns.
Customization Complexity
Salesforce Lightning is designed to be more customizable than Classic. Which can be both a benefit and a challenge. While the added flexibility can help businesses tailor the platform to their specific needs, it can also lead to increased complexity, requiring more time and resources to configure and maintain.
Data Migration
Moving from Classic to Lightning requires migrating all of your existing data, which can be a complex and time-consuming process. It is essential to ensure that all data is properly migrated and validated before making the switch to ensure a smooth transition.
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Steps in the Migration Process
If you are considering migrating from Salesforce Classic to Lightning, there are several steps involved in the process. These include:
Preparing Your Organization
Before beginning the migration process, preparing your organization for the change is essential. This can include identifying key stakeholders, creating a migration plan, and communicating the upcoming changes to all relevant stakeholders.
Reviewing Your Current Setup
It is important to review your current setup in Salesforce Classic to determine what needs to be migrated to Lightning. This includes customizations, third-party integrations, and any other unique features or configurations.
Testing and Validation
Before making the switch to Lightning, it is important to test and validate all customizations, integrations, and data migration to ensure that everything is working correctly.
Migration Execution
Once you have completed testing and validation, you can begin the migration process. This involves migrating your data, customizations, and integrations from Classic to Lightning.
Training and Support
Once the migration is complete, it is essential to provide training and support to users to help them get up to speed on the new platform. This can include providing training materials, offering hands-on support, and setting up a helpdesk to answer any questions or concerns.
Best Practices for Migrating to Salesforce Lightning
To ensure a smooth and successful migration to Salesforce Lightning, there are several best practices to keep in mind. These include:
Start Early
Migrating from Classic to Lightning can take time, so it is important to start planning and preparing as early as possible. This will give you ample time to review your current setup, test and validate customizations, and communicate the upcoming changes to all relevant stakeholders.
Assign a Project Team
Assign a project team that will be responsible for managing the migration process. This team should include representatives from all relevant departments and stakeholders, including IT, sales, marketing, and customer support.
Communicate Early and Often
Communication is key when it comes to migrating to Salesforce Lightning. Be sure to communicate the upcoming changes to all relevant stakeholders early and often, including employees, customers, and partners.
Provide Ample Training and Support
Migrating to a new platform can be challenging for users, so it is essential to provide ample training and support to help them get up to speed on the new system. This can include providing training materials, offering hands-on support, and setting up a helpdesk to answer any questions or concerns.
Test, Validate, and Validate Again
Testing and validation are critical to a successful migration. Be sure to test and validate all customizations, integrations, and data migration before making the switch to Lightning, and validate again after the migration is complete to ensure that everything is working as expected.
Key things to consider when migrating from Salesforce Classic to Lightning:
Business Objectives
Consider your organization’s business objectives and how Lightning can help you achieve them. Identify the features and functionality that will be most beneficial to your organization.
Customizations
Assess your current customizations in Salesforce Classic and determine which ones need to be migrated to Lightning. Note that not all customizations may be available in Lightning, so you may need to make adjustments to your processes.
Third-Party Integrations
Review your third-party integrations and determine whether they are compatible with Lightning. If they are not, you may need to update or reconfigure them.
Data Quality
Ensure that your data is clean and free of duplicates before migrating to Lightning. Review your data mapping and ensure that it is accurate.
User Adoption
Prepare your users for the transition to Lightning by providing ample training and support. Consider creating training materials and hosting training sessions to ensure that your users are comfortable with the new system.
Testing
Test your customizations, integrations, and data migration thoroughly before making the switch to Lightning. This will help to ensure that everything is working as expected.
Communication
Communicate the upcoming changes to all relevant stakeholders, including users, executives, and IT staff. Be sure to provide regular updates throughout the migration process.
By considering these key factors, you can help to ensure a smooth transition from Salesforce Classic to Lightning. It is important to plan ahead and carefully assess your organization’s needs before making the switch. With the right approach, migrating to Lightning can help to improve productivity and streamline workflows. Also results in driving business success.
Conclusion
Migrating from Salesforce Classic to Lightning can be a significant undertaking. But the benefits of the new platform are well worth the effort. With its improved interface, enhanced mobile support, and better productivity tools. Lightning offers many advantages over Classic. However, it is essential to prepare your company and review your current setup. And also, follow best practices to ensure a smooth and successful migration.
By following these steps and best practices, you can ensure a successful transition to Salesforce Lightning. And unlock the full potential of this powerful CRM platform.
If you need help with migrating from Salesforce Classic to Lightning then connect with one of our best Salesforce consultants today!
