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How has Salesforce admin role changed over time?

How has Salesforce admin role changed over time?
Salesforce / Salesforce Admin

How has Salesforce admin role changed over time?

Salesforce launched in 1999 with just a few functionalities and a few objects such as contacts, accounts, maps, and location. However, over the past two decades, Salesforce has carried out intensive and extensive development and grown to the product we all know and like today.

A lot has changed in Salesforce. Unlike in the past where Admins could do anything and “get away with it”, the modern Salesforce is totally different and requires a lot of diligence. It is no longer “anything goes.”

Things have changed. Some of the things that were okay in the past are no longer Salesforce best practices. One of the things that have changed is the Salesforce Admin role. This role has experienced a lot of changes that Salesforce admins ought to keep up with.

So, how has Salesforce Admin role changed over time? Let us take a look at where it all started and how it is currently different. We’ll look at why what used to be accepted no longer is, and the advances in the role.

The beginning…

Salesforce began in 1999 as a simple CRM to help Sales forces with their daily tasks. It was pretty basic upon launching with simple functionalities such as making forecasts and monitoring campaigns.

It was very simple with very few complexities. If the Admin messed up or fumbled, they could easily undo it and the repercussions were little. Salesforce was easy to set up and Admins could easily complete their tasks without any struggle.

The simple technology of 1999 has now transformed into something relatively complex. Right now it’s all about blockchain technology and cloud computing. Customers are more concerned about the complex tech with questions spanning the tech itself and its security.

How has Salesforce admin role changed over time? The recent past and the present…

Salesforce continued to build the platform and make it better and more effective. Salesforce added some new exciting features down the road. One of these features was the AppExchange, launched in 2005.

The AppExchange is an online application marketplace that connects and facilitates the purchase of third-party apps. This launch brought a new set of skills that Salesforce admins needed to master.

Salesforce AppExchange has revolutionized a lot of things. Admins now have a variety of applications to solve their problems. The applications are all assembled in one place and all the Admin needs to do is find the right app that solves the problem.

This however means that the Admin needs to conduct continuous troubleshooting and identify problems. Thereafter, the admin needs to have knowledge regarding the listed apps and have the wisdom to pick out the right app that solves the problem.

Admins now have to test the apps on a sandbox, review the app and upon uptake, teach users how to navigate the app. Unlike in the past, admins now have to be extremely careful with system administration.

Salesforce later in the years introduced the Salesforce architect to relieve the Salesforce admin role of some extra duties. The difference was now clear between the two roles. The architect is responsible for digging deep into business problems and practices and finding solutions to help grow the business.

In 2019, Salesforce rolled out Ruth the architect to help Salesforce architects with finding better solutions for businesses. This update changed the way Salesforce works and drew a clear distinction between Salesforce Admin and Salesforce Architect.

Over the years, Salesforce has rolled out updates and features that have changed how and what Salesforce Admins do. Today’s Salesforce is totally different from the Salesforce launched in 1999. These updates have not only changed the roles of Admins but have made Salesforce effective and worth having.

Modern roles of Salesforce Admins

Salesforce had over 120,000 customers worldwide as of 2020. An admin helps and enables these users to use and navigate the platform. Here, we look at some of the roles of Salesforce Admins.

  1. User Management – Salesforce Admins are responsible for user management including creating and establishing credentials for new users, managing the existing users, and retiring and disabling credentials for former users who’ve since exited the platform.
  2. Configuration – Salesforce admins are responsible for configuring and implementing all changes across the Salesforce suite. They have the powers to edit, change user credentials, limit functionalities as well as configure extra functionalities as deemed necessary.
  3. Analysis – Salesforce Admins are responsible for the analysis of processes and the development of new features and solutions. They gather the necessary information as well as user feedback to make adjustments and create new features.
  4. Training and user education – it is the role of the admin to carry out training and user education for all users. It is their role to train the low-code users or non-techies on how to navigate the platform and carry out day-to-day activities.
  5. Link the business to tech – above all, the greatest role of a Salesforce admin is to transform and translate the various business processes into applications that function effectively in Salesforce.

Essential qualities of a Salesforce admin

Being a Salesforce admin requires a particular set of skills. The right person to lead an organization in Salesforce implementation should possess a unique combination of technical and soft skills. Some of the essential skills for Salesforce admins include:

  1. Technical knowledge – A Salesforce admin must be relatively conversant with the technical knowledge required to administrate Salesforce. They don’t have to be developers but must possess some technical understanding.
  2. Communication and collaboration – communication is a key soft skill for life. Similarly, Salesforce admins require good communication and collaboration skills. Salesforce administration includes dealing with a lot of Salesforce users and teams. Good communication skills are very important in such a role.
  3. Business knowledge – one of the tasks of Salesforce admins is to link business processes with Salesforce tech. Admins automate business processes on Salesforce. It is therefore important that Salesforce admins have adequate knowledge of the business process.
  4. Attention to detail – Salesforce admins must be analytical and with a keen eye for detail. They are the centerpiece to Salesforce optimization and must therefore be extremely analytical. Admins also handle a lot of tasks within the system, a skill that requires attention to detail.

Things have changed…

Salesforce has helped businesses become more efficient by automating sales, marketing, and customer relations departments. This has been made possible by the features that were there before and those that were rolled out down the road.

These updates are going to continue. Just like everything else in life, Salesforce is going to keep on changing and evolving into a better CRM that is more effective and of value to its users. All Salesforce users need to be on top of these changes and adapt to them.

Are you a Salesforce admin looking to level up your skills? We could help you with that. We have a wide variety of certified Salesforce courses along with 1:1 mentorship to help you become a qualified professional in this lucrative field. Check out our courses section or get in touch with us to get started.