Jenna Trott  |  DECEMBER 19, 2023  |  5 Minute Read

Despite Jack Frost nipping at your nose, the shorter days, and longer nights, the world is aglow with the warmth of joy and anticipation of the holiday season! But beware, someone is making a list and checking it twice – Astro Claus is coming to town! In this fun holiday edition, we’ll give you tips and tricks for navigating the Salesforce ecosystem and securing your spot on Astro’s Nice List (plus, what not to do to prevent landing on the Naughty List). So, ho, ho, hold on to your workflows, buckle up your automations, and get ready to dash through your reports – here are 5 key ways to stay off Astro’s Naughty List and land yourself on his Nice List this holiday season!

Astro’s Naughty List

Doing any of these things is a sure-fire way to end up on Astro’s Naughty List!

Automation Avalanche
It’s critical to remember the importance of precision in Salesforce workflows. Picture this: a developer, with the best of intentions, weaves a complex workflow without thorough testing. The result? A potential avalanche within your Salesforce org. From unintended updates to never-ending email alerts and beyond, be sure to always undergo robust testing for automation to prevent unexpected consequences.

Permission Peril
‘Tis the season to safeguard your Salesforce instance! An attentive admin, in the pursuit of securing permissions, unintentionally revokes access to vital objects during a permission set update, causing a rift in the smooth flow of daily operations. To prevent landing on Astro’s Naughty List, be sure to always double-check and meticulously test to ensure your Salesforce permissions sparkle with precision!

Field Fiasco
Amidst the holiday hustle and bustle, an admin, eager to enhance functionalities, hurriedly introduces new custom fields without considering the repercussions on page layouts and reports. The aftermath? Users encounter cluttered screens and broken reports, making it nearly impossible to work effectively. The moral of the story? Always ensure your Salesforce alterations are as carefully crafted as your gingerbread houses! Plan accordingly, test appropriately, and communicate all changes with your team to prevent landing on Astro’s Naughty List!

Code-Catastrophe
Let this cautionary tale be your guiding star this holiday season. A developer made a few updates to some custom code but it was never tested in a full-sandbox environment! The result was tens of thousands of records EVERY HOUR – that might be great in Santa’s toy shop but it doesn’t fly in Astro’s! Always prioritize thorough testing in a full-sandbox environment. This simple yet crucial step ensures smooth sailing for your Salesforce endeavors, preventing a data overflow and maintaining the order that Astro holds dear.

Data Disarray
Neglecting data hygiene, inconsistent data entry practices, the absence of routine clean-ups, and disregarding data quality standards, can easily become a slippery slope leading straight onto Astro’s Naughty List. In addition to hanging your stockings by the chimney with care, be sure to regularly practice and uphold data quality standards to ensure your Salesforce org remains a place of up-to-date and reliable information!

Astro’s Nice List

Looking to get on Astro’s Nice List? It won’t be by offering extra cookies! Try this instead:

Stay Sandbox Savy
A Salesforce superstar is one who conducts meticulous testing of configurations and changes within a comprehensive sandbox environment before their advancement to production. Testing in a sandbox environment serves as the cornerstone for ensuring a seamless transition, and assures that all updates and changes won’t negatively impact your org. This is one way to guarantee your spot on Astro’s Nice List!

Data Diligence
Let your dedication to data shine like the shimmering lights adorning the tree this holiday season! An #AwesomeAdmin is one that routinely performs meticulous data audits, swiftly detecting and rectifying duplicate records and outdated information. This unwavering commitment to data hygiene not only amplifies system performance but also secures you a letter of recommendation from Astro, who heralds the admins that uphold a finely-tuned and well-structured Salesforce environment!

Governor Limits Guru
Just as Santa is an expert at navigating through the night sky, savvy developers are well-versed in traversing the Salesforce landscape. By paying close attention to Salesforce governor limits, and optimizing code and queries to stay within the platform’s boundaries, these professionals not only gain access to a high-performing org but also earn the nod of approval from Astro himself!

Efficiency Expeditions
This holiday season, embark on an expedition to optimize your Salesforce instance for unparalleled performance. Enhance efficiency by streamlining workflows, refining reports, and maintaining vigilant oversight of system integrations. By consistently monitoring your system’s health, you’ll be able to swiftly identify and address any performance bottlenecks, ensure peak operational efficiency, and find yourself on Astro’s coveted Nice List!

Trailblaze Through Training
Just as elves are sure to stay up-to-date on the latest toy-making best practices, make sure you’re blazing trails this holiday season and beyond! Stay in the know about Salesforce’s latest releases, enhancements, and industry best practices by diving into Trailhead modules, joining illuminating webinars, and engaging in the Ohana’s community forums! Obtaining new skills proves not only critical for keeping pace with Salesforce’s ever-evolving landscape but also to stay in Astro’s good graces!

From an ‘Automation Avalanche’ causing chaos to ‘Permission Peril’ mishaps disrupting the Salesforce serenity, these cautionary tales remind us all to check our workflows twice and test our automations with care! As you embark on your Salesforce adventures this holiday season, remember the power of ongoing education, the importance of system optimization, and the magic of collaboration. Stay merry, stay vigilant, and may your Salesforce journey be as delightful as a cup of fireside hot cocoa!

Did you know? Companies that have a strong digital strategy are 2.3 times more likely to outperform peers in terms of revenue growth and return on invested capital across all industries.

Let’s talk about how to supercharge your digital strategy in the New Year.