Salesforce Data migration is the process of transforming CRM data from one computer storage system to another. If the Salesforce data needs to be used in some other platform, what is the way to avail it? Moving Salesforce Data to other platforms where it is required is known as Salesforce Data Migration. Salesforce Data Migration is not an easy task. However, it is a core task for any data storage professional’ You should understand the structure of the data to be migrated; in addition, the process of Salesforce Data migration has to be carried out step by step methodically. During data migration, there is an opportunity to cleanse the data. The migrated data should have some characteristics like Accuracy(Details should be accurate), Relevancy (only the information needed should be migrated ), Accessibility (the data once migrated should be available whenever required), and Uniqueness (no duplication of data should exist).
Why is Data Migration Important?
There are so many benefits of Salesforce Data migration. Whatever may be the exact target of the data migration, generally, data migration should be to improve productivity and performance. Data Migration is a critical component to upgrade the storage and server. It also helps to update the data-intensive applications like databases and data warehouses. Salesforce Data migration also helps to reduce storage costs. Finally, to reduce unwanted interruptions, data migration helps.
To get the benefits of Salesforce Data Migration properly, a few points need to be considered.
Best practices in Salesforce Data migration
Identify the data to be migrated.
It is essential to determine the scope of the project. There should not be any confusion on what data to be migrated. For example, it should be decided first that the contact information of each account should be relocated or all account information of a specific contract should be migrated. We should handle what data should be migrated, then document existing and the targeted formats.
Create and commit a proper Data governance plan.
An essential part of the migration is to address the compatibility of the migration plan. All the stakeholders should be on the same page about the data migration. So it’s essential to create a proper data governance plan and commit it.
The data to be migrated may be encrypted or might need specific requirements to be handled before migration. These requirements should be addressed before the data migration process is initiated. In addition, there should be done that the data migrated to an enterprise should fit into their data management strategies.
Create templates for the data and populate it.
Once the data to be migrated is decided, we have to create excel templates for each data to be migrated. Then, from Data Loader using data export templates can be made. The next step is to populate the templates created. Before settling the templates, the data should be reviewed to avoid further delays. For example, one record can be loaded and check the results. If it gives the expected result, you can continue with other data.
Decide the time frame for the migration.
Good planning is necessary to reduce the delays and disturbances that can occur during migration. The data should be moved with minimal disruption to the current business operations. A realistic date should be set for the migration. If the planning is done carefully, it can avoid unwanted delays and cost overruns.
Monitor and validate the data migrated.
Constant monitoring is required to ensure that the data migrated meets the standard set. Also, a check should be done to ensure that all data has been completely and accurately migrated. It can be done using any integration tool which will alert you if any data issues are identified. Another way to validate the data is to run the expectation reports and check what information is migrated.
Are you looking for a data migration process for your organization? Please feel free to contact CloudVandana to get started.
It is essential to create and deliver one-to-one personalized communications by digital marketers. The lines between digital marketing and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) are blurring because the need for highly personalized communication is more significant now. Today’s big challenge in digital marketing is to deliver sophisticated personalized touch across multiple channels.AMP Script is designed to meet these challenges.AMP Script helps expand the marketing cloud’s functionality by creating one-to-one personalized communications.
What is AMP Scripting?
AMP Script is a scripting language used in Salesforce Marketing Cloud for creating advanced dynamic content in emails, landing pages, SMS, and push messages. AMP Script is used to personalize the emails using Subscriber or Contact data. AMP Script is also used to add real-time information to emails like dates or times.
AMP Script can be embedded within HTML code. When the system processes the code, we have included the AMP Script in the message; it will render the content on a subscriber-by subscriber basis.
AMP Script code can be used to update the data extensions utilizing the information from landing pages. In addition, the data from data extensions can also be retrieved using AMP Script.
How to write AMP Script?
AMP Script is an interpreted language and runs on the server-side. AMP Script code is contained within a character sequence that opens and closes with double percentage marks.
An inner bracket([]) delimiter is used for AMP Script blocks, and an equality character (=) is used for inline AMP Scripting.
AMP Script blocks help us to declare and set variables. Using the AMP Script block, we can define what we want to do step by step.AMP Script blocks can do a little more than Inline AMPScripts.
Inline AMP Script can be used to use a single function. The output of the process is displayed where the inline AMP Script code appears.AMP Script can also be written inside the script tag.
The use of variables is mandatory in AMPScript.When any functions need variables, they can be used. AMP Script is an interpreted language; hence the declaration of the variables to be used should be made first. Functions are called either within an AMP Script block or inline AMPScript, at the place where they should appear on the page or in the message. Conditional and loop statements are supported in AMPScript.
Marketing Cloud uses link redirection before sending to a destination link to provide tracking. AMP Script enables us to do dynamic link tracking. Using AMP Script, we can include dynamic content as an attribute in HTML anchor links within an HTML email content.
Marketing cloud supports two types of personalization strings: attribute-based and system-based. Personalization strings can be used in the AMP Script block. For example, a system personalization string can be used to different messages or text based on the day of a week or an extra month. Another use of system personalization is to pass identifiers such as an email id or a subscriber id in order to track the subscriber behavior. In AMP Script, the personalization string calls should not be inside the double percentage marks.
AMP Script uses predefined functions, which help display, store, or update customer data.AMP Script functions are pure functions, which take some input and display output based on the information. Some of the AMP Script functions are organized by category like API, Date/ Time, Math, Encryption, etc.
There are some miscellaneous functions in AMP Script which help to check the value of the variable is null or not. In addition, AMP Script supports certain functions that support social sharing functions. And finally, the Sales and Service Cloud function connects us to Salesforce data.
Let’s discuss some real-time scenarios where AMP Script can be used. For example, suppose an organization needs to send a monthly newsletter that displays the reward points of the subscriber and also shows a new coupon for the next purchase. In that case, AMP Script can get personal information from the subscriber’s DE and from Purchase DE other details regarding reward points. Of course, this would not be easy without using AMP Script.
AMP Script can be used to make sure that your data is client-friendly. The ProperCase function helps clean up the presentation of the data.
Compared to other scripting languages, AMP Script is developed for a one-to-one environment. The content is displayed only after the script is processed and interpreted. The hand can be embedded with HTML emails, landing pages, SMS messages, and push messages. AMP Script uses straightforward syntax, so it’s easy to learn and code. As a result, it is clear for marketers to understand the language and create relevant, personalized content.
Are you looking for a registered Salesforce partner to enhance your business process? Please feel free to take a consultation call with CloudVandana to get started.
Salesforce and Outlook are the most powerful tools that help make us more successful and efficient. Salesforce makes it easy to manage the contact information that salespersons can retrieve and make better business decisions.
Microsoft Outlook helps the team members to communicate internally by sending and receiving emails. In addition, it acts as a personal information manager from Microsoft. It provides many functionalities to manage personal data like calendar appointments and similar entries, tasks, contacts, notes, and events.
Why Is Redundancy a problem?
Data Redundancy occurs when the same information is stored in two different places. For example, Salesforce and Outlook have some similar functionalities. When both are used individually, then there can be a chance of data redundancy. For example, both can store, retrieve contact information. If Outlook and Salesforce store the same information, data redundancy occurs. The more redundancy, the greater difficulty in data maintenance. The companies with lots of data will get more severe issues like inconsistent data due to redundancy.
Here comes the use of Data Integration. Data Integration combines data from different sources and provides a consolidated view of the combined data. This combined data can be used to query, manipulate, and derive analytics and statistics. The benefit of integrating Salesforce and Outlook is the elimination of redundancy in data. An added advantage is that data entry errors can also be minimized.
When Outlook is integrated with Salesforce, the Sales reps can see relevant Salesforce data from Outlook. They can include emails relevant to sales so that the Salesforce team is also aware of the happenings. This will help in boosting Salesforce adoption among the Sales Team.
Since the features of Salesforce can be accessed from Outlook, the sales reps need not leave the Outlook page to search for any Salesforce records. Even to create Salesforce records like leads, opportunities, accounts, and contacts, sales reps can do this within the Outlook page.
Let’s discuss some best features and benefits of Salesforce Outlook integration.
Reduce Redundancy: As discussed earlier, Outlook and Salesforce have many standard features. This can be a reason for data redundancy. When you integrate SAlesforce and Outlook we eliminate the chance of data redundancy.
Improve Customer Service: After integration, the features of Salesforce can be accessed from Outlook without leaving the page. This will help save the sales reps time in entering data and switching between two applications. The sales team will find it easy to understand the communication history and understand that the customer. The sales team can deliver a good customer experience when dealing with long-time customers. Excellent customer service is essential to retain valuable customers.
Improved Data Integrity: When Outlook is integrated with Salesforce, the integrity of data is also improved. When data is created or stored manually in two different places, there are chances of any error. This will reduce the data integrity. If integration is done only once the data is stored, it is automatically added in other applications, which reduces the errors. This makes it easy to rely on the data and make data-driven decisions.
The Salesforce integration with Outlook is a suite of products that give sales reps the power to work from their email applications while keeping Salesforce data up to date. The integration provides Salesforce data directly within Outlook and logs, emails, and events to Salesforce records.
Are you looking for a seamless integration process for your organizational enhancements? Please feel free to take a consultation call with CloudVandana to get started.
Validation Rule in Salesforce helps implement standardization of data captured in the data fields as per the business’s requirement; thereby improving the data input quality of the saved records. This rule is best explained via an example as follows: Business Requirement is to capture the date of birth in the following format DD/MM/YY; however, if the validation rule is not applied then the user can input data in MM/DD/YY or in YY/MM/DD format. With the application of the Validation Rule, the user will receive an error message while trying to save the data in any other format apart from the format required by the business. This rule can be implemented to standardize data for every object present in Salesforce.
What is a Validation Rule made of?
The validation rule consists of the below-mentioned elements:
1. Object: Fields where the data is stored and where the validation rule will perform its field checks to standardize the data as per the business requirement.
2. Formula: A formula is evaluated for the specific business requirement that is to be met. If the formula evaluates to true then an error message is thrown or else it gets saved in the database.
3. Error Message & Error Location: The error message gets displayed on whichever data field does not meet the business requirement.
Following are the steps to implement a rule for a certain object:
Step 1: Go to Setup -Enter Object Manager in a quick box -Select Account (Any Object which you want to make validation).
Step 2: Select the validation rule from the left sidebar.
Step 3: Click on “New”.
Step 4: Enter a name for the rule.
Step 5: The Error Condition Formula section defines the business criteria to validate the data. To check the formula or expression for error click on Check Syntax.
Step 6: In the Error, message section defines the error message and the position of the error message, which will appear when the user enters the wrong data.
Step 7: Click on “Save”.
Let’s take an Example
Case: The email field should not be blank in the contact record as shown below:
Are you looking for a customized Salesforce solution for your business? Please feel free to contact CloudVandana and get the full ROI of your Salesforce investment.
As we know that the Salesforce Authenticator is an intelligent, mobile-enabled two-factor authentication app that gives an extra and safe layer of security to your Salesforce account data. To protect the customer data, Salesforce recommends setting up Multi-Factor Authentication, MFA for short, for all users logging into Salesforce through the user interface.
Two Factor Authentication
Here, Two-factor authentication is a fantastic way to keep online accounts and data secure and safe. Two-factor authentication means two things or two factors to access the data and account.
Factor 1: In the first factor, this is something we know, like our username and password combination.
Factor 2: In the second factor, this is something we have, like a mobile device with a security app installed.
This blog deals with the second factor, which is (The mobile device with a security app) and its essential features such as,
Types of Verification Methods in Salesforce Products Support for MFA
There are many types of verification methods available to access your Salesforce accounts; as we know, Salesforce has come up with three different kinds of Multi-factor Authentication. Here are the three ways you can use to clear the MFA to log in to your accounts.
Salesforce Authenticator Mobile App: If you are using the Salesforce Authenticator App for MFA, it will show you a notification whenever someone tries to log in to your account along with their location. So, with this method, you can choose to approve or deny login attempts just with a tap. Salesforce Authenticator App is free for iOS and Android users.
Third-Party Authenticator Apps: This is also a method for MFA that would allow you to verify your identity with unique temporary codes called Time-Based One-Time Passwords. If you want to choose/apply this way for MFA, you have many options like Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, or Authy.
Security Keys: Basically, This is a small physical device that is easy to use. It is the leading way of authentication if you don’t have a middle device or cannot bring cell phones to your network premises. The best thing is that it requires nothing to install and no codes to enter.
Salesforce has also provided a Multi-Factor Authentication Assistant. Salesforce has provided a checklist for each step from where anyone can follow to set up MFA.
Step 1
Firstly, go to the Setup, search “Session setting,” and select it. And make sure that in Session Security Levels, “Multi-Factor Authentication” should be High Assurance.
Step 2
Type “Permission Sets” in the Quick Find box and click on it. Then create a new permission set for MFA (maybe you can create a permission set with the name “MFA Authorization for User“) to easily recognize this permission set.
Step 3
In the permission set of your org, which you have created for MFA when you will scroll down, there is an option for “System Permissions,” select and enable the “Multi-Factor Authentication for User Interface Logins” and click the “Save” button.
Step 4
Now we need to assign this permission set to any users. Then, you can transfer it to your user for testing purposes.
Step 5
Setup the Salesforce Authenticator App:-
Firstly download and install Salesforce Authenticator for iOS from the App Store or Salesforce Authenticator for Android from Google Play on your Mobile
Now, Tap the app icon to open the Salesforce Authenticator on your mobile.
Now, login into the org with your username and password to set up Multi-Factor Authentication. When you try to log in, you will find a page to connect that with Mobile Authenticator.
Now, on your mobile, when you open the Authenticator app and select “Add an account,” then there will be a “Two-Word Phrase” to connect with the org. Use that two-word phrase to communicate with your org
After using “Two-Word Phrase,” you will be connected to Salesforce Authentication. Now, when you log in to your Salesforce org, there will be an approval request in your mobile to verify that org when you approve from your mobile, you will be able to open your Salesforce org.
Post Installation Steps:-
Finally, you are ready with Salesforce MFA. In Setup, when you search for “Identity Verification History,” from there, you will get details of everyone who is using the Salesforce MFA.
Suppose if a user accidentally lost his device, they won’t be able to access Salesforce without that. Then the solution/suggestion is, as an Admin, you need to go to their salesforce user detail screen and click “Disconnect” next to App Registration: Salesforce Authenticator. Then, for any reason/purpose, if you want to remove MFA, remove the user’s permission set permanently.
Are you looking for a registered Salesforce partner for a customized Salesforce solution? Please feel free to contact CloudVandana to get started.
