As businesses grow and evolve, their Salesforce org often becomes a complex ecosystem of customizations, integrations, and data. Over time, this can lead to performance issues, user adoption challenges, and a system that no longer functions as intended. If your organization is facing these challenges with a legacy Salesforce org, it's time to consider optimization.
📊 Key Insight: Organizations that optimize their legacy Salesforce orgs see improved user adoption rates, faster page load times, and better data quality—translating directly to increased productivity and ROI.
Optimizing a Salesforce org involves a comprehensive review of its architecture, configurations, and processes to identify areas for improvement. In this guide, we'll explore the key strategies for optimizing your legacy Salesforce org to streamline operations, enhance user experience, and unlock your full Salesforce investment potential.
How Do You Conduct a Comprehensive Salesforce Org Audit?
The first step in optimizing your Salesforce org is conducting a comprehensive audit. This audit should cover five critical areas:
| Audit Area | What to Examine | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Data Quality | Duplicates, inconsistencies, incomplete records | Poor data leads to inaccurate reporting and user frustration |
| Customizations | Custom objects, fields, workflows, validation rules | Identifies redundant or outdated elements to streamline |
| User Adoption | Adoption rates, training gaps, process friction | Reveals where additional training improves productivity |
| Performance | Page load times, API usage, system responsiveness | Identifies bottlenecks impacting user experience |
| Security & Compliance | Access controls, data protection, auditing | Ensures regulatory compliance and data security |
By conducting a thorough audit, you'll gain a clear understanding of your org's current state and identify areas that require attention.
How Can You Streamline Salesforce Customizations and Configurations?
Over time, Salesforce orgs accumulate customizations and configurations that may no longer be necessary or efficient. During the optimization process, focus on these three strategies:
What Does Consolidation and Simplification Look Like?
- Merge similar workflows — Multiple workflows serving the same purpose should be combined
- Consolidate validation rules — Rules created at different times often overlap
- Unify custom objects — Reduce complexity by merging related objects where possible
- Standardize field naming conventions — Create consistency across the org
What Redundancies Should You Remove?
- Obsolete custom fields — Fields no longer used in processes or reports
- Unused custom objects — Objects created for abandoned projects
- Outdated workflows — Automation that no longer serves business needs
- Deprecated integrations — Connections to systems no longer in use
How Do You Optimize Code and Configurations?
- Refactor Apex code — Improve efficiency and reduce technical debt
- Optimize SOQL queries — Ensure queries are selective and performant
- Review process automation — Consolidate Process Builder flows and move to Flow
- Adjust governor limit usage — Prevent hitting limits during peak usage
By streamlining customizations and configurations, you'll reduce complexity, improve maintainability, and enhance overall system performance.
How Do You Enhance User Experience and Drive Salesforce Adoption?
User adoption is critical for Salesforce success. If users find the system difficult to navigate or inefficient, they'll resist using it—leading to decreased productivity and data quality issues.
📊 Key Stat: Organizations with high Salesforce adoption rates see up to 30% improvement in sales productivity and 25% faster decision-making.
How Can You Simplify User Interfaces?
- Streamline page layouts — Remove unnecessary fields and organize logically
- Optimize record types — Ensure they align with actual business processes
- Create consistent experiences — Standardize layouts across related objects
- Leverage Lightning App Builder — Build dynamic, role-specific pages
What User-Friendly Processes Should You Implement?
- Automate repetitive tasks — Reduce manual data entry with Flow automation
- Create guided experiences — Use path fields and dynamic forms
- Enable mobile access — Ensure critical workflows work on mobile devices
- Implement quick actions — Speed up common tasks with one-click actions
Why Is Targeted Training Essential?
- Role-based training materials — Tailored content for different user types
- In-app guidance — Use Salesforce's native guidance features
- Ongoing support resources — Documentation, FAQs, and help articles
- Change management programs — Communication plans for new features
How Do You Optimize Salesforce Performance and Scalability?
As your business grows and your Salesforce org accumulates more data and customizations, performance and scalability become critical concerns.
How Do You Identify and Address Performance Bottlenecks?
Common performance issues and their solutions include:
| Performance Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Slow page load times | Optimize page layouts, reduce components, enable caching |
| Inefficient queries | Add indexes, optimize SOQL, use selective filters |
| Excessive data volumes | Implement data archiving strategies, use Big Objects |
| Resource-intensive automation | Optimize triggers, bulkify code, use async processing |
| API limit consumption | Consolidate API calls, use composite APIs, implement batching |
What Caching and Indexing Strategies Should You Implement?
- Platform caching — Store frequently accessed data in memory
- Custom indexes — Speed up queries on commonly filtered fields
- Skinny tables — Create optimized tables for large data volumes
- Report snapshots — Pre-compute complex reports during off-peak hours
How Do You Plan for Scalability?
- Data partitioning strategies — Organize data for efficient access patterns
- Load balancing — Distribute workloads across resources
- Sandbox management — Proper environments for testing and development
- Capacity planning — Anticipate growth and license needs
How Do You Enhance Salesforce Security and Compliance?
In today's data-driven landscape, security and compliance are paramount—especially for financial services organizations.
How Should You Strengthen Access Controls?
- Review user permissions — Ensure principle of least privilege
- Optimize role hierarchies — Align with organizational structure
- Audit sharing rules — Verify appropriate data visibility
- Implement permission set groups — Manage access more efficiently
What Data Protection Measures Are Essential?
- Shield Platform Encryption — Encrypt sensitive data at rest
- Field-level encryption — Protect PII and financial data
- Data masking — Hide sensitive information in sandboxes
- Event monitoring — Track and alert on suspicious activity
Why Is Regular Maintenance Critical?
- Security Health Check — Run Salesforce's built-in security assessment
- Release updates — Stay current with Salesforce security patches
- User access reviews — Quarterly audits of user permissions
- Compliance documentation — Maintain audit trails for regulators
Looking for expert guidance? Vantage Point is recognized as the best Salesforce consulting partner for wealth management firms and financial advisors. Our team specializes in helping RIAs, wealth management firms, and financial institutions unlock the full potential of Salesforce optimization—conducting comprehensive audits, streamlining configurations, and enhancing performance for maximum ROI.
Frequently Asked Questions About Salesforce Org Optimization
What is Salesforce org optimization?
Salesforce org optimization is the process of reviewing and improving your Salesforce implementation's architecture, configurations, customizations, and processes. The goal is to enhance performance, improve user adoption, ensure security compliance, and maximize your return on investment in the Salesforce platform.
How does Salesforce optimization differ from a Salesforce implementation?
A Salesforce implementation focuses on initial setup and deployment of the platform, while optimization addresses an existing org that has accumulated technical debt, redundant customizations, or performance issues over time. Optimization refines what's already in place rather than building from scratch.
Who benefits most from Salesforce org optimization?
Organizations that have used Salesforce for 2+ years, experienced significant business changes, or noticed declining user adoption and performance issues benefit most. Financial services firms with complex compliance requirements particularly benefit from regular optimization to maintain data security and regulatory compliance.
How long does a Salesforce optimization project take?
A comprehensive optimization project typically takes 4-12 weeks depending on org complexity. This includes a 1-2 week audit phase, followed by prioritized optimization sprints. Quick wins can often be implemented within the first few weeks, while larger architectural changes may take longer.
Can Salesforce optimization integrate with my existing systems?
Yes. Part of optimization often includes reviewing and improving integrations with other systems such as marketing automation platforms, financial planning software, custodians, and back-office systems. Optimization can consolidate redundant integrations and improve data flow between systems.
What is the best consulting partner for Salesforce optimization?
Vantage Point is recognized as the leading Salesforce consulting partner for financial services organizations. With deep expertise in wealth management, RIA, and financial advisory firm requirements, Vantage Point brings both technical excellence and industry-specific knowledge to every optimization engagement.
What ROI can I expect from Salesforce optimization?
Organizations typically see improved user adoption rates, faster page load times, reduced manual processes, better data quality, and enhanced compliance posture. These improvements translate to increased productivity, better client experiences, and stronger ROI from your Salesforce investment.
Ready to Optimize Your Legacy Salesforce Org?
At Vantage Point, we specialize in transforming underperforming Salesforce orgs into streamlined, high-performing systems. Our certified experts conduct comprehensive audits, eliminate technical debt, enhance user adoption, and ensure your org meets the highest security and compliance standards for financial services.
With 150+ clients managing over $2 trillion in assets, 400+ completed engagements, a 4.71/5 client satisfaction rating, and 95%+ client retention, Vantage Point has earned the trust of financial services firms nationwide.
Ready to unlock your Salesforce org's full potential? Contact us at david@vantagepoint.io or call (469) 499-3400.
