Whether you’re a Salesforce admin, developer, consultant, business analyst, or architect, it’s essential to stay on top of Salesforce release updates and prepare your organisation in time to avoid unexpected issues.
Salesforce rolls out major updates every year 3 times: Spring, Summer, and Winter. Each release is packed with new features, improvements, and—yes—enforcement dates for specific changes. Ignoring these deadlines can cause things to break or malfunction, so it’s worth your while to stay informed and proactive.
I’ll guide you through everything you need to know to manage these updates smoothly. Whether you’re an experienced Salesforce professional or just starting out, understanding these updates can help you make the most of Salesforce’s potential for your organisation.
What are Salesforce Releases?
Think of it like this: if you’ve ever used Windows or Mac, you’ve likely seen the system update prompts. Upgrading to a new operating system version is similar to Salesforce’s major releases (Spring, Summer, and Winter).
And just as you might get smaller updates for your web browser or email client, Salesforce also provides regular updates that focus on specific functionalities. These updates are what we call Salesforce release updates.
But here’s the key difference—Salesforce gives you plenty of advance notice for these changes. You’ll find announcements and detailed release notes so you can prepare your Salesforce org for any changes that could impact your setup. And it’s worth checking these notes regularly in Salesforce Setup to stay informed.
In each release cycle, Salesforce brings significant improvements, bug fixes, and sometimes security enhancements, all while aiming to keep things smooth for you and your team.
The process is phased to minimise disruptions, so you can test changes in sandbox environments before they go live. This gives you time to assess, adjust, and ensure that everything runs smoothly in your production environment.
Read our blog: Salesforce Winter’25 Release.
Salesforce Release Update Process
Release updates Salesforce follows a predictable process, making it easier to prepare your Salesforce environment for new changes. Here’s a step-by-step guide to streamline your approach, ensuring each release is smooth and glitch-free.
Step 1: Check if You’re Using the Feature
Start by determining if the release update affects your setup. If you have a developer background, tools like Visual Studio Code can help you scan the Salesforce Metadata for references to the feature. Alternatively, if the update relates to a feature you don’t have, such as Service Cloud Voice, you’re likely unaffected.
Step 2: Identify Where the Feature Is Used
Next, list every area where this feature is utilised in your Salesforce setup. This is crucial for tracking the parts of your system that may need updates and testing. If you used Visual Studio Code in Step 1, you may already have these references handy! For managed packages, check with your provider to ensure no functionalities are impacted by the release.
Step 3: Determine Necessary Changes
Now, turn your list into action points. For instance, if Salesforce is retiring a standard field used in flows, you’ll need to remove those references. This step may require technical guidance depending on your skill set. Plan to assign these changes to a development sprint if required.
Step 4: Implement Changes in the Initial Sandbox
Begin making these adjustments in a sandbox environment that’s farthest from Production. This allows you to test the changes without worrying about any interruptions. The order in which changes are deployed between sandboxes may vary depending on your organisation’s structure.
Step 5: Test the Update in the Sandbox
Salesforce often provides an “Enable Test Run” option for release updates Salesforce, letting you trial the update before it’s enforced. For those that don’t support this feature, follow Salesforce’s specific testing guidelines.
Step 6: Test, Deploy, and Repeat
It’s best to conduct testing at the final stage of your sandbox pipeline. This way, the changes get applied to all sandboxes before going live. After testing is successful, deploy to the next environment.
Step 7: Apply Changes in Production
With everything thoroughly tested in sandboxes, it’s time to prepare for Production deployment. Schedule this during off-peak hours to avoid disruptions, and have a backup plan ready in case issues arise.
Step 8: Test in Production
After deploying to Production, enable and test the release update. Performing this outside of regular hours lets you check for any issues and make necessary reversions before users are back online.
You might like Salesforce Winter ’25 Release Features for Developers.
Top Tips for Managing Salesforce Updates
Managing Salesforce updates effectively can make a big difference in keeping your systems running smoothly. Here’s a guide to best practices that’ll help you and your team stay on top of every release, with minimal disruption and maximum efficiency.
1. Stay Informed
Keep an eye on Salesforce’s announcements. Salesforce often rolls out updates and changes that can impact your operations, so being proactive helps you avoid last-minute surprises.
2. Review Release Notes
Every Salesforce update comes with release notes detailing new features and changes. Take time to go through these carefully. Focus on any new features that may affect your customised setup so you’re prepared for any potential impact.
3. Test Updates in Sandbox
Always test updates in a sandbox environment first. This is crucial to ensure your customisations, workflows, and integrations work seamlessly with the new update before you deploy to Production.
4. Engage Key Stakeholders
Gather input from team members like Admins, end-users, and leaders to understand the impact of updates on different departments. This helps you plan for any training or adjustments needed across your team.
5. Develop a Clear Deployment Plan
Create a structured plan for how you’ll roll out the update to Production. Define roles, set realistic timelines, and ensure everyone knows their responsibilities to minimise confusion.
6. Plan for Possible Downtime
If downtime is necessary during updates, schedule it during non-peak hours to avoid disruptions. Inform your team in advance, so they’re prepared and can adjust accordingly.
7. Communicate Proactively
Keep users informed about any changes that may affect their workflows. Proactively sharing updates and offering training sessions can help them adapt more easily and ensure a smooth transition.
8. Monitor Performance Post-Update
After rolling out the update, closely monitor your organisation’s performance. Address any issues quickly and don’t hesitate to seek help if required to maintain smooth operations.
9. Document All Changes
Documenting each change is key for future reference. Make a record of any customisations or tweaks made during the update process, so you have a solid record to refer to down the line.
10. Be Flexible and Ready to Adapt
Sometimes things won’t go as planned, so stay flexible and ready to adjust. If unexpected issues arise, having a flexible mindset makes it easier to troubleshoot and make necessary fixes without derailing your goals.
How to Reduce Risks During the Salesforce Update Process
Understanding the Salesforce update process is only half the battle. Managing the risks involved is essential to ensure smooth sailing during each update. Here’s how to tackle it effectively:
1. Backup Your Data
Before you start, make a backup of your Salesforce data. It’s the safest way to protect your organisation’s valuable information in case anything goes sideways. If problems occur during the update, this simple step can save you a great deal of headache.
2. Test Thoroughly in Sandbox
Updates should always be tested in a sandbox first. Test workflows, verify integrations, and run through several scenarios to spot any incompatibilities or unexpected outcomes early on. This helps you in identifying possible problems before they affect your live system.
3. Roll Out in Phases
To reduce disruptions, try a phased rollout approach. Start by applying updates to a smaller group of users and gradually expand the rollout as you monitor performance. This method lets you manage issues in smaller chunks rather than handling everything at once.
4. Communicate with Stakeholders
Keep everyone informed, including administrators and end users. Share the Salesforce update schedule, highlight key changes, and explain how these might affect their daily workflows. Provide users with any training they require to get acclimated to the new features and clearly define how they can report issues.
5. Have a Contingency Plan
Be ready with a plan to roll back changes if critical issues pop up. Regularly review and update this contingency plan, so your team is always prepared for quick recovery if something goes wrong during the update.
Quick Recap: Stay Prepared for Salesforce Updates
At first, Salesforce release updates may feel difficult, particularly if you’re just getting started. Don’t worry, though! You have the fundamentals covered with this blog. You are now aware of potential changes, when to expect updates, and how to confidently handle them.
Managing Salesforce updates may be challenging at first, but it becomes simple once you get the hang of it! By following these steps, you may turn a difficult process into a routine and soon become an expert at handling changes.
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