Salesforce Winter ’25 Release: What’s New and How To Get Ready

The Salesforce Winter ’25 Release is scheduled for rollout on October 5 and October 12, 2024. These updates are essential for administrators, developers, and business analysts to keep their Salesforce environments running smoothly and securely. 

This release focuses on user control, security enhancements, and new features that streamline business processes.

Key Updates and Features

Enhanced Flow Permissions:

• Details: Users will now need the Run Flows or Manage Flows permission to execute flows, replacing the older Flow User checkbox. This change enhances security by ensuring that only authorized personnel can run critical business processes.
• Preparation: Audit current user permissions and update roles to ensure all necessary users have the correct permissions. Use tools like Data Loader to export user records and identify those needing updates.

Conversation Intelligence in Flows:

• Details: This update allows the integration of conversation intelligence rules directly into Salesforce Flows, providing enhanced automation capabilities.
• Preparation: Review current flows to see where conversation intelligence can be integrated for improved automation. Test these integrations in a sandbox environment to ensure they function as expected.

Guest User Restrictions:

• Details: Guest users can no longer edit or delete approval requests, though they can still approve or reject them. This change increases security by limiting guest user actions.
• Preparation: Identify any current workflows that involve guest users editing or deleting approval requests and adjust them accordingly. Communicate these changes to relevant stakeholders to avoid disruptions.

Sandbox Preview and Testing:

• • Details: Salesforce offers sandbox previews to test new features in a non-production environment. The first upgrade window is around August 31, 2024.
  • Preparation: Utilize sandbox previews to test new features and ensure they work with your current setup. Conduct thorough testing to identify and resolve any issues before the official release.

Preparation Steps

1. Review Release Notes

Regularly check the official Salesforce release notes to stay informed about new features, updates, and deprecations included in the Winter ’25 Release. The release notes provide comprehensive details on the changes and enhancements that will be implemented. Here’s how to make the most of them:

• Subscribe to Updates: Subscribe to Salesforce notifications to receive alerts when new release notes are published.
• Prioritize Key Changes: Identify which updates are most relevant to your organization. This includes new features that could enhance your workflows and changes that might require adjustments in your current setup.
• Document Changes: Keep a detailed log of all changes that will impact your organization. This can help in training and communicating with your team.
• Test in Sandbox: Before the official release, thoroughly test the documented changes in a sandbox environment to ensure compatibility with your existing processes.

2. Enable Test Runs in Sandbox

Using the test run feature in your sandbox environment is crucial for preparing for the Winter ’25 Release. This proactive step helps identify potential issues before they affect your production environment. Here’s a detailed approach:

• Create a Test Plan: Develop a comprehensive test plan that covers all critical functionalities within your Salesforce org. Include scenarios for new features and potential impacts of updates.
• Use Pre-Release Orgs: Salesforce often provides pre-release orgs that allow you to experience the new features before they are rolled out to your sandboxes. Take advantage of these to get a head start.
• Run Regression Tests: Conduct regression tests to ensure that existing functionalities work as expected with the new updates.
• Feedback Loop: Establish a feedback loop with your development and operations teams to address any issues encountered during testing.

Also Read – Latest Salesforce News and Updates 2024

3. Update User Permissions

The Winter ’25 Release includes updates to user permissions, particularly for running and managing flows. Ensuring all users have the correct permissions is critical. Here’s how to manage this:

• Audit Current Permissions: Use tools like Salesforce’s permission management or third-party apps to audit user permissions. Identify users who need permission to run flows or manage flows.
• Update Profiles and Permission Sets: Modify profiles and permission sets to include the necessary permissions. If using permission-set groups, ensure they are updated accordingly.
• Training and Documentation: Provide training sessions and documentation to inform users about the changes in permissions and how they affect their daily tasks.
• Automated Checks: Implement automated checks using Salesforce reports or tools to review and ensure permissions are correctly assigned regularly.

4. Communicate with Stakeholders

Effective stakeholder communication ensures a smooth transition to the Winter ’25 Release. Here’s how to handle this process:

• Identify Key Stakeholders: List all stakeholders affected by the release, including business owners, team leaders, and end-users.
• Develop a Communication Plan: Create a detailed communication plan that outlines how and when you will inform stakeholders about the changes. Include timelines, responsibilities, and channels of communication.
• Regular Updates: Provide updates through emails, meetings, or internal communication platforms. Highlight the most important changes and their impacts.
• Feedback Sessions: Organize feedback sessions to address concerns and gather stakeholder insights. Use this feedback to refine your implementation and training plans.
• Support Resources: Provide support resources such as FAQs, training videos, and helpdesk support to assist stakeholders in adapting to the new updates.

By following these detailed steps, you can ensure that your organization is well-prepared for the Salesforce Winter ’25 Release, minimizing disruptions and maximizing the benefits of the new features and improvements.

Practical Applications and Future Outlook

The Winter ’25 Release emphasizes security, automation, and user control, which are vital for modern business operations. Enhancements like integrating conversation intelligence rules into flows and restricting flow execution permissions reflect Salesforce’s commitment to providing a secure and efficient platform.

Looking ahead, Salesforce is likely to continue integrating advanced AI and automation capabilities into its platform. These updates will pave the way for more intuitive and powerful tools that will significantly enhance business processes and user experience.

Tips for Maximizing the Benefits of Winter ’25 Release

1. Leverage Automation: Take full advantage of the new automation features, such as integrating conversation intelligence into flows. This can streamline operations and reduce manual intervention.
2. Enhance Security: Utilize the new security features to ensure only authorized users can access critical functionalities. This reduces the risk of unauthorized actions and enhances overall system integrity.
3. Improve User Experience: Use the updates to improve the user experience within your Salesforce environment. Enhanced permissions and streamlined processes can lead to a more efficient and user-friendly platform.

Conclusion

Preparing for the Salesforce Winter ’25 Release involves thorough planning, testing, and communication. Organizations can ensure a smooth transition and leverage the new features by staying informed through official release notes, utilizing sandbox previews, updating user permissions, and coordinating with stakeholders.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Salesforce Winter ’25 Release?

The Salesforce Winter ’25 Release is a major update bringing new features, enhancements, and security improvements to the Salesforce platform.

2. When will the Winter ’25 Release be available?

The main release dates are October 5 and October 12, 2024.

3. How can I prepare for the Winter ’25 Release?

Review release notes, enable test runs in a sandbox, update user permissions, and communicate with stakeholders.

4. What are the key updates in Winter ’25?

Key updates include enhanced flow permissions, integration of conversation intelligence in flows, and restrictions on guest user actions.

5. How do I test the new features before they go live?

Use sandbox previews to test new features in a non-production environment.