10 Salesforce Data Model Best Practices

Salesforce data models are critical for keeping data clean, accurate, and actionable. But with so many different ways to model data, it can be tough to know where to start.

In this article, we’ll share 10 Salesforce data model best practices that will help you get the most out of your data. By following these best practices, you can be sure that your data is organized in a way that’s easy to understand and use.

1. Use a naming convention that is consistent and clear

When you have a consistent naming convention for your objects and fields, it makes it much easier for users to understand the data model. It also makes it easier for developers to work with the data model when they need to make changes or additions.

A good naming convention should be clear and concise, and it should use names that are easy to remember. For example, you might want to use abbreviations for common object names such as “Contact” and “Account.” You might also want to use a prefix or suffix to indicate the object type, such as “__c” for custom objects.

Using a consistent and clear naming convention will make it easier for everyone who works with Salesforce data to understand the data model and make the necessary changes.

2. Avoid using the same name for different objects

If you have two objects with the same name, it can be difficult to tell them apart when you’re working in Salesforce. For example, let’s say you have an object for “Accounts” and another object for “Contacts”. If both of these objects have a field called “Name”, it can be confusing to know which one you’re looking at.

To avoid this confusion, it’s best to use different names for different objects. For example, you could call the object for “Accounts” something like “Accounts (Salesforce)” and the object for “Contacts” something like “Contacts (Salesforce)”. This way, you’ll always know which object you’re working with.

3. Create custom fields in Salesforce only when necessary

Salesforce is a powerful CRM platform, but it’s also complex. The more custom fields you create, the more complicated your data model becomes. This can make it difficult to understand and use your data, which defeats the purpose of having a CRM in the first place.

It’s important to take the time to understand Salesforce’s out-of-the-box functionality before creating custom fields. In many cases, you’ll find that Salesforce already has a field that meets your needs. And if not, there are often other ways to achieve your goal without creating a custom field.

Creating custom fields should be reserved for situations where there is no other way to meet your requirements. By following this best practice, you’ll keep your data model simple and easy to use, which will help you get the most out of your Salesforce CRM.

4. Use standard field names whenever possible

When you use standard field names, it makes it much easier for other users to understand your data model. It also makes it easier to map fields when you’re integrating with other systems.

If you absolutely must use a custom field name, make sure it’s descriptive and easy to remember. For example, if you have a field for “employee ID,” you might want to call it “emp_id” instead of just “id.”

Finally, avoid using special characters in field names, as this can cause problems down the road.

5. Don’t use spaces or special characters in object names

When you use spaces or special characters in object names, it can cause problems down the line when you try to reference those objects in code. For example, let’s say you have an object called “Accounts Receivable.” When you try to reference that object in a formula field, you’ll have to use the escape character (\), which can make your formulas very difficult to read and maintain.

It’s much easier to reference objects that don’t have spaces or special characters in their names. So, when you’re creating new objects, take the time to give them names that will be easy to reference later on.

6. Make sure your data model is scalable

As your company grows and changes, so will your data. If your data model isn’t scalable, it will eventually reach a point where it can’t accommodate new data, which can lead to all sorts of problems. A scalable data model, on the other hand, can grow and change along with your company, making it much more likely that your data will always be accurate and up-to-date.

To make sure your data model is scalable, start by identifying the areas where your company is likely to experience growth. Then, design your data model in such a way that it can easily accommodate new data in those areas. For example, if you anticipate that your company will add new products or services in the future, make sure your data model includes fields for those products or services.

It’s also important to periodically review your data model to ensure that it is still scalable. As your company grows and changes, your data model may need to be updated to reflect those changes. By regularly reviewing and updating your data model, you can help ensure that it will always be able to meet your company’s needs.

7. Keep it simple

A simple data model is easier to understand, which makes it easier to maintain. When you have a complex data model with lots of relationships and fields, it can be difficult to keep track of everything and make changes without breaking something.

It’s also important to keep your data model simple because it makes it easier to scale. As your business grows, you’ll need to add more data to Salesforce. If your data model is already complex, it will be much harder to add new data without breaking things.

Finally, a simple data model is more efficient. Complex data models often require more processing power and can slow down Salesforce. So, if you want your Salesforce org to run smoothly, it’s best to keep your data model as simple as possible.

8. Always consider security settings

When you’re creating data models in Salesforce, you’re essentially creating a blueprint for how your data will be organized and accessed. This means that if you don’t take security into account from the start, you could end up with serious security vulnerabilities down the line.

To avoid this, always consider security settings when creating data models. For example, think about which users should have access to which data, and set appropriate permissions accordingly. By taking security into account from the start, you can save yourself a lot of headaches down the road.

9. Use lookup relationships instead of master-detail ones

Lookup relationships are more flexible because they don’t have the same delete restrictions as master-detail relationships. This means that you can delete a record in a lookup relationship without affecting the other records in the relationship.

Master-detail relationships also have some limitations when it comes to reporting. For example, you can’t create a report on a detail object in a master-detail relationship unless the report is based on the master object.

Finally, lookup relationships are generally easier to maintain than master-detail relationships. This is because you don’t have to worry about maintaining two different objects in sync.

10. Use junction objects to create many-to-many relationships

Junction objects are custom Salesforce objects that have two Master-Detail relationships. This allows you to relate two different objects to each other through a third object. For example, you could use a junction object to relate opportunities to products.

The advantage of using junction objects is that they give you much more flexibility in your data model. They also allow you to create relationships that would not be possible with the out-of-the-box Salesforce objects.

One thing to keep in mind when using junction objects is that you need to make sure that the data in your junction object is accurate. This means that you need to have a process in place to ensure that the data is entered correctly and updated when necessary.