Overview of the Salesforce AppExchange: 7 Proven Methods for Finding Apps
If you know how to utilize it, the Salesforce AppExchange Service may be a valuable tool for any administrator or business leader. However, it can be overwhelming for newbies to the Salesforce ecosystem because it contains over 4,000 time-saving Salesforce-related products and solutions. You might ponder the following as you peruse the AppExchange for the first time:
- How can I find the apps I’m interested in among all of these?
- How can I distinguish high-quality goods from less expensive alternatives?
- Even once I focus my search, how can I decide which app is the best?
Seven pointers are provided in this Salesforce AppExchange App Development Services overview to assist administrators, and business executives navigate the AppExchange easily. You’ll quickly see the ideal app if you follow the instructions above.
Seven easy tips to help you navigate the Salesforce AppExchange:
1. Use Salesforce’s AppExchange Trailhead module as your starting point.
Who better to learn from than AppExchange’s original designers? A 45-minute Trailhead module on AppExchange fundamentals is available from Salesforce AppExchange Consulting Partners. Before beginning, browse this guide to obtain a high-level understanding of the website and how to navigate it.
2. Be aware of available resources, including content, events, demos, and more.
The AppExchange isn’t simply for apps, despite what the name might lead you to believe. Although pre-built Salesforce solutions make up the most accessible options, your searches may also turn up Salesforce Consultant AppExchange and content.
Also, don’t miss the links to other resources in the Ohana part of the website. For example, you may access Salesforce’s events calendar, the larger Salesforce Trailblazer community, and more via the links provided below. In addition, check out Salesforce Demo Jams, where rival businesses showcase their goods side by side.
3. Use the AppExchange search function rather than idly browsing.
The Salesforce AppExchange Development has a lot of items, making it difficult to find what you’re searching for if you don’t know where to start. Starting your search on the site can easily send you in the wrong direction. The available filters can help you focus on a smaller range of products, but I like to use the site’s search feature instead of browsing and filtering.
Even if you are unsure of the particular software you require, you can retrieve lists of pertinent apps by searching for terms like “maps,” “shipping,” or “survey.” Of course, to find all the most excellent alternatives, you might need to attempt several similar terms, but the AppExchange search box provides auto-completed suggestions that will point you toward more valuable keywords.
4. Follow the herd: Consult customer reviews for advice.
You usually have more than one choice, even when you locate the right program. So how do you decide which app is the best when you’ve read through the descriptions of all of them, and it looks like each one is appropriate for your use case?
The AppExchange ratings and reviews at that moment are the most useful metric. I’ve learned to consider an app’s number of reviews in addition to its overall rating (three stars or less may be cause for caution). A 4.5-star rating after 500 reviews denotes a popular product that most customers adore. After four reviews, a 4.5-star rating has less significance.
Read some of the reviewer’s remarks as well. While weak ones only highlight issues, good ones assist in describing the functionality and use case of particular programs. Are critics angry because of software bugs or because they believe the product was oversold to them?
5. Use caution: “Free” may not be accessible.
One feature of the Salesforce AppExchange that you’ll notice immediately is the distinction between the “Paid” and “Free” categories. Warning: “Free” doesn’t always equate to being free. While some of the plug-ins and apps available on the AppExchange are free, many other so-called “free” apps only provide free trials with restricted functionality. In these circumstances, your use case will probably require the product’s commercial version.
Therefore, it always pays to inquire carefully about “free” programs, particularly if they seem too good to be true.
6. Test apps in a Sandbox first; take it slow.
It’s time to load the app into your organization if you’ve picked one that appears to be a good fit. However, we always advise testing any new product in a sandbox first to ensure it won’t conflict with existing organizational features. You must use your production account to log into the AppExchange when installing a Salesforce CPQ AppExchange product on your own. However, before downloading, the system will ask you which environment you want to install it in.
7. Widen your sources: Look for other information outside the Salesforce AppExchange.
Although the Salesforce AppExchange Consultants has a vast selection of products and plenty of information about each one, it shouldn’t be your only source of knowledge. For instance, did you know that not all Salesforce apps are accessible to the general public on the AppExchange? It is advantageous to search for the programs you desire just for that reason. Perhaps an unlisted app will meet your needs.