The ability to create and digest reports is the cornerstone of any CRM, and Salesforce is no different. The fundamental nature of reporting is to provide digestible information based on the data collected in Salesforce. From there, we can review record data, track aggregates across different points in time, and use the report to feed a dashboard. Think of a report like a stained glass window. You are still looking at what’s inside, but through a combination of structure and filters, you can control what that image is. When it comes down to it, a report will never display anything that is not there.
What happens when a user reaches the limit of what a Salesforce report can process? Limits exist, whether due to too many data tables or a subsection of data not being isolated. Or do they? We will explore two options to expand Salesforce’s reporting capabilities.
The first is CRM Analytics. CRM Analytics (CRMA) provides deeper insight from pre-built and configured dashboards to dissect your data through AI. CRMA allows the user to monitor long-term data trends to make an informed decision on how to move forward. It can be enhanced through additional Salesforce tools such as Revenue Intelligence, Data Cloud, and Tableau to provide even further insight into your CRM. The functionality allows for an interactive visualization of the data and trends. While this does not replace native reporting in Salesforce, it greatly enhances it, along with the ability to more easily digest the data due to the presented core visualizations.
While CRMA is a beautiful tool that allows the user to review data that would otherwise not be reportable, it is not a replacement for core reporting in Salesforce. There will always be a need to run a report. There are many tactics to expand native reporting, such as the power of one. The power of one is an old technique that, through a formula field, assigns a value of “1” when specified field conditions are met to allow for that count to be aggregated in a report. For example, suppose you want to get a ratio of Opportunities in a specific stage to the total number of won opportunities and want it presented in the line. In that case, a power-of-one style formula can get you there. This concept can be expanded well past assigning 1’s and 0’s to a record. The same technique can aggregate a subset of financial information, displaying the “Amount,” but only when conditions are met. This would allow the user to track value differently, outside of the general tools provided in the report structure.
These are just a couple of the many ways to expand Salesforce’s reporting capabilities. With creativity and analytical thinking, you can gain insight into your CRM that you may have never thought possible.
If you’re looking for one-on-one help from a Salesforce expert who can help you gain more from Salesforce reports, contact StarrData today!