The 2024 State of Salesforce DevOps survey by Gearset offers a comprehensive look into the evolving landscape of DevOps within the Salesforce ecosystem. With responses from 1,296 participants, the survey sheds light on how teams are adapting to DevOps practices, the benefits they are experiencing, and the challenges they face. This article delves into the key findings, trends, and insights from the survey, providing a detailed overview of the current state of Salesforce DevOps.
Democratization of Salesforce DevOps
Unified Deployment Processes
A significant trend in the 2024 survey is the shift towards unified deployment processes across teams. Historically, different roles within Salesforce teams handled deployment in varied ways, with low-code contributors and developers using distinct tools and processes. This year, 73% of respondents indicated that all metadata changes are now deployed consistently across their teams. This move towards unification streamlines operations and enhances overall efficiency. Unified deployment processes allow teams to synchronize efforts, leading to a more cohesive and predictable release cycle.
Unified deployment processes are directly linked to higher Salesforce ROI. Teams that embrace a unified approach have reported monthly ROI exceeding $20,000, particularly among larger teams with more than 25 professionals. This trend underscores the importance of consistency in deployment practices for achieving substantial financial benefits. By reducing discrepancies in deployment methods, teams not only enhance operational efficiency but also boost the stability and reliability of Salesforce environments.
Benefits of Unified Processes
The benefits of unified deployment processes extend far beyond financial gains. Teams that have adopted a unified approach report significantly improved collaboration and reduced errors during deployments. Using the same tools and processes ensures that all team members are on the same page, leading to smoother and more reliable releases. This shared understanding eliminates the potential for miscommunications and discrepancies that often lead to deployment failures and delays, enhancing overall productivity.
Moreover, the survey highlights that teams with unified deployment processes experience fewer deployment failures and faster recovery times. Consistency in deployment practices not only enhances the overall efficiency of the team but also contributes to a more stable and reliable Salesforce environment. This stability is crucial for maintaining high service levels and meeting business objectives. As deployments become more predictable, teams can allocate resources more effectively, focusing on innovation and quality improvements rather than troubleshooting issues.
DevOps Adoption
Version Control and CI/CD Practices
DevOps is increasingly seen as the gold standard for Salesforce release management. This year, 86% of respondents have either adopted version control or plan to do so. Similarly, 81% are embracing Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) practices. These practices are essential for improved change-tracking, release visibility, and overall release quality. The adoption of version control and CI/CD is driven by the need for better oversight and management of changes in the Salesforce environment.
The adoption of version control and CI/CD practices is driven by the need for better change-tracking and visibility over release pipelines. Improved sandbox seeding emerged as a key area for enhancing release quality. Despite the growing focus on security, 13% of teams have no plans to adopt backup and recovery tooling, highlighting a critical gap in data protection practices. This lack of focus on backup solutions may expose teams to significant risks in case of unexpected data loss or corruption.
Challenges in Adoption
While the adoption of DevOps practices is on the rise, teams still face several challenges. One of the primary obstacles is the complexity of integrating new tools and processes into existing workflows. The need to balance existing practices with new methodologies often requires substantial effort and can pose a significant hindrance to seamless adoption. Additionally, teams need to invest time and resources in training and onboarding to ensure a smooth transition.
The survey also reveals that some teams struggle with maintaining the balance between speed and quality. While CI/CD practices aim to accelerate release cycles, ensuring that releases are free of bugs and errors remains a top priority. This challenge underscores the importance of continuous improvement and adaptation in DevOps practices. Teams must develop robust testing and monitoring processes to ensure that increased speed does not come at the expense of quality. Emphasizing quality assurance will help maintain the integrity and reliability of the Salesforce environment, fostering greater confidence in rapid release cycles.
ROI of DevOps Practices
Financial Benefits
DevOps tools not only pay for themselves but also amplify the value derived from existing investments in Salesforce and development teams. The primary financial benefits include improved release quality, reported by 54% of teams, and enhanced collaboration, reported by 46%. These benefits contribute to significant cost savings and increased productivity across the board. Teams implementing DevOps practices can optimize resource allocation and reduce downtime, resulting in a more efficient and effective Salesforce environment.
Interestingly, higher release frequency and reduced lead times were less emphasized in this year’s survey. Teams are prioritizing quality over productivity as the main driver of DevOps ROI. This shift reflects a broader recognition that quality is a key driver of financial success in DevOps practices. By focusing on quality, teams can ensure that releases meet business needs and user expectations, leading to higher customer satisfaction and retention.
Quality Over Productivity
The emphasis on quality over productivity is a notable trend in the 2024 survey. While productivity metrics like release frequency and lead times remain important, teams are increasingly focusing on ensuring that releases are of high quality. This focus on quality is driven by the understanding that reliable and error-free releases lead to better user experiences and long-term success. The strategic prioritization of quality not only reduces the risk of issues post-release but also builds greater trust within the organization.
Teams that prioritize quality report fewer deployment failures and faster recovery times. This approach not only enhances the overall stability of the Salesforce environment but also contributes to higher customer satisfaction and retention. By placing emphasis on quality, teams can achieve a more resilient and dependable Salesforce deployment process. This resilience is key to maintaining a competitive edge and ensuring that Salesforce deployments contribute to sustainable business growth and success.
DevOps Performance Based on DORA Metrics
Implementation Speed and Release Frequency
The survey employs DORA (DevOps Research and Assessment) metrics to evaluate performance. An impressive 61% of teams can implement changes within a week. Daily production releases have nearly doubled, while the percentage of teams releasing multiple times a year has been halved. These metrics indicate a significant improvement in the speed and frequency of releases, showcasing the maturity and efficiency of current DevOps practices. The acceleration in release cadence highlights the effectiveness of improved change management and deployment processes.
Change failure rates, a measure of release quality, reveal that 11% of teams face serious issues with bugs and errors, and an additional 18% have significant troubles. These findings highlight the importance of continuous improvement and adaptation in DevOps practices to minimize errors and enhance release quality. Teams must consistently evaluate and refine their processes to mitigate the risk of issues and ensure high-quality releases. This iterative approach to development and deployment is fundamental to sustaining superior performance and achieving long-term success in Salesforce DevOps.
Characteristics of Elite Teams
The 2024 State of Salesforce DevOps survey by Gearset provides a thorough analysis of the changing world of DevOps within the Salesforce environment. With input from 1,296 respondents, the survey highlights how teams are integrating DevOps practices, the advantages they are witnessing, and the obstacles they encounter. It offers valuable insights and trends from the survey results, presenting a detailed picture of the current status of Salesforce DevOps.
Key among the findings is how teams are optimizing their processes by adopting DevOps methodologies, which enhance collaboration, boost efficiency, and promote better quality in their work. Furthermore, the survey underscores significant challenges, such as managing complex workflows, ensuring security, and maintaining up-to-date skills in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
This article delves deep into these aspects, offering an in-depth overview of the benefits of Salesforce DevOps and the persistent challenges that teams face. It serves as an essential resource for anyone looking to understand the current and future trends of DevOps within the Salesforce context.