As a Salesforce admin, staying ahead of Salesforce’s regular updates is crucial for maximising your organisation’s efficiency and leveraging the latest features. The Winter ’25 Release, packed with exciting enhancements, will empower your Salesforce org. This blog will cover best practices, key preparation steps, new features and updates, and the critical timeline you need to follow for a smooth transition to Winter ’25.
Best Practices
1. Regularly Review Release Notes
Stay informed by regularly reviewing the Winter ’25 release notes, which provide comprehensive details on all the changes and enhancements. Subscribe to Salesforce notifications to receive alerts when new release notes are published.
2. Enable Test Runs in Sandbox
Test new features and updates in your sandbox environment to identify potential issues before they impact your production environment. Develop a detailed test plan, conduct regression tests, and use pre-release orgs to get an early start.
3. Update User Permissions
With new updates to flow permissions, it’s crucial to audit and update user permissions. Use tools like Salesforce’s permission management or third-party apps to ensure all necessary users have the correct permissions. Provide training and documentation to inform users of these changes.
4. Communicate Effectively with Stakeholders
Develop a communication plan to keep stakeholders informed about the upcoming changes. Provide regular updates, organise feedback sessions, and offer support resources to ensure a smooth transition to the Winter ’25 Release.
Preparation
1. Refresh Your Sandbox
By August 29, ensure your sandbox is refreshed to gain early access to Winter ’25 features in a preview environment. This step allows you to evaluate how new features interact with your customisations.
2. Conduct Thorough Testing
Utilise the sandbox preview to test new features against your custom setups. Focus on security updates, automation improvements, and user permissions to ensure compatibility with your existing processes.
3. Document Changes and Train Users
Keep a detailed log of all changes that will impact your organisation. Use this documentation to train your team and ensure everyone is prepared for the updates.
4. Utilise Salesforce Tools
Use tools like SFDX, Salesforce Inspector Reloaded, or Workbench to query records, permissions, and metadata that the Winter ’25 updates could impact. This will help you proactively manage the transition.
New Features and Updates
1. Enhanced Flow Permissions
Winter ’25 introduces enhanced flow permissions, replacing the Flow User checkbox with specific permissions like Run Flows and Manage Flows. This change improves security by ensuring that only authorised users can execute flows.
2. Conversation Intelligence in Flows
Integrate conversation intelligence rules directly into your Salesforce Flows, enabling more intelligent and automated processes. Review your current flows to see where conversation intelligence can be implemented for improved automation.
3. Guest User Restrictions
Guest users can no longer edit or delete approval requests but can still approve or reject them. This update improves security by limiting guest user actions on critical processes.
Timeline
August 8: Pre-Release Org Access
Admins can sign up for a pre-release Developer Edition environment, full of Winter ’25 features. This is your chance to explore and get comfortable with the new functionalities.
August 14: Release Notes Published
The official Winter ’25 release notes will be published. These notes are essential for understanding all the updates and changes to your Salesforce org.
August 29: Sandbox Refresh Deadline
Ensure your sandbox is refreshed by August 29 to participate in the Winter ’25 sandbox preview. This will allow you to test new features safely before they go live.
August 30: Sandbox Preview Begins
Your sandbox will be upgraded to the Winter ’25 preview instance, allowing you to test new features against your customisations without affecting your live environment.
October 8-11: Release Readiness Live
Tune into Release Readiness Live to hear directly from Salesforce product managers about the most impactful features in Winter ’25. This is an excellent opportunity to see live demos and ask questions.
September 6, October 4, October 12: Winter ’25 Rollout
Winter ’25 will be rolled out to Salesforce instances on these dates. Check the Maintenance Calendar to find out when your instance will be updated and get ready to access all the new features in your production environment.
Following these best practices, preparation steps, and monitoring the timeline can ensure a successful transition to Salesforce Winter ’25. Stay ahead of the curve and make the most of the powerful new features and updates!
