What’s the Difference? An Overview of the Roles of Salesforce Admin, App Builder, and Developer

When you're looking to hire a specialist for your Salesforce, it's crucial to identify the different roles and what skills they bring to the table. There are three main types of specialists: Salesforce Admin, Salesforce Platform App Builder, and Salesforce Platform Developer.Each of these roles has different responsibilities, so it's vital to know what you're looking for before you start interviewing candidates.

Roles definition

According to the Careers and Hiring report, Administrator, platform App Builder, and platform Developer are the most popular certifications held by Salesforce experts. The certified specialists are highly in-demand across emerging businesses and enterprises. What follows is a detailed description of each role.

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Salesforce Admin is the person who manages and maintains your company's Salesforce account. They are responsible for ensuring that your Salesforce environment is running smoothly and efficiently, and they are the ones who configure your settings and troubleshoot any issues that may arise. You can think of administrator as the go-to resource for all things Salesforce-related within an organization. Such a specialist has a comprehensive understanding of the platform, proven technical expertise, and strong skills to manage people and projects.

‍Salesforce platform App Builder is a specialist who can build and maintain custom apps using no-code tools. They work with the Salesforce Developer Cloud to create new apps, customize existing apps, and integrate Salesforce with other business systems. App Builders help businesses automate their sales and marketing processes using the power of the platform tools. They know all possible scenarios of business automation and propose solutions that best fit company needs.

Salesforce Developer is a programmer responsible for developing and maintaining custom apps with the help of coding. They work with the sales and marketing teams to understand their needs and design and build applications that meet those needs. Developers are experts in Apex and Visualforce, two critical technologies that can help your company get the most out of the Salesforce platform. They also have strong knowledge of Java, web development tools, cloud technologies, and data management tools.

How Admin role differs from other roles

The main difference is that Admin tasks are more focused on managing the system, while App Builder and Developer tasks are more about extending the system's functionality. The Admin sets up proper operation of the Salesforce environment. This includes configuring and customizing the system to meet the specific needs of the organization. The Admin also has a deep understanding of the sales and marketing processes. They know how to use the system to track and report on data and how to optimize the system for maximum performance.

Typical responsibilities of Salesforce Admin include:

• creating and managing users
• configuring system settings
• assigning roles and permissions
• supervising data hygiene
• troubleshooting errors and issues
• providing training and support to users
• creating and managing reports and dashboards
• staying up to date on changes to the Salesforce system
• collaborating with other departments to ensure data accuracy

Developer vs. App Builder: how they differ

Although the two roles have considerable overlap, each of them has unique features. Here are the main points of difference.

Focus area

Developers do custom coding in order to make the most of the platform for your business. App Builders, on the other hand, use clicks rather than code to create apps, which limits your ability to customize. You can hire Salesforce Developers to help you create unique coding solutions that will meet your specific needs. Or you can hire App Builders to provide you with a more off-the-shelf app suitable for standard business processes.

Tools

Developers use programmatic tools, while app builders use declarative tools. Using programmatic tools means creating and using code. In view of this, some of the developer's responsibilities include creating Apex classes, triggers, and controllers needing to build applications on the platform. Declarative tools are a set of features that allow managing data without having to write any code.

There are a few different types of declarative tools:

• forms: used to create or edit record data
• custom fields: used to add more information to your records
• page layouts: used to control how data is displayed on pages

Technical background

Developers typically have a stronger technical background and are more experienced in coding, while app builders may have less technical experience but are more focused on user experience.

Salesforce Developers often come from Java Developers. This is because Salesforce is built on Java, so experienced Java Developers have a natural advantage when it comes to learning the platform. Additionally, Apex, a Salesforce-specific programming language, has some similarities with Java. Both languages are object-oriented, meaning that they use classes and objects to code. They also share some basic syntax concepts.

App Builders are usually not responsible for coding but can use code if they wish. Given this, coding experience is not required in this role but it can be a certain plus that can help create more advanced and business-tailored solutions.

Common features among the three roles

No matter what expert you hire it’s important to look for the following features:

1. Experience with your specific Salesforce edition

2. Experience working in your industry or a related industry

3. Expertise in the functions or modules you need assistance with, such as marketing, customer service, or sales

4. Experience in solving technical tasks such as customization, development, and integration

5. Project management skills allowing the expert to oversee your project from start to finish

Choosing the right expert for your goals

It can be hard to stay on top of your sales pipeline and make sure all the processes are running smoothly. But with the help of the right Salesforce expert, you can get your business on track and see better results. Salesforce professionals have the knowledge and experience to help you streamline your sales process and get the most out of your software. But with so many specialists out there how do you choose the right candidate for your team?

First and foremost, you should define your business goals and find a person or a full-fledged team who will help you achieve those goals. Are you looking for someone to help you get started on the platform? Are you looking for someone to take your business to the next level? Or are you looking for someone to manage app implementation?

No matter what your goals are, you may find that achieving them on your own is time-consuming and cost-intensive. That’s where Processica comes in. Our company has vast expertise in Salesforce development and administration. We offer both consulting and development services, so if you are looking to implement a Salesforce app or need help administrating your instance, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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FAQ

What roles are necessary for a successful deployment of Salesforce?

There are three roles necessary for a successful deployment of Salesforce - the Salesforce admin, Salesforce platform app builder, and Salesforce platform developer. It's important to understand the commonalities and distinctions between these roles to ensure you're selecting the right person for the job.

What Salesforce skills are most in demand?

Salesforce development and administration are some of the most in-demand roles in the Salesforce ecosystem. These roles demand specific skills and knowledge in order to be successful.

What skills are required for a Salesforce developer?

A Salesforce developer must have experience in object-oriented programming (OOP), Apex coding, and Visualforce development. They should also be familiar with the Salesforce platform and be able to solve problems quickly.