5 Key Migration Challenges: From Salesforce Classic to Lightning

In today’s era, having a customer relationship management platform is no longer a choice. It has rather become a necessity for staying competitive in this dynamic business landscape. Salesforce – a cloud-based platform has always been at the forefront of innovation. All through these years, Salesforce has augmented its platform to help businesses optimize their processes. One significant enhancement is the gradual shift from Salesforce Classic to Lightning. But what does this transition involve, and why is it more than a simple visual update? 

Almost a decade ago, Salesforce users used the Classic platform as the primary interface. Over time, it became obsolete compared to other platforms, and in response Salesforce launched a new interface known as Salesforce Lightning, which marked a significant shift in user experience. The transition to Salesforce Lightning reflects a strategic shift that can transform the way organizations operate. The introduction of the Lightning platform marked a significant shift in user perceptions, reinforcing Salesforce's position as the world's leading CRM. With its modern, refreshed interface, Lightning prioritizes visual data representation over purely numerical displays, enhancing the user experience. 

Why Migrate to the Lightning Platform? 

Listed below are some reasons for transitioning to Salesforce Lightning: 

Improved User Interface: The Lightning platform represents a significant upgrade over the Classic version, with its robust and intelligent user interface at the core of its design. Built with an emphasis on visualization, Lightning enhances efficiency by offering a more intuitive and interactive experience. Salesforce Lightning offers a framework for a customizable experience. Its drag-and-drop functionality makes it simple to personalize dashboards, homepages and record pages to meet the needs of individual users or teams, helping everyone work more proficiently. 

Enhanced Features: Compared to the Classic version, Salesforce Lightning offers a range of innovative features and tools. For instance, the Lightning Voice feature enables users to call directly from the Salesforce platform thereby ensuring seamless sales process. A new level of customization can be attained using the Lightning App Builder. Users can use the drop-and-drag functionality to create desktop and mobile apps. 

Increased Productivity: The innovative features offered by the Lightning platform empower users to accomplish their tasks with ease leading to increase in productivity. The Lightning Console for instance allows users to multitask and find whatsoever required. Similarly, Kanban view helps in data organization and management by enabling users to manage tasks and opportunity in a better way. 

What are the Challenges Faced by Organizations While Making a Shift? 

To ensure a smooth transition, a robust migration strategy is crucial. However, several migration challenges may come up while transitioning to Salesforce Lightning. Listed below are some of them: 

Extensive Customization: Salesforce’s flexibility allows for significant customization. However, if your Salesforce Classic setup includes numerous customizations, transitioning to Lightning can be challenging. To streamline this process, thoroughly document all Classic customizations and find comparable solutions in Lightning. If the customization complexity becomes difficult to manage, consider partnering with a Salesforce Lightning Support expert. 

Performance Challenges: System performance issues can arise during the migration from Classic to Lightning, often due to users adjusting to new features and navigation. To mitigate these issues, conduct a Salesforce audit before migrating. Providers like offer complimentary assessments that help pinpoint productivity and system health concerns, ensuring a smoother transition. 

UI Feature Overload: The numerous features in Salesforce Lightning can sometimes lead to a cluttered user interface, potentially confusing users. To address this, carefully review each customization and retain only those that genuinely enhance CRM functionality. Avoid needless features to keep the interface efficient. 

Timing the Migration: Choosing the right time for migration is crucial. Avoid rushing the process; consider factors like ongoing projects, potential delays, and associated risks. Ideal migration windows, such as weekends or low-activity periods, are recommended. Coordinate with your Salesforce Lightning Support partner to temporarily restrict access during the migration. 

Implementation Delays: Post-migration, implementing Salesforce Lightning features may require time. To manage this, consider a phased approach, prioritizing features and rolling them out gradually to selected users. This prevents redundant enhancements, minimizes delays, and ensures a smoother transition experience. 

Best Practices for Transitioning from Classic to Lightning 

Adherence to best practices is crucial for seamless transition. Here’s some suggestions: 

Conduct Readiness Check: Before beginning the migration process, it’s crucial to perform a readiness check. Salesforce provides a readiness check tool, which reviews your Salesforce Classic setup and generates a personalized report. This report outlines potential challenges and areas needing attention, offering a clear understanding of what to anticipate and helping you to refine your migration strategy effectively. 

Devise a Detailed Plan: A detailed migration plan outlining each phase of the process should be outlined. This plan should specify required resources, timelines, and assigned roles. Divide the migration into manageable stages, prioritizing components based on their complexity and impact on the business. 

Testing: Before rolling out Lightning across an organization, make sure to start with a pilot program. This approach allows you to gather valuable feedback and make necessary adjustments before the full implementation. 

Support and Training: Training is vital for a successful migration and for familiarizing your team with the new interface and its features. 

Final Words: 

Transitioning to the Salesforce Lightning platform might not be easy, but with a strategic plan that is well executed, the process turns out to be smooth and highly advantageous for an organization. By following the steps outlined above, it’s possible to ensure a successful migration that can augment the overall productivity and efficiency. Organizations should consider partnering with an experienced Salesforce consulting firm for seeking support.