Key Information Gathered from Gearset’s Annual Survey - Salesforce DevOps 2024

Gearset’s 2024 annual survey on the state of Salesforce DevOps provides in-depth information regarding the current state and trend in Salesforce DevOps. Upon getting responses from more than 1200+ professionals, it has become the most extensive survey pool of its kind. The survey explores the direction of the involvement of Salesforce DevOps. From the role of specialized training to the democratization of the deployment process and improved adoption of CI/CD, the survey and findings reflect the constant maturing landscape within the teams. 

Unified Deployment Approach – Democratization in Salesforce DevOps 

The prime takeaway from the survey made this year is the improved democratization of Salesforce DevOps. The deployment task was traditionally assigned based on the professional role. Low code contributors separately deployed declarative configurations, while developers mainly focused on code changes by making use of different tools. 

However, 73% of professional respondents now have reported a unified deployment approach. The approach is where all the changes in metadata are deployed similarly across teams. The shift proves beneficial as teams with standardized development report better highly monthly ROI and operational efficiency. 60% of them have witnessed returns above $20,000. Larger teams with more than 25 members have led the trend. 

Enhance focus on security and increased adoption. 

Salesforce teams are gradually turning to DevOps as the prime standard for managing releases. The adoption continues to increase across several areas. Note that 86% of teams have already adopted or have planned to adopt the version control, with 81% of teams having started embracing CI/CD. These tools are highly efficient in providing better tracking of changes and pipeline visibility, which are the primary attributes to streamline complex deployment. 

Furthermore, enhanced sandbox seedling and security are top priorities for several teams. While 87% of the professionals back up the salesforce data or have planned to implement this strategy in 2024, the survey also reveals a gap where 13% still lack a proper backup and recovery process. 

Measurable return on investment from DevOps tools 

The survey also highlights the ROI that the salesforce DevOps tools have to offer. Almost 54%, which is more than half of the teams, report improved release quality with adoption, while 46% of teams credit these tools to ensure better team collaboration. The best part is, that reduced lead times and high release frequency are the secondary attributes that qualify improvements this year, which underscore the value of error-free releases. Teams have now started witnessing quality as the major driver of return on investment rather than productivity alone. This emphasizes and qualifies processes to enhance both the financial values of Salesforce and development quality. 

DevOps performance showcases DORA metrics 

DORA metrics or DevOps research and assessment offer invaluable insight into the performance of DevOps among the Salesforce teams. A massive number, which is around 61% of teams, are able to maintain lead times under a week of changes and it has also doubled the daily production releases. The faster cycle contrasts sharply with a reduced number of teams limited to annual releases. It demonstrates that most teams have proceeded with frequent deployment. 

However, the challenges still persist because 11% of teams have also reported serious issues with bugs, and another 18% are still hassling with errors. This suggests the faster need for improved quality control and testing. 

Attributes of quality DevOps teams 

It has been surveyed that 8% of the teams meet the elite standard. It has been defined by their high performance on DORA metrics. These elite teams demonstrate advanced workflows, technical expertise, and high cultural maturity with almost half of the elite teams, which ensures maintaining bugs in the releases below 10%. 

Additionally, these elite teams' standout when it comes to finding quick resolutions for issues, as 46% addressing of bugs are made within a day. The major factors that contribute to the success of these elite teams include established CI/CD practices, fantastic cross-team collaboration, and version control. 

What is the importance of DevOps training in improving ROI? 

Training is extremely important and a critical component to ensure the success of DevOps. The survey clearly shows that there has been a strong preference for training focused on release management which is 57% and 55% for building the culture. Teams that are receiving frequent training are less likely to have problems. They report higher Salesforce ROI. Specifically, teams that have engaged more in extensive training multiple times in a month have reportedly exceeded in ROI. The value is - 43% reports that their monthly ROI has exceeded $50,000. The correlation clearly highlights the need for ongoing education and skill-building to maintain a competitive edge in today’s market. 

What is the role of a Salesforce-specific backup solution? 

Data protection remains pivotal when it comes to Salesforce. Therefore, several teams have started adopting Salesforce-specific backup solutions as they improve data security. As per the survey, teams have started using specialized backup solutions and have reportedly witnessed frequent data backup and improved recovery compared to others who were using generic tools. With 87% of respondents already backing up or planning to implement backup in the coming year, the focus clearly reflects the commitment of the Salesforce community to data resilience. 

Conclusion - Continuous growth in Salesforce DevOps 

Gearset’s 2024 survey clearly illustrates the evolving landscape of Salesforce DevOps. Since more teams have started unifying processes, prioritizing training, and investing in DevOps tools, it has become one of the top-notch solutions. While challenges are still persisting, especially when it comes to backup adoption and error management, the gathered information from the survey this year clearly suggests that Salesforce DevOps maturity has been experiencing a promising trajectory. The improved focus on collaborative deployment, regulated training, and security highlights the ways DevOps continues to enhance the value of Salesforce, which sets the stage for a more resilient, efficient, and high-quality development environment. 

Businesses that are looking forward to excelling in Salesforce DevOps require choosing experts in the field. Hexaview Technologies provides expertise and support to implement advanced strategies. The dedicated team specializing in Salesforce solutions helps organizations streamline their release processes, maximize ROI, and improve security. Whether you are looking to improve deployment efficiency, integrate CI/CD, or establish a robust backup system, experts at Hexaview Technology customize solutions to optimize the Salesforce environment for long-term success.