Getting to Know Salesforce Managed Package

The Salesforce Managed Package offers tailored solutions for various features like custom objects, workflows, and automated processes, all designed to fit your business needs. Providing built-in updates and seamless integration with third-party apps ensures smoother operations and faster decision-making.

In this newsletter, you'll gain insights into the Salesforce Managed Package, including its essential features and potential impact on your business. We'll clarify the differences between Managed and Unmanaged Packages, outline our approach to delivering Managed Package services, and share a case study demonstrating effective implementation.

Understanding Salesforce Packages?

Before we examine the details of a Managed Package, let’s clarify what Salesforce packages are.

In Salesforce, a package is a container that bundles custom metadata, code, and various components into a single, distributable unit. These packages can be installed in Salesforce orgs, enabling developers to easily share applications or functionalities with other organizations.

Beyond code and metadata, packages can also include custom settings, email templates, reports, dashboards, and Lightning components. This versatility makes packages a powerful tool for developers to share a wide range of customizations in a structured and organized way.

Features, Benefits, and Challenges of Salesforce Managed Package

A managed package is a set of customizable components created by a Salesforce partner or third—party developer, including objects, fields, workflows, Apex code, Visualforce pages, and other resources.?

Why Salesforce Managed Package matters:

1. Easy distribution: Managed package provides a simple way to distribute and install applications, making it user-friendly for developers and organizations.
2. Simplified customization: Managed package bundles customizations like objects and workflows, allowing organizations to implement new features quickly and with minimal setup.
3. Smooth upgrades: Managed package simplifies version control, enabling quick upgrades with new features and fixes while keeping existing configurations intact.

These packages are usually designed to deliver specific functionalities or solutions that enhance the Salesforce platform's capabilities.

Features of Managed Packages:

1. Designed for ISVs and AppExchange partners. Managed packages are designed specifically for Independent Software Vendors and AppExchange partners, allowing for easy distribution of applications across a diverse range of Salesforce users.
2. Unique namespace. The distinct namespace in managed packages prevents conflicts with existing components in an organization, ensuring smooth integration and reducing potential issues during implementation.
3. Support for upgrades and patches. Managed packages facilitate easy access to updates and bug fixes from developers, ensuring businesses can leverage the latest features without operational disruptions.

Benefits of Using Managed Packages:

1. Enhanced security. Managed packages offer stronger protection than unmanaged packages by keeping the source code and components hidden, safeguarding the provider’s intellectual property.
2. Seamless upgrades. Customers can easily install updates without manual configuration, ensuring uninterrupted access to new features and fixes.
3. Clear separation. Managed packages separate from the customer’s org, simplifying dependency management and reducing conflicts.
4. Simplified deployment. Customers can install managed packages from the AppExchange with just a few clicks, minimizing manual setup and compatibility risks.
5. Opportunity to List on AppExchange. Managed packages allow ISVs and partners to be listed on AppExchange, expanding their reach and opening up new business goals.

Limitations of Managed Packages:

1. Limited customization. Managed packages limit customers' ability to modify components, often requiring them to adapt their processes to fit predefined features.
2. Licensing costs. Customers must pay for subscriptions or licenses for managed packages, which can add to expenses.
3. Challenging upgrades. Upgrading managed packages can be complex, especially with major version changes, requiring careful planning and testing for a smooth transition.

Managed vs. Unmanaged Packages: A Quick Overview

As we have established the features of managed packages, it's important to understand their counterpart: unmanaged packages.

Unmanaged packages are designed for flexibility and transparency, allowing users to modify components freely. This makes them ideal for open-source projects or internal applications where customization is essential. However, the lack of version control and a unique namespace can lead to potential conflicts and complexities during upgrades.

Understanding the difference between managed and unmanaged packages is crucial, as confusion can lead to challenges. For example, organizations may invest in an unmanaged package expecting full customization, only to face limitations later. This can result in system incompatibility, unexpected costs, and strained vendor relationships, reducing the effectiveness of Salesforce solutions.

The Synebo experts conducted a detailed comparison of these two package types based on various features:

• Security
• Upgradability
• Packaging Options
• Customization
• Deployment
• Suitability
• Intellectual Property
• Access Control
• Upgrade Consistency

For a comprehensive overview, check out the comparison table here.

Delivering Salesforce Managed Package Services

Navigating Salesforce Managed Packages can be complex, with numerous options and challenges. At Synebo, we simplify the process with a clear step-by-step approach. Our experts work closely with businesses to ensure the seamless integration of Managed Package tailored to meet their needs.

Here’s how we approach it:

Step 1 - Initial Assessment and Planning

At this step, the Synebo team understands the client's needs, evaluates the current software system, and creates a tailored plan for managed package deployment. This ensures the managed package solution is tailored specifically to the client’s goals, resulting in a solution that supports Salesforce best practices.

Step 2 - Package Development

Then, Synebo designs and builds Salesforce solutions based on the client’s identified requirements. This step ensures the package is customized to fit the client’s business processes, integrating smoothly and enhancing overall operations.

Step 3 - Package Assembly

Synebo assembles the necessary features and functionalities into a unified Salesforce package. This step ensures an organized, efficient deployment that saves the client time and provides a seamless experience.

Step 4 - QA Testing

Synebo rigorously tests the package to confirm it meets quality and security standards. This thorough process guarantees the client a reliable, secure solution that functions without issues.

Step 5 - Document Preparation

Finally, Synebo delivers detailed, easy-to-follow documentation for installing, using, and maintaining the package. This ensures the client has everything needed to manage the solution confidently, supporting long-term success with clear guidance.

Book a free consultation to learn how we can help your company launch competitive software solutions in the market. Claim your free consultation.?

Successful Salesforce Integration

To illustrate the impact of Managed Package services, let's look at a collaboration with @Medisafe, where we tackled a challenge in patient data management.

Medisafe, a healthcare data and medication adherence company, faced a challenge with clients using Salesforce to manage patient data. These clients hesitated to adopt the Medisafe user cabinet, as it meant tracking data across two different systems—Salesforce and Medisafe.

To solve the challenge, the Synebo team created a managed package enabling two-way synchronization between Salesforce and Medisafe servers. This way, responding to customer inquiries from a single environment is possible.

In over 2 years of collaboration, we've managed to provide the customer with:

1. Seamless operation deployment: After successful testing and deployment, Medisafe's end customers now actively use the managed package, efficiently processing real-time patient data.
2. Continuous improvement:? Ongoing development in production enhances the package features based on user feedback, ensuring its effectiveness and responsiveness to client needs.
3. Informed marketing: Automation provided Medisafe with detailed user reports, enabling the company to refine marketing strategies based on user behavior and preferences.

The managed package facilitated robust integration and customization, ensuring secure and consistent data synchronization between Salesforce and Medisafe. Its structured framework allowed for easy updates and enhancements, addressing client needs without disrupting their existing workflows, ultimately improving user adoption and satisfaction.

Learn more about our solution here.

Final Take

That’s all for now on the Salesforce Managed Package. We hope you gained a clear understanding of its differences, benefits, and limitations. Once developed, the next step is bringing this package to the Salesforce AppExchange, which will be the focus of our next issue. Stay tuned!