The Gearset’s 2024 State of Salesforce DevOps survey provides an extensive evaluation of the trends, practices, and priorities within the Salesforce DevOps community. It reveals the growing maturity of DevOps practices among Salesforce developers and underscores the efficiencies gained and financial benefits realized through improved DevOps adoption, reflecting insights from 1,296 respondents. The survey’s findings highlight several key trends that are reshaping the landscape of Salesforce DevOps, offering a comprehensive look at how teams are adapting and evolving their practices to achieve better results and greater returns on investment (ROI).
The Shift Towards Unified Deployment Processes
One of the most noteworthy conclusions from the 2024 survey is the democratization of Salesforce DevOps processes. Historically, within the Salesforce ecosystem, release management was segmented by roles, with low-code contributors and developers employing distinct sets of tools for deploying changes. But recent findings indicate a significant evolution. An impressive 73% of survey respondents reported that their teams now deploy all metadata changes uniformly, regardless of whether these changes are declarative or programmatic. This unified deployment approach has not only streamlined workflows but has also substantially enhanced efficiency. The teams adopting a unified deployment process have reported seeing sizeable monthly Salesforce ROI, often surpassing $20,000. In sharp contrast, those with fragmented or non-existent release processes are lagging in terms of operational efficiency and financial returns.
Despite this progressive trend, there remains a surprising 6% of teams who acknowledge the absence of any formal release process. These teams exhibit notably lower levels of both technical and cultural DevOps maturity, underscoring the essential role of structured processes in achieving operational excellence. The survey emphasizes that adopting a cohesive approach to release management can be a critical factor in boosting the overall performance and ROI of Salesforce DevOps practices.
Embracing Core DevOps Practices
The 2024 survey further confirms the growing acceptance of DevOps as the gold standard for Salesforce release management, with impressive adoption rates of core DevOps practices among the respondents. A whopping 86% of participants indicated they have either adopted or are planning to adopt version control, while 81% incorporate Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) into their workflows. The widespread adoption of these core DevOps practices is driven by the need for enhanced change-tracking, improved release pipeline visibility, and more streamlined processes. Many teams are actively working to enhance their release quality by prioritizing better sandbox seeding processes and other key improvements.
However, security remains a mixed priority for some teams, with 13% admitting they have no plans to adopt backup and recovery tooling. This resistance to incorporating crucial components for data protection suggests a gap that could have serious implications for teams should any data loss or system failure occur. For the majority, though, there is a clear recognition of the importance of robust security measures in their DevOps practices. The survey’s insights highlight the importance of embracing core DevOps practices to enhance efficiency, streamline operations, and ultimately drive better business outcomes.
Evaluating the ROI of DevOps Tools
When examining the return on investment (ROI) of DevOps tools, the survey reveals a multidimensional value proposition that many teams are tapping into. While 54% of teams report improved release quality due to their DevOps tools, a significant 46% also highlight that better collaboration has driven considerable value. This year’s survey places a stronger emphasis on quality rather than quantity, indicating a perceptual shift within the community. Higher release frequency and reduced lead times have become secondary concerns compared to the primary driver of DevOps ROI, which is now seen as quality.
The use of DORA (DevOps Research and Assessment) metrics, developed by a Google research group, provides a robust framework for assessing DevOps performance. The survey indicates strong performance metrics among Salesforce teams, with 61% managing to maintain lead times for changes under a week. Additionally, the proportion of teams releasing to production daily has nearly doubled compared to the previous year, while the number of teams releasing multiple times a year has significantly decreased. This shift suggests that teams are focusing more on the quality and impact of their releases rather than the frequency, aiming to ensure higher value and lower risk in their deployment practices.
Addressing Change Failure Rates
A critical indicator of release quality in DevOps is the change failure rate, which reflects the efficacy of a team’s testing processes. Unfortunately, the survey reveals that 11% of teams are experiencing significant issues with bugs and errors, and an additional 18% are not performing much better, highlighting areas where improvement is needed. This underscores the ongoing challenges many teams face in achieving high-quality releases and maintaining robust testing standards.
The survey also identifies the characteristics of elite teams that represent the pinnacle of DevOps performance. These elite teams display both technical and cultural maturity and implement advanced DevOps workflows that include CI/CD and version control alongside excellent inter-team collaboration. Despite only 8% of respondents qualifying as elite, these teams consistently outperform others in terms of DORA metrics. For instance, 44% of elite teams report encountering bugs and errors in fewer than 10% of releases, compared to 28% of other teams. Moreover, elite teams address and resolve identified bugs within a day 46% of the time, whereas only 30% of the rest manage to do the same.
The path to joining the ranks of elite DevOps teams involves not only adopting advanced practices but also fostering a collaborative and change-oriented culture. These elite teams set a benchmark for the industry, demonstrating what is possible when the right processes and attitudes are in place.
The Importance of Training and Continuous Learning
Training and continuous learning are pivotal in achieving DevOps excellence, which was strongly echoed in the survey’s findings. A significant 84% of teams reported receiving monthly training on Salesforce releases, indicating the high value placed on ongoing education. There is a notable demand for training in release management (57%) and building a strong DevOps culture (55%), underscoring the importance of equipping teams with the knowledge and skills needed to excel. Teams that receive training multiple times a month report higher ROI, with 43% indicating Salesforce ROI of more than $50,000 per month, compared to only 28% among those receiving less frequent training.
The survey highlights that continuous education and skill development are crucial for keeping pace with the rapidly evolving landscape of Salesforce DevOps. Teams that invest in regular training are better positioned to adapt to new challenges, implement best practices, and achieve higher levels of efficiency and productivity. This continuous learning culture not only enhances individual capabilities but also drives overall team performance and contributes to sustained success in DevOps initiatives.
The Role of Specialized Backup Solutions
The Gearset’s 2024 State of Salesforce DevOps survey provides a comprehensive analysis of trends, practices, and priorities in the Salesforce DevOps community. This in-depth study, with insights from 1,296 respondents, reveals the increasing maturity of DevOps practices among Salesforce developers. The survey emphasizes the efficiencies gained and the financial benefits realized through enhanced DevOps adoption. These improved practices are allowing organizations to achieve better results and higher returns on investment (ROI).
This year’s survey highlights several crucial trends reshaping Salesforce DevOps. It shows how teams are progressively adapting and evolving their methods to optimize efficiencies and yield greater financial benefits. As Salesforce developers continue to refine their DevOps practices, the community sees significant gains in productivity and cost-effectiveness. The Gearset survey thus offers a detailed look into how the Salesforce DevOps landscape is evolving, helping teams stay ahead by adopting best practices that foster optimal performance and strategic growth.
