Customer satisfaction and retention have always been one of the top priorities of every business. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is an approach that helps companies build better customer relationships, acquire new customers quickly, and ultimately drive sales growth. With the growing adoption of cloud computing, there have been drastic changes in the CRM industry.
Companies no more rely on spreadsheets or address books to track their customers. They rely on high-end CRM software to easily access customer data from anywhere by storing it in a centralized place. Salesforce is the world’s number one CRM software used by more than 150,000 companies, including most of the Fortune 500 companies.
This article focuses on what Salesforce actually is, Salesforce certifications, and how can you become a Salesforce developer by earning the Salesforce App Builder credential.
What is Salesforce?
Founded in 1999 by Marc Benioff, Salesforce is a software company that leverages cloud technology to build a variety of applications for businesses to better connect with customers. It helps employees working in different departments like sales, marketing, or customer service get a single shared view of all customers. Integrating all the teams assists companies in analyzing business data more closely, develop better sales and marketing strategies, and giving every customer the personal experience they desire for.
The Lightning platform, Apex, and Visualforce are some of the important features of the Salesforce cloud software. Salesforce offers a variety of products that offer end-to-end solutions and you can choose the one that best suits your needs. Some of the popular Salesforce products that you should surely know about are:
- Salesforce Sales Cloud
- Salesforce Service Cloud
- Salesforce Marketing Cloud
- Salesforce Community Cloud
- Salesforce Commerce Cloud
- Salesforce App Cloud
As Salesforce products run entirely in the cloud, professionals can access it on any device at any time. Moreover, the cost of implementing the system and other maintenance costs is lower since Salesforce works on the pay-as-you-go model.
Apart from the products, Salesforce also offers certifications based on different kinds of job roles so that candidates can have an in-depth knowledge of the Salesforce functionalities and demonstrate them in front of the employers. One of the popular Salesforce certifications is the Platform App Builder certification. It is best suited for professionals willing to achieve the Salesforce developer position.
The next section gives you the details of this certification.
Salesforce App Builder Certification
Developers who are willing to start a career in Salesforce can opt for any of the below-mentioned certifications:
- Platform App Builder
- Platform Developer I
- Platform Developer II
- B2C Commerce Developer
- Marketing Cloud Developer
Professionals who have just started using the Salesforce platform can go for Platform App Builder certification. Candidates who have at least 6 months to 1 year of experience in creating custom applications on the Lightning Platform are best suited for pursuing this credential.
You need to pass the Salesforce Platform App Builder exam to achieve this certification. The exam consists of 60 multiple choice questions that need to be attempted in 105 minutes. To qualify in the exam, one needs to score at least 63 percent.
The Salesforce Platform App Builder exam tests a candidate’s knowledge in certain objectives. These are:
- Salesforce fundamentals – 8%
- Data modeling and management – 20%
- Security – 10%
- Business logic and process automation – 27%
- Social – 3%
- User interface – 14%
- Reporting – 5%
- Mobile – 5%
- App development – 8%
The percentage values shown above refer to the weight of questions asked from any particular objective. It is also important to note that the Salesforce platform is regularly updated to include new product releases. So, if you have achieved the app builder certification, you need to maintain it. This requires candidates to complete the Platform App Builder certification maintenance modules thrice a year.
Passing the Platform App Builder Exam
One of the best things about Salesforce is that it not only offers the certification but also provides the best-in-class training to pass the exam. The training offered by Salesforce is not limited to thorough study materials but ranges from online self-learning modules to interactive assessments and flashcards. There are separate modules for all the nine objectives mentioned above. You can visit the Trailhead platform of Salesforce to get all these resources.
Apart from the training material provided by Salesforce, you can also explore the Salesforce courses offered by other reputed training providers. The online sessions conducted by subject matter experts are sure to help you prepare better for the exam. Moreover, they offer hands-on practice with the Salesforce Lightning platform and let you work on industry-oriented projects.
After taking on a training program or doing self-study, the next step is to take mock exams and reinforce your learning. The mock exams give you a clear idea of what to expect in the actual exam. Taking it can help you learn how to manage time in solving the questions, deal with the exam stress, and know your strengths and weaknesses in different areas. This way, you will be able to prioritize the topics that need more attention.
One of the steps which people generally don’t pay attention to is getting in touch with the professionals who have already qualified the exam. Chances are that you will get the best tips from such individuals only. You can do that by joining different Salesforce communities and bridge the gap between knowledge and practice. You can get your queries resolved through these communities and come across the latest trends and best practices related to Salesforce.
Lastly, appear for the App Builder exam and try to qualify it in your first attempt. You can then take on your duties and responsibilities as a successful Salesforce developer.
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