Navigating the Challenges of Large Data Volume in Salesforce

In the era of big data, businesses leveraging Salesforce often encounter the challenge of managing and optimising large data volumes (LDV). As organisations accumulate vast amounts of data, it becomes imperative to implement strategies that ensure optimal performance and maintain the efficiency of Salesforce instances. Let’s delve into the key considerations and solutions for handling large data volumes effectively.

1. Understanding Large Data Volume

Large Data Volume in Salesforce refers to instances where the amount of data stored exceeds the platform’s recommended volumes for example 5M records on any particular object. This can impact performance, user experience, and overall system efficiency. Common challenges include slower query response times, limitations on data imports, and potential issues with reporting, list views etc.

2. Data Archiving and Purging

One effective strategy to mitigate large data volume challenges is the implementation of data archiving and purging. Archiving involves moving historical or less frequently accessed data to external storage, while purging entails permanently removing unnecessary records. This helps streamline the active dataset within Salesforce, improving overall system performance and making system more efficient.

3. Utilising Big Objects

Salesforce offers a solution to large data volume challenges through its Big Objects feature. Unlike traditional objects, Big Objects are designed to handle and store massive amounts of data efficiently. Leveraging Big Objects for specific data sets, such as historical records, can significantly alleviate the burden on standard objects and enhance system performance.

We can talk about Big Objects in detail in upcoming blogs.

4. Indexing Strategies

Optimising queries is crucial for maintaining performance in the face of large data volumes. Salesforce provides indexing options to improve the speed of data retrieval. Evaluating and strategically implementing indexes on fields that are frequently queried can enhance query performance and ensure a more responsive user experience.

5. Skinny Tables for Enhanced Query Performance

Skinny tables in Salesforce provide a mechanism to denormalize and store specific fields from a object, optimising query performance. By strategically creating skinny tables for frequently queried fields, organizations can improve the speed of data retrieval, particularly in scenarios where complex relationships and joins are involved.

6. Divisions for Logical Data Segmentation

Salesforce Divisions offer a logical way to segment data within an organisation. By implementing divisions, businesses can efficiently manage large data volumes by organising records based on specific criteria, such as regions, departments, or business units. This logical segmentation aids in maintaining performance by narrowing down the dataset accessed in various contexts.

7. External Objects and Data Integration

Integrating Salesforce with external systems can be a game-changer in managing large data volumes. By utilising external objects, which represent data stored outside of Salesforce, organisations can maintain real-time access to relevant information without overburdening the Salesforce platform.

8. Continuous Monitoring and Optimisation

Addressing large data volume challenges is an ongoing process. Regularly monitor data usage patterns, system performance, and user feedback to identify areas for improvement. Continuous optimization ensures that Salesforce remains a dynamic and responsive platform, even as data volumes continue to grow.

In conclusion, the effective management of large data volumes in Salesforce is essential for sustaining optimal performance and ensuring a positive user experience. By employing a combination of archiving, utilising specialised features like Big Objects, strategic indexing, external data integration, and ongoing monitoring, organisations can navigate the complexities of large data volumes and harness the full potential of the Salesforce platform.