Celebrating 10 years of awesome admins

From Low Code to Agentforce: A 10-Year Journey of Awesome Admins

By

Over the past decade, the Salesforce Admin role has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving alongside the platform itself from a simple CRM tool to a robust business ecosystem. 

As Salesforce has grown, so too has the significance and complexity of the admin role, making it one of the most critical positions within any organization leveraging the platform.

This journey is a testament to the dedication and adaptability of Salesforce Admins. From the early days of low code app development to the launch of Agentforce, admins have not only kept pace with technological advancements but also shaped the platform into what it is today.

Salesforce Admin: A journey through time

Ten years ago, Salesforce Admins were almost unheard of. Developers dominated tech, but Salesforce opened a new world of low-code app building, allowing non-developers to create powerful CRM solutions. Admins came together, building a community and learning to maximize the platform’s capabilities.

As Salesforce grew, so did the responsibilities of admins—from user management and data security to automation and intelligent solutions. Today, admins are the essential link between technology and business strategy, ensuring the platform aligns with company goals. And they’re building on skills they already know to enhance business processes with agents.

Whether they’re making a plan for AI success with Agentforce or solving user access dilemmas, Salesforce Admins build and manage trusted solutions on the Salesforce Platform. They configure, automate, and optimize Salesforce to ensure org health and maximize value. Core responsibilities include managing Salesforce users, data, security, analytics, and products.

Essential skills of an Awesome Admin

Salesforce Admins are problem-solvers, with sharp analytical skills and a deep understanding of the platform. They collaborate with teams, translating technical jargon into actionable insights. Strong communication and technical proficiency are crucial as they configure dashboards, generate reports, and manage data.

What sets great admins apart is their proactive mindset; they anticipate challenges, seek solutions, and drive continuous improvement.

See all 14 skills and how to highlight them in your resume using the Salesforce Admin Skills Kit.

Success stories: Admins in action

It’s evident that admins are the backbone of organizations using Salesforce, and their unique solutions drive success for their teams. 

Awesome Admin Katie Villanueva built a solution with Flow, Slack, and Prompt Builder to get her team the information they need in an automated, concise, and structured manner that elicits excitement and moves the business process forward. 

Building this solution has helped her team work efficiently and effectively and break down communication silos. Read or watch here

Solo Admin Chance Martin built a slick Slack automation to manage customer go-live communications. See the episode here.

Finally, for a throwback admin success story, check out how Zac Otero built his career on being a Salesforce Admin. 

These stories showcase the creativity and resilience of Salesforce Admins and their role in turning challenges into opportunities.

The future of Salesforce Admins

As the Salesforce ecosystem continues to grow, the role of admins will only become more vital. Emerging technologies like AI and Agentforce and advanced analytics will further enhance their ability to drive business success. Continuous learning will be key for admins to stay ahead of trends and keep organizations thriving in a fast-evolving landscape.

At Dreamforce, in a session called The Salesforce Admin of Tomorrow, we delved into the change and transformation of the role. We’ll continue to share our research findings and guide you through this transformation in the coming years.

Resources for Awesome Admins

Stay connected and keep learning through resources like the Admin blog for the latest updates, the Trailblazer Community for networking and collaboration, and Trailhead for ongoing education and certifications. These tools will ensure you stay at the forefront of your profession.

A podcast cover featuring John Demby for the Salesforce Admins Podcast.

What Makes Tableau Pulse Essential for Salesforce Admins?

Today on the Salesforce Admins Podcast, we talk to John Demby, Director of Solution Engineering at Tableau. Join us as we chat about Pulse for Salesforce, Tableau Einstein, and how easy it is to get started. You should subscribe for the full episode, but here are a few takeaways from our conversation with John Demby. […]

READ MORE
Why admins should listen to podcasts

Why Salesforce Admins Should Listen to Podcasts

Your role as a Salesforce Admin demands more than just technical know-how—it requires creativity, problem-solving, and the ability to think beyond the basics. While there are plenty of resources available that teach you the “how” of Salesforce, from documentation to step-by-step tutorials, there’s something invaluable about understanding the “why.”  Podcasts, often overlooked as a learning […]

READ MORE