Salesforce Flow vs. Process Builders and Workflow
Salesforce provides various tools which help in business augmentation by offering solutions related to automation in the conduct and application of different standard business processes across multiple verticals of your organization. Workflow, Process Builders, and Flow are branches of the same tree. However, these items have significant differences.
What is Salesforce Flow?
Salesforce Flow collects data and helps take actions in an organization or external system. It offers two types of flow: screen flow and autolaunched flow. Screen flow are used when an organization wants to collect data from its users. In contrast, an autolaunched flow is used to launch a flow internally for recording changes after a user clicks on a button.
Flow Builder is the declarative interface for building individual flow. It can be used to create code-like logic sans a programming language.
Flow essentially help cut down time by enabling you to bring automation into the cycle of work. It helps Salesforce admins to complete tasks with time efficiency, high accuracy, and minor blockages. Flow are diverse as they are not tied to any one object or Process.
What is a Process Builder?
Salesforce Process Builders are Salesforce tools that enable automated control over the order of actions or a computerized evaluation of a record for specific desired criteria.
Salesforce Process Builder grants the utility of using a simple ‘If/Then’ logic to smoothen the Process of adding automation to the user’s Salesforce environment according to his needs. Salesforce Process Builders have various facets such as a triggering event, criteria, and then an action that will take place.
For example, an update in the designated field of entry that matches the set criteria will trigger an action by the system. The user interface of Salesforce Process Builder enables the creators to point and click to create automation which comes in handy for people like a technical Business Analyst or a systems admin.
What are Workflow?
Salesforce Workflow is a business logic engine that allows the user to define some rules that will automate specific actions when a particular criterion or a condition is met. In simple words, Salesforce Workflow essentially performs some automated activities when a particular standard or a condition is met.
Using Salesforce Workflow saves time as it acts as a solution to assess and complete different internal processes of a company in an automated manner that provides a much faster output than manual work. Such automation also helps in optimizing various systematic procedures. The essence of Workflow lies in the Workflow rules that provide for specific criteria that have to be necessarily met to trigger automated actions.
For example- A record change such as a change in the “Time” field can be set to trigger the Process of sending an auto-notification email alert to a User.
Salesforce Workflow vs. Process Builder
The crux of the discussion on Salesforce Workflow vs. Process Builder can be summarized in 3 primary points:
| WORKFLOW | PROCESS BUILDER |
|---|---|
| The option to send an outbound message is present. | The option to send an outbound message is absent. |
| Less effectiveness at handling multifarious records and code. More suitable for simple tasks along with having the liberty to create complex configurations in the simple use cases. | Effective tool built for handling multiple records and bulk code as the tool is curated for multitasking and handling large data sets. |
| Less options in accessing more fields of data entry for different criteria. | More options in accessing more fields of data entry, helping to create diverse developing standards and provide more options for more actions. |
Salesforce Process Builder vs. Flow
Salesforce Process Builder can be distinguished from Flow in the following manner:
| PROCESS BUILDER | FLOW |
|---|---|
| Salesforce Process Builder is a more simple tool than Salesforce Flow. It has been deliberately targeted to more explicit and everyday use events and cases that don’t require complex process to be executed via complex features. Thus, it satisfies the expediting requirements that come with simple techniques. | Flow is a comparatively complex tool capable of handling complex processes to be executed via complex features. It is more suitable when a bigger data set with complex criteria is the base of the event needing automation. |
| Process Builder is quite linear in its usage. While making complex Processes with Process Builders is possible, multiple conditions and actions require Either/Or functions, whereas Process Builders works effectively as an ‘IF’ does in formulas. For example- it is suitable to be used for simple cause and effect actions where the occurrence of Factor A shall result in the set actions. | Flow is more diversified in terms of features and domain of use. It is highly effective in situations where Either/Or functions are required to be addressed. |
| Comparatively, logic in Process Builders is less similar to the CASE formulas. | When compared to Process Builders, logic in Flow is more similar to the CASE formulas. This enables the introduction of complex functions in the formula without having the tedious and confusing nature of ‘IF’ conditions in the procedure. This helps create complex needs easily in Flow with CASE functions. |
| Process Builders comparatively have lesser options of usage than Flow and are less powerful in terms of number of actions taken. | Flow is a more powerful tool in terms of the number of actions taken. Flow acts as a bonus as it can perform all of the activities that a Process Builder can do while also giving the additional options such as the option to delete. |
| It is possible to update multiple records from Process Builders. However, this feature is only limited to updating the child records of the starting point, i.e., the point from where the Process started. Another drawback associated with this is that all of the documents need to be updated, which has to be done in the same way. | With Flow, it is possible to update multiple records that match a condition without the restriction that they need to be related to the original document. |
| The creation of Screens is not possible with Process Builders. | Flow provide the facility to create Screens. |
What’s next for Process Builders and Workflow?
Salesforce has steadily improved Flow’s capabilities, influencing users to switch from Workflow Rules and Process Builder to Flow. Although no official schedule for all phases of retirement has been disclosed, Workflow Rules and Process Builder are still functional. The final stage in the EOL (End of Life) process would be to turn off any ongoing automation. Before that’s done, Salesforce will disable the ability to create new Workflow rules and procedures so that your old rules will continue to operate until they’ve been migrated to Flow. As a result, getting started with Flow is the ideal approach to becoming future-ready.
The following features make Salesforce Flow a robust process:
- Run Asynchronously, Fast Field Updates, and Entry Conditions all improve overall performance and the ability to adjust and simplify high-volume automation.
- Error management, analysis, and debugging have been improved. You may go directly into the Flow from an error email and observe the taken path.
- Invocable Actions and Sub-Flow provide exceptional extensibility. Repackage portions of automation for re-use throughout your organization, either in Flow or Apex, to empower more admins and standardize frequent interactions.
Since Workflow Rules and Process Builder (particularly Workflow) have been around for a long time, moving your old processes to Flow might be a complex undertaking. Not only will putting up new Flow take time, but many Admins and Consultants will also need to be upskilled, as they may not be thoroughly familiar with the software.
Conclusion
You can provide your users the most significant automation experience possible while also building an automated environment for your business to have the most refined data possible by understanding the technology available, what they can accomplish (and their drawbacks), and when it’s ideal to utilize them. If you’re unsure where to begin or want to improve your Salesforce automation experience, get in contact with our team as soon as possible to take advantage of the vast selection of Salesforce services we provide. Become a part of the rapidly changing hi-tech market with Manras, and your customer insights and sales will steadily increase.
