The 2024 State of Salesforce DevOps report by Gearset provides a comprehensive snapshot of the Salesforce DevOps picture. The findings reveal not only continued growth but also a maturation in DevOps strategies, highlighting how unified processes, ongoing training, and a focus on alignment with business objectives drive successful DevOps implementations. With the largest response pool to date, this survey sheds light on the evolving priorities and practices of Salesforce DevOps teams, underscoring new trends that signal a promising future for DevOps in Salesforce.
The Rise of Unified DevOps Practices
One of the standout insights from this year’s survey is the rising trend toward unified deployment processes across roles. Historically, Salesforce development involved split processes – where low-code contributors managed declarative configurations, and developers handled code changes with version control tools. According to the State of DevOps Report 2024, however, 73% of respondents reported that all metadata changes are deployed in the same way, facilitating cross-functional collaboration and enhancing operational efficiency. The emphasis on a unified approach reflects a deeper commitment to streamlined, high-quality deployments across teams.
The benefits of unified processes are clear: Gearset's survey shows that 60% of teams employing such practices report monthly returns exceeding $20,000, largely due to increased productivity and ROI. Moreover, the survey found that elite teams with more than 25 members are leading this trend, pointing to the scalability of unified DevOps processes.
Strategic Alignment and Business Value
For the first time, the report highlights a distinct focus on aligning DevOps strategies with broader business goals. Salesforce DevOps teams are increasingly integrating business objectives into their DevOps roadmaps, thus reinforcing the strategic role of DevOps investments. By aligning with business goals, teams better measure DevOps success through tangible outcomes such as customer satisfaction and operational efficiency, reinforcing the financial and operational value of DevOps.
Emphasis on Security and Compliance
As Salesforce data underpins operations in industries with stringent data regulations, DevOps teams are focusing more heavily on security and compliance within DevOps workflows. This trend is crucial, as Salesforce data continues to play a strategic role in sectors where data integrity and privacy are paramount. Notably, 87% of teams are either backing up their Salesforce orgs or planning to implement backups this year, showcasing a commitment to secure DevOps operations.
Expanded DevOps Tooling and AI Integration
Salesforce DevOps is increasingly incorporating AI to automate repetitive tasks and predict potential errors. AI-powered tools are transforming CI/CD pipelines, supporting real-time error detection, and enhancing scalability. Teams adopting AI-enabled DevOps tools are seeing improvements in pipeline efficiency and error minimization, paving the way for higher quality and innovation.
DevOps Training and Development for Greater ROI
Training remains a top priority as per the State of DevOps Report 2024, with 57% of respondents seeking advanced training in release management and 55% emphasizing the need for building a DevOps culture. The link between training and high ROI is evident, with teams receiving monthly training reporting Salesforce returns that outpace those with less frequent training. Continuous learning and skill-building are proving essential for DevOps maturity, as 43% of teams that train multiple times a month see ROI levels exceeding $50,000 monthly, compared to 28% in less frequent training cohorts.
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Improving Sandbox Management and Performance Metrics
Efficient sandbox management has emerged as a key focus area, as more teams aim to enhance pre-deployment testing environments. Well-managed sandboxes contribute to higher release quality and support the goal of keeping lead times below one week – a target met by 61% of teams. Leveraging DORA metrics to track release frequency, change failure rates, and mean time to recovery, Salesforce DevOps teams are building stronger, more resilient pipelines. An impressive number of elite teams have excelled in DORA metrics, showcasing a dedication to both technical excellence and cultural maturity.
Elite DevOps Teams – The Benchmark for Excellence
The report identifies elite teams that set the bar high, exhibiting technical and cultural maturity across DORA metrics. These high-performing teams demonstrate seamless collaboration across roles and excel at CI/CD, version control, and streamlined testing. Only 8% of survey respondents achieved elite status, consistently outperforming others on DORA metrics. The low change failure rates among elite teams further underscore the impact of rigorous DevOps processes, where 44% of elite teams encounter bugs in fewer than 10% of releases and 46% resolve bugs within a day, in stark contrast to their counterparts.
Conclusion – A Forward-Thinking DevOps Culture
The State of DevOps Report 2024 emphasizes the value of unified processes, cross-functional collaboration, and continuous improvement as pillars of Salesforce DevOps excellence. With a growing focus on security, strategic alignment, and training, Salesforce DevOps teams are well-positioned to achieve substantial business impact and operational efficiency in the years to come. As teams continue adopting AI-driven tools and refining their DevOps strategies, the pursuit of excellence will shape the next generation of elite Salesforce DevOps teams. Our expert team at Nalashaa is ever ready to build powerful DevOps solutions and simplify complex problems. Speak to us today by filling in the form!
