Salesforce Lightning Vs Classic

For many businesses, Salesforce has become an integral part of their sales and marketing operations. With its powerful tools for customer relationship management (CRM) and sales automation, it has helped thousands of companies increase their revenue and streamline their processes.

However, as technology continues to advance and customer expectations evolve, Salesforce has adapted and improved its platform to meet these changing needs. This has led to the development of Salesforce Lightning, the newer, more advanced version of the original Salesforce Classic.

As a leading marketing operations consulting agency, we often come across clients who are curious about the differences between Salesforce Lightning and Classic. In this article, we will provide an extensive explanation and comparison of these two versions, to help you make an informed decision about which one is best for your business.

Overview of Salesforce Classic

Salesforce Classic, also known as Salesforce Classic UI, was the first version of Salesforce and was released in 1999. It quickly became the go-to CRM for businesses of all sizes, thanks to its vast array of features and customizable options.

Classic was designed with a traditional layout, with tabs and buttons located at the top of the screen. This made it familiar and easy to use for those who were used to traditional desktop applications.

One of the main advantages of Salesforce Classic is its high level of customization. Users have the ability to create custom fields, workflows, and dashboards, making it a highly adaptable platform for businesses with unique needs.

Additionally, Salesforce Classic has a wide range of third-party integrations available, allowing businesses to seamlessly integrate with other applications and further enhance their CRM capabilities.

However, with the rise of mobile devices and the growing demand for more advanced features, Salesforce saw the need for a more modern and mobile-friendly version of their platform. This led to the development of Salesforce Lightning. to Salesforce Lightning

Salesforce Lightning was officially launched in 2015, and since then, it has become the preferred choice for many businesses. It was built with a modern and responsive design, making it user-friendly for those who are constantly on the go.

One of the main differences between Classic and Lightning is the user interface. Lightning has a more visually appealing and modern design, with navigation tabs located on the left-hand side of the screen. This allows for a more streamlined workflow and easier access to different features.

In addition, Lightning offers a more personalized experience, with its customizable home page and interactive dashboards. This allows users to easily access the information and tasks that are most relevant to them, increasing efficiency and productivity.

Salesforce Lightning also has built-in artificial intelligence and automation capabilities, such as Einstein Analytics and automated lead routing. This allows for more advanced data analysis and smarter decision making, helping businesses stay ahead of the competition.

Comparison of Features: Lightning vs Classic

Now let’s dive deeper into the specific features and functionalities of Salesforce Lightning and Classic, and how they differ from each other.

1. User Interface

As mentioned earlier, the user interface is one of the main distinguishing factors between Salesforce Lightning and Classic. Lightning has a more visually appealing and modern design, whereas Classic has a more traditional layout.

Lightning also has a more responsive and mobile-friendly interface, allowing users to access their CRM on any device with ease. Classic, on the other hand, may require additional customization to work effectively on mobile devices.

2. Personalization

When it comes to personalization, Lightning has a clear advantage. Its customizable home page allows users to tailor their experience and have quick access to the information and actions that are most important to them.

On the other hand, Classic does offer some level of personalization, but it is limited compared to Lightning. Users can create custom fields, workflows, and dashboards, but they are not as easily accessible as they are in Lightning.

3. Automation and Artificial Intelligence

Salesforce Lightning takes automation to the next level with its built-in artificial intelligence, Einstein. This feature allows for real-time data analysis, predictive lead scoring, and automated processes, making it a powerful tool for sales and marketing teams.

Classic, however, does not have this level of advanced automation and AI capabilities. It does offer some automation features, such as customizable workflows, but they require more manual input and maintenance.

4. AppExchange

AppExchange is Salesforce’s marketplace for third-party integrations, applications, and components. Lightning has a larger and more updated library of apps and integrations compared to Classic, allowing for more seamless integration with other tools and systems.

While Classic also has a wide range of available integrations, some of them may not be compatible with the newer Lightning version.

5. Lightning Components

Lightning Components allow users to build custom web applications within the Salesforce platform. These can be easily added and modified, providing users with a highly customizable experience.

Classic does not have the ability to create or edit Lightning Components, limiting its adaptability compared to Lightning.

Last reflections

Both Salesforce Lightning and Classic are powerful and effective CRM platforms, with their own sets of unique features and functionalities.

Classic has been the go-to choice for companies for over 20 years, with its highly customizable options, while Lightning offers a more modern and advanced user experience. The decision between the two ultimately depends on the specific needs and preferences of your business.

Regardless of which version you choose, one thing is certain: Salesforce continues to evolve and improve its platform to meet the ever-changing demands of businesses and customers alike. And with the constant updates and enhancements, we can expect even more exciting features in the future.