Using the New Salesforce Flow Builder

by Mike Walsh | Feb 21, 2019 | Blog, Salesforce Tips

Quality workflows are one of the things that makes Salesforce so useful. A good admin should be able to take just about any routine process and streamline it via a workflow. As we reviewed in this previous post, the flow builder is an intuitive and visual way of automating processes, saving time and money, all while requiring absolutely no coding! What’s more, because you build it directly in Salesforce, you will essentially be setting up a web of flows that send, receive and send back all sorts of values and records.

The New Salesforce Flow Builder began rolling out to users starting at the beginning of this year, and it is flush with useful upgrades, including a simper toolbox, more standardized designs and overall faster performance.

Demoing the Flow Builder

So what does all of this look like exactly, and are there any specific ways the changes can be used? Well, I’m glad you asked. First of all, the flow builder recently got a facelift to mimic the Lightning Design System. The workspace is clean and simple, with many familiar element shapes for each action. As for the second question, the flow building can be used for just about everything, from the simplest of tasks, to very complex, multi-step processes.

But why describe it when I can show you instead? On their blog, Salesforce has recently released a series of demo videos that will show any interested admin or user the Flow Builder, starting with the absolute basics and building from there!

And for anyone who wants to briefly know what the demos cover, without actually sitting down to watch them, well here you go:

1. Send an Email

   • This video covers how to create flows, how to send an email from a flow, and the different types of flows that you can create.

2. Get a Record and Use It

   • This video covers how to create flows, how to send an email from a flow, and the different types of flows that you can create.

3. Get Multiple Records and Loop Through Them

   • This video covers how to use the Get Records element to retrieve multiple records from Salesforce, how to use collection variables, and how to use the Loop element to repeat an action on all of the retrieved records.

4. Decisions, Related Records and Buttons

   • This video covers how to use the Decision element to choose which path your flow should take based on a picklist value on a record. It also covers how to add a screen to your flow to show information to a user, and how to create an object-specific Flow quick action to launch your screen flow from a button on record detail page in Lightning.

5. Screen Elements

   • This video covers how to configure different types of screen components such as choices, picklists, radio button groups, and checkboxes, so you can get the right kinds of data from your users in an interactive screen flow.

6. Roundup of Other Flow Features

   • This video covers how to create more advanced logic in flows using formulas. It also shows how flows can be extended using flow actions, AppExchange, and more.

 Watch the Tutorial Videos

This is only the beginning! Advanced Admins can do all of this and more. Of course, you can also be sure that Salesforce will continue improving and tweaking their system at regular intervals.

-Ryan and the CloudMyBiz Team

Mike Walsh

CEO of CloudMyBiz Salesforce CRM consulting services with a deep knowledge in the lending industry. Taking keen interest in the project management side of operations, playing a vital role in the 31% YOY company growth. Strategic leader, mastering the ability to problem solve at every level of the business, providing effective solutions for clients.