A Quick Guide to Salesforce Releases

A Salesforce org is managed and administered by a Salesforce administrator, who is intimately familiar with any customizations. In addition to customizing dashboards and reporting, preserving user access, and overseeing integrations and customizations, Salesforce administrators also need to stay on top of Salesforce release cycles.

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In other words, Salesforce admins are in charge of enabling business users to benefit from the newest features and functionalities. Salesforce releases hundreds of new features three times a year, in the spring, summer, and winter. As part of its commitment to continuous innovation and improvement, these releases are known as Salesforce releases and take place. With only five minutes of periodic maintenance, these automatic upgrades are supplied in real time. This implies that every client must utilize the same Salesforce platform version, complete with all the newest features.

Parts of the Salesforce releases:

Typically, the pilot stage is the first round of user testing. The tiny subset of participant organizations in this pilot are chosen for participation after making an opt-in request.

BETA: This stage entails releasing a feature to the general public for evaluation. Since BETA features are not yet finished or fully functional, they often only receive a limited amount of support.

Once a feature has successfully completed the Pilot and BETA testing stages, it will become officially part of a Salesforce release, or Generally Available. GA features are generally supported fully and are regarded as fully functional.

The basic advantages of salesforce releases:

● Increases business agility: It results from quick release cycles. Release pipelines can handle many work streams and concurrent projects at various degrees of completion thanks to a flexible DevOps approach. Thanks to fine-tuned DevOps workflows that eliminate conflicts, bottlenecks, and obstructions, new features are regularly tested and published.

● Time-to-market is reduced by quicker deployments: When teams used subpar manual technologies like change sets to move changes from development to testing environments and then to production, deployments along a Salesforce pipeline have historically been error-prone and time-consuming.

● Automation: Deliveries are dependable and ongoing thanks to automation. Teams save a ton of time with automation, and less manual testing is required for each deployment cycle. Critical flaws and problems can be fixed more quickly when high-quality code is validated and tested in advance of each release. Above all else, a workflow that has been successfully automated enables the team as a whole to deploy new features to users as quickly as possible thanks to a reliable, well-oiled process.

These are some of the benefits of the Salesforce releases. Salesforce administrators need to be aware of what will happen and when before taking any action. They can rely on their Salesforce calendar, which offers all pertinent information about the release, including the date for their instance, to accomplish this. For release information on the features you use the most, administrators can also consult the Salesforce Release Notes.

Establish a sandbox strategy: Administrators must get ready to test new features once they are aware of the release schedule and the anticipated changes.

Utilizing the best test coverage for all Salesforce updates, Opkey’s automation technology ensures certification within three days. Without having to manually maintain scripts, streamline your platform updates and batch updates for Salesforce. Salesforce administrators may run regression tests with every modification to the application thanks to Opkey.

What Are The Main Methods For Making Maritime Shipping More Sustainable?

As shipping plays an increasingly vital role in global trade and transport, it’s essential that the industry evolves to meet the demands of a more sustainable future. With growing concerns over climate change and efforts to reduce emissions, maritime shipping has become a primary target for modernising practices. But what are some of the main methods for making maritime shipping more sustainable?

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In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how the industry is adapting and discuss some of the key strategies that are being employed to reduce environmental impacts. From improved vessel designs to alternative fuel sources, we’ll explore all the ways shipping is becoming greener.

Alternative Fuel Sources

The use of traditional fossil fuels is one of the main sources of emissions from ships. A staggering 300 million tons of fossil fuels are consumed by the shipping industry annually, making up approximately 5% of all global oil production. So, the development of alternative fuels could be a game-changer for maritime shipping. By replacing traditional diesel or heavy fuel oil with renewable sources such as biodiesel, hydrogen, and biogas, emissions can be significantly reduced while maintaining an efficient system. In short, to reduce these impacts, vessels are being fitted with alternative fuel sources such as liquified natural gas (LNG) or biofuels.

LNG is particularly popular among maritime companies, as it produces up to 25%% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional fuels, and has the added benefit of being cheaper. In fact, many of the world’s largest shipping fleets are already powering their vessels with LNG. Examples, include Carnival Corporation, which has announced plans to convert over 100 cruise ships to LNG.

Digitalisation
Also known as ‘smart shipping’, digitalisation is the process of using data and technology to create a more efficient and sustainable shipping industry. This could involve anything from introducing sensors and automated systems into vessels to tracking and monitoring ships to improve navigation and reduce fuel consumption. It can also help to increase transparency and allow for more accurate reporting of emissions, making it easier to identify areas that need improvement or further efficiency gains.

Vessel Optimisation Technologies
One of the most promising new technologies in maritime shipping is Vessel Optimisation Technology (VOT). VOT is a suite of software tools that can be used to make ships more efficient, reducing fuel consumption and emissions. VOT software can be used to analyse a vessel’s performance and identify areas of potential improvement, such as reducing drag or optimising engine power. It can also be used to create detailed reports that provide insights into the ship’s efficiency, helping operators better understand their vessels and make informed decisions about how best to reduce their environmental impacts.

Design Optimisation
This is the practice of making changes to a vessel’s design to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. This could involve modifying the hull shape, adding propellers and rudder configurations, or even introducing new propulsion systems. By making simple modifications to the design and construction of a vessel, it is possible for shipping companies to reduce the amount of fuel consumption by up to 10%. This is an effective way of cutting emissions and making the industry more sustainable in the long run.

Green Technologies
In addition to fuel sources, ship operators are also investing in green technologies such as wind power or solar panels to supplement their energy needs. These renewable energy sources can drastically reduce vessels’ overall emissions while also providing a more reliable source of power. While wind and solar power are still prohibitively expensive for many large vessels, they are becoming more accessible. Additionally, the development of sustainable shipping containers is another way that companies can reduce their environmental impact by using lightweight materials with improved insulation properties.

Energy Management
With the growth of digital technologies, it’s now possible to optimise energy use and reduce emissions through the monitoring of ship performance. For example, the use of energy management systems (EMS) can help vessels to identify and reduce unnecessary energy consumption, while also providing operators with real-time data to understand their ship’s performance. Also, by collecting real-time data on fuel consumption, vessel engines can be adjusted for maximum efficiency, which in turn reduces emissions and lowers operating costs. This allows them to make more informed decisions on how best to reduce emissions, such as improving fuel efficiency or changing routes.

Final Thoughts

Overall, sustainable shipping methods are becoming increasingly important as the industry moves towards a greener future. In short, sustainable maritime shipping is about more than just reducing emissions – it’s about developing a whole new way of operating that puts the environment and sustainable practices at the forefront. At the moment, the World Shipping Council has made commitments with all stakeholders to ensure sustainable practices are being implemented.

Consequently, by implementing sustainable shipping methods, it’s possible to make a significant contribution towards reducing emissions and creating a more sustainable future for global trade. In doing so, maritime companies can help ensure that their operations are in line with growing environmental concerns, while also making progress towards meeting international.

What is Offshore Development Centre?

An Offshore Development Centre (ODC) can serve as the nerve centre of a company’s product development. By providing seamless collaboration across all departments, ODCs can accelerate innovation, and bring new solutions to life. The Scalers offer access to a pool of highly talented engineers, data scientists, and business analysts to join a company’s dedicated team of developers.

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The Offshore Development Centre model

An Offshore Development Centre (ODC) can serve as the nerve centre of a company’s product development. By providing seamless collaboration across all departments, ODCs can accelerate innovation, and bring new solutions to life. The Scalers offer access to a pool of highly talented engineers, data scientists, and business analysts to join a company’s dedicated team of developers.

Having a captive ODC can also provide cost savings for organisations. By building a team in a location like Bangalore, where the cost of living and salaries are lower than in Western countries, companies can access a pool of highly skilled professionals while reducing operational costs. Additionally, companies can easily manage their offshore team and maintain control over the development process while benefiting from the expertise and talent of local engineers and specialists.

Benefits of building an ODC in Bangalore
Bangalore is known as Asia’s Silicon Valley and home to numerous prominent tech firms, including Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. Building an ODC in Bangalore means being in the company of other global tech giants, and The Scalers offer high-spec workspace, onboarding processes, and a pool of talented engineers to ensure rapid scalability, total alignment with HQ, and reduced time to market.

Bangalore has a thriving startup culture, making it an ideal location for companies looking to innovate and grow. The city has a diverse talent pool, with engineers and other professionals from all over India and beyond. Alongside the tech giants that call Bangalore home, there is a vibrant ecosystem of startups, incubators, and accelerators that can help organisations thrive. With a high-quality workspace and a supportive local team, companies can focus on their core business while taking advantage of all the benefits of an offshore development center.

The Scalers’ approach to offshore development
The Scalers have a proven approach to offshore development that enables rapid team assembly and growth while maintaining control over the development process. They handle all the heavy lifting, from recruitment and onboarding to local setup, administration, and HR. With data-driven reports, organisations can scale without limits, meet delivery demands, and have a trusted long-term partner. The Scalers build enterprise-grade teams of over 100 engineers, 70% faster than at home.

The Scalers’ recruitment process is designed to find engineers who are not only highly skilled but also align with a company’s culture and values. They work closely with organisations to understand their requirements and then source, vet, and onboard engineers who are dedicated to the team and committed to delivering results. This creates a team that feels like an extension of the in-house staff, with the added benefit of working in a cost-effective offshore location.

Going to new heights with an offshore R&D centre
With the right offshore partner, your ODC can turn into a full-fledged offshore R&D centre, which can be a valuable asset if you’re looking to stay ahead of the curve and develop innovative solutions. And by having a team of elite engineers, data scientists, and other experts working together on new concepts, organisations can bring new products and services to market faster and more efficiently.

At The Scalers we help our partner recruit elite engineers, top-tier data scientists, business researchers, business analysts, and technical specialists that can work together on new concepts. And we achieve this through a proven recruitment process that ensure our partner’s developers have the required skills and cultural fit for their organisations.

Maximising Space with Mezzanine Floors

Mezzanine floors are a wise investment for a company or organisation that requires extra room to expand and succeed because of their functionality and high quality.

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As the need for space continues to grow, many companies and organisations are seeking ways to grow without moving to a new location. One solution that is growing in popularity is installing mezzanine floors. A mezzanine floor is a raised area that is located between a building’s floor and ceiling. It creates an additional level of space that can be used for a variety of purposes, including production spaces, offices, storage, and shop displays. Mezzanine levels are often utilised in warehouses, industries, retail stores, and office buildings.

Mezzanine floors are one of its key benefits. They can be tailored to match the unique demands of the company or organisation and adjusted to nearly any structure. Mezzanine floors can be built to support a range of loads and capacities and can be designed to work around existing impediments like columns or equipment. Building a mezzanine level is frequently less expensive than moving to a bigger location or expanding an existing structure. Additionally, mezzanine floors provide a quick and simple option to increase space without the need for major construction or remodelling. Mezzanine levels have many practical advantages, but they can also improve a building’s aesthetic appeal. By being designed to match the existing architecture and décor, they may be made to blend in smoothly with the surrounding surroundings. Here are some things you need to take into consideration when finding great mezzanine floor solutions.

The Different Applications of Mezzanine Floors
Mezzanine floors are flexible and have many applications in a range of industries. Some of the most frequent applications for mezzanine floors include the following:

1) Storage
Mezzanine levels are often used in distribution centres and warehouses for storage, in particular. They provide greater space for storing products, equipment, and supplies without requiring the building to be completely extended.

2) Retail
Mezzanine floors are frequently found in retail settings, particularly in department stores and shopping centres. They can be used as a separate area for offices or storage or to increase the amount of product display space.

3) Office Space
Mezzanine levels are a practical way to expand office space, especially in structures with high ceilings. They provide a more affordable option compared to renting a larger space or adding an expansion.

4) Manufacturing
Mezzanine levels are widely used in manufacturing plants to expand the production area. They can be designed to fit heavy gear and provide a safe working space for employees.

5) Hospitality
Mezzanine levels can be used to add additional seating or a dining area in restaurants, hotels, and event facilities. They can also be used to create exclusive meeting or function spaces.

6) Sports and Recreation
Mezzanine floors can be installed in sports and recreation buildings to increase spectator viewing areas or provide more space for events like fitness classes or training sessions.

7) Educational
Mezzanine floors in educational facilities can be used to increase the size of classrooms or laboratories. They could also be used as offices or a place to store things.

Mezzanine levels offer a versatile, cost-efficient, and efficient option to add space. Mezzanine floors are flexible and can be modified to meet the specific needs of a range of businesses and applications.

Cost of Mezzanine Levels and Factors Influencing Their Price
A mezzanine floor’s price might change depending on a variety of variables. The price of a mezzanine level may vary depending on the following variables:

1) Size
The size of the mezzanine level is one of the most important factors affecting its pricing. Larger flooring typically costs more since it takes more time and materials to make it.

2) Load Capacity
Because heavier weights require stronger materials and more reinforcement, the load capacity of the mezzanine floor will have an effect on how much it costs.

3) Design Intricacy
Designs with odd curves or shapes may be more difficult to implement and more expensive overall.

4) Location
The price of the mezzanine floor, as well as the price of shipment and installation, can vary depending on where it is situated in relation to the manufacturer.

5) Building Regulations
By mandating the addition of safety features or changing the design, local building laws and regulations may also have an impact on the cost of a mezzanine level.

The cost of a mezzanine level can be significantly affected by these factors as well as the specific project needs. Costs for a basic mezzanine floor range from $100 to $200 per square foot, with larger load capacities and more intricate designs costing more. It’s essential to work with a reputable and skilled mezzanine floor provider to ensure that the job is completed safely and to the required standards. They may provide a thorough price based on the project’s exact parameters.

Conclusion
Mezzanine floors are a versatile and cost-effective approach to increase a building’s internal capacity. They have numerous uses in a variety of industries, including offices, retail, manufacturing, hospitality, sports & entertainment, and educational structures. The cost of a mezzanine floor may vary based on a variety of factors, including its size, load capacity, design complexity, location, and building codes.

6 Criteria to Choose the Best Salesforce Consultant for Your Company

As a new Salesforce customer, you need to understand that the search itself is hard work, one that involves a lot of research and consideration. To choose the best one, first, you need to look for a good Salesforce partner.

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Choosing the best Salesforce Consulting partner is critical to your company’s digital transformation journey because their expertise will help you make the most value out of your investment in the Salesforce platform. Nevertheless, many Salesforce customers have difficulty finding a great partner for the first time. As a new Salesforce customer, you need to understand that the search itself is hard work, one that involves a lot of research and consideration. To choose the best one, first, you need to look for a good Salesforce partner.

An experienced and certified Salesforce consulting Company usually have the following traits:

1. They have positive reviews on Salesforce AppExchange

AppExchange is the most trusted Salesforce marketplace with more than 7000 apps and Salesforce-certified organisations to help extend Customer 360. After a project is accomplished, a current customer can write reviews to help future customers understand the experience with the partner. The AppExchange listing for a Consultant/Consulting Company also provides useful information, such as the number of projects accomplished by them, the number of certified experts, and years in operation.

2. They have an excellent record of accomplishment of Salesforce Implementation

Actions speak louder than words and so the outcomes a partner has delivered to their existing clients speak louder than impressive sales pitches or fancy business proposals. As mentioned above, the Salesforce AppExchange site is helpful in giving you insights into the quantity and quality of a consultant’s past projects. Besides, case studies, customer success stories or demos can give a deeper understanding of the solutions that have been implemented so that you can see whether they can apply to your company’s situation.

3. Their team members are experts qualified in Salesforce

The Salesforce ecosystem offers continuous learning and growing opportunities for its users via its online learning platform called Trailhead. Besides Trailhead, Salesforce professionals can prove their expertise in particular areas by getting Salesforce certifications. A Salesforce Consultancy that pays attention to getting their employees certified also proves that they focus on understanding the ins and outs of Salesforce products and getting updated about the latest functionality of the platform.

4. They are responsive to your questions and attentive to your needs

Customer care is an important part of any services, especially B2B services. During the first phase of getting to know your organisation, the partner should show that they are willing to go beyond to help you solve your business problems, by being responsive to your emails or listening carefully to the challenges that you are having. If they fail to show their commitment from the beginning, it is very unlikely that they will provide you with a satisfactory experience later.

Now that you have met one or a few good partners, you can heave a sigh of relief. However, if you are on a quest for the best Salesforce partner for your company, there is still a lot of work to be done, because, among those good ones, you also need to find one that is a great fit for your organisation. ‘Fit’ means that:

5. Their expertise aligns with your industry

Besides having technical skills, the Salesforce partner of your choice should be familiar with your industry. Recently, Salesforce has been building industry-specific solutions, which leverage Salesforce’s core CRM (Customer Relationship Management) offerings to develop products specialised to different industries such as Education, Nonprofit, Manufacturing, and Consumer Goods. Consequently, an industry-aligned partner will not only understand your industry’s unique challenges and requirements, but also have profound knowledge of your industry-specific cloud, or in other words, a suite of products.

6. They should also be a cultural fit for your organisation

Adopting and using Salesforce will be a long run, and so will your partnership with the Salesforce consultancy. Because of that, you should really consider hiring a partner that can be an extension of your company in terms of values, work ethics, and communication styles. At the same time, give room for some differences because consultants with slightly different perspectives and experiences will also bring fresh ideas and methods to the table, giving your organisation more to learn in the future.

To Wrap Up:

These are some of the tips to select the right Salesforce Consulting Company. By getting in touch with the right partner, you will be able to skyrocket the productivity and revenue of your business.