Being a business owner, you need to collect large amounts of data, and this data collection can be much effort-taking with regular forms. Conversely, online forms offer the convenience of collecting customers’ data at an extensive scale without manual hassles.
The contemporary age is ever-evolving, with technology getting better with each passing day. That applies to online forms as well. The invention of third-party software, such as Salesforce and no-code tools, has transformed the ways companies collect and process customer data.
With dynamic online forms, businesses can now collect dynamic customer data, such as location-based values, field-dependent entries, or age-based data. That is surely a plus thing for business owners.
Yet, since Salesforce Dynamic Forms are a relatively new addition to the CRM, some business owners may have some trouble creating them. But worry not; we have got everything covered in this all-inclusive article.
Not only will we delve into creative Salesforce dynamic forms with no-code tools, but we will also provide some professional tips. So, let’s get started on our Salesforce Forms journey without any further delay.
Introduction to Salesforce
First, we will look at what Salesforce is. It is the world’s trending customer relationship platform. With it, you can keep your customers happy worldwide.
Now, if you are a new business owner, you must be eager to know how it works. Salesforce does the magic by uniting all your teams, like marketing, sales, commerce, service, and IT, into one place with Customer 360.
Customer 360 is one integrated CRM platform that runs an entire set of connected apps. With Customer 360, you can make your employees focus on what matters the most for your business.
Customer 360 will help your business get back on the growth track. You will also get back to giving your customers what they previously missed – a great shopping experience.
Most businesses utilize the potential of Salesforce for:
- Increasing their customer base with personalized marketing.
- Attracting more customers by understanding their needs and concerns.
- Responding faster to customer support queries across different channels.
- Automating time-consuming and repetitive tasks.
- Providing their customers with an incredible experience that exceeds their expectations.
When you go for Salesforce, you are getting more than just a CRM platform. It is an inclusive community of 10 million innovators and community shapers. It also offers free online learning with Trailhead to nourish your business skills further.
Here’s another surprising fact: Currently, Salesforce is helping approximately more than 150,000 companies, both small and large, excel in their business. It is a one-of-a-kind CRM platform you will never regret buying.
What are Salesforce Forms?
Having everything clarified about Salesforce, let’s move to Salesforce Forms. They are not like regular forms you use for your business tasks.
Salesforce dynamic forms allow you to customize the object layout design. Using the dynamic forms, users can add fields and sections to the page layout as separate parts in the Lightning App Builder.
Here are some of the top advantages and time savings these dynamic forms offer:
- Adaptable page layouts.
- Visibility settings for fields and sections within the same page layout.
- Switching from a monolithic page layout to a flexible one without having to change the page layout editor.
- The ability to use the same field with numerous object layouts.
- Automatic application of any changes made to the fields/sections on the layout.
- Faster page load time because of fewer hard-coded fields/sections on the layout.
Introduction to No Code Tools
What do you get by the term “no code” development? Exactly. It means developing applications without writing a single line of coding.
In technical terms, no code development is a modern way of app building. It allows users to build their apps using visual tools and an easy-to-use interface. That means you will not need to hire experts to build apps.
Even someone with knowledge of how to code and build apps can work around it; no-code technology is that simple.
A no-code platform is a graphical user interface (GUI) platform. With its drag-and-drop functionality, you can easily build a full-fledged application.
Briefly, a no-code platform is an automated visual setup that will ease the workload burden on your IT team’s shoulders.
Exciting to know more? Well. Many no-code tools are available in the market. But the ones that stand out include Zapier, Airtable, and Creatio. These tools offer different features and prices based on your business size and how they will be used.
Below are some of the features that are common in these no-code tools:
Pre-built Templates
Now, app development is as easy as choosing the type of app from a list of available templates. Then, you can customize it to include additional features and branding.
You may also find templates centered around common workflow problems in miscellaneous business areas, such as HR, sales handover, marketing, customer support, and more. You can also develop your app from scratch if no template fits right into your requirement set.
External Integrations
Most no-code tools also allow for external app integrations. You can connect them with email or any other platform/app of your choice.
Fast Uptime and Hosting Support
Unlike custom apps, the hosting is up to the platform. It means there’s no need to worry about if your system experiences server error. The platform will take care of it for you. It also means you can release your applications faster than regular ones.
What is Meant by Salesforce Integration?
Next comes Salesforce integration. In Salesforce integration, you merge Salesforce’s data and functionality with other applications to provide users with a single unified experience. This way, you equip your business teams with an ideal blend of tools from both platforms.
Salesforce users often face the challenge of matching data between two platforms. Occasionally, they have to switch between these platforms to perform certain tasks, which limits their working efficiency.
Salesforce integration is the right solution for this problem. It equips users with a centralized platform where everything is in one place.
There are two major approaches for carrying out Salesforce integration:
App-based Integration
As the name implies, app-based integration is performed using dedicated apps. These applications allow users to integrate the data across two apps into a single platform. The best thing? This is done with only a few simple clicks.
Zapier and Jitterbit are among some popular third-party apps that facilitate this kind of integration.
Code-based Integration
Salesforce integration can also be performed using programming languages instead of specific apps. Yet, most of the time, it is conducted through Apex – a private computer language whose syntax resembles that of Java.
Doing Salesforce integration with Apex offers many perks, including:
- Built-in support for the Salesforce Lightning App Builder.
- Suitability for different versions of API.
- Simple and easy-to-understand language.
- Hosting and its complete management on the Lightning Platform.
How to Create Salesforce Forms With No Code Tools?
Are you looking forward to enhancing your organizational efficiency? Honestly speaking, you can always streamline your business procedures with Salesforce Forms.
Salesforce Forms have myriad applications across industries. They are a viable option for those who aspire to maximize Salesforce’s potential. And probably, the quickest way to build Salesforce Forms is without writing a single line of code.
Indubitably, there are several options available for importing data into Salesforce, but not all are equal. What does it mean? Some solutions require more manual labor, while others may fail to connect data as precisely as you desire.
That is the reason choosing an appropriate platform is vital for creating Salesforce Forms that are flexible enough to accommodate your data collection needs.
In this section, we will discuss available options for Salesforce data collection and why we think an integrated web form platform is the best option to choose from. Then, we will move forward to creating Salesforce Forms using various form options and software.
How to Get Your Data into Salesforce?
First things first, you need to enter data into Salesforce, be it new lead data, event signups, customers’ support case data, or something else.
But manual entering of data is a vivid “no” for many reasons. Not only is it a cumbersome task, but also it comes with a high likelihood of mistakes.
Other methods of loading your data to Salesforce are more logical. We will walk you through each option and elaborate on which one is best. But the final choice is entirely up to you.
Option 1: Export/Import Data From Your System Using Data Loader
Sometimes, you may need to add a vast amount of data to Salesforce at once, for instance, when you get a CSV file of contact information from an event you’re working on.
Other times, you may have no other option than uploading data to Salesforce because the system you’re working on doesn’t integrate directly with Salesforce. Data Loader is handy in these situations.
Option 2: Use Salesforce’s Web-to-Lead Tool or Native Options
You can also use the Web-to-Lead and Web-to-Case forms on your website to collect and enter information into your CRM.
Although forms are built-in, Salesforce native options provide an easy-to-implement solution, but they may not be as customizable as you need for your case.
Option 3: Use An External Salesforce Forms Platform
The last option, best in our opinion, is to use an external web form tool that integrates well with Salesforce. There are many platforms available for this purpose, but the one standing among others is FormAssembly.
FormAssembly is a drag-and-drop web form builder. It offers numerous customization options and also lets you update and create records for standard or custom objects. With it, you can work with multiple objects, pre-fill data/information, and more.
Why Use An External Data Collection Tool?
Using an external data collection tool gives you solid integration options, which even surpass Salesforce’s native options. It also provides you with all the customization options of a full-featured web form builder.
With a trace of customization, it enables you to quickly create Salesforce forms and send your data to the intended place in Salesforce.
Salesforce Forms Use Cases
Salesforce forms from FormAssembly can be utilized in many commercial areas that use Salesforce. Here are a few use cases to help you get started:
- Higher Education: Educational application forms are often embedded into the pages of Salesforce Experience Cloud.
- Financial Services: Financial services use Salesforce forms to bring new clients on board.
- Healthcare: Healthcare departments use Salesforce forms for new patients’ registration.
- Government: The government uses Salesforce forms for event/program signups.
- Other Ways to Use: Salesforce forms are also used as contact forms, surveys, feedback forms, and more.
Comprehensive Guide to Creating Salesforce Forms
Salesforce Forms creation is not rocket science – it doesn’t require you to have coding or programming expertise. As we mentioned above, you can easily create forms with FormAssembly drag-and-drop controls.
In this sub-section, we will walk you through how easy it could be to build Salesform Forms with no coding.
Create A New Salesforce Form
If you have a clear perception of how you want your form to be, creating it will be the simplest part of the process. There are numerous options available for creating a new Salesforce form, including:
- Blank Form: Start making a new form from scratch using a blank form.
- Salesforce Import: Connect to Salesforce CRM and select fields from multiple objects.
- Clone Form: Choose an existing form and amend it to fit your current needs.
- Readily Available Templates: Choose a template from the list and modify it as per your current requirements.
Set Up Your Additional Customizations
Next, add your fields one after another and set up any additional customizations you want. In this step, you can consider elements like:
- Required Fields: You can mark specific fields as required to get the necessary information you need to operate your business.
- Conditional Fields: Sometimes, you may wish to not show all fields at once to the respondents. Conditional settings help you hide certain fields and show them only when it’s appropriate time.
- Multiple Pages: A Salesforce form can have multiple pages, making it less tedious to fill out. You can easily see all the pages you make and the fields within them using the outline view of your FormAssembly form.
- Validations: Sometimes, you may need to enter information into your Salesforce forms in a specific format. Validations are the best option in such cases. You can easily use the format you want data to be entered in, with choices ranging from email to date or custom validations.
- Predefined Content: With web form platforms like FormAssembly, you can quickly add commonly used fields, for example, contact and address information, to your forms. It falls in the category of predefined content.
How Do Salesforce Forms Work?
Salesforce Forms are adaptable enough to fulfill the unique requirements of your business. FormAssembly has a web-to-anything feature to let you:
- Send Data to Custom Objects: With FormAssembly, you can make tailored forms that work with both standard and unique objects. You can make tweak-based customizations to your project.
- Pre-fill Form Options: With Salesforce pre-filled form options, customers won’t need to re-enter data you already have in your CRM. A pre-fill connector allows for an easy setup of this functionality.
- Conditionally Update Records: Sometimes, you might wish to update an existing Salesforce record instead of creating a new one. FormAssembly proffers the conditional functionality to achieve this.
- Send Form Uploads to Salesforce Files: FormAssembly allows respondents to attach multiple file types, which are uploaded upon submission. This feature works with the “Files” tab, present within the Lightning Interface.
- Perform Live Lookup: You can use the live lookout feature based on the fields in a FormAssembly form. It is typically done with FormAssembly’s Salesforce Dynamic Picklists functionality.
How to Connect Data to Salesforce?
Now that you know how to create A Salesforce form, it’s time to use the connector page. You can add different connectors to the page based on your preferences:
- Salesforce Submit Connector: Add this connector to your Salesforce form to send the information/data into your CRM.
- Salesforce Pre-fill Connector: Add this connector in the opened form step. It will pre-fill the available Salesforce data before the respondent fills out the form.
- Salesforce Sales Connector: This connector is added to the partial form response when the form is saved. It is used in the context of “save and resume” functionality.
How to Connect Your Salesforce Account to FormAssembly?
It is pretty easy to connect your account to the FormAssembly web platform. All you need is to follow these simple steps:
- Select An Object: Select any object type and make a new lead. Once you have set this up, the required objects will be added to your connector.
- Mapping Fields: Map the needed required and non-required object fields to connect to your Salesforce CRM.
- Testing Feature: Now, it’s time to save and test your Salesforce form. Check if the data is accurate and has found its way to your Salesforce account. You can change the connector option later.
How to Create Salesforce Dynamic Forms with WordPress?
Every one of us knows about WordPress. Recently, it has also introduced a Salesforce Form integration setup. That means your Salesforce CRM can now be integrated with your WordPress website as well.
WordPress forms allow you to connect any form to Salesforce. In addition, you can create different objects like accounts, contacts, customer cases, campaigns, and products. Let’s have a look at how to do it.
- Start in the Form Builder option, and click the “Marketing” option on the bar’s left side.
- Then, choose the “Salesforce” option and submit a new connection.
- Name your connection. This name will show up in the form builder so it can be easily identified later.
- Next, it is your turn to select the Salesforce account from the dropdown option.
- Select the lead as its marketing and map those fields on the contact form.
- Save your created form using the smart conditioning logic. It will automatically filter the leads sent to your Salesforce account.
- Finally, click the “Save” option, and you are ready to go.
What to Look for In A Salesforce Platform?
Your Salesforce Dynamic form should be easy-to-understand for both expert and non-technical people. Ensure you don’t have to go back and fix or change anything on the form.
Your form should also integrate well with other programs or applications. The capability to connect your form with only one app won’t take you anywhere.
The advanced features will let you integrate it with third-party applications and software. It should work with SAML and Salesforce Cloud Experience.
Remember, every business has distinct needs. So, choosing the best Salesforce Form tool is vital for shining in the commercial market.
Professional Tips
After all this discussion, do you want some professional tips from our side? Alright. Here are some professional tips that will help track your performance with Salesforce Dynamic Forms.
- When switching between layouts, be sure to pay attention because the list of available templates may only include ones that only work with Dynamic forms.
- In Salesforce Dynamic Forms, some fields or sections are set to “read-only.” It means that you cannot change them in the properties box. So, look around.
- Users may view fields from previous field sections while creating, editing, updating, or managing records. These records are not from the existing Salesforce record details.
- Keep in mind that Mobile-only Lightning pages lack compatibility with field section components. These components are “desktop-only” and may not display on mobile screens.
Summary
No business can operate without data collection, and Salesforce forms have made the mark as an excellent data collection tool for commercial needs.
Now, creating dynamic forms has become much easier, all thanks to third-party applications and no-code tools.
In this very article, we discussed the creation of Salesforce Dynamic Forms without writing a single line of coding. Before exploring how to create these forms, we had a brief overview of Salesforce, its benefits, and use cases.
We then had a bird’s eye view of no-code tools, their advantages, and the integration they offer. Afterward, we explained Salesforce Integration and its two major approaches.
Moving forward, we discussed the available options for Salesforce data collection and why we believe using an integrated web form platform is the best option.
Next, we looked at how to connect data to Salesforce, create Salesforce dynamic forms with WordPress, and provided tips for using Salesforce Dynamic Forms.
To cut a long story short, Salesforce Forms are an integral part of businesses, and creating them with no-code tools is an excellent way to streamline data collection procedures.
By following our outlined steps, businesses can efficiently create dynamic forms that meet their unique requirements. In the end, we hope this guide will help you a lot in your dynamic forms creation.