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Use a Lightning Web Component (LWC) from a managed package inside a custom LWC

by Callum Hurry in News

Introduction 

This article covers how to use a Lightning Web Component (LWC) that exists inside of a managed package (from a different namespace) inside a custom LWC. 

This is something we have been able to do with Aura components for a long time but still to this date we face challenges to complete this operation when working solely with LWCs. 

To solve this problem, we will look at using Lightning Web Security in Salesforce. 

The use case

Managed packages are a great way to obtain pre-built functionality for your org quickly and can be installed by following a URL or through the AppExchange. 

Some of these managed packages will contain LWCs which you may want to wrap inside your existing components. This is achieved by referencing the LWC name(s) in your source code. 

Without using Lightning Web Security, you will encounter the error “Attempting to reference cross-namespace module X in Y” which is why Lightning Web Security must be enabled for this solution. 

Reference a managed LWC inside a custom LWC 

In this scenario we’re going to use the Address Verification Flow Component by ProvenWorks as it demonstrates: 

  • An LWC belonging to a managed package namespace (pw_avfc), 
  • Using properties in a component. 

I have created a new LWC in Visual Studio Code and opened the HTML file. Lines 3 to 6 reference the Address Verification Flow Component. 

Whilst the component name is pw_avfc:addressVerificationFlowBaseComponent, the camel casing needs to be converted to kebab casing. This changes the name (and what we would have used in Aura) to pw_avfc-address-verification-flow-base-component. 

If you’re not familiar with kebab casing, check out this trailhead that explains how to convert from camel casing to kebab. 

The component has some properties that we’re passing values to, these names (useCounty and inlineMode) have also been converted to kebab casing. 

Once you have completed the above, you can deploy the LWC to your org. 

Enabling Lightning Web Security 

As mentioned, this approach will only work when Lightning Web Security is enabled so we must enable this before testing.  

  • Go to Salesforce Setup | Session Settings. 
  • Enable Use Lightning Web Security for Lightning web components. 
  • Select Save. 

You will now need to clear your browser cache for the change to take effect. 

Lightning Web Security overview 

This article isn’t for the purpose of explaining Lightning Web Security in any detail other than it’s the answer to this problem. At the date of writing this article (31/AUG/2022) Lightning Web Security comes with limitations that can impact other component behaviour. 

The Salesforce Developer documentation on the topic is filled with lots of useful information about the feature. You can find out more here: Lightning Web Security – Salesforce Lightning Component Library. I recommend specifically reviewing the subtopic of “When to Enable Lightning Web Security” as this may help you determine if it is suitable for your use case. 

At the time of writing, a current example of Lightning Web Security causing issues is when using Vlocity OmniStudio. When the feature is enabled in an org, OmniStudio becomes unusable. To work around this, you can simply disable the setting, use OmniStudio and then reenable Lightning Web Security when you’re ready to deploy.  

Specifically with OmniStudio, Salesforce’s current recommendation is “..keep the ‘Use Lightning Web Security for Lightning web components’ checkbox unchecked…” Not able to save Omniscripts – ‘Use Lightning Web Security for Lightning web components’ Enabled (salesforce.com) but there may be some alternative options like leaving it disabled in sandbox/dev organisation and enabled in production, but this really is a last resort. 

Test your component 

Now it’s time to look at the component. Place it somewhere in your org to test (i.e. an app, a flow screen, etc.). When you look at your custom component, you should now find the managed package component is successfully rendering within it. 

If you’re still seeing errors linked to “Attempting to reference cross-namespace module” then ensure your browser cache is cleared and try again. 

Summary

We’ve investigated how you can wrap a LWC from a managed package inside of a custom LWC which will hopefully unlock some potential for your org to grow quicker than before. Whilst it is currently dependent on Lightning Web Security (which has its limitations), it is clear that Salesforce is continuing to work on and improve its functionality. 

Head in the Clouds: What are the Salesforce Clouds?

by Laura Truman in Data Management News

Salesforce has a huge variety of clouds (platforms built on Salesforce CRM) available to use, designed to serve different industries and business goals.

We know that knowledge is key when it comes to Salesforce, so with that in mind, here are the clouds we’ve explored and explained so far. In each post, we take a look at key terminology, business values of using that cloud and specifically what you can do with the functionality available to you!

Happy learning!

The Salesforce Clouds!

What cloud do you want to learn more about?

Want us to explore any more clouds? Why not send us a message or come join the conversation on LinkedIn!

About ProvenWorks

We mean it when we say we’re Salesforce experts. We work exclusively in the Salesforce ecosystem and our solutions are built 100% for Salesforce.

About Us

Everything you need to know about AddressTools 8.0 (Summer ‘22 Release)

by Callum Hurry in AddressTools News

You may think we’ve been quiet for a little while with AddressTools releases, but we’ve been hard at work to bring you AddressTools 8.0 🚀

We’re always aiming to provide a better product to our customers so in this post, we’ll go through the changes and improvements we’re bringing in this latest update of AddressTools.

Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:

Enhanced support for State & Country/Territory Picklists

At it’s core AddressTools has always been compatible with Salesforce State & Country/Territory Picklists. However we acknowledge that it was a real chore to configure and could lead to a world of confusion when deploying the tool.

We’ve streamlined this and drastically improved the experience to provide clearer support to the end user when Salesforce State & Country/Territory Picklists are enabled. You will now see picklists available in all AddressTools components and there is better compatibility between your AddressTools dataset and the Salesforce State & Country/Territory Picklists dataset.

With the upcoming custom address field type which is locked to using Salesforce State & Country/Territory Picklists, this update will streamline your setup time drastically. Keep your eyes peeled as we continue to improve this experience!

What’s changed so far?

  • Added support for Salesforce State & Country/Territory picklists in override page.
  • Added support for Salesforce State & Country/Territory picklists in record page component.
  • Improved the unison between datasets minimising the task of aligning the two.
  • Correct acknowledgement of inactive State & Country/Territory data.
  • Introduced support for the use of text and picklist fields simultaneously (Address field type ready!)

New Address Label data returned with address verification 

Do you send international mail and sometimes wonder how to format the address? In this release we have implemented a useful feature ideal for international mailing. Address Label outputs – enabling a hassle-free label, ready for printing.

When using verification, you will now be able to configure a text area in Address Blocks and it will automatically be populated with how the address should be formatted for the country it will be sent to, ready for postal services to handle. Check out the updated documentation here.

Improved page layout management

We always try to make life as easy as possible for our users. In this latest release, the AddressTools override page will place all required functional fields onto the page layout for you. 

No more wondering why the address status didn’t update, no more trawling through page layouts to ensure they have all the fields you need, no more confusion. Just a quick setup that’s ready to go out of the box. 

New storage information & installation options available in the AddressTools Administration Page

Storage-related issues have been the #1 cause of raised cases in the last few weeks. That’s why we’ve added some extra information and options when configuring the tool so that you can be your own data hero.

Users can now select what data points they want to install from the AddressTools dataset. Don’t need US County data? Then leave it unchecked during install! Just testing in a sandbox? Why not just use Country and State data.

We’ve also added your current storage size and total available storage to the overview panel so you have all the information to make the right decisions with no distractions.

And there’s more…

On top of the highlights we’ve explored here, AddressTools version 8.0 brings a ton of quality of life enhancements. If you want to see the full list of features and improvements, you can check out our release notes. 

How do I update to AddressTools 8.0?  

You can upgrade your version of AddressTools by installing the package from the Appexchange. 

Upgrade now

💡 If you need a helping hand, here’s our blogpost on how to upgrade an AppExchange app in 4 easy steps.

Try AddressTools for free  

We provide a 14 day free trial here so you can try out AddressTools 8.0 for yourself! Start journey to better data today.

Get a trial

How to get a job at a Salesforce ISV

by Beth Clements in News

If you’ve stumbled upon this blog and want to find out more about what a Salesforce ISV is and why you should work at one, please check out part 1 of this mini-series: Why work for a Salesforce ISV?

As part of my role, I am directly involved in recruitment at a scale up ISV. In this second part of our mini-series, I’m going to share what I’ve learned along the way through many hiring processes.

We’re going to take a look at some of the key skills you need to work at a Salesforce ISV, regardless of role, as well as a few top tips to give you the edge over the competition. There’ll even be a sneak peak at some real job interview questions!

What skills do I need to work at a Salesforce ISV?

Being adaptable is going to be incredibly important in having a long-lasting career at a Salesforce ISV. Not only do you have to keep up to date with the ISV’s product releases but you also have to be two steps ahead of Salesforce releases too. This goes hand in hand with having to be super organised. If you can prove that you have these two skills, you’re going to go a long way! 

Another thing that I look out for is passion. Regardless of relevant experience, if you can show passion and determination to learn and get stuck in, there’s a high chance you will be able to get your foot in the door to begin your career in this industry. 

What will give me the edge over other candidates?

Get on Trailhead! It is a FREE online learning platform filled with bitesize modules which are applied to real life scenarios to help users understand every aspect of the Salesforce platform.

Not only will it help you to understand if this industry is right for you but it will also give you the competitive edge. Not sure where to start? I recommend this module to begin with. 

What are the interview questions like?

Having interviewed plenty of people here at ProvenWorks, the most common questions I ask for an entry-level role are:

  • What are the main benefits of using Salesforce?
  • Can you explain what a CRM is to someone who has never heard of it before?
  • What is the app store called that has over 5,000 Salesforce applications on it?
  • What product(s) do we sell?
  • Why would a customer want to use our product(s)? (This one is crucial: I want to know if you understand the value of our products)

Top tips from Salesforce experts

You’ll find that people who work in the Salesforce ecosystem are always happy to collaborate. So when I reached out to a variety of people that have either worked with ISVs, previously worked at an ISV or currently work at one, they were happy to share their experience.

Ben McCarthy

Ben McCarthy has been in the Salesforce Ecosystem since 2012, and is the founder of SalesforceBen.com, the largest Salesforce news site in the world. He’s spent his career working across end-users, consultancies and ISVs. 

ISVs are a great place to thrive as a Salesforce professional, but it can require a mindshift when moving from an end-user or SI.

ISVs sell Salesforce products, and therefore no matter where you are working in the business, sales, marketing or customer success, you need to understand the value the product provides. Even if you are not in sales, employees of an ISV should always be looking for ways to further help their customers, and help them extract more value from the product.

Ensuring you learn about the industry and product of the company you are applying for is a sure fire way to impress your interviewers. 

💡 Check out a wide range of ISV opportunities all over the globe at SFB Jobs!

Mike Davis

Mike is currently the Founder of GTM Guides, a consulting company that helps smart teams with great tech become successful companies in the Salesforce ecosystem. Mike has been navigating the Salesforce ecosystem for over a decade and has developed a deep knowledge of what works within it. His experience includes time at Xactly, Conga, and TaskRay. While the majority of his career has focused on the revenue side of the house—specifically in sales and alliances leadership—he has experienced every functional aspect of the Salesforce ecosystem within ISVs.

If you are new to the ecosystem, your most likely entry point into an ISV is going to either as a Support analyst or SDR/BDR in the sales function. I personally started as a support analyst and it gave me a wonderful opportunity to learn the Salesforce platform and customer service skills that served to inform my approach to sales (and all things go-to-market).

When you are applying for any job, know that there are hundreds of others that submit their resume alongside yours – how do you bubble up to the top 10 that get a phone screen?

If you are spending 10 hours per week applying for jobs, I would recommend spending 2.5 hours per job and apply to 4 jobs vs. spending 30 minutes per job applying to 20 jobs as you need to stand out. Someone needs to understand why they are going to take a chance on you as an unproven candidate in the ecosystem. Showing up with “why you and why them” messaging and Trailhead badges completed are two easy ways to stand out.

Summary

Now you’re all clued up on why you’d want to work for an ISV and how to get a job at an ISV, why not check out our careers page! We look at every CV we’re sent, even if we’re currently not advertising for a specific role.

And remember, even though it can feel really tough at times trying to move into a new sector, there are things you can do to set yourself apart. Keep going, it WILL be worth it!

Why work for a Salesforce ISV?

by Beth Clements in News

If you’re looking to work in software, you might well have heard of Salesforce, but did you know there is a whole ecosystem of jobs around Salesforce?

We’re going to explore the opportunities available in the wider Salesforce ecosystem, focusing on Salesforce ISV partners, and the reasons why you should consider working there.

But first, perhaps it’s worth explaining a few key terms.

What is a Salesforce ISV?

ISV stands for Independent Software Vendor. An ISV is an organisation specialising in making and selling application-specific software – in this case, solutions for Salesforce.

ISV partners create apps that are unique and expand, adjust or supplement the existing functionality that Salesforce offers. You can find a whole range of apps listed on the Salesforce AppExchange. 

What is the Salesforce AppExchange?

We’ve all got apps on our phones. The AppExchange is a marketplace exactly like the App or Play store but specifically for Salesforce. 

What are the benefits of working at a Salesforce ISV?

So now we know what a Salesforce ISV does, why should you consider working at one?
A few benefits spring to mind:

1. Remote working

The majority of ISVs you come across will offer remote / hybrid working. It’s something that Salesforce pushes heavily so it makes sense that ISVs follow suit.

2. Events

It’s likely everyone you come across in the Software / Tech industry will have heard of Salesforce but not as likely that they will know about every single ISV that exists (there are more than 5,000 apps on the AppExchange to give you some context here!). So naturally, whatever your role at an ISV, you’ll be encouraged to go to events or community-run user groups to get the company’s name out there.

🍕 I’ve not been to an event that hasn’t offered free food yet so what’s not to love!

3. The ISV community

Whilst you will find the first two benefits in most software companies, what makes ISVs unique is their collaborative nature. It’s an incredibly welcoming and friendly ecosystem. There’s even a huge Slack group exclusively for Salesforce ISV partners to share ideas, ask questions and work together! Chances are there will be opportunities for collaboration, co-hosting events, knowledge sharing, and no doubt you’ll make some great friends along the way!

Why work for an ISV?

Working for an ISV is incredibly rewarding because not only are you learning all about the Salesforce platform but you are also learning about the ins and outs of the product the ISV is selling too. One thing to bear in mind is that all ISVs are different. Like with any organisation, there are small ISVs and large ISVs. That’s why I’ve been in touch with a few people from different ISVs (who have different roles within their ISV) to get a few perspectives. 

💡 Note: It’s highly likely that anyone you speak to within the Salesforce ecosystem is going to be willing to help you out. So if you want to know more about what it’s like to work at a certain ISV, why not get in touch with them to see if they can give you some insight? 

Ruth Cawdron

Ruth Cawdron discovered the Salesforce ecosystem when she joined ProvenWorks, a British ISV, a year and a half ago. Switching industries after five years in the education sector, Ruth brings a keen passion for storytelling and creative collaboration to her role of Marketing Manager.

I think what’s struck me most working for a Salesforce ISV is that I have the best of both worlds. Obviously there are global ISVs out there but I’m lucky enough to work at a scale up. The size of our team means I get to wear lots of different hats and every day I see the direct impact of my contribution and decisions for the business. Equally, as a Salesforce Partner, we’re privileged to attend lots of huge (like REALLY HUGE!) events and gain access to opportunities that smaller software companies in other industries wouldn’t get. Yes, I work at a scale up, but I have potential to tap into the Salesforce’s 150,000-strong customer base and meet 200,000 trailblazers at Dreamforce!

The other thing I’d add is that there is a long term career in the Salesforce ISV industry if you want one. The skills you learn at one ISV and, equally as important, the contacts that you make, are completely transferable from one ISV to another regardless of size and industry.

Jack McCurdy

Jack is Salesforce DevOps Advocate at Gearset, guiding and educating Salesforce customers on how they can streamline delivery of their Salesforce applications. Jack spends most of his time in and building the community, with the aim of creating happier, more successful, and empowered professionals. 

Working at an ISV gives you so much opportunity to understand how and why Salesforce teams do what they do. With that you can add a lot of colour, and a lot of value, to conversations across the ecosystem with the Salesforce professionals you meet who are looking to overcome the challenges that either you solve, or have spoken with others about. 

We are all Salesforce end-users ourselves, or building AppExchange applications. That of course means there are roles in ISVs if building is your thing. But, if you’re looking to expand your horizons, apply your Salesforce knowledge differently, or gain exposure to how organisations work from every angle, then an ISV could be the place for you.

Are there other ways I can get involved in the Salesforce Ecosystem other than at an ISV?

Yes! There are two other main routes:

  • SI (System Integrator)
  • End Customer

Want to know more? Here’s a webinar hosted by Salesforce Ben and Hays Technology to tell you everything you need to know! (PS. I was talking on the webinar too!)

Summary

We’ve looked at what a Salesforce ISV is, and how it sells apps on the AppExchange. We’ve taken a dive into some of the key benefits of working at an ISV and heard from different people within the ISV community. Hopefully that’s given you some insight into why you might be interested in working for a Salesforce ISV!

How to get a job at an ISV

If you want to take the next step, stay tuned for Part 2 of this mini series to find out How to get a job at a Salesforce ISV.

Updating your solutions for Legacy API Retirement in Summer ‘22

by Callum Hurry in AddressTools IndustryComplete News PhoneTools SimpleImport

What Legacy APIs are Salesforce retiring?

As part of their Summer ‘22 Release, Salesforce has announced the retirement of a number of legacy APIs.

Versions 7.0 through 20.0 of the Salesforce Platform SOAP, REST, and Bulk APIs will be deprecated and no longer supported as of the Summer ’22 release.

This means that these legacy APIs, and third-party integrations that rely on them, will cease to function after the release.

When are the Legacy APIs being retired?

Salesforce announced that June 10 and 11 2022 is the final release weekend when all remaining Salesforce instances are upgraded if they haven’t been already.

Legacy API Retirements and ProvenWorks solutions

To ensure that you do not encounter any issues with AddressTools, SimpleImport, IndustryComplete or PhoneTools, we recommend ensuring that your current version is or is later than the versions listed in this post. If you need advice on how to upgrade an AppExchange managed package, please see the resources linked at the end.

We have listed the version of each tool, including a link to its latest AppExchange listing, that you must be on in order to be using supported APIs.

AddressTools Premium:

7.75+

AddressTools Free:

6.20+

Address Verification Flow Component:

1.72+

SimpleImport Free:

2.47+

SimpleImport Premium:

2.57+

ManagedImport:

1.15+

PhoneTools:

2.0+

IndustryComplete:

2.16+

Resources

Prepare for Legacy API Retirement in Summer ’22 – Salesforce Developers’ Blog

Salesforce Platform API Versions 21.0 through 30.0 Retirement – Salesforce Help

Salesforce Summer ‘22 Release — Here’s What to Expect – Salesforce News

Salesforce Summer ’22 Release Notes

Don’t Miss These Key Dates: Summer ’22 Sandbox Preview

How to upgrade your ProvenWorks solution

We wrote a handy four-step guide to walk you through how to upgrade your AppExchange solutions.

Learn more

Contact us

If you’re worried about how the API retirements might affect you and your ProvenWorks solution, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Contact us

Verify addresses in a flow: Introducing the Address Verification Flow Component

by Ruth Cawdron in AddressTools News

Following Salesforce’s announcement that they will be retiring Workflow Rules and Process Builder, it’s clear that Flows are the future and the future is here to stay.

With that in mind, we are so excited to introduce our Address Verification Flow Component, now available on the AppExchange! Verify addresses in a flow using global postal authority data for over 240 countries.

Why should you verify addresses?

Did you know that verifying addresses up-front can reduce failed delivery rates by up to 70%? Improve customer experience and save wasted costs with verified addresses.

💡 Want to know more? Watch our 2 minute video: Why verifying addresses is important | Salesforce CRM.

Why should you verify addresses in a flow?

We’ve designed the Address Verification Flow Component to make it as easy as possible for Administrators to ‘hot-swap’ the vanilla Address component with our own component followed by a quick re-binding of any set flow variables.

So it’s easy to set up. How about some facts and figures too?

  • Create an exceptional user experience by reducing data entry time by 78% and errors by 20%.
  • Unlike Google, access global postal authority data such as Royal Mail, USPS, Canada Post for truly verified data, reducing failed delivery rates by up to 70%.
  • Autopopulate any address fields in 5 keystrokes or less.

The use cases

  • Digital Experience – Do you use an ecommerce checkout or a user registration portal? Verify addresses at the point of entry!
  • Internal Flow – Capture user addresses quick with type-ahead verified data. Perfect for Service Cloud users!
  • Endless possibilities – Wrap our solution in a custom Aura component for total flexibility!

Try out the Address Verification Flow Component

Why not start off with a free trial of the component?

  1. Install AddressTools Premium from the AppExchange (this is how you will manage your credit usage) 
  2. Install the Address Verification Flow Component from the AppExchange.
  3. Follow our brand new step-by-step setup installation walkthrough
  4. Drag and drop the component into your Flows and you’re ready to flow!

If you get stuck or have any questions, feel free to contact our Support team who are more than happy to help you: support@provenworks.com.

Interested? Chat to us

The Address Verification Flow Component is an extension of our popular solution AddressTools. Pricing of the Address Verification Flow Component depends on your use case. Get in touch with us to discuss your requirements and we’ll get you the most accurate information!

Get ready for PhoneTools 2.0 (Spring ‘22 Release)

by Callum Hurry in News PhoneTools

We’re excited to announce that PhoneTools 2.0 (Spring ‘22 Release) has arrived!

PhoneTools lets you screen your numbers against the TPS and CTPS databases, keeping you compliant with UK data privacy laws – all within Salesforce! With the much-anticipated addition of flow functionality and brand new support documentation, let’s take a closer look.

Screen your numbers in a Salesforce flow

Let’s quickly recap PhoneTools so far. PhoneTools already allows you to schedule automated nightly record screening, specifically records that have not yet been screened or have their Next Screen Due Date in the past.

Whilst practical, this leaves a window of time after the record is inserted/updated where the numbers won’t be screened until the next nightly batch job or manual user interaction.

That’s where flows come in to fill the gap.

PhoneTools 2.0 can be used within the powerful process automation tool that is Salesforce flow. What does this look like in practice? This means that you can now queue an immediate TPS and CTPS screening job to get the numbers’ screening statuses in seconds*!

With the flow, PhoneTools will queue a screening job automatically so there’s no need to wait for a nightly screening job. Equally important, is that you no longer need to rely on the user to manually click ‘Screen Phone Numbers’. Crucially, this means you can remove responsibility from your users and automate the process… what a business win!

How can you use your flow? Our best practice recommendation is to queue your screening jobs on insert and update to make sure your org has a shorter period of time holding data without a valid screening status. The outcome? Streamline your sales team’s operations and let them focus on what they do best, selling!

*This relies on an asynchronous Salesforce Future Methods – times may vary depending on your org.

Does this replace my existing method of screening numbers?

This flow functionality is designed to be an additional method to screen numbers on top of what you already have configured. The nightly batch job is key for picking up those records when they’re overdue and the ‘Screen Phone Numbers’ button is helpful for re-opening old prospects. The flow functionality is designed to minimize the gap between inserting new data and providing a status as soon as possible without user interaction.

Tried and tested documentation

With the addition of flow capabilities, we’ve published some new documentation to walk you through our recommendation for configuring the PhoneTools flow.

By the end of the guide, you’ll have your own flow configured and ready to screen those inserted and updated numbers. With the flow, you’re good to go!

How do I access PhoneTools 2.0 (Spring ‘22)?

Great question! In order to access PhoneTools 2.0, you will need to upgrade your package version from the AppExchange. If you haven’t installed PhoneTools, why not use our two week free trial?

Need a bit more help? Check out our handy guide: How to upgrade an AppExchange App in 4 steps.

If you get stuck or have any questions, feel free to contact our Support team who are more than happy to help you: support@provenworks.com.

PhoneTools

Screen against UK TPS and CTPS databases to stay compliant and avoid fines. Learn more and book a demo.

Find out more

ProvenWorks inspiring the next generation of the Salesforce ecosystem?

by Laura Truman in News

On Wednesday 9th February, Beth and Ruth, our Operations Director and Marketing Manager, headed down the hill from the ProvenWorks office to UTC College. They had been given the perfect opportunity to share their passion for all things technology, software and Salesforce!

UTC College, a local school in Reading, had invited ProvenWorks to run a careers workshop as part of their Industry Skills Specialist Teaching and Knowledge Programme. This business masterclass programme consists of weekly career sessions across mixed year groups.

An introduction to the Salesforce ecosystem

The workshop focused on careers in software, specifically within the Salesforce ecosystem. To start, Beth and Ruth shared their own journeys into software from very distinct backgrounds, showing students that opportunities in the industry are available regardless of subject choices and skillsets.

After an introduction to the range of jobs available within the Salesforce ecosystem – Administrator, Developer, Architect, Business Analyst, Consultant and more – it was onto a practical challenge!

It’s project time!

For the challenge, students had the chance to act out a role available in the Salesforce ecosystem through the lens of a specific time and budget restrained project. For example the Developer had to ask if they could build a solution rather than buy one, the Business Analyst had to assess the risks of the project, and the Admin had to research how user-friendly the proposed solution was.

“We learnt that there is more to making software for a customer than what the customer wants. The budget that is given to you needs to be managed properly to make sure that you stay under budget because there are many other costs involved within a project. There is great responsibility on the Consultant and the Salesforce Architect.”

Muhammad, Year 13 BTEC Student

Reflection and feedback

The session was rounded off with a reflection on the project as well as the highlights and challenges of each student’s role. By the end, Beth and Ruth had a classroom full of aspirational Developers, Admins, Architects and more!

“Students found the workshop very engaging thanks to it being such an interactive and team-based session. Students now know what it is like to be in a particular job role and understand the kind of responsibilities they may have in that job role along with expected salary.”

Monika Dongare, Computer Science and BTEC Teacher

ProvenWorks investing in education

At ProvenWorks we’re delighted to share our own career journeys into software. It is a privilege to deliver authentic stories and meaningful workshops to a classroom full of engaged students, seeing them solve problems, work together and reflect on their own skill sets. From what we’ve seen in the workshop, we can’t wait to see what the future holds!

Summarised succinctly by one up-and-coming Business Analyst: “Miss, that was a sick lesson!”.

About ProvenWorks

We mean it when we say we’re Salesforce experts. We work exclusively in the Salesforce ecosystem and our products are built 100% for Salesforce.

About Us

Interview: Farm Credit Illinois transition to new software seamlessly with SimpleImport

by Ruth Cawdron in News SimpleImport Success Stories

“SimpleImport is used by our whole credit underwriting team multiple times a day.”

Jon Cook, Vice President – Credit Services Division at Farm Credit Illinois

Farm Credit Illinois is a farmer owned and directed agricultural lending cooperative serving 10,000 farm families, agribusinesses, and rural landowners in the southern 60 counties of Illinois with competitive and flexible financing and crop insurance expertise. Their deep understanding of agriculture enables them to provide knowledgeable and effective service. 

An interview with Jon Cook, Vice President – Credit Services Division at Farm Credit Illinois

Jon Cook shares the challenges that Farm Credit Illinois faced when they moved to new loan origination software and how SimpleImport was able to give them the seamless process they were looking for.

What specific challenges were you trying to solve that made you look for a solution?

Farm Credit Illinois (FCI) recently implemented the nCino suite for our loan origination platform. During our design and discovery phase, we realized we were going to have a gap in our credit underwriting process because our previous configuration for uploading financial data sets was not going to be compatible with nCino.

We needed to upload data sets from Excel to the loan origination system for risk rating and other company objectives. Along with our technology provider, Farm Credit Financial Partners, Inc. (FPI), we began the search to find a solution to fit our needs.

What were you (or weren’t you!) looking for in a solution?

  • A cost effective, secure, and efficient tool to import data from Excel into our nCino platform.
  • A solution that could be easily used by our Credit Department and fit seamlessly within the process without adding additional navigation or clicks.
  • We could not afford to sacrifice our member experience by negatively impacting turnaround time in our loan decisions or employee engagement with a complex or cumbersome solution.
  • We did not want a complex solution that would require more regular monitoring or resource demand for support, or leave us vulnerable to data errors in transition.

After a process of vetting different solutions, from internally built custom code to outside solutions, we found ProvenWorks. The tool SimpleImport fit our need to efficiently and effectively upload data from Excel to nCino.

How easy is it to use SimpleImport?

Very easy! Once we created and saved the import mapping, the end user experience was seamless! We have one saved mapping that is used by many users multiple times a day. It’s a key cog within our underwriting process of uploading data.

How long did it take to train your users?

We were able to coincide the implementation of SimpleImport with the go-live of our nCino platform. As a result, we incorporated the training for SimpleImport in our new guides which made for a seamless transition to SimpleImport. This tool was labelled a “win” in multiple training locations during training courses.

How does SimpleImport solve the challenges you had with your process?

At the drag and drop of an Excel file, we’re able to import data from our Excel model into the nCino loan product package in a seamless transition.

The efficiency gained from SimpleImport saves end users from manually entering these data points from point A to point B, reduces data integrity concerns at an effective cost and demands minimal resources to implement and maintain.

How has SimpleImport helped your business and customers?

The saved data mapping is used by our whole credit underwriting team multiple times a day. At FCI, we view SimpleImport as our end solution and feel it best fits into the process as we underwrite credit today. The results through two months are very valuable, as this tool in part helped our credit department underwrite a large Q4 loan demand. Without SimpleImport, this would have negatively impacted loan decision turnaround time with our members and our employee engagement.

Why SimpleImport?

We’ve had no reason to contact Support thus far – which is a good sign as we haven’t had any issues! I’ve started mentioning ProvenWorks and specifically the SimpleImport tool as a solution for anyone who needs to transfer data from Excel to nCino.

We thought our previous system coding in our previous loan origination system was efficient, but the SimpleImport tool was just as efficient if not better as now we can also drag and drop files.

In short, it’s an efficient, cost effective tool that requires marginal training demand and can be used by an individual or a team of users on a frequent or infrequent basis.

SimpleImport

Importing files is so vital for so many organizations. It’s good news that Simplelmport makes this job as effortless as possible. Learn more and book a demo.

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Got questions? Chat to us!

Do you want to learn more about how SimpleImport could be a great addition to your Salesforce org? We’d love to chat! Use the scheduler to book a free call with our team and start your journey to faster, simpler imports

Can’t find a time that works for you or would rather email first? Fill out our contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

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