The architecture pillar of the Salesforce Center of Excellence is a massive conversation. Setting up the architecture team and For now, let’s focus on three topics.
1. Data Modeling
One of my favorite expressions in construction is “measure twice and cut once”. The idea is, you want to confirm your choices before making a commitment. In Salesforce architecture, every extra moment spent in architecture will positively impact countless moments during implementation.
Proper data modelling is a core component of architecture, especially as the system gets more complex. Should we use custom or standard? Should we use a text field or a related list? Should the relationship be 1-to-many or many-to-any? The answers to these questions could have long and wide implications. Best to spend a little more time while it’s still just a concept.
2. End-to-End Architecture
Often, you cannot just consider the data modelling within the Salesforce ecosystem. There are many times in which Salesforce needs to integrate with other systems. Architects need to keep this in mind and build roadmaps on how to manage integrations. Should a staging object be used? What information needs to flow into Salesforce and what needs to flow out? What happens when there are errors?
Keeping the overall architecture in mind recognizes that Salesforce may just be a tree in the forest.
3. Architecture Review Board
An Architecture Review Board (ARB) is a gate in which the design of a project is presented to a larger technical audience. This board may be fellow architects in other domains, including integration architects, enterprise architects and the Chief Technical Officer.
An ARB is one way to ensure the solution is aligned with the overall technical and business goals of the organization. It also prevents a single architect from becoming a cowboy and designing something that is not aligned.
The takeaway
Good architecture is important regardless of the size of the organization or project. If you’re always in build mode, you won’t be able to build a well-architected and future-proof solution.