If you are planning to move from Salesforce Classic to Lightning Experience, you might want to let your users maximize the power and speed of this platform, which today’s users expect and demand.
Let’s get deeper to know the complete scenario.
As you are a Salesforce admin, you are already well-versed in working with this CRM platform.
Salesforce has two different desktop user interfaces:
- Salesforce Classic, and
- Lightning Experience.
From a user’s perspective, Salesforce Classic has everything that Salesforce Lightning has. However, a few features make the latter different from the former, making it more action-oriented.
In this post, we will learn what factors affect Lightning Experience performance. We will also unveil the secrets to optimizing your network, user browsers and devices, and organization configuration to keep your business running faster.
What is Salesforce Classic?
Salesforce Classic is a former and the original Salesforce CRM platform’s user interface that was the primary way to let users interact with Salesforce for numerous years before Lightning Experience came into existence.
Key features in Salesforce Classic
- Contact management
- Opportunity management
- Lead tracking
- Reporting
- Case management
- Customizable dashboards
What is Salesforce Lightning?
Salesforce Lightning is the new and latest user interface for the Salesforce CRM platform. Crafted to keep user experience on track, it arrives with an intuitive and visually appealing interface.
Because of Lightning Experience’s responsive design, it can be viewed on various device screens, such as tablets, smartphones, and desktops.
Key Features of Salesforce Lightning
- Enhanced navigation and user experience
- Improved mobile experience
- Customizable home page and app builder
- Advanced reporting and analytics
- Integration with popular productivity tools
- AppExchange integration for added functionalities
Salesforce Lightning vs Classic: Detailed Comparison
As we read, varied factors are considered when comparing Salesforce Lightning and Classic. We have picked every parameter separately to differentiate between these two.
1. User Interface
Salesforce Classic
Do you remember traditional, tab-based interfaces? Salesforce Classic features the same with a left-hand navigation menu. While creating an easy viewing experience for users, such a menu can collapse.
You will find a Salesforce Classic layout similar to a desktop application, which you can use to access varied records and modules.
Salesforce Lightning
While using Salesforce Lightning, you will find its UI more responsive and sleek with a component-based architecture. Shifting to a more visually captivating and modern approach, the Salesforce UI has a customizable home page for users with interactive dashboards and improved navigation.
Prioritizing personalization and productivity, Lightning arrives with a more intuitive and magnetizing user experience.
Feature | Salesforce Lightning | Salesforce Classic |
Overall Look and Feel | Easy-to-use, intuitive, and visually appealing | Traditional, less captivating |
Navigation | Easily navigable with a consistent layout | It can be complicated and less intuitive |
Responsiveness | Optimized for different devices (desktop, mobile, tablet) | Specially crafted for desktop |
Mobile Optimization | In-built mobile optimization | Less optimized for mobile devices |
User Experience | Aims to increase user productivity and efficiency | Follow the traditional approach to user interaction |
2. Customization
Salesforce Classic
Arriving with limited customization capabilities, Salesforce Classic primarily allows tailoring field-level help, page layouts, and validation rules. Generally, this process is complicated and demands a deep knowledge of the platform. Also, Classic only offers a little support for app building and custom components.
Salesforce Lightning
Aiming at the power of customization, Salesforce Lightning offers the highest level of customization that lets users tailor the CRM platform per their specific business requirements. Users can create custom record pages, homepages, and dashboards using the drag-and-drop interface.
Lightning Components offers a flexible framework that eases the creation of reusable UI elements. This UI also supports extensive customization for field-level help, page layouts, and validation rules.
Feature | Salesforce Lightning | Salesforce Classic |
Customization Level | A top-level of customization | Less support for customization. |
Overall | Offers extensive customization power for modifying the platform per specific business needs | Allow basic customization, with limited options and lacks advanced features |
Ease of Use | User-friendly and intuitive customization process | Demands more technical understanding |
Customization Tools | Lightning App Builder, Lightning Components, drag-and-drop interface, | Page layouts, validation rules, and field-level help |
Flexibility | Highly flexible with the capability to build custom apps and components | Less flexible, restricted to predefined options |
3. Features
Salesforce Classic
Salesforce Classic provides a traditional yet familiar interface for users who are familiar with the Salesforce platform. You can reap the benefits of core functionalities that Classic offers, like contact management, case management, opportunity management, lead tracking, and reporting. Although it may lack a modern and easily navigable interface, it is still accepted as a reliable platform by businesses.
Salesforce Lightning
A user-friendly and latest version of Salesforce is Salesforce Lightning, which is widely used for its wide range of features and captivating interfaces. It arrives with a wide range of features crafted to improve productivity. Its key features include interactive dashboards, a customizable homepage, advanced opportunity insights, Kanban boards, and seamless integration with external apps. Lightning also comprises AI-powered features, such as Einstein Analytics, that help with predictive analysis and offer insights.
Feature | Salesforce Lightning | Salesforce Classic |
Collaboration | Improved collaboration features, Chatter integration | Basic collaboration tools |
Service Features | Knowledge base, case management, community | Standard case management and knowledge base |
Productivity Tools | Lightning Flow, AppExchange integration, Einstein Analytics | Limited productivity tools |
Sales Features | Advanced sales features, forecasting, opportunity insights | Basic sales features |
Platform Features | Heroku integration, Lightning Platform for app development, | Limited platform capabilities |
4. Performance
Salesforce Lightning
Salesforce Lightning is preferred for its better performance than Salesforce Classic. Using the latest technologies and a modern browser-based architecture leads to improved responsiveness, faster load times, and seamless user experience. Also, Lightning aims at mobile optimization, which contributes to improved performance on varied devices.
Salesforce Classic
While Salesforce Classic is functional, it tends to perform slower than Lightning. Its older architecture may take longer in various jobs, specifically when handling complex reports or large datasets. With the constant focus on Lightning as the main platform, Salesforce may need to put more effort into improving Classic’s performance.
Feature | Salesforce Lightning | Salesforce Classic |
Load Times | Rapid page load times | Slower page load times |
Responsiveness | Enhanced responsiveness, flawless user experience | It can be slow, particularly with complex actions |
Scalability | Better scalability to manage rising data volumes | Can experience performance issues with large datasets |
Overall Performance | Generally faster, better optimized, and more responsive | It can be sluggish, especially with big datasets or complex reports |
5. Security
Salesforce Lightning
Salesforce Lightning prioritizes security by incorporating enhanced features like Lightning Locker that separate components to keep them safe against vulnerabilities. Also, Lightning provides enhanced security reporting, session management, and auditing abilities. Thus, Lightning is considered a more secure platform for managing sensitive data.
Salesforce Classic
This Salesforce interface has a robust security groundwork with field-level security, data encryption, and role-based access control features. But, it may miss some advanced security features that Lightning incorporates. If correctly updated and maintained, Classic may be protected from attacks.
Feature | Salesforce Lightning | Salesforce Classic |
Overall Security | More robust security features and focus | Solid security foundation with less advanced features |
Vulnerability Protection | Enhanced protection from vulnerabilities because of modern architecture | Potential vulnerabilities because of older architecture |
Security Features | Improved session management, auditing, Lightning Locker, security reporting, | Role-based access control, data encryption,field-level security |
Data Protection | Include advanced data protection measures | Robust data protection but may lack some of the latest features |
Compliance | Better alignment with industry regulations and standards | Meets basic compliance needs |
Note*: One who prefers to work with the older interface or needs only specific functionalities may use Classic, which is still available for users
Salesforce is proactively participating in making users migrate to Lightning Experience to let them maximize the CRM with improved features, modern designs, and enhanced performance.
Why Should You Migrate Salesforce Classic to Salesforce Lightning?
Various reasons say businesses should opt for Salesforce Classic to Lightning Migration.
Let’s unveil some:
Enhanced Mobile Experience: As Lightning is mobile optimized, users can access CRM functionalities and data seamlessly on their devices.
Improved User Experience: Lightning’s interface is visually appealing and intuitive, boosting productivity and user satisfaction.
Augmented Productivity: You can experience quick and efficient workflows using Lightning, which incorporates features such as Lightning Flow, App Builder, and Einstein.
Future-Proofing: Salesforce encourages users to opt for Lightning, embracing new features and functionalities that can meet their custom project needs.
Cost Savings: You may need to pay an initial cost of migration, but in turn, they can enjoy lasting benefits, such as increased productivity and efficiency, that lead to cost savings.
Access to Innovation: With Lightning, you can access the latest Salesforce innovations, such as Einstein AI and other avant-garde features.
If you want to make the best of the Salesforce CRM platform, migrate to Lightning and catch up with a competitive edge.
How EmizenTech Can Help You?
Salesforce Classic or Salesforce Lightning?
At this point, you have cleared all your doubts about both these interfaces. If you still need clarification, contact a Salesforce development company.
Considering a future-proof decision, look no further than EmizenTech, which offers seamless Salesforce migration services with no data loss.
Key Highlights to Choose EmizenTech
- Extensive Experience
- Seamless Scalability
- Consistent Collaboration
- Faster Time-to-Market
- Robust Security
Final Note
Salesforce Lightning has become more than a choice today because of its enhanced features, security, innovative interface, customization capabilities, and boosted performance.
You can also go with Salesforce Classic, but you know Salesforce has stopped updating it because it needs to match the steps of revolutionizing market trends and user needs.
Still, finding yourself in a muddle? Consult with certified Salesforce consultants. They will help you navigate the daunting task of choosing between Salesforce Classic and Lightning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Salesforce Classic offers a traditional interface with limited customization, while Lightning provides a modern, user-friendly interface with enhanced features and customizable components.
Salesforce Lightning is generally more suitable for large enterprises due to its advanced capabilities, better performance, and scalability options.
Yes, switching from Classic to Lightning is possible, but it may require some customization and training to fully utilize the new features and interface.
There is no additional cost for using Salesforce Lightning; however, you might incur expenses related to training and customization when transitioning from Classic.
Salesforce Lightning enhances productivity with features like customizable dashboards, integrated AI tools, and a mobile-friendly design, making it easier to manage tasks and data.