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Start for freeIntroduction to Data Architecture and Management in Salesforce
Gemma, a seasoned Salesforce expert with a decade of experience, recently hosted a session to discuss the intricacies of the Salesforce Data Architecture and Management Exam. Celebrating her 10th anniversary with Salesforce, Gemma embarked on a journey last year to expand her certifications, which led her to become a double Certified Architect with eyes set on the Certified Technical Architect (CTA) credential. Her session brought together professionals from around the globe, including London, Houston, Rotterdam, Denver, and Vienna.
The Salesforce Certification Journey
Gemma's motivation to pursue additional certifications stemmed from having extra time on her hands, which she wanted to utilize productively. This quest was not initially geared towards CTA, but as opportunities arose at her workplace, Bluewolf, her goals shifted. She emphasized that while aspirations for CTA are admirable, they are not necessary for everyone; satisfaction can be found in reaching the Certified Application Architect level.
Celebrating Certification Achievements
A highlight of the session was recognizing the achievements of fellow Salesforce enthusiasts, such as Kari, Julia, Louise, and Charlie, who earned various certifications, contributing to their professional growth and the collective success of the Salesforce community.
Deep Dive into Data Governance and Stewardship
The focus of the session was on data governance and stewardship within Salesforce, a critical aspect of any implementation. Gemma outlined the importance of these topics, not just for passing the exam but also for engaging in meaningful conversations with customers and managing data effectively.
Exploring Data Governance
Data governance involves understanding what data is collected, how it is secured, its purpose, and who is responsible for its creation, management, and updates. Ensuring data quality, availability, and usability is crucial, as well as managing conflicts between different records in Salesforce and other systems like SAP.
Data Stewardship and Tools
Data stewardship is about monitoring data collection and maintaining high standards. Tools within Salesforce, such as deduplication rules, matching rules, and apps like DemandTools, assist in this process. Validation rules, defaults, actions, unique fields, and automation also play a significant role in ensuring data quality.
Types of Data and Quality Factors
Gemma discussed various types of data, including master data, transactional data, reference data, and metadata. She highlighted factors that affect data quality, such as the age of the data, its completeness, accuracy, consistency, and utility. These considerations are vital for the exam and practical applications.
Roles and Responsibilities in Data Governance
The session covered the key roles in data governance frameworks, such as data stewards, the Governance Committee, the Data Governance Council, and the Data Governance Office. These roles ensure that data is managed effectively across the organization.
Crafting a Data Governance Strategy
Developing a data governance strategy involves analyzing the current state, defining data standards, roles, and monitoring methods. Implementing the plan requires getting buy-in from stakeholders and establishing committees and councils to oversee the governance processes.
Continuing the Data Governance Journey
Post-implementation, it's essential to establish regular reviews, dashboards, and forums to maintain data quality. Gemma suggested creating a 'clean your room' dashboard to empower users to manage their data effectively.
Resources and Next Steps
For those seeking to further their understanding of data governance and stewardship, Gemma recommended engaging in workshops, creating data quality scoring processes, and utilizing Salesforce's resources. She shared links to a helpful Dreamforce session on YouTube and encouraged joining the Trailblazer community for ongoing support.
Conclusion
The session concluded with an open Q&A, reinforcing the importance of studying the resource guide in depth and staying engaged with the Salesforce community for support and knowledge sharing. Gemma's insights into data architecture and management shed light on the essential components needed to excel in Salesforce and achieve certification success.
For those interested in the full session and more detailed insights, you can find the original video here.
