T.A.G.S (The Abhinav Gupta Show)

Summary In this conversation, Kapil Varma shares his extensive experience in data migration and integration, discussing the evolution of data handling techniques, the challenges faced in early data entry processes, and the shift towards cloud technologies like Salesforce. He highlights the emergence of new tools for data migration, the importance of understanding data behavior, and the future trends in data management, including the impact of AI. Kapil also reflects on complex migration projects and the lessons learned throughout his career. Takeaways Data migration is crucial for effective data management. Understanding data behavior is key to successful migration. The evolution of data handling tools has made processes easier. AI is transforming how we analyze and utilize data. Salesforce has significantly changed the landscape of data management. Challenges in data entry and processing require innovative solutions. New tools for data migration are emerging rapidly. Integration tools have become more accessible for businesses. The future of data migration will involve more AI-driven solutions. Kapil's journey illustrates the importance of adaptability in tech careers. References - All about TAGS Podcast - https://linktr.ee/tags_podcast Kapil Varma - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kapilvarma/

Summary In this conversation, Robin Gupta shares his extensive journey from sales to various roles in QA and test automation, discussing the evolution of QA roles, the impact of AI on testing, and the future of QA in the context of Salesforce. He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, the significance of prompt engineering, and the need for QA professionals to adapt to new technologies. Robin also reflects on his experience as an author and offers valuable insights for aspiring QA professionals. Takeaways Sales experience sharpens communication skills for QA roles. QA roles can evolve into product management or engineering management. AI is transforming the landscape of QA and testing. Continuous learning is essential for career progression in QA. Salesforce QA lacks specific certifications, but general certifications are beneficial. Automation is becoming a critical skill for QA professionals. Prompt engineering is crucial for leveraging AI tools effectively. Quality assurance is vital for maintaining product standards. The journey of writing a book can be challenging but rewarding. Staying curious and passionate is key to success in QA. Chapters 02:57 No Role is Terminal 07:55 The Value of QA and the Critique Perspective 12:17 Upskilling in Automation: Certified Admin Certification 17:39 The Evolution of QA and Shorter Development Cycles 20:06 The Importance of Continuous Learning 23:05 Choosing Between Technical and Business Roles 25:39 Choosing the Right Tools for Mobile and Web Testing 27:19 Considerations for Evaluating Testing Tools 31:34 The Potential and Challenges of AI in Testing 33:17 Understanding Prompt Engineering and Large Language Models 38:51 Insights from the Book 'Ultimate Selenium WebDriver for Test Automation' 44:43 The Importance of Continuous Learning and Taking Breaks in QA References: Connect with Robin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/polymorphicrobin/ Explore more about this podcast - https://linktr.ee/tags_podcast

Summary Ines Garcia, a Salesforce MVP and freelance consultant, shares her journey in the Salesforce ecosystem and the importance of community. She emphasizes the need for organizations to focus on delivering better value and reducing waste, both in terms of time and resources. Ines discusses the diverse range of roles she has taken on, including agile coaching, project delivery, solution architecture, and marketing cloud. She also highlights the significance of ethics and sustainability in the development and use of AI technologies. In terms of career advice, Ines suggests building a portfolio, telling stories to convey uniqueness, and shadowing experienced professionals. In this conversation, Ines Garcia discusses her approach to earning certifications and shares tips for studying and preparing for exams. She emphasizes the importance of hands-on experience and practical application when pursuing certifications. Ines also talks about her courses on Udemy and the value of practical, real-world examples in learning. The conversation then shifts to the topics of data cloud and marketing cloud, with Ines providing insights into their significance and the skills required to work with them. She also discusses her book, 'Sustainable Happy Profit,' which explores the intersection of sustainability, happiness, and profitability in business. Takeaways Focus on delivering better value and reducing waste in organizations. Embrace a diverse range of roles and explore different areas within Salesforce. Consider the ethical and sustainability implications of AI technologies. Build a portfolio and tell stories to showcase your unique skills and experiences. Shadow experienced professionals to gain practical knowledge and insights. Start small and learn fast when pursuing certifications Hands-on experience is crucial for understanding and applying concepts Utilize available resources like exam guides and documentation Consider taking courses and exploring practical examples to enhance learning Data cloud and marketing cloud are important areas of focus in the Salesforce ecosystem Email remains a valuable and intimate channel for communication Businesses should strive for sustainability, happiness, and profitability Chapters 02:27 Delivering Better Value and Reducing Waste 04:28 The Power of the Salesforce Community 08:35 Exploring Diverse Roles within Salesforce 12:41 The Importance of Ethics and Sustainability in AI 21:17 Gaining Practical Knowledge through Shadowing 25:38 The Value of Practical Learning and Courses 29:39 The Power of Email in Communication 38:41 Building Sustainable, Happy, and Profitable Businesses

In this conversation, Abhinav and Chirag discuss the ISV ecosystem of Salesforce and the nuances of listing a paid app on AppExchange. They also touch on chatbots and the Salesforce AMP program. Chirag shares his journey as an ISV and discusses his app, Metadata Search. They discuss the development cycle for building apps and the importance of having a solid business plan. They also address the challenges of customer requests for customizations and the decision to offer unmanaged code. The conversation provides insights into the ISV ecosystem and valuable tips for ISV partners. In this part of the conversation, the speakers discuss the options for ISVs when building and pricing their apps. They talk about using unmanaged packages, feature management, and extension packages. They also discuss the importance of setting the right pricing strategy, including per-user or per-org pricing, tiered pricing, and multi-year discounts. The speakers also touch on trials, support, and chat tools. Takeaways Listing a paid app on AppExchange requires understanding the nuances of the ISV ecosystem and the marketing tools provided by Salesforce. Building a successful app involves having a solid business plan, conducting market analysis, and starting with a minimum viable product (MVP). Customer requests for customizations should be carefully evaluated to ensure they align with the core product and do not compromise its integrity. Offering unmanaged code should be approached cautiously, considering the potential risks and implications for the product's security and intellectual property. Maintaining a strong support system, providing regular updates, and focusing on customer satisfaction are key factors in an app's success on AppExchange. ISVs should avoid using unmanaged packages and instead consider options like feature management and extension packages. Pricing strategies for ISVs can include per-user or per-org pricing, tiered pricing, and multi-year discounts. Trials are important for customers to test the app, and feature management can be used to control access to certain features during the trial period. Support is crucial for the success of an app, and ISVs should consider offering global support and building a strong knowledge base. Chat tools can be useful for providing real-time support to customers, but it's important to have a team available to respond to chat inquiries. More 🔗 - ⁠https://linktr.ee/tags_podcast

In this conversation, Abhinav and Harting discuss five App Exchange security review tools that every ISV should know. The tools covered are Checkmarx, Code Analyzer, OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite, and Chimera. Checkmarx is a must for AppExchange apps with code, while Code Analyzer is a powerful code scanner for Salesforce native code. OWASP ZAP and Burp Suite are used for scanning external API integrations, with ZAP being more comprehensive in its free version. Chimera is used for scanning servers that are owned by the client. The tools have different levels of CI/CD compatibility and limitations.

Kavindra Patel, a community-centric person at Salesforce, discusses his journey and the importance of community in the tech industry. He emphasizes the need for technical professionals with strong people skills to excel in roles like product evangelism. He also highlights the importance of teamwork and quality over quantity in community events. Kavindra shares his observations on the differences between Indian and Western communities and the key takeaways each can learn from the other. He also discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by the new generation and the impact of AI on the workforce. Salesforce India has experienced significant growth in recent years, with a focus on expanding its workforce and establishing talent hubs across the country. The company is strategically focused on roles in technology, R&D, sales, business support, and customer success. Salesforce India is positioning itself as a technology hub, strongly emphasizing AI and innovation. The country's trailblazer community is the largest in the world, and the sales economy in India is projected to create 1.8 million jobs and generate 88 billion in revenue by 2028. Developers in the Salesforce ecosystem need to adapt to the shift towards low-code development and AI, focusing on prompt engineering and skilling up in new technologies. Dreamforce is expected to highlight the importance of AI and data, and provide opportunities for developers to deepen their skills through hands-on experiences. Love and balance are key life lessons that can guide individuals personally and professionally.

Summary This conversation is about Salesforce startups and ISVs. The guest, Shailendra Singh, shares his journey as an ISV partner with Salesforce and the success of his app, Astonous, on the Salesforce AppExchange. He discusses the importance of gardening and how it relates to building a startup. Shailendra explains the challenges he faced in building his app, including outdated technology and lack of flexibility in existing apps on the AppExchange. He also shares tips for ISVs, such as visualizing success, being transparent with employers, and continuously reviewing and providing feedback to freelancers. In this conversation, Shailendra Singh and Abhinav discuss various strategies and challenges for ISVs in the Salesforce ecosystem. They emphasize the importance of putting the right keywords and customer reviews on the AppExchange to attract leads. They also discuss the role of graphic designers and content writers in creating attractive listings. Shailendra shares his experience with co-marketing programs and the importance of scalability. They also touch on the challenges of providing support and the benefits of using Salesforce for documentation and knowledge base. The conversation concludes with tips for ISVs, including focusing on building a sustainable business and finding niche markets. Takeaways Building a startup is like gardening - it requires nurturing and care. ISVs should focus on building dynamic apps that can be easily configured for different use cases. Transparency with employers about building an app can lead to support and a smooth transition to full-time entrepreneurship. Manifesting success through visualization and setting goals is important for ISVs. Hiring freelancers requires regular feedback and prompt reviews. The first customer can validate the app's functionality and boost morale. AppExchange is a valuable channel for finding customers, so it's important to optimize the app listing and keep it updated. Put the right keywords and customer reviews on the AppExchange to attract leads Consider hiring graphic designers and content writers to create attractive listings Explore co-marketing programs and partnerships with Salesforce account executives and SI partners Focus on scalability and finding niche markets to grow your business Provide support by documenting customer implementations and using Salesforce for knowledge base Submit your app for business approval and be transparent with Salesforce about your idea and strategy Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:40 Gardening as a Metaphor for business 03:31 Journey of Building an App on AppExchange 06:19 Making application dynamic, saving implementation time. 10:34 Acquiring non-tech skills to be an ISV 12:49 Moonlighting and working part-time as an employee 17:16 Setting own office 18:56 Power of Manifestation 20:48 Initial Challenges as an ISV 25:45 Getting the First Customer 28:03 AppExchange, Listing and it's Impact 30:11 Outsourcing Graphic Design and Content 33:10 Co-Marketing with Salesforce 36:20 Challenges and Scalability after 2 years of launch 39:15 Support and Documentation 42:04 Handling Different Time Zones in Customer Support 45:17 Utilizing Salesforce to the Max 48:06 Book Recommendation: Rework 50:30 Finding Gaps and Building a Sustainable Business 54:13 Submitting for Business Approval 56:30 Intro Banner.mp4

Summary QA Automation uses software tools and scripts to automate repetitive and manual testing tasks in the software development lifecycle. It includes test execution, regression testing, and performance testing. QA Automation helps in the early detection of defects and improves test coverage by executing a more comprehensive range of scenarios. It also enhances test accuracy by reducing the risk of human error. When choosing a QA Automation tool, evaluating project complexity, compatibility across different testing environments, and reporting capabilities is vital. Reporting is crucial in tracking test results, identifying trends, and making data-driven decisions. Various reporting tools and frameworks are available in the market, both open-source and paid. In this conversation, the principal themes discussed were the impact of parallelism on performance, the importance of customizability in test automation tools, the need for cost-benefit analysis when choosing a tool, and the introduction of UTAM and Tricentis as potential tools for Salesforce automation. UTAM is an open-source tool that requires initial training but allows for efficient automation of the Salesforce ecosystem. Tricentis is a comprehensive tool that addresses various challenges faced by Salesforce teams. Overall, the conversation highlighted the importance of choosing the right tool based on specific requirements and considering factors such as performance, customizability, and cost. Takeaways QA Automation automates repetitive and manual testing tasks in the software development lifecycle. QA Automation helps detect defects early and improves test coverage. QA Automation reduces the risk of human error and improves test accuracy. When choosing a QA Automation tool, evaluate project complexity, compatibility, and reporting capabilities. Increasing parallelism with the number of browsers can impact performance in test automation. Test automation tools should have flexibility in customizing test scripts and consider features like scripting language, plugin architecture, and configuration settings. Performing a cost-benefit analysis is crucial when choosing a test automation tool, considering factors like licensing fees, training costs, and productivity gains. UTAM is an open-source tool developed by Salesforce that allows for efficient automation of the Salesforce ecosystem. Tricentis is a comprehensive test automation tool that addresses various challenges faced by Salesforce teams. Chapters 00:00 Panel Introductions 02:59 What is QA Automation and its Benefits 08:28 Evaluating Requirements 13:24 Key Features to Consider 19:33 Decision Making Process 24:15 QA Automation options in Salesforce-verse 29:10 Conclusion and Next Steps

In this conversation, Sanket Atal, Managing Director for Salesforce Operations in India, discusses the Salesforce Startup Program and its goal of supporting startups in India. The program is not an accelerator or incubator but a startup community that offers connections, guidance, and access to the Salesforce platform. Sanket shares examples of startups that have benefited from the program, including developing apps, connecting with sales, and achieving success in the Salesforce ecosystem. The program promotes a pay-it-forward model, where startups help each other and contribute to the community. Salesforce is an accessible ecosystem to enter, even without a technical background. The platform allows individuals with a business background to solve specific business problems. Salesforce does not put any guardrails around the types of backgrounds or industries they work with, as they believe in enabling people to do amazing things. The key is to leverage the platform and connect with the right people within Salesforce for support. Ideas are plentiful, and it's important to have a customer-centric mindset when developing solutions. Design is also crucial, focusing on practicality rather than fancy features. Seeking help and being part of a community can greatly contribute to success. The conversation with Sanket Atal highlights the vibrant startup ecosystem in Singapore and the support it receives from the government. Salesforce is eager to enter the Singapore market and connect with the startup community. The response from startups, startup bodies, and VCs has been overwhelming. The goal is to create a global community of startups that help each other and thrive. Meditation and introspection are recommended practices for personal growth and success. The experience of witnessing the rise of South and Southeast Asia has been eye-opening and humbling, inspiring a desire to do bigger and better things for the community.