With time, as data generation grows, businesses crop up with a need for platforms that can assist them in making the best use of their customer data. One such platform is Salesforce, the world’s #1 customer relationship management platform, which helps brands manage customer data to the fullest.
Eyeing a report by Grand View Research, the CRM market size is expected to spend around $163.16 billion on CRM by 2027. Why lag? You should also opt for mostly-chosen Salesforce implementation. But, Greenfield Implementation or Brownfield Implementation, which one to choose? Well, it entirely depends on various factors.
In this post, we will learn about Greenfield implementation, Brownfield implementation, Greenfield vs. Brownfield Implementation in Salesforce, and which one you should opt for.
Let’s buckle up and explore more!
What is Greenfield Implementation in Salesforce?
When a company needs a fresh start with Salesforce as their business already lacks a CRM platform, they should go for greenfield implementation. With this approach, a company can design and customize business procedures per their requirements.
What is Brownfield Implementation in Salesforce?
An enterprise already having a well-established CRM platform and looking to leverage the best out of Salesforce, pick Brownfield implementation. Following this strategy, the enterprises extend the existing business processes and potency, matching the steps of the latest trends and technologies.
What is the Difference Between Greenfield Implementation and Brownfield Implementation in Salesforce?
1. Implementation Technique
Greenfield implementation lets the company start the project from scratch, freeing them from the current platform or system. With no previous Salesforce existence, while freshly starting, brands design and configure this CRM platform according to their business needs.
On the counterpart, Brownfield implementation lets the organization improve its existing business caliber and processes by implementing Salesforce on top of the older ones; with every new release of Salesforce, the current procedure gets revamped that goes seamlessly with the changing customer needs.
2. Customization Possibility
Greenfield Implementation permits designing data models, system architecture, user interface elements, workflows, and automation with no existing limitations.
On the other edge, the limitations of the current data model, configurations, and workflows restrict the implementation team from customization flexibility.
3. Scalability
Since the start of development from scratch, the scalability scope in Greenfield solutions has been quite broad. This trait allows for meeting extensive requirements of users when needed. While at the same time, when new processes ask for extra qualified resources to move seamlessly with the improved workflows, it leads to compatibility issues.
On the other hand, in the Brownfield implementation, scalability is limited with the legacy systems but compatibility and user adoption is easy.
4. Project Development Timeframe
As there’s no performing restriction per the existing infrastructure and systems, the Greenfield implementation timeline for project development goes comparatively ahead.
While choosing the Brownfield approach, as everything is set already, project completion will take less time than usual. But, if major changes are done, again projects may take longer with the evolving trends and technologies.
5. Code Reusability
Again, the Greenfield implementation has no connection with the legacy system, so there’s no possibility of code reusability within Salesforce. The codes are private and permit no modifications.
Within Salesforce, Brownfield permits code reusability. The existing codebase of Salesforce is considered for reuse to improve the program’s functionality and complete varied jobs faster. Here, in unmanaged packages, post metadata installation into production, you can see the codes and make the changes that suit the app.
6. Project Risk
With the new development, risk possibilities come to the surface in Greenfield implementation because of the newly crafted business process that still needs to be confirmed. Also, new experiments are more prone to new challenges; thus, implementation will likely arrive with impractical and undetected risks that will go unnoticed now influence ahead when there’s no time to erect.
On the contrary, With Brownfield, no issue will go overlooked, but here you will find a little change in the scenario. As implementation is made on top of a stable and already in-use infrastructure, the risks are not likely to pop up.
7. Development Cost
The Greenfield implementation in the Salesforce approach takes a fresh start, so it looks for everything new, the development, implementation, code creation, and more that results in increased cost of development.
On the contrary, Brownfield implementation performs on the current infrastructure, permits code reusability and boosts the caliber of already in-use features. So, the cost of redefining the existing business process is comparatively less.
| Parameters | Greenfield | Brownfield |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Approach | Start from the ground up. | Take place on current and already in-use infrastructure or systems. |
| Choice for Technology | You can choose per your project needs. | You need to continue with the already chosen technology. |
| Code Reusability | It also starts with new, so code reuse is impossible. | You can use the code of the legacy system as the implementation is done on the previous developer’s code. |
| Project Risks | With everything new, the risks always come along. There’s also the system that is prone to risks. | Here, there’s no risk as the setup is already stable. |
| Development Timeframe | It will take a little as everything will start from scratch. | As the improvement is made to the current system, developers may take longer to get adapted and complete the project. |
| Scalability | A new system will crop up with a wide scope of scalability. | With a legacy system, the scalability is also limited. |
| Compatibility | Obviously, there’s a compatibility issue with a new system. | An existing system will not face any such issue and will ease user adoption. |
| Customization Option | There’s no restriction in customizing a new system according to your project needs. | The existing workflows and infrastructure limit customization flexibility with a legacy system. |
| Data Conversion | Implementation will start from the ground, so, no need for data conversion. | Data conversion is necessary for a legacy system to migrate to Salesforce, ensuring data integrity and consistency. |
| Development Cost | It’s quite obvious that a fresh start demands everything to be set up, the system, code, development, implementation, etc. Resultantly, the development cost experiences a boost. | The code reuse, development, implementation, and more everything is feasible, so the development cost consecutively goes down. |
Greenfield or Brownfield – Which One to Choose?
To decide which Salesforce implementation approach to follow, you must understand that it depends on various factors, like the company’s requirements, timeframe, budget, current infrastructure, and prospective growth plans.
Greenfield and Brownfield implementation approaches in Salesforce crop up with specific benefits and challenges. So, a thorough analysis is essential regarding your business needs and objectives.
Both approaches have benefits and challenges, so the decision should be based on a thorough analysis of the specific business requirements and objectives. Conduct deep research before finalizing your implementation approach.
Final Note
While wrapping up, we hope you find this post informative and helpful in differentiating between Greenfield and Brownfield Implementation in Salesforce.
However, you know why Salesforce implementation is important; next, you should ensure which approach best fits your business and boost its growth.
Next, for seamless Salesforce integration, you should hire a Salesforce implementation company with a proven record of successful completion of implementation projects, a team of experts who can help in every implementation phase, and budget-friendly. You may lead to results within the decided time constraints.
Connect with a Salesforce Development company today and improve your business to catch up with increased sales and revenue.
Frequently Asked QuestionsFAQs
The greenfield implementation demands complete reengineering, whereas the brownfield implementation approach upgrades the existing system or infrastructure.
1. Customization flexibility
2. No need for data conversion
3. Wide scalability option
4. No compatibility issue
1. Easy to train and adopt
2. Code reusability
3. Less development cost
4. Diminished development effort and timeframe
Well, it entirely depends on the requirements of your business, budget, timeframe, growth plans, and more. So, deep research is required about your business requirements and objectives.
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