A few weeks ago, we shared release notes of the Salesforce Winter ’23, highlighting the new features. One of them is especially exciting: Salesforce LWC (Lightning Web Components) have arrived at Field Service Lightning!
We may be talking about the best update that FSL has received in recent releases. As in the entire Salesforce ecosystem, there had been enhancements that were always helpful, allowing us to work in groups or offline — but nothing that really could change the way we thought about implementing a solution with Field Service.
What are the Lightning Web Components or LWC
For many, the term LWC may sound strange. Lightning Web Components are custom HTML elements built using modern HTML and javascript. They use the Web Components core, which is a new feature of modern Web browsers that provides a standard component model for the Web.
But what does the last Salesforce LWC update really mean?
The FSL mobile application has been incorporating small improvements that allowed us to customize the application using specific streams that were quite limited. For example, they did not allow you to create dependent lists, enter custom components (quite limiting), or perform quick actions. In the end, the ability to customize this application or increase its functionality was always very limited.
So if the application has very limited customization capabilities, can it meet the needs of different customers in different sectors? That’s a yes! You just needed a commitment from the implementation team to adapt the application, while at the same time the business team standardized the process.
This enabled successful solutions, but the added value was always limited.
This has just changed
The ability to incorporate LWCs within the application opens up a world of possibilities, as they allow you to carry out almost any action you can imagine. Likewise, virtually any functionality can be incorporated within the Salesforce or mobile application. As explained above, the LWCs are components based on the Web standard, so it would be possible to introduce most of the elements that may be inside a Web site or a component, so that it can be displayed on the web.
In addition, the components can be distributed through the Salesforce AppExchange platform, which in a short time could have a large number of useful FSL-specific components that make it possible to complement the functionality or the original interface of the tool without the need to develop them. In this way, we maintain one of the strengths of Salesforce: the ability to find a solution that meets any customer need, avoiding complex and potentially costly development.
Standardizing a process and bringing it closer to the model proposed by Salesforce will remain the best solution without a doubt. However, now the value we can add to this solution is not limited and it will be possible to extend the standard functionality to cover any need a customer may have.
Nonetheless, this feature is still in beta and its future limitations are not yet known. But we can’t avoid being excited about it, and can’t wait to start implementing it and increasing the value of our solutions.
At S4G we have experience implementing solutions for different types of Field Service customers of different sizes. No matter what the magnitude of your network is, or the complexity of the logic required to plan a service. We will study the problem, transform it into a challenge and help you optimize your business. In addition, with our experience, we will accompany your next steps to achieve solution adoption and ultimate success.
If you are interested in knowing more about Salesforce’s LWC, please do not hesitate to contact us. Field Service could be the future of your organization!
Salesforce Developer