Someone asked at the local Salesforce nonprofit community group meeting yesterday “In the future, will there still be a need for admins or will we all be automated away?” I hope for my sake that this is not true, but it's definitely something that we should all keep in the back of our minds. Why are admins essential? And what unique value do we add to this role? I personally believe the biggest strength an admin can possess is judgement, which is not something that can be automated away.
The double-edged sword of Salesforce’s endless customization options is that there are many different ways to solve for the same challenge. Which solution is the right one depends on your organization’s needs, size, complexity, budget, staffing, culture, and much more. The best admins will pick the cheapest, most efficient solutions that get the job done dependably. They will also implement these solutions at the right time, with the right training and support to ensure sustainability.
Over the years, I’ve learned how to be a better project manager, change management agent, and business analyst – all of which have made me a better admin. If you are a fellow admin, I encourage you to think about the entire ecosystem of skills that you bring to your org. How can you position yourself to be the catalyst for success? What other skills do you think are essential to being an admin? Please share in the comments below.
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