Understanding Standard vs. Custom Objects in Salesforce

Salesforce is a powerful tool for managing business data, but understanding how it organises that data is key to using it effectively. One of the most important concepts to grasp is the difference between standard objects and custom objects. Here’s a beginner-friendly guide to help you understand these terms and when to use custom objects.

What Are Standard Objects?

Standard objects are pre-built by Salesforce to cover common business needs. They come ready to use and include fields and functionality that suit general use cases. Here are some examples of standard objects:

Accounts: Stores information about companies or organisations you work with.
Contacts: Holds details about individuals associated with an account.
Opportunities: Tracks potential sales deals or business opportunities.
Cases: Used for managing customer support requests.
Leads: Captures potential customers who haven’t yet been qualified.

Standard objects are great because they’re easy to set up and integrate with other Salesforce features. They’re perfect for typical scenarios like managing customer relationships or tracking sales.

What Are Custom Objects?

Custom objects are objects you create to store information unique to your business. They’re completely flexible, allowing you to add fields, relationships, and functionality specific to your organisation’s needs. Examples of when you might use custom objects include:

Inventory Management: Tracking stock levels or product details.
Employee Records: Storing data about your team, such as certifications or performance reviews.
Installed systems: Keeping track of device serial numbers.

With custom objects, you are not limited to the pre-set structure of standard objects. You can design them to fit your exact requirements.

When to Use Custom Objects?

While standard objects handle many business scenarios well, there are times when they don’t quite fit. Here’s when custom objects are the better choice:

Unique Data: If the information you need to track doesn’t fit into any standard object, a custom object is ideal. For example, a charity might need to track donations, which doesn’t naturally align with standard objects.
Specialised Processes: When your business has a unique workflow or process, custom objects can help. For instance, a logistics company might create a custom object for tracking deliveries.
Integration Needs: If you’re integrating Salesforce with another system that uses unique data, a custom object can bridge the gap.

How to Create Custom Objects?

Creating a custom object in Salesforce is straightforward. Here’s a quick overview:

Go to Setup and search for “Objects” in the Quick Find box.
Select Object Manager, then click Create.
Fill in details like the object’s label and name.
Add custom fields to store the specific data you need.
Configure permissions to ensure the right users can access the object.

Once created, your custom object will function just like a standard object, with all the same benefits of reporting, automation, and integration.

Summary

Understanding the difference between standard and custom objects helps you get the most out of Salesforce. Use standard objects for common business needs and custom objects when your data or processes are unique. With this balance, you’ll build a system that truly supports your organisation.

If you need help designing custom objects or setting up your Salesforce system, contact IntegraLogic for a free consultation. We’re here to make Salesforce work perfectly for your business!