Tired of the clunky Salesforce Classic interface slowing you down? Wondering how to upgrade without disrupting your workflow? If you’ve been considering a Salesforce Lightning migration but feel overwhelmed by where to start, you’re not alone.
Migrating from Classic to Lightning isn’t just a UI upgrade—it’s a game changer for productivity, user experience, and business growth. Lightning offers a modern, intuitive interface engineered to help your sales reps, service agents, and admins work smarter, faster, and more effectively. As part of comprehensive Salesforce Solutions, this migration empowers teams with advanced tools, automation, and insights that drive efficiency and results.
Stick with me, and I’ll walk you through every step to make your transition seamless and stress-free. By the end of this guide, you’ll be equipped to handle the shift efficiently, avoid common pitfalls, and leverage Lightning’s latest capabilities for 2025 and beyond.
Understanding Classic to Lightning Migration
Salesforce offers two main user experiences: Classic and Lightning. Understanding what sets them apart is critical before embarking on a Salesforce Lightning migration.
Overview of Salesforce Classic vs. Lightning
Salesforce Classic, while reliable, offers a dated interface developed over a decade ago. It’s heavy on list views and static pages, which can slow workflows and limit customization.
Lightning Experience is a complete redesign with a modern, dynamic UI tailored for today’s mobile-centric workforce. It uses components and apps that you can drag, drop, and configure visually. It supports enhanced productivity tools like Kanban boards, Einstein AI guidance, and personalized dashboards, all designed to improve how users interact with CRM data.
Why Migrate? Benefits of the UI Upgrade
- Improved User Productivity: Lightning enables quicker navigation and access to relevant info through customizable components.
- Enhanced Mobile Responsiveness: Designed for any device, Lightning supports remote and field teams seamlessly.
- Better Customization and Automation: With tools like Lightning App Builder and Flow Builder, admins can create highly tailored experiences without extensive coding.
- Access to Salesforce’s Latest Features: Salesforce continuously builds innovations exclusively for Lightning, including AI insights, analytics, and integration tools.
- Future-proofing Your CRM: Salesforce has announced increased focus on Lightning moving forward, signaling the eventual phase-out of Classic.
Common Challenges During Migration
Migrating from Classic to Lightning isn’t without challenges:
- User Resistance: Change fatigue can impact adoption, especially with a significantly new UI.
- Customizations Compatibility: Some existing Classic customizations or Visualforce pages might not work seamlessly in Lightning.
- Data and Configuration Integrity: Ensuring all CRM data and configurations transfer correctly.
- Training and Support Needs: Users require focused guidance to maximize Lightning’s features.
Knowing these ahead of time helps you plan mitigation strategies.
Preparing for Salesforce Lightning Migration
Pre-migration preparation is the foundation of a successful Salesforce Lightning migration. Skipping this step can lead to delays, user frustration, and inefficient adoption.
Assessing Current Salesforce Setup and Customizations
Begin by auditing your current Salesforce environment:
- Identify custom objects, Visualforce pages, Apex code, and third-party integrations.
- Check which components are Lightning-ready and which need updating or replacement.
- Use Salesforce’s Lightning Experience Readiness Check—a free tool that scans your org and provides a tailored report highlighting potential issues.
Evaluating User Adoption Readiness
User experience impacts CRM adoption and ROI significantly. Survey your users on their familiarity with Lightning-style interfaces and gather feedback on pain points in Classic.
Also, identify user groups with specialized needs or heavy customization requirements.
Backing Up Data and Configuration
Always back up critical CRM data, metadata, and configurations before any major change. Use Salesforce’s Data Export Service or third-party backup tools to create safe restore points.
Creating a Migration Timeline and Roadmap
Craft a clear, realistic plan with milestones:
- Readiness checks and fixes
- Pilot testing with a select user group
- Training sessions for all users
- Full rollout and support phases
Allow buffer time to troubleshoot issues uncovered during pilot and testing.
A well-planned timeline prevents rushed work and helps balance ongoing business needs with migration activities.
Step-by-Step Migration Process: From Classic to Lightning
This phase-by-phase roadmap ensures your Classic to Lightning journey follows best practices tailored for efficiency and minimal disruption.
Phase 1: Enable Lightning Experience
- Navigate to Setup → Lightning Experience Settings.
- Enable Lightning for your organization but keep Salesforce Classic available during the transition.
- Set Lightning as the default experience for pilot users first.
- Monitor adoption metrics and troubleshoot accessibility issues.
Phase 2: Customize Lightning Pages and Components
- Redesign key pages using the Lightning App Builder.
- Replace unsupported Classic Visualforce pages with Lightning components or Lightning Web Components (LWC).
- Tailor record pages, app pages, and home pages to fit user roles and workflows.
- Utilize pre-built Lightning components wherever possible to speed up development.
Phase 3: Testing User Roles and Permissions in Lightning
- Verify all profiles and permission sets function smoothly within Lightning.
- Ensure visibility and page layouts accurately reflect role requirements.
- Test integrations and third-party apps for Lightning compatibility.
- Collect feedback from pilot users for any access or functionality gaps.
Phase 4: Training Users for the New UI
- Develop role-specific training materials focusing on key UI changes and new capabilities.
- Host live training sessions and create on-demand tutorials.
- Leverage Salesforce’s Trailhead modules dedicated to Lightning user education.
- Create a feedback loop for continuous improvement post-training.
Phase 5: Full Deployment and Post-Migration Support
- Once pilot feedback is positive, plan the full rollout.
- Monitor user activity and performance metrics closely.
- Provide a dedicated support channel for troubleshooting.
- Plan for iterative improvements based on user feedback and evolving business needs.
Best Practices for a Smooth UI Upgrade
Successful Salesforce Lightning Migration depends on strategy, communication, and continuous monitoring.
Communicating Changes to Stakeholders
- Inform all stakeholders early about migration goals, benefits, and timelines.
- Highlight how Lightning addresses long-standing pain points.
- Use newsletters, demo sessions, and internal blogs to keep messaging consistent.
Incremental Rollout vs. Full Switch
- Start with an incremental rollout to groups that are more tech-savvy or engaged.
- Gradually increase the user base to Lightning Experience.
- This allows troubleshooting and adjustment with minimal business disruption.
Leveraging Salesforce’s Built-in Lightning Migration Tools
- Use the Lightning Experience Transition Assistant to guide migration steps.
- Leverage Readiness Reports and the Lightning Migration App for dashboards monitoring progress.
- These tools save time and reduce manual error.
Monitoring Performance and Gathering User Feedback
- Track login patterns, feature usage, and support cases post-migration.
- Use surveys and focus groups to collect qualitative insights.
- Iteratively optimize pages, processes, and training based on findings.
Advanced Tips and Future Trends in Salesforce Lightning
Lightning continues to evolve rapidly. For 2025, here are strategic ways to leverage the latest features and tools post-migration.
Utilizing Lightning App Builder and Flow Builder for Automation
- Merge UI customization with business process automation using Flow Builder.
- Build dynamic, interactive components that guide users step-by-step.
- Automate repetitive tasks, approvals, and notifications seamlessly within Lightning pages.
Integration with AI-powered Salesforce Features
- Enable Einstein AI capabilities for predictive analytics and intelligent insights directly inside Lightning.
- Use AI-driven recommendations in Sales and Service Clouds to prioritize leads and cases.
Preparing for Continuous UI and Functionality Upgrades
- Salesforce releases three major Lightning updates annually.
- Stay engaged with release notes and sandbox testing.
- Maintain a governance team to ensure ongoing compatibility and adoption of new features.
Trends in Lightning Customization and Third-party Apps
- Expect increased use of Lightning Web Components (LWC) for lightweight, responsive components.
- Utilize AppExchange’s expanding suite of Lightning-optimized apps to add niche functionality.
- Leverage API-first architectures for better integration with external business systems.
Conclusion
Migrating from Salesforce Classic to Lightning is a critical step toward future-proofing your CRM environment and enhancing productivity. It transforms your UI, unlocks new business capabilities, and creates a more user-friendly experience aligned with today’s digital-first world. A trusted software development company can help ensure a seamless migration, tailoring Lightning’s features to your unique business needs for maximum impact.
Armed with a clear, step-by-step approach as outlined, your transition can be smooth, controlled, and impactful. When you’re ready to take your Salesforce Lightning migration to the next level, WildnetEdge stands as a trusted authority to guide and support you throughout the process.
Don’t just upgrade—transform your Salesforce experience with WildnetEdge. Reach out today to get started!
FAQs
Q1: What is the best approach to migrate from Salesforce Classic to Lightning?
A1: The best approach involves assessing your current setup, enabling Lightning Experience in phases, customizing the UI, training users, and monitoring the rollout carefully to ensure smooth adoption.
Q2: How long does a typical Salesforce Lightning migration take?
A2: Migration time varies based on the size and complexity of your Salesforce instance but generally ranges from a few weeks to several months, including planning, testing, and user training.
Q3: What are the main benefits of a Salesforce UI upgrade to Lightning?
A3: Benefits include a modern, intuitive interface, improved productivity tools, enhanced customization options, better mobile responsiveness, and access to the latest Salesforce innovations.
Q4: Can I switch back to Salesforce Classic after migrating to Lightning?
A4: Yes, Salesforce allows users to switch between Classic and Lightning during migration, but it’s best to fully transition to Lightning to leverage its advantages and Salesforce’s future focus.
Q5: How can WildnetEdge help with my Salesforce Lightning migration?
A5: WildnetEdge offers expert consulting, hands-on migration support, user training, and post-migration optimization to ensure your Salesforce Lightning upgrade is efficient and successful.