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What is What ID in Salesforce

What is What ID in Salesforce

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In our previous blog post we had discussed about What is Who ID in Salesforce. In these blog post we discuss about What is What ID in Salesforce

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What is What ID in Salesforce

What is What ID in Salesforce

In the world of Salesforce, understanding how data is stored and organized is key to managing customer relationships efficiently. Salesforce assigns unique identifiers, called IDs, to different records to keep everything organized. One such identifier is the What ID, which plays a critical role in linking various records and data across the platform.

This article will take a deep dive into the concept of What ID, explaining its importance, use cases, and how it fits into the larger Salesforce environment. By the end of this read, you’ll have a solid understanding of how to leverage What IDs effectively in your Salesforce system.

What is What ID in Salesforce

In Salesforce, What ID refers to the unique identifier that represents objects. These objects can be any standard or custom object like opportunities, cases, accounts, or even campaigns. Essentially, a What ID is linked to objects that are not specifically people. For example, while a contact or lead would be associated with a Who ID, a record such as an opportunity or case would be linked to a What ID.

Simply put, What ID is used when referring to any “thing” (an object) in Salesforce, whereas Who ID refers to a “person” (contact or lead).

Difference Between Who ID and What ID

A common source of confusion for Salesforce users is distinguishing between a Who ID and a What ID. Let’s break it down:

  • Who ID: This ID is used for people-based objects, such as contacts and leads. It identifies “who” is involved in a record.
  • What ID: This ID points to any object that isn’t a person, such as opportunities, accounts, campaigns, or cases. It defines “what” is involved.

Here’s a quick example:

  • Who ID: Contact “John Doe” involved in a case (represented by their unique contact ID)
  • What ID: The case “123456” associated with John Doe (represented by the case ID)

Purpose of What ID

So why is What ID important? The purpose of What ID is to help Salesforce connect various non-person records. It allows users to associate tasks and events with specific records that are vital to their business processes, ensuring everything is properly organized. This enhances data accuracy and consistency across the platform.

Objects Associated with What ID

Salesforce’s What ID can be associated with several standard objects. Some of the most common objects include:

  • Opportunities
  • Cases
  • Accounts
  • Campaigns
  • Contracts
  • Orders

In addition, What IDs can be used with custom objects as well, giving Salesforce admins flexibility in managing data for their unique business needs.

How to Use What ID in Salesforce

Using What ID in Salesforce is straightforward. You typically encounter it when:

  • Creating tasks and events: When creating an event or task, you’ll assign a Who ID for the person involved and a What ID for the object it’s related to (such as an opportunity or case).
  • Associating records: When linking records in the system, What ID plays a key role in helping Salesforce know which object a record is related to.

Common Scenarios for What ID Usage

Here are some real-world scenarios where What IDs come into play:

  • Linking tasks to opportunities: Let’s say you’re tracking follow-up tasks for a specific sales opportunity. The What ID helps you connect the task to the relevant opportunity record.
  • Managing customer support cases: If a customer opens a case, the What ID ensures that any related tasks or events are tied to that case, making it easier for support teams to track progress.

What ID in Workflow and Automation

What IDs are crucial when automating tasks in Salesforce. For example, you can use Process Builder or Flow to automate actions based on specific conditions tied to What IDs. For instance, if a case’s status changes, you can set up an automated action that updates tasks related to that case.

What ID in Reports and Dashboards

When creating Salesforce reports or dashboards, you can filter and display data using What IDs. This allows users to pull information about non-person objects, such as how many cases are linked to a particular opportunity or how many tasks are tied to a specific account.

Using What ID in Salesforce APIs

For developers working with Salesforce APIs, the What ID is an essential part of making API calls that involve non-person objects. You’ll use the What ID to query, update, or delete records associated with these objects.

Best Practices for Managing What IDs

To manage What IDs effectively in Salesforce, follow these best practices:

  1. Consistency is key: Always ensure that the correct What ID is associated with the appropriate object. Misassigning IDs can lead to data inconsistencies.
  2. Use automation: Leverage automation tools like Process Builder to automatically assign and manage What IDs where appropriate.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with What ID

Some common mistakes when using What IDs include:

  • Assigning a Who ID instead of a What ID: Ensure that you’re distinguishing between people and objects correctly.
  • Forgetting to assign a What ID: Not associating tasks or events with a What ID can make it harder to track records.

Debugging Issues Related to What ID

When encountering issues related to What IDs, debugging can be as simple as:

  • Checking record relationships: Ensure that the correct records are associated with the appropriate IDs.
  • Using the Salesforce Inspector: This tool helps identify any incorrect associations or missing IDs.

Advanced Usage of What ID

Salesforce power users often take What ID usage to the next level through custom integrations. By linking external systems to Salesforce records using What IDs, companies can create a unified data structure that streamlines operations across platforms.

Conclusion

Understanding What ID in Salesforce is essential for effective data management. It helps connect records to the right objects, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in workflows, automation, and reporting. By leveraging What ID correctly, you can ensure that your Salesforce data is well-organized and optimized for performance.

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FAQs

What is the difference between What ID and Who ID in Salesforce?
What ID refers to non-person objects like accounts and cases, while Who ID relates to people, such as contacts or leads.

Can custom objects have What IDs?
Yes, custom objects in Salesforce can also be assigned What IDs.

How can I find a What ID in Salesforce?
You can find What IDs in the URL of a record or by using Salesforce Inspector.

Is What ID used in Salesforce reports?
Yes, What IDs can be included in Salesforce reports to filter and display data related to objects like opportunities or cases.

How does What ID enhance data management?
What ID helps link tasks, events, and records to non-person objects, ensuring better organization and tracking of data.

In our next blog post we will discuss about Difference Between Freeze and Deactivate in Salesforce

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