If your Salesforce org was set up five or more years ago, it probably still works. But your staff may be scrolling through a long page of fields, clicking between tabs to find basic information, and keeping side notes because the layout doesn't show what they need.
Salesforce has changed a lot in that time. Here are the updates that make the biggest difference day to day.
1. Dynamic Forms: show only the fields that matter
Older page layouts show every field to everyone, all the time. With Dynamic Forms, fields can be placed anywhere on the page and shown or hidden by rules. A grant record can show award fields only when the status is "Awarded." A contact record can show volunteer fields only for volunteers. Pages get shorter, and users stop asking "why is this field here?"
2. Tabs and accordions: organize the page
Instead of one long scroll, you can group information into tabs (Details, Giving History, Activity) and collapsible accordion sections (Contact Info, Mailing Address, Preferences). Staff open what they need and ignore the rest. This is one of the quickest ways to make an old org feel new.
3. Half-page layouts: key information next to the work
A two-column layout puts the record details on one side and related lists, activity, or a key-facts panel on the other. Users don't have to jump to another tab to see the context they need while updating a record.
The below page layout utilizes half page layout with both tabs and a full width accordion to display a component that needs the full width of the page.
The accordion at the top can expand the full width calendar as needed.
4. Related Record components: see the connected record without leaving the page
Say you're on a donation or an opportunity and need the donor's contact details or the account's status. A Related Record component displays fields from the linked record right on the current page, with no extra clicks. It's useful for any case, gift, or application that points back to a person or organization.
In our example below a user can see details about a vessel in the right hand column right inside the repair service order.
5. Dynamic Related Lists: control what you see
Older related lists show a fixed set of columns and are hard to filter. Dynamic Related Lists let you choose the columns, sort order, and number of rows, and you can filter them or show them only in certain situations. A related list of gifts can show amount, date, and campaign. A list of cases can show only the open ones.
6. Dynamic Actions: buttons that fit the situation
Instead of a long row of buttons, the page can show only the actions that apply to the record's current status. This reduces mistakes and helps new staff know what to do next.
7. Flow replaces the old automation tools
Workflow Rules and Process Builder are older tools that Salesforce has stopped supporting. Flow is now the standard for automation: record updates, approvals, scheduled actions, and guided screens for staff. If your org still depends on the old tools, a flow cleanup and migration is a good project to plan before something breaks.
Signs your org could use a facelift
- Staff complain about scrolling or "where do I find..."
- Pages show dozens of fields that most people never use
- People keep information in spreadsheets because Salesforce is awkward
- New hires need long training to find basic things
- Your automations were built with Process Builder or Workflow Rules
What a facelift can look like
A typical project is a few hours to a few days, depending on the number of objects. For example: rebuild the Contact and Donation pages with a half-page layout, move less-used fields into accordions, add a Related Record component showing household or organization details, and clean up the related lists so each shows only what matters. No data changes, and staff usually notice the difference the same day.
Small Improvements, Big Results
You don't need a major Salesforce project to make a noticeable difference. Many page layout improvements can be completed within a few hours. Webfactory Solutions offers flexible Managed Services in 5-hour monthly blocks, with agreements ranging from 3 to 12 months. A page layout facelift is just one example of how those hours can be put to work.
Whether you are a nonprofit or a commercial business, a refreshed Salesforce org saves your team time, reduces errors, and makes the system something people actually want to use.
If your org hasn't been refreshed in a few years, I'm happy to do a quick review and tell you what would help most.