Salesforce releases are exciting — new features, smarter automation, better user experiences.

But for Salesforce admins, release season also brings a familiar challenge:

Is your org actually ready?

Because every new Salesforce update highlights the same truth:

A messy metadata setup slows down every admin task.

That’s why release prep isn’t just about reading release notes — it’s about cleaning up, organizing, and scaling your metadata operations before changes hit production.

This guide walks through a practical Salesforce release readiness checklist, with a focus on metadata cleanup and bulk automation.

Why Metadata Cleanup Matters Before Every Salesforce Release

Over time, Salesforce orgs naturally accumulate:

• Duplicate custom fields
• Outdated validation rules
• Unused permission sets
• Conflicting field-level security
• Legacy flows and page layouts

When a release introduces changes, these issues can cause:

• Unexpected permission errors
• Broken automations
• Slower deployments
• Higher admin workload

A clean metadata foundation ensures your org stays stable, secure, and scalable.

Salesforce Release Prep Checklist (Admin-Friendly)

Here are the most important areas to review before every seasonal release.

1. Audit Custom Fields and Remove Metadata Clutter

Custom fields grow fast — especially in scaling orgs.

Before a release, identify:

• Fields no longer used in reports
• Duplicate fields created by teams
• Fields with inconsistent naming
• Unused formula or roll-up fields

Best Practice

Create a standard naming convention and document field purpose.

Bulk Tip

Instead of managing fields one-by-one, many admins now rely on bulk field tools like BOFC to create, clone, or update fields across multiple objects faster.

2. Review Field-Level Security Across Profiles and Permission Sets

Field access issues are one of the most common post-release problems.

During prep, check:

• Who can see sensitive fields?
• Are new fields secured properly?
• Do permission sets override profiles correctly?

Common Risk

A release update may expose gaps in governance, especially in large orgs.

Bulk Automation Advantage

Admins can bulk compare and update field permissions across multiple permission sets instead of manually clicking through each one.

3. Clean Up Validation Rules and Business Logic

Validation rules often become outdated as processes change.

Release prep is a great time to:

• Remove rules tied to retired workflows
• Consolidate duplicate logic
• Ensure error messages are clear
• Test rule behavior in sandbox

Admin Challenge

Validation rules are powerful — but hard to manage at scale without documentation.

With bulk metadata tools, admins can clone or replicate rules across objects without rebuilding from scratch.

4. Review Salesforce Flows Before Release Deployment

Flows are now the backbone of automation in modern Salesforce orgs.

Before release day:

• Identify inactive or legacy flows
• Document critical flows tied to revenue processes
• Check for redundant automations
• Clone flows before making major edits

Pro Tip

Always keep a backup version of complex flows before refactoring.

BOFC can help admins export, clone, and document flows in bulk — making release upgrades safer.

5. Permission Set Governance: Reduce Access Sprawl

As orgs grow, permission sets multiply quickly.

Release prep is the perfect time to:

• Remove unused permission sets
• Compare similar permission sets
• Consolidate access models
• Ensure least-privilege security

Bulk Governance Matters

Manual permission audits don’t scale — bulk comparison tools save hours and reduce risk.

6. Standardize Page Layouts, Field Sets, and Record Types

Metadata inconsistencies often surface after releases.

Check for:

• Layouts assigned to outdated profiles
• Field sets not matching UI requirements
• Record types that no longer serve a purpose

Bulk cloning and metadata alignment can help keep experiences consistent across teams.

7. Sandbox Testing + Metadata Backup Before Release

Never go into a Salesforce release without:

• Testing changes in sandbox
• Backing up key metadata
• Documenting automation dependencies

Release Prep Rule

If it impacts security, automation, or data entry — test it early.

How Bulk Automation Makes Release Prep Easier

Traditional Salesforce admin work is often repetitive:

• Click into every permission set
• Update field access one-by-one
• Clone flows manually
• Rebuild metadata in new orgs

That approach doesn’t scale.

Bulk metadata automation helps admins:

✅ Prepare faster
✅ Reduce human error
✅ Standardize governance
✅ Save days of manual cleanup

Release Readiness = Metadata Maturity

Salesforce releases aren’t just about new features.

They’re a reminder to keep your org:

• Clean
• Secure
• Well-documented
• Operationally scalable

The more mature your metadata management, the smoother every release becomes.

Streamline Salesforce Release Prep with BOFC

BOFC (Bulk Object Field Creator) helps Salesforce admins manage metadata at scale, including:

• Bulk field creation and cloning
• Permission set comparison
• Field-level security updates
• Flow export and cloning
• Metadata cleanup automation

If release prep feels overwhelming, BOFC can help simplify the work.

👉 Explore BOFC for bulk metadata operations