If you’re using Salesforce, chances are your organization has already been updated to the Winter ‘25 Release (with updates rolling out on September 6, October 4, or October 12). With over 700 pages of release notes, the Winter ‘25 update introduces a wealth of new features and improvements. While it’s easy to get lost in all the technical details, here we’ll focus on some of the standout features that can immediately enhance your Salesforce experience. (To see the full Salesforce Winter ‘25 Release Notes click here).
Dynamic Highlights Panel
The highlights panel is a key feature at the top of records that displays essential information, and it’s receiving a major upgrade in the Winter ‘25 release. Previously, it was configured using compact layouts, but now, thanks to the new Dynamic Highlights Panel in the Lightning App Builder, you can add up to 12 fields (plus a primary field at the top) and even set conditions for when certain fields should be visible. This feature makes it easier to display relevant information based on specific criteria, giving users a more tailored view of their data.
Another major improvement is that actions can now be directly added to the dynamic highlights panel from within the Lightning App Builder. Take note that it is found under the Fields tab and not the Components tab.
While desktop users will see this panel automatically, mobile users will need to enable it by navigating to Setup > Salesforce Mobile App > Dynamic Forms and Dynamic Highlights Panel on Mobile.
This change applies to Lightning Experience in Group, Professional, Enterprise, Performance, Unlimited, and Developer editions.
Conditional Field Formatting
One way to enhance your dynamic highlights panel (or any record field) is with Conditional Field Formatting. This new feature allows you to make key data points stand out by applying up to 10 rules with custom icons and colors. This functionality can be accessed and configured from the Object Manager using the new “Conditional Field Formatting” node or directly in the Lightning App Builder.
The rollout of this feature will happen progressively, starting with pre-release and sandbox orgs in October 2024, so keep an eye out as it becomes available for your instance.
List Views – Sorting by Multiple Columns (Beta)
Have you ever wanted to sort your list views by more than one column? The Multiple Column Sorting feature (currently in beta) lets you sort by up to five columns, providing more refined control over how your data is displayed. While this feature is available in Lightning Experience for all editions except Starter, you’ll need to opt-in by going to Setup > User Interface and selecting “Enable sort by multiple columns (Beta).”
Once enabled, a new button will appear at the top right of your list views, allowing you to set and modify sorting criteria.
The sort configuration stays in place until you reset it, making it easier to work with complex data sets. To return to the default sort order, click the gear and then select Reset Column Sorting.
Do More with Custom Report Types (Beta)
Custom Report Types have also received a significant update, giving users more flexibility and an easier-to-use interface through a redesigned report type layout. After you opt into this beta feature by navigating to Setup > Reports and Dashboards Settings and enabling “Enhanced Custom Report Type Setup Page (Beta),” you’ll be able to organize report types in list views through custom filters and columns similar to other list views with your Salesforce records
Additionally, when editing a custom report type layout, fields can now be dragged and dropped into sections from the fields panel (1) on the left, making it more intuitive to customize the field layouts in your report types. Other improvements include the option to search for fields in the report section (2), and to reorder or customize the display names of fields. And finally, easier access to Lookup Fields (3) make building and editing custom reports simpler than ever.
Summary
The Winter ‘25 Release brings several powerful updates that can enhance your Salesforce experience, from a more dynamic highlights panel to the ability to conditionally format fields. Sort list views by multiple columns, and leverage a more flexible custom report type interface. These features are designed to make your workflows more efficient, providing greater control and customization without sacrificing ease of use. While some updates, like conditional formatting and multi-column sorting, are still in beta or rolling out gradually, the others can be implemented right away!
Explore these new features to discover how they can streamline your processes and improve efficiency across your Salesforce platform. If you’re looking for expert help to implement or optimize these features, Port & Starboard is here to assist—contact us to make the most of your Salesforce experience.
