Learn About Spiff Datasheets and Worksheets

Learning Objectives

After completing this unit, you’ll be able to:

• Explain the purpose and functionality of Spiff datasheets and worksheets.
  
• Differentiate between datasheets and worksheets based on their roles in payout rule setup.
  

Before You Start

Before you start this module, consider completing the following recommended content.

• Salesforce Spiff Basics
  
• Commission Management with Salesforce Spiff
  
• Introduction to Salesforce Spiff Designer
  

Explore Datasheets and Worksheets

In any well-organized library, you have bookshelves that hold books arranged by category. Each book contains specific information—such as historical facts, scientific data, or stories—that readers can refer to understand a topic or make informed decisions.

In Spiff, datasheets and worksheets function as bookshelves in a library. They store foundational information in a structured way. Just as you organize bookshelves by categories, datasheets hold specific calculations on data, such as deal amount, rates, deal close date, and other data that change deal by deal. Worksheets hold calculations that are static and don’t typically change on a deal-by-deal basis.

Datasheets and worksheets are foundational tools within the Spiff platform, designed to support clear, organized data structures for complex payout calculations. By separating dynamic calculations in datasheets from static calculations in worksheets, Spiff helps you manage variables, simplify updates, and provides an efficient process for handling payout rules, no matter the complexity.

In this module, you learn about datasheets and worksheets, and how to use them in your workflow.

Why Library Structure Matters

In Spiff, organizing data and calculations using datasheets and worksheets isn’t just a matter of convenience—it’s essential for creating accurate, scalable, and maintainable payout structures. These tools help you minimize errors, simplify troubleshooting, and adapt faster.

Minimize Errors and Increase Accuracy

When you structure logic using separate datasheets and worksheets, the chances of manual errors decrease significantly. Placing data in a dedicated sheet ensures that you know where the logic is being referenced in calculations, reducing the risk of accidental data or logic in the calculations.

Simplify Troubleshooting and Debugging

A well-organized structure facilitates easier troubleshooting. For instance, if a payout calculation doesn’t produce the expected result, users can quickly isolate the issue by checking the datasheet and then the worksheet independently. By separating these elements, users can more efficiently trace errors and fix issues without combing through complex, intertwined data and logic.

Enhance Scalability and Adaptability

A structured approach helps Spiff users to adapt to new payout requirements as their organizations grow. If the payout structure requires change—such as introducing a new bonus tier—users can update the formulas without affecting foundational data in the other sheet. Likewise, as business needs evolve, you can introduce additional datasheets or worksheets without a complete overhaul of existing structures.

The Roles of Datasheets and Worksheets

In Spiff, worksheets are optimized for static data, like commission rates, sales goals, or employee information—data that typically doesn't require frequent updates or recalculations. This keeps essential reference information readily accessible and organized, helping you build payout rules that are both flexible and scalable.

On the other hand, datasheets are equipped to handle dynamic, calculation-heavy data. They function similarly to spreadsheets in Excel, with each cell holding formulas and performing real-time calculations. You use worksheets in payout structures where logic-driven decisions are necessary, such as applying conditional bonuses based on sales milestones.

See this table for examples of the data you can use in datasheets and worksheets.

Understanding the correct type of sheet to use is essential for setting up a framework to store calculations and having an accurate payout configuration.

Now that you’ve learned how to use datasheets and worksheets, it’s time to get to work. In the next unit, you learn how to build and configure datasheets.