I always assumed you used the 'Salesforce' license type rather than the 'Salesforce Platform' license type, because the former have greater access.
However I've just noticed that a number of our users have been assigned the 'Salesforce Platform' license.
I've learned that this type is useful for users who:
- are mainly using custom apps
- don't need access to 'CRM features' such as Opportunities, Sales, Service
- cost less.
Is there a type which is best / typically used for NPSP users?
If in the future the org wants to use things like omnichannel, knowledge, chatbot - wouldn't that mean users should be on the 'Salesforce' license type?
How do I work out what we've paid for? Just ask my AE?
I'm intersted in the pros and cons, so please comment!
I'm sure there are many different takes on this based on the unique requirements of a Nonprofit org, budget limitations, processes, etc., so please know that some of these inline comments are completely subjective and based on my past and current experiences working with nonprofits:
Is there a type which is best / typically used for NPSP users?
The Power of Us Program offers 10 free licenses to qualified 501c3 or 501c4 organizations. Every license needed after that initial 10 comes at an additional cost. If an additional user need access to the core CRM features that you mentioned then a full license would need to be purchased. If an additional user doesn't need access to those core CRM features and needs access to things like custom objects, custom apps, etc. then a Platform license would be sufficient for what they need and can be purchased at a lower cost. For example, we have 1 nonprofit client that has a custom program management system. This program management system leverages several custom objects. Any additional users that they bring on are provisioned a Platform License (assuming they will just need access to the Program Management side of things). We have 1 nonprofit client that just brought on a new member of their development team. This new member of the team needs to have access to Opportunities, so a full license was purchased and that user was provisioned with that full license. So, as far as which one is best or typically used, it all comes down to what the user needs to access for their particular function.
If in the future the org wants to use things like omnichannel, knowledge, chatbot - wouldn't that mean users should be on the 'Salesforce' license type?
Yes, that is correct.
How do I work out what we've paid for? Just ask my AE?
You can access that information using the Your Account app in Salesforce. Your AE will also be a great resource for any billing related questions. Here is more info on how you can navigate to Your Account from within Salesforce.
https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.users_checkout.htm&type=5
Pros/Cons: Platform License
- Pro: pay for what the user needs
- Pro: lower cost than a full license
- Con: No access to Opportunities.
- Often times nonprofit organizations have team members who wear multiple hats. One day a team member can be managing the delivery of a program and the next they could be in charge of an organization's annual appeal. Since donations are tracked using Opportunities, this could be a problematic scenario for that user.
- Con: No access to Cases.
- Salesforce recently announced a reimagined version of Nonprofit Cloud. Some of the core features of Nonprofit Cloud include Case and Program Management. This may not apply to you if you're using NPSP; however, if you are to ever shift to using Nonprofit Cloud instead, then you may consider using the Case and Program Management tools that come with it. This would be problematic for users on a Platform License that will need to help track and manage your programs. Check out our recent blog post on this release for more information.
I hope you find this input helpful. Please feel free to ping me in this thread if you have any follow-up questions/remarks.
