In this conversation, Abhinav and Chirag discuss the ISV ecosystem of Salesforce and the nuances of listing a paid app on AppExchange.

They also touch on chatbots and the Salesforce AMP program. Chirag shares his journey as an ISV and discusses his app, Metadata Search.

They discuss the development cycle for building apps and the importance of having a solid business plan. They also address the challenges of customer requests for customizations and the decision to offer unmanaged code. The conversation provides insights into the ISV ecosystem and valuable tips for ISV partners. In this part of the conversation, the speakers discuss the options for ISVs when building and pricing their apps. They talk about using unmanaged packages, feature management, and extension packages. They also discuss the importance of setting the right pricing strategy, including per-user or per-org pricing, tiered pricing, and multi-year discounts. The speakers also touch on trials, support, and chat tools.

Takeaways

Listing a paid app on AppExchange requires understanding the nuances of the ISV ecosystem and the marketing tools provided by Salesforce.

Building a successful app involves having a solid business plan, conducting market analysis, and starting with a minimum viable product (MVP).

Customer requests for customizations should be carefully evaluated to ensure they align with the core product and do not compromise its integrity.

Offering unmanaged code should be approached cautiously, considering the potential risks and implications for the product's security and intellectual property.

Maintaining a strong support system, providing regular updates, and focusing on customer satisfaction are key factors in an app's success on AppExchange. ISVs should avoid using unmanaged packages and instead consider options like feature management and extension packages.

Pricing strategies for ISVs can include per-user or per-org pricing, tiered pricing, and multi-year discounts.

Trials are important for customers to test the app, and feature management can be used to control access to certain features during the trial period.

Support is crucial for the success of an app, and ISVs should consider offering global support and building a strong knowledge base.

Chat tools can be useful for providing real-time support to customers, but it's important to have a team available to respond to chat inquiries.

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In this conversation, Abhinav and Harting discuss five App Exchange security review tools that every ISV should know.

The tools covered are Checkmarx, Code Analyzer, OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite, and Chimera.

Checkmarx is a must for AppExchange apps with code, while Code Analyzer is a powerful code scanner for Salesforce native code.

OWASP ZAP and Burp Suite are used for scanning external API integrations, with ZAP being more comprehensive in its free version.

Chimera is used for scanning servers that are owned by the client. The tools have different levels of CI/CD compatibility and limitations.

Kavindra Patel, a community-centric person at Salesforce, discusses his journey and the importance of community in the tech industry. He emphasizes the need for technical professionals with strong people skills to excel in roles like product evangelism. He also highlights the importance of teamwork and quality over quantity in community events. Kavindra shares his observations on the differences between Indian and Western communities and the key takeaways each can learn from the other. He also discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by the new generation and the impact of AI on the workforce. Salesforce India has experienced significant growth in recent years, with a focus on expanding its workforce and establishing talent hubs across the country. The company is strategically focused on roles in technology, R&D, sales, business support, and customer success. Salesforce India is positioning itself as a technology hub, strongly emphasizing AI and innovation. The country's trailblazer community is the largest in the world, and the sales economy in India is projected to create 1.8 million jobs and generate 88 billion in revenue by 2028. Developers in the Salesforce ecosystem need to adapt to the shift towards low-code development and AI, focusing on prompt engineering and skilling up in new technologies. Dreamforce is expected to highlight the importance of AI and data, and provide opportunities for developers to deepen their skills through hands-on experiences. Love and balance are key life lessons that can guide individuals personally and professionally.