To facilitate the release of cutting-edge technology faster and in a safer manner, Salesforce has developed 'Salesforce DevOps Centre'. Fantastic right?

Using the newly released product, teams can develop technology solutions faster on the #Salesforce Platform, resulting in a reduction of #IT costs of up to 25%. According to Salesforce, the system will enhance #SalesforecDeveloper productivity by 28% and accelerate the deployment of build solutions on Salesforce by 30%.

Stats from Salesforce Launches DevOps Center to Accelerate Development and Shorten Release Cycles - Salesforce News

However, what does this mean for #DevOps players already embedded within the Salesforce ecosystem, such as Copado and Gearset?

As our Director Lewis Steadman asks, "Is this an 'addition' or a 'beginning of the end' for vendors like Copado and Gearset?" After all, Salesforce is known to eventually build its own products to replace external vendors.

It's got us thinking..

As far as Salesforce's development capabilities are concerned, it is fair to say that there are some shortcomings. In reality, things can get a bit chaotic when the platform is getting increasingly complex year-on-year.

That's where Salesforce DevOps comes in!

For those that don't know, What is Salesforce DevOps?

Around since 2009. Salesforce describes DevOps as “A combination of cultural philosophies, practices, and tools that aims to shorten the development life cycle and provide continuous delivery with high software quality.”

In essence, Salesforce DevOps is all about making sure Admins and Developers have the best deployment and software development experience possible, with fewer bugs.

So, what is the newly-launched 'Salesforce DevOp Centre'?

DevOps Centre lets you 'manage and release changes easily and collaboratively', according to Salesforce. Its primary function is for enhancing team collaboration when building Salesforce apps. Using Continuous Integration tools and the Metadata API, it can be integrated with version control, and automated workflows, and released with confidence. Making sure your dev team gets DevOps best practices around change and release management, no matter where they fall regarding pro/low code.

Why it matters:
·      It's faster
·      Increases productivity
·      Reduces IT cost!
·      Benefits IT Teams, Admins, Developers, Release Managers, and CIOs

But we can't help but see a trend...

Going back to Lewis's opinion. Salesforce is known to eventually build its own products to replace external vendors. It's a pattern worth talking about.

Salesforce lets external companies create a marketplace, before either acquiring one of them or launching its own rival product a few years later.

Salesforce know they have the customers in their shop, it’s now the case of having the product on the shelf the customer wants and needs. You only have to look at Salesforce CPQ for one example. Salesforce acquired the then-small CPQ player Steelbrick, and within a few years took over from the one-time CPQ leader Apttus, as the go-to CPQ tool for Salesforce customers.

This trend was also found when Salesforce launched FSL, a direct play to out maneuverer the then enterprise-leading field service solution, ServiceMax.

This model is ideal for Salesforce. The company releases a product that is known to be in demand and has already demonstrated market potential. Eventually, Salesforce overtakes the company's offering, since Salesforce is a marketing machine, after all.

Our point is...

Does Salesforce, in general, bring in companies and leverage the market within a few years to introduce their own products to the market, once the demand has been generated by someone else’s efforts, resources, and cost?
It would be interesting to hear your opinions on this!