Definition
Global Actions is a Setup page where administrators create and manage actions that are available from any page in Salesforce, not tied to a specific object. Global actions include creating records, logging calls, sending emails, and custom Visualforce or Lightning component actions that appear in the global publisher and navigation bar.
Real-World Example
The admin at Pinnacle Analytics creates a Global Action called "Log Customer Feedback" that opens a quick-create form for a custom Feedback object. This action appears in the global actions menu throughout Salesforce, so any user can quickly log customer feedback regardless of which page they are on, without navigating to the Feedback tab first.
Why Global Actions Matters
Global Actions is the Setup page where administrators create and manage actions available from any location in Salesforce. From this page, admins can create new actions (record creation, log-a-call, email, custom Visualforce, or Lightning component actions), edit existing ones, and control which actions appear in the global publisher layout. The page shows each action's type, target object, and label. Global Actions solves the administrative challenge of maintaining a consistent set of quick-entry tools across the entire org — without a centralized management page, actions would be scattered across multiple Setup menus.
As organizations mature, the Global Actions page becomes the hub for iterating on user productivity. Admins should regularly review usage metrics (via adoption dashboards or click tracking) to identify which Global Actions are heavily used and which are ignored. Low-usage actions should be removed to reduce clutter, while frequently used actions should be optimized with fewer fields and better defaults. The Global Actions page also supports action reordering, allowing admins to put the most popular actions first. Companies that actively manage their Global Actions create a streamlined user experience that scales as new business processes are added.
How Organizations Use Global Actions
- Pinnacle Analytics — The admin creates a Global Action called 'Log Customer Feedback' targeting a custom Feedback object. She configures only four fields on the action layout: Customer (lookup), Category (picklist), Rating (number), and Comments (text area). The action appears in every user's global publisher, and feedback logging increases from 20 submissions per month to 200.
- Stratos Cloud — The IT manager reviews the Global Actions page quarterly and discovers that the 'Create IT Ticket' action has been used 1,200 times in 90 days, while the 'Submit Parking Request' action has been used only 3 times. She removes the parking action from the global publisher layout, reducing clutter for the 500 employees who see the global actions menu daily.
- Orion Consulting — The admin creates role-specific Global Actions: consultants get 'Log Billable Hours' and 'Create Project Task,' while sales reps get 'Log Call' and 'Create Opportunity.' By customizing the global publisher layout per profile, each team sees only the actions relevant to their workflow.