Definition
Platform Edition (also known as Lightning Platform Starter or Lightning Platform Plus) is a Salesforce edition that provides access to the core Salesforce platform for building and running custom applications without the standard CRM functionality. It excludes standard CRM objects like Opportunities, Forecasts, Quotes, and Campaigns, but includes custom objects, Tabs, Apex, Visualforce, Lightning components, Flows, APIs, and the AppExchange. Platform Edition comes in two tiers: Starter (with basic limits) and Plus (with higher limits and additional features like custom report types). It is designed for organizations that need a custom application platform rather than out-of-the-box CRM.
Real-World Example
the IT director at Vertex Global recently implemented Platform Edition to scale their operations using the Salesforce platform. Platform Edition gives them the infrastructure and tools needed to support new business requirements, handle increased data volumes, and serve a growing user base without compromising performance.
Why Platform Edition Matters
Platform Edition (also known as Lightning Platform Starter or Lightning Platform Plus) is a Salesforce edition that provides access to the core Salesforce platform for building and running custom applications without the standard CRM functionality. It excludes standard CRM objects like Opportunities, Forecasts, Quotes, and Campaigns, but includes custom objects, Tabs, Apex, Visualforce, Lightning components, Flows, APIs, and the AppExchange.
Platform Edition comes in two tiers: Starter (with basic limits) and Plus (with higher limits and additional features like custom report types). It's designed for organizations that need a custom application platform rather than out-of-the-box CRM. Common use cases include partner management systems, employee experience apps, industry-specific operational systems, and other internal applications. The platform tier is typically much less expensive than full Sales or Service Cloud, making it cost-effective for non-CRM use cases.
How Organizations Use Platform Edition
- •TerraForm Tech — Uses Platform Edition for an internal employee experience app, paying less than full Sales Cloud for non-CRM functionality.
- •NovaScale — Built a custom partner management system on Platform Edition, taking advantage of the platform without unneeded CRM features.
- •Quantum Labs — Treats Platform Edition as the right choice for custom enterprise apps that don't need full Sales or Service Cloud.