7 quick ways to make Salesforce record pages easier to use

A Salesforce record page can gradually become a storage cupboard: another field, component or related list is added whenever somebody asks, but very little is removed. Users then scroll past information they do not need, hunt for the right action and wonder which fields matter.

A better page does not have to be a major redesign. Start with one heavily used object and make a few deliberate changes in a sandbox. Salesforce provides the Lightning App Builder, Dynamic Forms, visibility rules and configurable related lists; the prioritisation and testing advice below is practical Ostrelis guidance.

1. Start with the job the page needs to support

For admins and managers: ask what a user needs to understand and do in the first minute after opening the record. A service agent may need case priority, customer context, recent activity and a clear route to update status. A sales manager may need value, stage, next step and risk.

Write down the three most common decisions and actions. Components that support them deserve priority. Everything else should justify its place or move into a secondary area. This simple exercise prevents the page from being designed around the data model instead of the work.

Quick action: watch two users handle a real record and note every scroll, tab change and backtrack.

2. Put identifying and priority information first

For admins: the top of the page should answer “What is this?” and “What needs attention?” Keep the highlights area concise and put the fields that drive the next decision near the top. Do not use this valuable space for information that is rarely checked.

The exact field set will vary by team. For a case, that might be status, priority, age and owner. For an opportunity, it might be stage, close date, amount and next step. A short, dependable summary is more useful than a dense block that users stop reading.

Quick action: ask users to name the five values they check first, then compare that answer with the current page.

3. Show fields when they become relevant

For admins: Dynamic Forms lets supported record pages use individual field and field-section components in Lightning App Builder. Salesforce guidance confirms that visibility rules can tailor those components using record, user and device criteria.

Use this carefully. A closed case may need resolution fields that an open case does not. A particular opportunity stage may need procurement details. Conditional visibility can reduce noise, but complicated rules can make fields appear to vanish. Use clear section names, document the conditions and avoid creating dozens of subtly different experiences.

Quick action: choose one section that matters only at a specific stage and test a simple visibility rule in a sandbox.

4. Use tabs and sections to create a clear reading order

For users and admins: group information by purpose, not merely by whichever fields were added together. A sensible pattern might keep the working summary and activity visible, with financial detail, technical information and history in clearly named secondary tabs or sections.

Tabs can also defer some component loading until a user opens them, but hiding everything behind extra clicks is not automatically better. Salesforce’s own guidance recommends making the most useful tab the default. Treat the first view as a working surface and the other tabs as supporting detail.

Quick action: rename vague tabs such as “More” and make the tab used in the main workflow the default.

5. Keep the action bar focused

For admins and users: actions should reflect tasks people genuinely perform. Put frequent, well-understood actions first; remove redundant or obsolete ones; and use names that state the outcome. If users must inspect several similarly named actions before choosing, the page is creating uncertainty.

Dynamic Actions can help tailor actions on supported pages, but the same restraint applies as with field visibility. A smaller, stable set is often easier to learn than a constantly changing collection. Test the result as the relevant user profile because permissions and page assignment affect what someone actually sees.

Quick action: list the last ten actions users took on the object and compare them with the first actions displayed.

6. Make related lists answer a useful question

For admins: a long Related tab can become another place users search manually. Salesforce’s Dynamic Related List–Single component lets admins choose columns, sorting, actions, titles and filters in Lightning App Builder. Multiple components can show different filtered views of related records.

For example, “Open cases” and “Recently closed cases” may be more useful than one unfiltered case list. Use descriptive titles so the filter is obvious. Salesforce Trailhead notes that support varies by object and that dynamic related lists are desktop-focused, so verify the current behaviour for your object and mobile users before rollout.

Quick action: replace one broad related list with a filtered list that answers a recurring user question.

7. Test the real experience, then remove something

For admins and managers: App Builder is not the final test. Activate changes for a limited audience where possible, use representative records and check the page as the real profiles that will use it. Include desktop and mobile if both matter.

Ask users to complete a familiar task rather than simply asking whether the page looks good. Note time, hesitation and missed information. Salesforce also recommends prioritising critical components because page composition affects performance. Removing a low-value component can therefore improve both clarity and loading behaviour.

Quick action: run a 15-minute task test with three users and remove or relocate the element that causes the most friction.

Improve one page, then learn from it

A useful record page is not the one with the most information. It is the one that makes the current record understandable and the next action clear. Pick a high-traffic page, make one or two measured changes and use real user behaviour to decide what comes next.

Ostrelis can help you improve everyday Salesforce usability while keeping page design, permissions and ongoing support manageable. Explore our Salesforce administration service, Salesforce support and Salesforce health checks.