How to Save 5 Seconds: Accessing Salesforce License Count for Admins

Whenever someone asks me "How many Salesforce licenses do we have available?", I start navigating through the admin panel and think to myself "I wish I had a speedier way to get to this information."

Today, I had a spark of inspiration. And for my fellow Salesforce Admin's benefit, I figured out exactly how much time this little spark will save me: 5 seconds.

But, this is about more than time savings... it's about freeing up my brain to focus on other things too.

I realized that I could bookmark directly to the related list that shows the number of user licenses.

Tools I Used

Chrome (my favorite browser)
Speed Dial 2 (extension for Chrome) - optional

Speed Dial 2 allows me to create bookmarks on the new tab screen. As an alternative, I can use the bookmarks bar in Chrome for easy access.

My current Speed Dial 2 bookmarks for work.

Setup

• Navigate to the Company Information page in Salesforce (Setup -> Company Profile)
• Right click on the User Licenses related list link at the top of the page and click 'copy link address'. This will give you the url to jump directly to that section.
  
  
• Create a new bookmark in Speed Dial 2 or add the link to your bookmark bar.
  
  

And now, for the time-savings comparison:

Previous Method - Manual Navigation

1. Someone asks: "How many Salesforce licenses do we have available?"
2. I navigate to where I have Salesforce already open. 
3. I click on the Setup link.
4. I expand the Company Profile section and then click on Company Information. 
5. I click on the User Licenses related list link to jump to the list. 
6. I note the number of remaining licenses and hop back to my email inbox to respond.

Time spent: 11 seconds. This could probably be faster, but I'm still adjusting to the new setup side panel layout in Salesforce.

New Method - Bookmark

1. Someone asks: "How many Salesforce licenses do we have available?"
2. I open a new tab. 
3. I click on my bookmark.
4. I note the number of remaining licenses and hop back to my email inbox to respond. 

Time spent: 6 seconds. 

The time savings might not seem that significant. But, for me it's about more than the time. This method eases a minor frustration and enables me to move on with my day. It requires less thought and navigation. I like that.

Do you have a simple tip for automating part of a process that would normally frustrate you on a Monday morning? Share in the comments!