Updated on 8-22-22 to compare Lookup Helper to Flows instead of Process Builder.
Salesforce lookup fields are used to relate different records to each other. They're great for showing relevant data all in the same place, but lookup fields need to be manually set each time by your users, which might be time consuming for them to maintain. There are a few free and paid alternatives that can extend this functionality even further by allowing the admin to automatically configure the population of the Standard lookup fields.
Lookup Helper is on the AppExchange. Lookup Helper Free Edition provides the capability to have two lookup population settings for free. It can leverage the standard Salesforce related lists and lookup hover-over capabilities.
Unique Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Flows may be your first thought for lookups because it is free and included with Salesforce. While the settings are not too difficult to maintain individually, it is more complicated to maintain multiple processes in Flow than it is in Lookup Helper.
Unique Strengths:
Weaknesses:
This refers to any Apex code, such as triggers or classes.
Unique Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Lookup Helper | Flows | Apex Code | |
Populates fields using a pre-defined setting | ✓ | ||
Has support | ✓ | ||
Error handling |
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Have to create and maintain a custom object for exceptions | Have to create and maintain a custom object for exceptions |
Easy to use | ✓ | ||
Personalized | *with Development Services | ✓ | ✓ |
Free | *first two lookups | ✓ | ✓ |
Accessed from inside Salesforce | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Run frequency - Manual run | ✓ | One flow to run manually, and a second flow to set a schedule | ✓ |
Run frequency - Daily or Monthly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Run frequency - Hourly or Yearly | ✓ | ✓ | |
Ideal Use Cases |
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In short, Lookup Helper is "Best in Class" and will be the best way to utilize lookups for most common use cases. However, automating the population of lookup fields and the creation of category records are the primary function of the app. On the other hand, Flow and Apex Coding are more "jack-of-all-trades," so lookups are not as simple to maintain, but you can create more complex business processes at the same time.