External Objects Aren’t Just for Integration—They’re a UX Superpower

When people think of External Objects, they think data sync. But I’ve started using them to improve the user experience in Salesforce.

Examples:

  • Viewing external inventory or availability directly from a record page

  • Displaying past transaction history from a billing system

  • Creating read-only snapshots of data that doesn’t need to live inside the org

No ETL. No duplication. Just real-time access via External Data Sources and OData.

With a little front-end work (Lightning App Builder + custom components), External Objects become seamless parts of the Salesforce UI. It’s the best of both worlds: fast access and zero bloat.