How to Create Joined Reports in Salesforce

You’re about to call on a top client and want to be prepared with some key facts. For example:  How much did they spend with you this year?  Better yet, how much did they spend over the course of working with your company?  And would you like to know about that high priority case that is still unresolved?  “Ummm…yes!”   How about any overdue invoices?  “Double yes!!!”

Joined reports to the rescue! While standard reports provide valuable insights, Joined Reports takes reporting to the next level by combining disparate data from multiple objects within a single report.

Salesforce objects serve as the foundation for Joined Reports. Some key objects include Accounts, which represent companies or organizations, and Contacts, which store details about individuals associated with those Accounts. Opportunities track potential revenue-generating deals, while Cases record customer support issues. Leads represent potential customers that have not yet been converted into Accounts or Contacts, and Tasks & Events help track interactions and activities related to various records. Additionally, Custom Objects and objects from Installed Packages  can be included in Joined Reports to meet unique business needs.

The structure of a Joined Report relies on multiple report blocks, each representing data from a different object. These blocks must have at least one common field, such as an Account Name, Opportunity, or Owner, to link related data across objects. Users can apply filters and grouping to organize data meaningfully, making it easier to analyze trends and relationships. For example, a Sales Performance Report might combine Leads, Opportunities (to track open and closed deals), Activities (to monitor calls and meetings with prospects), and Cases (to identify customer issues that could impact future sales).

Joined Reports in Salesforce enable businesses to analyze data from multiple sources in a single view, enhancing decision-making with a more holistic perspective. With Solvit’s expertise, organizations can fully leverage Salesforce’s reporting capabilities to drive success. At Solvit, we specialize in helping businesses harness Salesforce’s powerful reporting tools to gain meaningful insights efficiently.

What Are Joined Reports in Salesforce?

A Joined Report in Salesforce allows users to combine data from different report types into a single report, providing a comprehensive, multi-dimensional view of related information. This capability is especially useful for businesses that need to correlate data across multiple objects, such as tracking opportunities alongside support Cases, Activities, or comparing sales team performance across different regions and timeframes.

Key Differences Between Standard and Joined Reports

Standard Reports: Display data from a single report type (e.g., Opportunities, Accounts, or Cases).

Joined Reports: Enable multiple report blocks, each with its own filters and fields, to compare data from different objects within one view.

More Advanced Analysis: Unlike standard reports, joined reports allow for cross-block calculations and custom filters across datasets.

Steps to Create a Joined Report in Salesforce

Step 1: Navigate to the Report Builder

Go to Reports and click New Report.
Choose the primary report type to start.

Step 2: Add Multiple Report Blocks

Click “Add Report Type” to join additional reports.
Use filters to refine data across report blocks.

Step 3: Customize and Format the Report

Add fields, filters, and grouping options.
Adjust columns and apply sorting for clarity.

Step 4: Save and Run the Report

Save the report with a relevant name.
Run and analyze results for better insights.

 

Benefits of Joined Reports

• Unified View of Data Across Multiple Objects: A joined report allows you to display data from multiple related objects in one report. For example, you can combine data from Opportunities, Accounts, and Contacts to get a comprehensive view of sales performance and customer interactions.
• Comparison of Data: You can compare data from different report blocks side-by-side in a joined report, which makes it easy to spot trends or discrepancies in the data. Each report block in a joined report can have different filters and groupings, offering flexibility for detailed comparisons. You can even build formulas that incorporate data across the blocks.
• More Flexible Reporting: Joined reports allow for multiple blocks of data, each with its own custom filters, groupings, and views. This makes it easier to track and analyze multiple perspectives of your data.
• Improved Data Insights: Joined reports provide a way to analyze data across multiple objects, giving you a deeper insight into relationships between different data points. For instance, by combining data from Opportunities and Accounts, you can gain a better understanding of your sales pipeline.
• Enhanced Reporting for Complex Business Processes: For organizations with complex data models, joined reports consolidate data from multiple sources, offering a more complete view of business processes that span across objects like Accounts, Opportunities, and Cases.
• Easy to Create and Use: Salesforce’s drag-and-drop interface makes it simple to create joined reports. You can add report blocks, define relationships, and customize the view based on your needs, all without extensive technical expertise.
• Better for Visualizing Trends: By comparing different fields side-by-side and using customizable groupings, joined reports make it easier to identify trends and patterns that may not be immediately obvious in individual reports.

 

Best Practices for Using Joined Reports

• Identify Common Fields Before Adding Report Blocks – Ensure relationships between data sets make sense.
• Keep Reports Focused – Limit data to key insights to avoid overwhelming users.
• Use Filters Strategically – Maintain data consistency across report blocks.
• Enhance Readability with Visualizations – Use charts, graphs, and conditional formatting to make insights more digestible.

 

Advanced Techniques for Maximizing Insights with Joined Reports

• Leverage Up to 5x More Summary Fields – Gain deeper insights by using additional calculations across report blocks.
• Cross-Block Formulas – Use custom formulas across different report blocks to create new KPIs and performance metrics.
• When to Use Different Filters – Master block-specific filters vs. global filters to tailor data views effectively.
• Combine Reports with Dashboard Components – Transform joined reports into interactive dashboards for executive-level insights.

 

Why Choose Solvit for Salesforce Reporting?

1. Expertise in Salesforce Analytics

• Solvit empowers businesses with customized reports that deliver actionable insights tailored to unique needs.

2. User-Friendly Reporting Tools

• We simplify data visualization, making complex datasets easy to interpret for better decision-making.

3. Optimized for Business Growth

• Our solutions ensure real-time, accurate reporting to support strategic planning and business expansion.

At Solvit, we specialize in helping businesses harness Salesforce’s powerful reporting tools to gain meaningful insights efficiently.

Elevate Your Reporting Game with Solvit

Joined Reports in Salesforce enable businesses to analyze data from multiple sources in a single view, enhancing decision-making with a more holistic perspective. With Solvit’s expertise, organizations can fully leverage Salesforce’s reporting capabilities to drive success.