Managed Package
Overview
A Managed Package is a collection of features that are bundled together to create a solution or app, and are subject to Salesforce Security Review process.
How are Managed Packages Used?
Builder Perspective
For developers they are a way for an ISV or Partner to configure functionality (Objects, Fields, Classes, Pages, Components, Flows etc) together inside of a deployable bundle.
Developers will define a namespace prefix for the package, to ensure uniqueness across any install. Packages have version control, meaning you can maintain various states of the package to deploy and service for your customer base. All packages go through Salesforce Security Review, this ensures that each one meets security standards and functionality expectations within the platform.
From a development perspective, the ISV or Partner is able to configure updates and sync them to the package, and allow Salesforce to handle the seamless distribution to users of the package. They can be licensed, providing ISV’s and Partners with a means of monetizing their solution.
Managed Package components are also read-only, this protects the ISV or Partner from encountering issues of consumers changing their design and supports long term stability of the product.
Consumer Perspective
Consumers of packages could be Customers of your own firm or your firm itself. Utilizing managed packages is a great way to expedite functionality to your user base or customers user base.
It reduces overhead for the consumer, with the burden of maintenance falling on the developer of the package. Managed packages can be obtained through the AppExchange or URL’s provided by the developer of the package, if not posted on AppExchange.
Often times managed packages could be an entire business solution that is layered on top of Salesforce and may contain unmanaged features, giving the consumer the ability to customize functionality if needed (Customer Success tools like Gainsight or PSA Solutions like Certinia (formerly FinancialForce).
Who is Impacted?
Administrators
Admins in Salesforce are often responsible for installing and configuring managed packages for their end users.
End Users
End Users will benefit from the packaged offering and capability quickly enabled through a managed package installation.
Leadership
Full Suite tools like Gainsight or Certinia are great way to expedite Business wide changes, utilizing Salesforce and expanded feature of those products, or similar.