When you start using Salesforce, you will gain access to a dashboard where you can change your user preferences whenever you utilize the CRM. From here, you can access your reports, data summaries, schedules, and of course, your profile. On the platform, you will learn about the “Running User” component. Basically, what you have here is a feature wherein you can view your dashboard as different entities.
Choosing a Running User
Atop the dashboard interface, you will see several buttons and a field box where you can choose how to view your dashboard. If you’ve added several access points, you will have a dropdown button that will open a list to these user profiles. Each will have its own accessibility and security conditions.
Whichever you choose will become your “Running User.” There are two categories that you can select from when you create a user profile. You can set an access point as a specific user and you can also have an entity that will run as a logged-in user.
Specified Running User
When you run the program as a specified user, you can access more comprehensive internal data provided that the security settings of your chosen profile allows it. This is a great way to allow for private data access for upper management.
Logged-In Running User
You can also choose to run the program as a logged-in user. This is ideal if your dashboard has a more dynamic component. If you provide access to a number of people on the team, each will have his own credentials and must log into the system to access the company dashboard.
In doing so, Salesforce is able to provide them all of the information that is accessible via their programmed access level. For example, upper management may have access to all data while agents will only be granted access to select pieces of information.