When Salesforce launched its all new Lightning Experience last year, it was big news. I'm sure that, like me, you're a little anxious to give up the Classic user interface, but I'm finding Lightning to be an excellent experience so far, and it's only getting better. With 90,000 customers already leveraging the Lightning Experience, it's popular as well. Now Salesforce is leveraging the Lightning brand to launch its newest product packages, Lightning Editions.

Announced at the beginning of February, Lightning Editions are a wholly reimagined packaging of Sales and Service Cloud to offer customers more functionality and increased productivity with a relatively small increase in cost (which will, of course, help Salesforce increase its profits on its way to becoming the fourth largest software company in the world).

Here's what's new.

Sales Cloud Lightning Editions

Salesforce currently offers three main editions to their Sales Cloud: Professional, the much-beloved Enterprise, and Unlimited. Salesforce carries these names forward into the new editions, but what changes, aside from price, is functionality. Take a look.

This screenshot, taken from the Salesforce FY17 Kickoff video, shows the super exciting new elements of the Sales Cloud Lightning Editions - most notably, the HUGE improvements to Professional edition. With the addition of Workflow automation, sales console, record types and unlimited tabs and apps, customers running the new Professional Edition will see a noticeable improvement in their Salesforce experience.

It was also mentioned, although not outlined in the above screenshot, that Salesforce now offers full Lead to Cash functionality with these editions thanks to the SteelBrick CPQ acquisition. What is not clear to me at this time is if the Steelbrick CPQ functionality will be wrapped into the price of the new editions or if this will remain an additional paid feature.

Enterprise Edition will now come with a partial sandbox and 25 developer sandboxes! For nearly every organization, this number of sandboxes should make every Salesforce Administrator happy!

Service Cloud Lightning Editions

While the Sales Cloud tends to overshadow the Service Cloud, the lovers of Service Cloud shouldn't be upset about the new Sales Cloud editions because Service Cloud is going to be feeling the love as well.

With additional functionality starting in Professional Edition, each new Service Cloud edition will see an increase in functionality and overall value. In addition to the features above, Salesforce has hinted at a new Community Lightning Cloud which will include new Lightning Community Templates, Lightning Community Management, and integrated Live Agent for superior and streamlined customer support.

When To Expect Lightning Editions

Salesforce will be rolling the new editions out to customers starting Q2 2017. Customers will not need to change editions in order to receive the new editions and related features. From the Salesforce press release:

"These new editions are expected to be generally available in Q2 FY17 (quarter ending July 31, 2016). Existing Sales Cloud and Service Cloud customers will automatically receive the capabilities and features of the new Lightning Editions on a rolling schedule starting Q2 FY17. They will not need to change editions."

What is not clear is if the rolling schedule will be part of the Summer '16 release, or if it will coincide with customer contract renewals.

Based on this information, I am expecting to see a huge Summer '16 release with a host of new features and an increase in Lightning Experience functionality.

If you want more information on the new Lightning Editions, you can read the press release, the official announcement on the Salesforce blog, or watch the full FY17 Kickoff event here.

Are you excited about the changes to the Salesforce Editions? Leave a comment below!