Salesforce integration: common options, types, steps, and considerations
Salesforce integration involves connecting Salesforce with other software through APIs, connectors, middleware, or pre-built integrations. We can create a seamless integration between Salesforce and other systems to improve companies’ efficiency, data accuracy, and collaboration across teams.
Why Itransition
10+ years as a Salesforce services provider
In-house Salesforce Center of Excellence
Named among Top Salesforce Consulting Companies by Clutch
82 Salesforce certifications
Expertise in Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, CPQ, and other Salesforce solutions
Apps and systems commonly integrated with Salesforce
Highly integrable by design, Salesforce can connect with cloud or on-premises business software from various departments and third-party applications for seamless data synchronization.
By integrating Salesforce with accounting software, companies can sync actual financial data into CRM and help sales teams create more detailed customer profiles. The integration also contributes to more accurate handling of invoices and business transactions and simplifies budget planning and sales forecasting.Â
Common integration options:
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Salesforce integration roadmap
Here’s how Itransition’s experts approach and carry out a typical integration project to seamlessly connect Salesforce with any kind of business or third-party software.Â
1
Business analysis
We begin with a comprehensive analysis of your business needs and objectives as well as the existing IT infrastructure and determine your Salesforce integration requirements.
2
Planning
Next, we choose the integration approach, selecting the business apps to integrate with, patterns, and methods of implementation. We also decide on the project’s responsibilities, timeline, and tools needed.
3
Development
If we’ve decided upon a custom Salesforce integration solution, our team designs and develops a custom Salesforce connector app or API in line with your needs.
4
Integration
We set up the integration between Salesforce and the target business software using an off-the-shelf or custom-built solution. If necessary, we can customize the integration to make sure it works as intended.
5
Testing
We perform a range of QA activities to validate the integration and locate any errors and security vulnerabilities and make sure it sustains the expected data exchange load.
6
Launch
Having validated the established integration, we launch it to the production environment for business users to access.
7
User training and support
We offer hands-on training sessions for employees and Salesforce admins to show them Salesforce integration’s capabilities and can provide long-term maintenance services upon request.
Benefits of Salesforce integration
Overall, Salesforce integration with other software can help get better returns on CRM investment. Here are its key benefits:
Processes automation
Integrating Salesforce with other apps can streamline data handling tasks and eliminate the need for manual data entry.
Improved data accuracy
Salesforce integration can eliminate data duplicates, inconsistencies, and human errors, thus improving data accuracy and consistency across systems.
Personalized customer experiences
Integrated with other data sources, Salesforce can deliver a 360-degree view of customer data and help companies deliver more personalized services and customer experiences.
Better decisions
Salesforce integration with different systems can provide a comprehensive and real-time view of business data, enabling better decision-making through improved data accuracy, timeliness, and accessibility.
Increased employee productivity
By integrating Salesforce with different business systems, companies can eliminate manual data entry and create a single source of truth for all business data, helping sales and support agents work more efficiently.
Streamlined collaboration
Salesforce integration with other business apps simplifies data sharing and improves cross-team and cross-department communication and collaboration.
Salesforce integration considerations
Here are four aspects that organizations should take into account when integrating Salesforce with other systems:
1 Â Data mapping
Before the integration, map the data properly to ensure it’s accurately and consistently transferred between systems. This will help you maintain data integrity and maximize the benefits of Salesforce integration.
2 Â Security
Salesforce can be integrated with systems containing sensitive information, so it’s critical to ensure that the data is protected in transit and at rest with proper security measures, such as encryption and access controls.
3 Â Integration architecture
By designing proper integration architecture, you ensure that data is shared efficiently and securely between Salesforce and other systems while minimizing the risk of errors or data loss.
4 Â Ongoing maintenance and support
Salesforce integrations should be monitored and maintained to meet the organization’s evolving needs. You should also be ready to resolve any arising issues.
Hire a certified Salesforce partner for error-free integration
Common Salesforce integration challenges
While Salesforce integration can provide many benefits, there are also some common challenges that organizations should overcome themselves or with the help of experienced Salesforce consultants to see positive results.
Challenge
Solution
Data quality issues
Challenge
Since data from Salesforce and different systems isn’t always consistent and of the same quality, its synchronization can fail to bring any value to users.
Challenge
Solution
Before the integration, companies can establish data governance policies and use data quality tools to clean and standardize data. Post-integration, they can create rules and validations to enforce data consistency in Salesforce.
Data rate limits
Challenge
Salesforce limits the amount of data that can be transferred in and out of the system within a certain period for the sake of the system’s stability and performance. These restrictions can pose a challenge for companies dealing with large volumes of data or performing frequent transfers.
Challenge
Solution
One way to overcome this problem is to optimize data transfer by reducing the amount of data, compressing it, or using incremental updates instead of full data transfers. Another option is to apply third-party tools or middleware to help manage data transfer and ensure compliance with Salesforce's limits. Additionally, an experienced integration provider can help companies optimize data transfer in line with Salesforce's restrictions.
Prioritizing real-time integration
Challenge
Companies can quickly opt for a real-time Salesforce integration as the best solution for their needs but fail to realize it is way more complex to set up and manage.
Challenge
Solution
Real-time integrations are not necessary for every business scenario. To make the right decision, companies should carefully evaluate the integration needs and requirements, including the volume of data transferred, the frequency of data updates, and the necessity of data accuracy and timeliness. Only then they can make an informed decision for or against real-time Salesforce integration.Â
Different tech stacks
Challenge
If the technology stacks of Salesforce and integrated apps are not compatible, this can lead to data mapping, code migration, or testing difficulties, as well as increase the integration project’s timeline and cost.
Challenge
Solution
The best solution is to use middleware or integration platforms that support different technology stacks and provide a layer of abstraction between the integrated systems. Companies are also advised to hire an integration provider to help navigate the challenges of different technology stacks throughout the integration project, like correct data mapping or satisfactory data quality.
