Have you ever thought of streamlined Business operations, getting a 360-customer view, and managing data centrally? Yes! It is no longer a big challenge and is possible with Salesforce Integration.

Salesforce Hulk, aka Shrey Sharma (CEO, Cyntexa), hosted a live webinar on “Simplifying Integrations with Salesforce” to address all your integration challenges. Accompanied by Salesforce integration expert Vishwajeet Srivastava (CTO, Cyntexa), Shrey unveiled businesses’ pain points due to a lack of integration knowledge and implementation. This hinders brands like yours from achieving new heights of success and growth.

This blog post serves as a guide, offering a comprehensive overview of integration with Salesforce, challenges, benefits, and more. From streamlining the business processes, two-way data sync, and automation to bringing productivity and improved customer experience, we’ll unravel the secrets to maximizing ROI.

Get ready for the forthright insights from experts to elevate your business growth.

What is Salesforce Integration?

Before explaining Integration with Salesforce, Shrey explains what integration means. It is the power to bring different technologies together, allowing businesses to work efficiently and ensuring customer satisfaction and business growth.

Similarly, Salesforce allows integration with third-party applications and other software to streamline business processes, seamlessly exchange data, and maximize leads.

It allows data sharing between external systems and Salesforce, such as ERP systems, marketing automation, or customer support tools. This means a go-to- choice for SMBs to large organizations to embrace the Salesforce capabilities for their business holding critical data.

Top 6 Key Challenges Faced by Businesses Without Integration

Continuing the discussion on Salesforce integration, Shrey highlighted in the webinar simplifying integrations with Salesforce, how businesses juggle challenges without integration with Salesforce. So, you’ll realize its contribution to your business growth and ROI.

1. Disconnected systems

Having business systems that are isolated from each other can damper productivity and decision-making. After all, with interconnections, getting a full view of what’s going on in your operations can be more manageable. So, ensuring that all of your systems operate flawlessly is crucial.

2. Manual data entry

Manual data entry can be a real pain. It takes up much time and leaves room for errors, which can impede progress. It can even prevent your team from focusing on the crucial strategic work that drives your business forward.

3. Security concerns

It’s crucial to ensure security measures are in place to safeguard against breaches and potential threats. Such occurrences put your customers’ data at risk and jeopardize compliance, which can have serious consequences.

4. Inefficient reporting and analysis

Having data spread across multiple systems can cause inaccuracies, hinder overall performance, and ultimately result in incorrect decision-making. Keeping data organized and centralized is essential to ensure its integrity and usability.

5. Inconsistent customer experience

When data and insights are off the mark, the entire customer experience can be thrown off. Personalizing and creating seamless interactions is tough when the information isn’t quite right.

6. High IT maintenance cost

As you have seen, business challenges are touching the sky without integration, hindering their growth and success. At the same time, connecting the right application to your Salesforce CRM can help you bring operational and functional efficiency, data consistency, automated process, customer insights, and better user experience.

Explore our complete guide to Salesforce integration to help you wrap your head around the topic.

Leverage the Top 10 Integration Approaches in Salesforce

1. Aggregation of Data

Organizations often utilize a data warehouse or dashboard to consolidate data from various sources to gain comprehensive insights. This centralized approach allows for a more efficient and effective data analysis, which can inform strategic decision-making and optimize business operations.

By bringing together disparate data sets, you can better identify trends, patterns, and potential areas for improvement, ultimately leading to enhanced performance and a more competitive edge in the marketplace.

2. Streaming data ingestion

Streaming data ingestion automatically updates data from one platform to another in real-time. It is a kind of instant sync, so you get instant updates, leaving no room for data inaccuracy.

3. Synchronized Data Transfer

When the receiver initiates the data exchange process, it patiently waits for the sender to provide the requested data before processing. Rest assured that all the crucial details are within reach to guarantee a seamless and triumphant transfer of data.

4.  Asynchronous Data Transfer

You can send data to a target without waiting for confirmation from the source. This way, the source can keep doing other things while the data is processed. This means that consumers of source applications will experience a smooth process.

5. User Interface Integration & Mashups

As users, we all want to access the information we need easily. That’s why we bring the user interface directly from its source to the specific application. It’s common practice to collect all the relevant data in one central spot, making it convenient for people like us to find what we need without hassle.

6. Bulk or Batch Data Movement

Sometimes it’s not necessary to update data in real-time. In certain situations, sharing data at specific intervals is more efficient than constantly using processing resources. For example, updating customer profiles at midnight might be a more practical approach.

7. Sharing Data with External Partners

Organizations often collaborate with multiple external business partners, including suppliers, and government agencies, each with their systems and processes. The source is required to share the data with the target for completing business processes.

8. Broadcasting Events

New hires, payment issues, and similar ones are examples of events that organizations identify, capture, and notify customers by passing the information on. This case is required for a business when they need to share information regarding an event with multiple targets or audiences.

9. Orchestration and Data Processing

It brings together data from various sources, enhances clarity, and provides additional context. Also, it creates a layer of abstraction between the source and target, embedding more profound business logic and processing data to make it more usable as per the business needs.

10. Data Sync Between Multiple Applications

Seamless two-way data sync between systems is essential to maintain efficiency and accuracy in business operations. This ensures that any updates made in one system will automatically be reflected in another, preventing duplicity or errors.

Exploring Technology Choices for Salesforce Integration

1. MuleSoft

MuleSoft, an integration platform acquired by Salesforce in 2018. It connects businesses to diverse applications, data, and devices. With the MuleSoft integration solution, you can get real-time data access, foster collaboration across the entire ecosystem.

Let’s look at the drastic growth businesses can experience after MuleSoft Salesforce Integration:

• 57% faster development and delivery speed.
• 78% faster time to market.
• 74% reduced maintenance effort and costs.

2. Salesforce Connect

Salesforce Connect is a platform feature enabling seamless integration and real-time access to external data sources within the Salesforce environment. You can also fetch data from on-premise applications and cloud-based sources to enhance productivity and data visibility.

3. External Services

This technology option allows you to seamlessly connect your CRM to external systems. It streamlines the integration process by automatically generating Apex code to invoke external APIs, making accessing external data and services directly from within your Salesforce org easier.

4. AppExchange Applications

Salesforce AppExchange is an extensive marketplace offering a myriad of applications, from sales and marketing to customer service. You can easily choose the right application from this Appexchange marketplace and integrate it with your CRM. This will help you get started quickly on your integration journey.

5. Zapier

Zapier connector allows connecting apps and automates workflows without any coding. By unlocking its capabilities, businesses can embrace other platform technologies within the Salesforce ecosystem.

For instance, If you want to improve marketing efforts and integrate them with marketing automation platforms like HubSpot. Zapier connectors help you integrate HubSpot Salesforce CRM.

6. Custom Development on the Salesforce Platform

Custom development is the widely used approach in Salesforce integration. Leveraging this approach helps businesses to tailor solutions to their specific business requirements. Whether it’s building custom apps, functionality, and features – all can be done with custom development on the Salesforce Platform.

7. API Callout from Flow in Salesforce

Salesforce’s Flow enables easy automation of business processes. With API callout capabilities, you can extend the power of data flow by integrating with external systems and services, allowing your organization to achieve end-to-end automation and efficient data exchange.

8. Cross-Cloud Integration

Cross-Cloud Integration enables the synchronization of data and processes across different Salesforce Clouds, such as Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, and others. This integration streamlines your business operations, providing a unified view of customer interactions and enhancing department collaboration.

Let’s Understand Integration with a Real-life Example

One of our clients, “Styl Spotter, is a fashionable US-based e-commerce business targeting the fashion-conscious youth demographic. It offers a collection of stylish clothing and accessories, ensuring customers can access trendy options.”

They faced multiple challenges in delivering customer support, lead management, order fulfillment, lead generation, and the need for centralized payment data.

So we have addressed the following challenges:

• By configuring external data sources in Salesforce Connect for seamless customer support.
• By integrating MuleSoft with Salesforce for lead management.
• By creating a Zapier account and connecting the e-commerce platform for order fulfillment.
• By configuring the external services in Salesforce to connect with each platform for targeted marketing.
• Installing ChargeOn with Salesforce to streamline payment data.

If you want to understand the use case in detail, listen here.

Explore some Popular Types of Integrations with Salesforce

1. Einstein GPT

Einstein GPT is your ultimate AI language companion. This cutting-edge model combines the brilliance of AI with human-like language understanding. By integrating this technology with Salesforce CRM, you can curate content, and research to answer your questions with precision.

2. Salesforce Pardot

It’s time to say goodbye to tedious tasks. You can simplify your marketing endeavors with Salesforce Pardot integration, an all-in-one marketing automation platform. It streamlines lead generation, email campaigns, and customer engagement.

3. Quickbooks

Are you juggling with financial management? Simplify it now with the QuickBooks Salesforce integration. With this integration, you can seamlessly sync financial data with customer information, streamlining invoicing, payments, and financial reporting.

4. Twilio

If your business finds it challenging to engage new customers, then what’s better than Twilio Salesforce integration? Leverage its powerful messaging and voice capabilities directly to your Salesforce CRM. From automated SMS notifications to real-time call tracking, you can deliver exceptional customer experiences and foster stronger relationships.

Apart from the above-mentioned approaches and technologies, there are various popular types of integrations with Salesforce that you can explore. Some of them include integration with Slack, DocuSign, Nintex, Meta, Stripe, SurveyMonkey, GSuite, and more.

Things to Consider while Planning your Integration

Some of the common challenges businesses face during the integration process:

• Data mappings and transformation
• Data migration
• Architecture designing for customization
• API limitations and governance
• Lack of real-time visibility
• Error handling and exception management
• Testing and validation
• Security and Compliance

We can say, embarking on an integration plan might initially feel overwhelming, but fear not! With proper strategy and approach in place, it can become a seamless and victorious endeavor.

In our webinar, Shrey emphasized the key factors to consider while planning your integration. Let’s take a closure:

1. Clearly defines integration objectives: Understanding the objectives enables you to select appropriate approaches & applications that align with your goals.

2. Assess compatibility: Conducting a comprehensive analysis of the selected integration technology is highly recommended to ascertain its compatibility with your current systems, applications, and databases.

3. Choose the proper integration approach: You can choose an API-based integration approach involving standardized APIs to connect systems. At the same time, don’t forget to consider business complexity, budget, and desired level of automation while choosing an integration approach.

4. Plan and evaluate data quality and synchronization: Establishing data quality standards is crucial to ensure consistency and accuracy across the systems. It is equally important to assess how the data will synchronize between these systems to prevent inconsistencies or inaccuracies.

5. Partner with experts: Whether you’re working with a complex set of APIs or need help connecting two systems, a skilled integration specialist can help you navigate the challenges and pitfalls of integration and ensure that your project is completed on time and within budget.

6. Consider data security and compliance: Security and compliance are crucial to consider when safeguarding your customers’ sensitive information and data.

7. User adoption and training: Providing thorough training is crucial to ensure that users fully embrace the integrated system and reap its maximum benefits.

8. Plan error handling and monitoring: Establishing a well-defined plan for managing errors and overseeing the integration’s performance is crucial. It will help identify and fix issues promptly, ensuring the integration process remains seamless and dependable.

How to Choose the Right Integration Partner?

The right integration partner works wonders when integrating third-party software and applications into the Salesforce instance for your business.

As your business growth and success rely on your single decision, making it is essential to look for the right Salesforce partner that will leave no room for failure.

With the right Salesforce partner, you can embrace various technologies under one roof, streamline business processes, enhance customer satisfaction, maximize leads, and generate new revenue sources.

Make your investment worth by looking at the critical checklist to make informed decisions in choosing the right Salesforce integration partner for your business.

Things to Consider When Choosing the Right Integration Partner

1. Consider their experience and expertise.

Look into their track record and past projects to see if they’ve successfully handled cases similar to yours. This ensures you’re working with someone who knows the ins and outs of Salesforce and can deliver the best results.

2. Look for Salesforce-certified partners

Opt for Salesforce-certified partners as they are platform expertise and have earned official recognition from Salesforce. So you can experience a seamless integration journey with them.

3. Prioritize their communication and collaboration skills.

We believe that successful partnerships thrive on open communication and collaboration! That’s why we recommend choosing a partner who listens to your needs, communicates clearly, and keeps you in the loop. We can guarantee a smooth and productive partnership that meets your needs by staying on the same page.

4. Carefully look at their project management approach.

A strategically planned project management approach can greatly enhance the outcome of your Salesforce integration. Ask about their planning, timeline, and how they handle potential roadblocks. This ensures a structured and efficient process to achieve your goals.

5. Analyze post-launch support and maintenance.

Maintaining and supporting your Salesforce system after launch is crucial for its ongoing success and meeting your business objectives. Reliable post-launch support is essential for smooth and effective functioning. Check their support offerings, response times, and how they address issues to ensure your Salesforce org. runs smoothly and stays up-to-date with your evolving needs.

6. Make sure to check their technical proficiency

Assess their knowledge of relevant programming languages, database management, and integration capabilities. This ensures they can customize Salesforce to suit your unique business requirements.

The Final Words

There you’ve it! The webinar provided valuable insights and practical strategies to streamline the integration journey. The ultimate motto of Shrey and Vishwajeet is to ensure a seamless integration journey for you, and Salesforce-certified partners can help you with it.

So, you can harness the full potential of Salesforce, maximize the CRM investment, and drive your business growth and success. Choosing a Salesforce integration partner can ensure a fruitful journey from selecting the right application to flawless integration.

The post Integrations With Salesforce: Everything You Should Know appeared first on Cyntexa.