7 Keys to a Successful Salesforce Integration

Organizations rely on multiple software and platforms to carry out specific business operations. With apps dedicated to sales, marketing, and collaboration, teams have unlimited access to data that impacts their efficiency and profitability.

Salesforce, with its extensive suite of products and integration capabilities, enables organizations to break data silos and boost collaboration across departments. With Salesforce Integration, firms can leverage the functionality of multiple platforms in one place without necessarily switching between apps.

While integration may seem to be a cakewalk at first, it is quite a challenging task as one has to analyze integration requirements, code APIs, and make custom changes in the workflow and UI. However, with the assistance of a Salesforce Certified Partner, organizations can have a seamless integration.

In this blog, we have listed the best practices/considerations for successful Salesforce integration.

Best Considerations for Salesforce Integration

1. Go for a Platform Approach

Integration Platform as a Service is a cloud service for application, data, and process integration. It supports integration to and from the cloud and on-premise systems, enabling organizations to have real-time integration across business units. With iPaaS, developers create integration workflows and connect apps on the cloud and on on-premise systems. So instead of using multiple frameworks, you use a single environment that helps you access all apps and data centrally without having to switch apps.

Don't forget to check out: Salesforce Integration Crash Course | The Ultimate Guide to Salesforce Integrations

2. Use Suitable Connectors to Integrate Apps

There are various iPaaS vendors including Dell Boomi, Mulesoft, Oracle Integration Cloud, Workato, Informatica, and IBM AppConnect that provide seamless integration with Salesforce through their pre-built connectors. However, not every iPaaS software can be used to integrate your on-premise/cloud apps to Salesforce. The right combination of software and integration platform has to be identified. To have the right integration, businesses can hire Salesforce Partners who have hands-on experience with such platforms/frameworks.

3. Consult with an Integration Expert

Perfectly integrated solutions in Salesforce enhance data accessibility and boost user efficiency as teams can align processes and access data centrally. However, the integrations need frequent updating since groups rearrange, forms change, and similar data may be required in another place. Moreover, business processes and workflows change with time and integration will rarely stay in its original form. To address these post-integration hassles, organizations should rely on solutions from reliable integration experts.

4. Find an iPaaS Solution That Is Easy to Use

It is important to have an iPaaS solution that gets integrated with Salesforce with minimal effort. One should select a device that bolsters both users as well as developers with its straightforward integrations carried out on a graphical interface. Moreover, a platform should support API integrations and development, taking the data accessibility to a new level. With this, teams can create custom APIs and integrate them with hand-held devices, web applications, and more!

5. Save Costs with a Salesforce Partner

Businesses that do not hire Salesforce Integration experts may realize that their processes and data are not aligned, which makes it impossible for users to get a unified view of apps. This leads to user inconvenience and is a probable reason for low user efficiency. To overcome this, firms should avail the membership services of integration partners (preferably before implementation). With ongoing support and timely enhancements in the setup, organizations can better use all the connected applications while limiting the exorbitant maintenance costs.

6. Hybrid Integration Platform is Key

While planning for integration, businesses should consider the needs of all departments. There may be a situation where one of your teams is relying on a cloud application while others cannot switch from on-premise systems. In such a case, hybrid integration is the key as it allows you to integrate cloud-based services and on-premises systems and applications, which enables you to work as a cohesive unit.

7. Consider Bi-Directional Syncing

Organizations leverage multiple applications to carry out diverse business operations. And since most teams do not have access to inter-departmental data it delays their response rate to customers and also affects decision making. To overcome this, firms should consider integration service that provides bi-directional syncing. With this, any change in one app instance will directly be reflected in other applications providing real-time and updated information to users.

Check out another amazing blog by Alok here: Don’t Neglect these Salesforce Application Development Considerations

Final Words

Salesforce Integration is beneficial to enhance data integrity and boost collaboration. However, it can be a challenging thing altogether if you don’t have a clear understanding of data needs and integration scope. Knowledge of the data, business requirements, and integration capabilities of a platform is essential before you collaborate with an expert. Hiring Salesforce Gold Partners and Silver Partners can help in overcoming data management, data accessibility, and workflow issues. An experienced development firm will select the right integration platform and pattern, and will accordingly create a sustainable integration strategy that will keep the setup optimized. By considering the above-mentioned strategies, firms can surely have better integration.

Original Source: Dzone