See also: Salesforce continued development — integrations as part of continuous development →
The information exists but it doesn’t flow between systems
Salesforce is the home of sales and customer relationships. But business doesn’t run on CRM alone:
- Deal is closed in Salesforce, invoice is written manually to ERP.
- Customer information is updated in two places, and they are already on different footings after a week.
- Marketing doesn’t know who actually bought and campaigns go to the wrong people.
- The status of orders and projects lives in Excel, not where sales works.
Integration is not just a technical detail. It’s the way to get Salesforce truly working at the core of your business.
When integration is done right
For users
- One place: no duplicate entries or manual copies
- Sending invoices directly from Salesforce without logging into ERP
- Information is always up-to-date, no outdated customer data
For management
- Sales, billing, and delivery speak the same language
- Reporting is based on real data — not guesses
- Processes speed up and errors decrease
For the company
- Salesforce grows with your company, new systems are connected as you scale
- Architecture is designed to last, not just for today’s needs
- Integrations become a competitive advantage, not technical debt
There are many ways to integrate — let’s choose the right one
The most common needs are billing and ERP integrations, but Salesforce can connect to practically any system. Loikka’s approach:
- Architecture first: before writing a single line of code, we design the best solution for your needs — native connector, API integration, or something else
- Tell us what you want, we figure out how: it’s enough to say “I want to send invoices from Salesforce” — we map how customer and sales data is turned into an invoice and sent to the billing system
- Two-way data: integrations work in both directions — data can be pushed from Salesforce or pulled into it in real time
- Standard solutions first: we use pre-built connectors when it makes sense — custom development only where it adds real value
- Error handling and monitoring: an integration should never fail silently — we build monitoring and error handling from the start
What about Salesforce Data Cloud (Data 360)?
Traditional integrations move data from one system to another. Salesforce Data Cloud goes further: it collects customer data from all sources — CRM, e-commerce, marketing, ERP — into a unified real-time profile. The result is a 360° customer view that Salesforce automations, AI, and your sales team can act on at the right time with the right data. If point-to-point integrations are no longer enough and a unified data architecture is needed — contact us and we’ll tell you more →
An integration project moves forward in three phases
Integration is not just a technical task. It’s a process change. That’s why we proceed in a controlled manner.
01
We map out needs and data flows
We clarify which systems need to connect, what data moves, in which direction and when. You make only business decisions — we design the technical architecture.
02
We design and build the right solution
We choose the most suitable integration method — native connector, Salesforce Flow, API, or middleware. Built, tested, documented, and with error handling included.
03
Integration is live — data flows automatically
Manual copying is a thing of the past. Invoices go out, data stays in sync, and Salesforce is finally that single source of truth it was always meant to be.
Frequently Asked Questions
What systems can Salesforce be integrated with?
In practice, with any system that has an API or data transfer method — ERPs (Netvisor, Procountor, SAP, Dynamics), marketing tools (HubSpot, Mailchimp), billing systems, HR systems, customer portals, e-commerce platforms, and much more. If the system has an interface, integration is possible. If not, we explore file-based options.
How does billing integration work in practice?
The most common model works like this: customer and sales data lives in Salesforce. When a deal is closed, the salesperson can generate an invoice directly in Salesforce — reviews the content, checks the details, and sends it automatically or with one click to the billing system. The billing system receives everything it needs without manual input. The specifics depend on the systems you have available.
Do you use pre-built connectors or build custom integrations?
We use ready-made solutions whenever it makes sense — they are faster to deploy and easier to maintain. Salesforce has a wide range of pre-built integrations, and the market offers more (e.g. MuleSoft, Zapier, Make). We do custom development when a ready solution is not sufficient or not cost-effective.
How long does an integration project take?
A simple integration using a standard connector can be ready in a couple of weeks. A more complex custom solution — multi-system data flows, bidirectional sync, or a custom API — typically takes 1–3 months. We always give a realistic estimate of scope and timeline before starting a project.
What if the other system doesn’t have a proper API?
A solution is almost always found. Options include file-based transfers (CSV, XML, SFTP), database integrations, or middleware. In some cases we can also use Salesforce’s own data transfer mechanisms. We assess the situation and tell you directly what is possible and what it requires.
What is Salesforce Data Cloud and when is it the right choice?
Salesforce Data Cloud (formerly Customer Data Platform, now part of the Salesforce Data 360 suite) is Salesforce’s own data platform that combines customer data from all channels and systems into a real-time 360° customer profile. Traditional integrations move data from point A to point B. Data Cloud instead gathers everything in one place and makes it usable across the entire Salesforce ecosystem — for sales, marketing, customer service, and AI. It’s particularly suited for companies with many different systems, a multichannel customer journey, or a need to use AI and personalisation with real-time data.
How do you ensure integrations continue to work in the future?
We build integrations with documentation and monitoring — error alerts, logging, and notifications are all included. Salesforce’s three annual version updates should not break integrations, so we test the impact of changes in advance. We also offer ongoing maintenance, managing integration health as part of our support service.
