A Complete Guide to Importing Data Into Salesforce

• By Staccy Minnityy
• 01-06-2022
• Salesforce

When it comes to importing data into Salesforce, we start thinking about how we should import the data, as there are so many options available.

We know CRM implementations need money, time, and skilled people. Moreover, it comes with multiple complexities, which is why organizations avoid Salesforce implementation. If you can manage to save resources in each implementation phase, it can be a winning solution for your team. You may fail to realize that the step involving data loading is already available for you to optimize.

This guide will cover the common challenges we face during data loading and how to select the perfect data import tool for the Salesforce project.

Data importing into Salesforce
A Salesforce implementation includes ten steps, and out of that, three demand data loading, which accounts for 25% of the entire implementation process and additional expenses.

What are the common data loading challenges?
First, you need to properly plan the steps required in data loading to avoid unexpected expenses and an extended timeline for implementation. Unfortunately, migrating data, clean data, and integration are often a second thought. Even before understanding the data loading, we need to quickly understand and review the common issues that occur due to improper planning and usage of wrong tools.

Complex transformation of data
If you are going through data migration or undergoing API and ERP migration —you cannot ignore complex data transformation. You need to access the data complexity before migrating. Otherwise, it will become difficult to access the right tools required or plan the appropriate resources, budget, and timeline for the task.

Dirty data
Clean data is essential when a customer migrates the CRM and implements a new CRM. Even if you want to combine several Salesforce, you cannot avoid the importance of clean data. The CRM is often used as the natural source of truth that you want to avoid pulling in inconsistent, incomplete, and duplicate information.

Selecting between automated and manual data loading

1. How can you select the perfect data import?
For your convenience, we have a long list of questions that you should ask when planning for a Salesforce implementation. Each of the factors needs to be adequately considered during the early stage of the implementation process so that you can ensure the right tools have been chosen, the required budget has been appropriately allocated, and the much-needed resources are in place.

2. Migrate data
How much data can you move?
CRM is as powerful as the data it manages. During the primary planning phase of the implementation process, it's crucial to identify the applications from which information needs to appear or be sent about the CRM. Are you working with the migration of hundreds, thousands, or millions of data rows? If you get to know this, you can select from the available data solutions. We know the basic loader that only supports a small amount of data migration. Whereas Flosum can help a vast amount of data, it's a bit expensive and easy to use.

3. Is your data transformation quite complex?
Does your CRM data appear from legacy ERP with SFTP or a flat file? When you are trying to move data from multiple flat files, there is a noticeable difference between your Salesforce data model and your source data model; some data manipulation and advanced mapping are required. Knowing the source of procuring data can help you identify how complex the transformation may be.

4. Integrate
What is the budget?
Are you working with complex data transformations that you can manage without all the expenses and features of an iPaaS? Do you have to outsource the data loading service? Do you have to train your team to keep it ongoing? Well, iPaas solutions are robust but need significant resources and a budget. The essential tools available for data loading are much more affordable, but they come with certain data size limitations; they are also a bit complex in nature. If you have a small budget but need more than the essential loading tool, check out a solution that comes with volume-based pricing and transformation features.

What are the technical skills and abilities of your team?
Do you have any plans for automatic data processing as a part of the overall Salesforce implementation? In this scenario, you will need an iPaaS that demands programming or database skills. Does your team take responsibility or have the technical skills for integrating and migrating the data? Once you understand this, it will help you determine the tools your team would need and if any additional support is required.

Can your team manage SQL training or inadequate code training?
If you need data manipulation to migrate it, you will require resources with programming and database skills. Most organizations prefer these options. The SQL skills of your team can be leveraged beyond the traditional database for supporting data integration. Several iPaaS solutions provide jump-start training, while others offer low code solutions. Can you manage the budget required for outsourcing the data loading service if qualified resources are not available? These are the questions you need to answer when planning for any data implementation.

Clean data
How will you be cleaning the data?

Can you comfortably use v-lookups in the excel sheet? Are you sourcing data from multiple places? Suppose you deal with data procured from web forms or available in huge volumes. Tools should be considered for duplicate identification, error handling, outstanding management, and data cleansing through data validation. Some of the data loading tools come with the aforementioned built-in features, while others don't offer such features, and you have to use the standalone solutions.

Get in touch with the expert today and ask them to give you a demo on Salesforce data backup and recovery for easy understanding. It is essential to ensure data backup and recovery because it helps easy implementation. There is zero impact on performance, and it allows the management to control the overall costs. Staccy Minnityy is a Business Tech Analyst. She takes seminars on updated Technology & Business.