Streamlining Business Efficiency: Salesforce and Smartsheet Integration Case Study
When sales teams quickly respond to leads, they’re more likely to convert them into sales. Nothing slows progress down more than having to do redundant work. Although many companies have embraced high-tech, data-heavy solutions, they can get bogged down by working on multiple platforms.
Connecting their systems makes them much more efficient — and delivers a significant competitive advantage. Salesforce and Smartsheet are both powerful platforms, but they’ll be more effective if they’re integrated to eliminate redundant work.
Benefits of Salesforce and Smartsheet Integration
Anytime businesses can get their systems to communicate with one another, they can work more efficiently. Connecting Smartsheet and Salesforce gives teams the following advantages.
Eliminating Manual Data Entry
Manually entering the same information in two different systems takes twice as long. People are also more likely to make mistakes when they have to type in the same information twice.
Automating data entry gives more accurate results in half the time. Employees can spend less time double-checking spelling mistakes and more time doing high-value tasks.
Real-Time Synchronization
Up-to-date data makes it easier to make fast, accurate decisions. Integrating Salesforce and Smartsheet provides real-time synchronization. The data in both systems is always up to date.
This synchronization supports accurate reporting and streamlined workflows. Real-time data access helps businesses stay agile and responsive in a rapidly changing market.
Faster Information Access
Automation drives efficiency in software products. Integrating Salesforce with Smartsheet automates the flow of information. Project managers and executives can effortlessly access the latest data in one centralized location.
Streamlined information access reduces the time spent searching for updates and improves overall productivity. Teams can concentrate on strategic planning and execution instead of digging through multiple sources of information.
Integration Challenges
Despite the many benefits, there are some significant challenges to integrating Salesforce and Smartsheet.
Technical Challenges
Some of the technical challenges companies run into when integrating Smartsheet and Salesforce include:
- Salesforce application programming interface (API) limits can be restrictive for large organizations that require frequent data synchronization.
- Limiting the number of concurrent callouts to external services can slow down the data transfer process and impact efficiency.
- Field mapping can be complex, especially when an organization is dealing with custom fields and complex data structures.
- Data may need to be transformed to match the formats and structures of each system.
- Achieving real-time synchronization can be challenging due to latency issues with large volumes of data.
- Setting up triggers in Salesforce to initiate data synchronization without causing performance issues can be tricky.
Business Challenges
Technical challenges aren’t the only issues organizations run into when integrating Salesforce and Smartsheet. Business challenges are often more of a hurdle, including the following:
- The staff may resist change, particularly if they feel that they’re adept at the old system.
- Employees need to be trained on the newly integrated system, which can be time-consuming and take away from their existing work.
- Current business processes may need to be adapted to take full advantage of the integration.
- Before integration, the data in both systems needs to be cleaned and standardized to avoid errors and inconsistencies.
- Data transmitted between Salesforce and Smartsheet should be encrypted to protect against unauthorized access and data breaches.
- Proper access controls have to be implemented and maintained, which can be more challenging when an organization is combining multiple systems.
Overcoming the Challenges for a Successful Integration
Astreca works with businesses of all sizes to overcome the challenges of integrating Salesforce and Smartsheet. We’ve developed effective strategies to pave the way for easier implementation, including:
- Creating triggers for data synchronization
- Implementing a scheduler class for timely and regular updates
- Using automated tools to accurately map data fields between Salesforce and Smartsheet
- Converting data formats and structures during the transfer process to maintain data integrity
- Re-engineering existing workflows to take advantage of the integrated system for maximum benefits
- Developing comprehensive training and change management strategies to improve employee adoption rates
Beyond the Integration
Successfully rolling out and adopting a Salesforce and Smartsheet integration is just the beginning. The systems have to be fine-tuned to achieve the best results.
For businesses that want to focus on their primary operations instead of handling software and IT networks, Astreca offers Salesforce management services. Our managed services are flexible, scalable, and effective so businesses can maximize their ROI.
We don’t just take care of the technical details, however. We also help businesses plan for the future with process reviews and identify new opportunities for growth.
Working with the experts at Astreca is the fastest way to integrate Salesforce and Smartsheet and get the entire team on board. Reach out today to learn more.
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