If your team uses Salesforce as their CRM, and it is your single source of truth, keeping it up to date with various systems within your tech stack can be time-consuming.
Updating the data within your Google Sheets/Excel can update Salesforce using the Coefficient "Export to..." feature. With this, you can update Opportunity stages, add a Contact's email to their record, or even scrub address fields for higher geocoding accuracy.
Let's dive deeper into this POWERFUL feature!
Schedule an Export to Salesforce
What is Export to Salesforce?
Export to Salesforce is a very powerful feature in Coefficient. It allows you to update the data in Google Sheets/Excel and then uses Coefficient to push (or write back) that data update directly into Salesforce.
How to Export to Salesforce?
ℹ️ NOTE: We recommend creating a Salesforce import of your data into Google Sheets/Excel using Coefficient before performing the Export to Salesforce. This allows us to detect/map certain fields automatically. (this is not required - but HIGHLY recommended) 😎
Example: Updating Leads in your Salesforce instance using an existing Coefficient import.
1. Open the Coefficient sidebar and click on the “Export to...” button. |
2. Select the data source to which you would like to export your data. (ie, Salesforce) |
3. Select the Tab and Header row (the Header row is not the Coefficient header, but the row with the Salesforce field headers in it) then hit "Next". |
4. Destination Settings: Select the Salesforce Object you are exporting the data to and the Action you would like to take, then hit "Next". (Details on the different Actions are below)
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5. Field Mappings: Depending on the Action you are taking, certain fields may be required to be mapped for this export. (Example: Update requires the Salesforce object ID - “Lead ID”). Coefficient will automatically map the fields for you if the data in the sheet came from an import from Salesforce using Coefficient.
ℹ️ NOTE: If the data in the sheet was not generated by a Salesforce/Coefficient import, you will need to map the data manually.
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6. Advanced Settings: Column for Results: Each time you Export To... Salesforce, Coefficient will write information related to that update to your sheet. Coefficient will try to guess the first empty column in your sheet and suggest that as the column to populate this information. We will write 3 columns to the sheet: (1) the URL for the Salesforce Record that was updated, (2) the status of the export (OK, ERROR, etc.), and (3) the date/time stamp that the record was updated last using Coefficient. (See #10 for screenshot) Batch Size: Max is 10,000 rows due to Salesforce API limitations. Export Empty Cells on Update: Enabling this feature will allow you to remove/clear out existing values in Salesforce in bulk using Coefficient. Include export button on sheet - Enabling this will create this button in the Coefficient header to allow you to access the existing Export Mappings for your current sheet much faster. |
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7. Confirm your settings and then select "Export".
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8. Choose which rows from your sheet to Export to Salesforce (eg. All rows on the sheet). |
9. Coefficient will scan the data on your sheet and display the number of rows to be updated or skipped. Click on "Preview changes". |
ℹ️ NOTE: The "Preview Changes" option is currently available for the UPDATE action.
10. The "Export Preview" window opens, displaying the fields that will be updated in Salesforce (highlighted in blue). If there are potential errors with your export, they will be visible here, allowing you to make necessary adjustments to your data. When you have confirmed all the changes/updates that will be pushed to Salesforce, click the "Update 4 rows in Salesforce" button.ℹ️ NOTE: Toggle the buttons at the top (enabled by default) to either "Show only the changed rows" or "Show only the mapped columns" for better visibility.
ℹ️ NOTE: This action CANNOT be undone, so ensure all your settings and updates are correct before proceeding.
11. When the Export to Salesforce is complete (and successful), you can see the number of rows exported/skipped. Congratulations on your first Export to Salesforce!
Re-use an Existing Mapping
If you have used the "Export to" function before, you will see the previous Export Mappings in the Coefficient sidebar underneath your Import list. This list will allow you to reuse a previous mapping. We will go through the process of using both the sidebar and the button below.
1. Pushing to Salesforce a second time will reveal the “Export” button in the Coefficient Header and the previous mappings in the sidebar.
ℹ️ NOTE: The "Export" button will show if you have enabled the "Include export button on sheet" setting and if your data came from a Coefficient import.
2. When clicking the “Export” on-sheet button, the previous mapping(s) related to the sheet you are currently on will appear in the sidebar.
3. Review the mappings before performing the Export to Salesforce again. (From here, you can view the run history and settings)Then proceed with the typical “Export to…” process.
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Export to Salesforce Actions
Update
Pushes updates to an existing field/record in Salesforce.
- The record MUST have a record ID mapped.
Insert
Creates a NEW ID and inserts data into a new record in Salesforce.
Upsert
Updates data for existing records, or if the record does not already exist, it creates a NEW ID and inserts data.
- The object must have an External ID field(s). To learn more about an External ID field, check out this article.
Delete
This action will remove the ENTIRE record from Salesforce. You can recover it in the Recycle Bin in Salesforce within 30 days of restoring the record if needed.
- If you need to remove a field value on a record (that is not required), then use the "Update" action (above).
- You cannot remove a value from a required field on a Salesforce record; it must be replaced with a new value on the update.
- The record MUST have a record ID mapped.
Advanced Technical Settings
Under the hood, “Export to” - Salesforce uses the Salesforce REST API and Salesforce Bulk API to perform the desired Insert, Update, Upsert, and Delete operations on your Salesforce objects. Coefficient chooses which API to invoke depending on how many records you push to Salesforce. By default, we use a batch size 1000 and execute API request batches in parallel for better performance. These defaults should work for most typical use cases.
However, some Salesforce setups might require users to override the API batch size and parallel batching behavior. In particular:
- If the Salesforce objects you are trying to use “Export to” - Salesforce has Apex triggers configured, you might see an error message like "Too many SOQL queries" when trying to push a large number of records at once. If you see this or a similar error message, the default batch size 1000 might be too high. Under Advanced settings, enter a smaller value for the Batch size, then retry the operation.
- In a single “Export to” - Salesforce operation, if you are simultaneously updating Salesforce records with dependencies on one another (e.g., via child/parent object relationships or Apex triggers), you might see an error like "UNABLE_TO_LOCK_ROW" for some of the records. If you see this or a similar error message, you might be able to work around the error by disabling the parallel execution of API request batches. Under Advanced Settings, uncheck Run batches in parallel, then retry the operation.
Schedule an Export to Salesforce
If you work with data frequently, you may find yourself performing repetitive tasks. Our "Export to Salesforce" feature allows you to schedule pushing your data back to Salesforce at a specific time. This feature can save you significant time by automating the export process. 🤯
See how you can schedule an export to Salesforce here!
FAQ for Export to Salesforce
How can I use this feature?
Export to Salesforce is a premium feature, meaning you can try it out on the Free plan for up to a certain number of rows. If you hit the limit on the Free or Starter plan(s) and need to upgrade to the Pro plan for unlimited use, please contact sales@coefficient.io, and a member of our team will assist you.
What if I push the wrong data to Salesforce by mistake? How can I fix it?
You can update the data in the sheet and do an additional Export to Salesforce to correct it, OR you can go to the Recycle Bin in Salesforce and reinstate the deleted information (This has to be done WITHIN 30 days of the original update as Salesforce clears out the Recycle Bin on a 30-day cadence).
Is there a limit to Export to Salesforce that I can do in Coefficient?
Coefficient does not have any limitations on the number of "Export to Salesforce" you can do; however, there is a limit set by Salesforce on the number of API calls your org can make in a given period.
I'm experiencing issues when exporting data or records to Salesforce in bulk. How can I resolve this?
If you encounter errors when exporting bulk data to Salesforce, try the following steps to troubleshoot the issue:
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Minimize the export size: Reduce the number of rows you're exporting to Salesforce. Start by exporting just the first 10 or 100 rows from your sheet. Adjust the batch size in the Advanced Settings to see if that helps.
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Use a new workbook: Create a new workbook and attempt the export from there. Your current spreadsheet might be too data-heavy, causing the error.
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Check API limits: Contact your Salesforce Admin to confirm that the API limit for your Salesforce organization hasn't been exceeded. For more information on Salesforce API limits, refer to these resources: SFDC API Limits and API Limits Documentation.
I am trying to update the Account Team Members, but the Update action is not working. How do I Update using this feature?
To Update the Account Team Members, it is recommended that you have the following fields in your import;
To update the Account Team Member, you will need to use the Delete action to remove them OR the Insert action to update their assignment. If you have specific questions, please reach out to support@coefficient.io.
How do you rename an Export so you can recognize it and reuse it later?
In the Coefficient sidebar, you will see all of your imports; if you scroll down, you will see a section called “Exports”. Locate the Export you would like to rename, hover over the name with your mouse, and click on the 3-vertical dots that appear. Select “Rename” from the list. Update the name of your Export, and press “Enter” to save.
How do you view an Export’s Run History?
In the Coefficient sidebar, you will see all of your imports; if you scroll down, you will see a section called “Export". Locate the Export you want to see the Run History for and click on it to open up the details. When you collapse the last export information, you should see a “See Full Run History” link.
You will be redirected to a page dashboard where you can download the full log in CSV format (see the attached screenshots below).