Streamline Your Workflow: Using Zapier to Update Salesforce Contacts

In the fast-paced world of business, efficiency is key. For those utilizing a CRM like Salesforce to manage their contacts and an automation tool like Zapier to optimize workflows, keeping data up-to-date across platforms is essential. Zapier, an online automation tool, connects your favorite apps, such as Salesforce, Gmail, Slack, and over 2,000 more. By creating Zaps, you can automate parts of your business or personal tasks and save time.

One common task is finding and updating Salesforce contacts. This can be time-consuming if done manually, but with Zapier, the process is simple and automated. To get started, you'll first need a Zapier account and the necessary permissions to access your Salesforce data.

Creating a Zap consists of two main parts: a Trigger and an Action. For Salesforce contacts, the Trigger could be a new form submission on your website or a specific behavior detected by your marketing software. Once the Trigger is fired, Zapier will search for the contact's information in Salesforce as the Action. If the contact exists, it can then update the contact with any new information.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to automate this process:

Step 1: Choose your Trigger app (e.g., a form submission tool like Google Forms or Typeform).
Step 2: Select the Trigger Event (e.g., New Submission).
Step 3: Connect and set up your Trigger app with Zapier, ensuring that the necessary data to search in Salesforce is captured.
Step 4: Choose Salesforce as your Action app.
Step 5: Select Find Contact as your Salesforce action. If the contact isn't found, you can also choose to create a new contact within this step.
Step 6: Connect your Salesforce account to Zapier and set up the search details, using search fields such as an email address or a username.
Step 7: Test your Zap to make sure it's finding and updating contacts correctly.
Step 8: If the test is successful, your Zap is ready to turn on, automating the task of finding and updating Salesforce contacts for you.

Remember, always ensure the information you’re syncing with Zapier adheres to your data governance and compliance policies, and that your Salesforce fields match the data inputs from your trigger app.

Integrating Zapier with Salesforce not only boosts your efficiency but also greatly reduces the risk of human error, keeping your contact data clean and up-to-date. With everything set, you can focus more on strategic work and less on data management chores.”