If you’ve got important data stuck in two places—Aptiv and Salesforce—and you’re tired of copy-pasting or wrangling CSV files, this guide is for you. We’ll walk through how to actually connect Aptiv with Salesforce so your info moves smoothly between the two. You’ll get practical steps, some “watch out!” moments, and real talk about what’s worth your time (and what’s not).
No jargon, no hand-waving—just a roadmap you can actually use.
Why Sync Aptiv and Salesforce?
Let’s get this out of the way: keeping your sales and ops data in sync saves headaches. If you’re using Aptiv for project management, quoting, or service delivery, and Salesforce for your CRM, there’s a good chance the same info needs to live in both. Double entry is a recipe for mistakes and frustration.
Syncing them means:
- Sales always sees the latest project status.
- Operations gets clean hand-offs from sales.
- You stop chasing down mismatched records.
But, before you jump in—know that integration isn’t always a magic bullet. It’s work, and there are a few ways to do it (some better than others).
Step 1: Get Clear on Your Integration Goals
Don’t start with tools. Start with questions:
- What data actually needs to sync? (Accounts? Contacts? Deals? Custom objects?)
- Is the sync one-way or two-way? (Do you just need to push data to Salesforce, or should changes flow both directions?)
- How often does data need to move? (Real-time, hourly, daily?)
- Are there fields or records that shouldn’t sync? (Sensitive info, internal notes, etc.)
Pro tip: Write this down. If you can’t describe the flow in a single sentence (“When a deal is won in Salesforce, create a project in Aptiv”), you’re not ready to build.
Step 2: Check What’s Built-In (and What Isn’t)
Before you custom-build anything, look for out-of-the-box options. Here’s the honest rundown:
- Aptiv’s Native Integrations: As of now, Aptiv is a newer offering and doesn’t have a robust Salesforce connector out of the box. If that changes, use it—it’ll save you a ton of time.
- Salesforce AppExchange: There’s no official Aptiv connector on AppExchange at the time of writing. If you stumble on a third-party tool, check reviews and support before betting your business on it.
- Zapier, Make, or Similar: These tools sometimes offer “no-code” connectors. They’re great for simple workflows (think: create a Salesforce contact when something happens in Aptiv). But don’t expect miracles—complex, two-way data sync is usually a stretch.
Bottom line: Unless your use case is dead simple, you’ll likely need a custom integration using APIs.
Step 3: Prepare Your Accounts & Access
You need:
- Salesforce API access. (Comes with most editions, but check your plan.)
- Aptiv API credentials. (Some Aptiv plans don’t include API access—double-check before you waste time.)
- Admin permissions on both platforms.
Don’t skip this: Make sure you can create test records in both systems. If you’re not an admin, find someone who is. There’s nothing worse than getting halfway and realizing you can’t finish.
Step 4: Map Your Data Fields
This is where integrations fail if you rush. Take the time to:
- List all the fields you want to sync. (e.g., “Account Name” in Salesforce → “Client Name” in Aptiv)
- Note any differences in formats. (Dates, picklists, required fields)
- Decide what to do with mismatches. (If Aptiv has a field Salesforce doesn’t—ignore it? Add a custom field?)
You can use a simple spreadsheet. Here’s an example:
| Salesforce Field | Aptiv Field | Notes | |------------------|-----------------|----------------------| | Account Name | Client Name | Direct match | | Email | Contact Email | Format: email | | Project Status | Status | Needs value mapping |
Pro tip: Don’t try to sync everything. Focus on what truly matters day-to-day.
Step 5: Build the Integration
Option A: Use an Integration Platform (Easier, Less Flexible)
If your needs are basic (think: push new records, update a few fields), go with a platform like Zapier or Make.
How to set up:
- Create accounts on Zapier or Make.
- Look for available connectors: If Aptiv isn’t listed, see if they support webhooks or generic HTTP actions.
- Set up triggers: Example: “When a new project is created in Aptiv, create an Opportunity in Salesforce.”
- Map your fields: Use the mapping you built in Step 4.
- Test with sample data.
What works: Fast setup, good for prototyping or lightweight sync jobs.
What doesn’t: Doesn’t scale well for lots of data, two-way sync is clunky, error handling is minimal.
Option B: Custom API Integration (Harder, More Powerful)
If you need serious, reliable two-way sync, you’ll need to write code (or hire someone who can).
Here’s the honest workflow:
- Read the API docs for both Aptiv and Salesforce. (Salesforce’s REST API is well-documented; Aptiv’s docs can be a mixed bag—read carefully.)
- Choose your platform: Most teams use Python, Node.js, or a cloud function (AWS Lambda, Azure Functions).
- Authenticate both APIs. This usually means OAuth for Salesforce and API keys for Aptiv.
- Build the sync logic:
- Pull new/updated records from one system.
- Transform data as needed (formats, value mappings).
- Push to the other system.
- Handle errors and retries.
- Schedule your sync: Start with hourly or daily jobs before going real-time. Real-time syncing is complex and often unnecessary.
- Log everything: So you know when something breaks.
What works: Full control, handles edge cases, better for growing businesses.
What doesn’t: Takes real dev time, ongoing maintenance, and troubleshooting.
Step 6: Handle Duplicates and Conflicts
This is where most integrations get messy. Be clear:
- Which system is the “source of truth”? Don’t try to make both 100% equal—it’ll drive you nuts.
- What happens if a record changes in both places? Decide if Salesforce always wins, or if Aptiv does, or if you need to flag it for review.
- How will you handle deletes? (If a record gets deleted in one system, will you remove it in the other—or just mark it as inactive?)
Don’t skip this. Failing to plan for conflicts leads to bad data and angry users.
Step 7: Test Like You Mean It
Before you unleash the sync on your live data, do a full test run:
- Use a sandbox or test org in Salesforce.
- Make test records in Aptiv.
- Run the sync.
- Check every mapped field.
- Try to “break” it: What happens if you add weird characters, leave required fields blank, or sync a deleted record?
Pro tip: Keep a rollback plan. Always back up your data before testing real syncs.
Step 8: Launch and Monitor
Once you’re confident:
- Roll out in phases. Start with a small data set or a single team.
- Set up alerts for errors or sync failures. (Email, Slack, whatever you’ll actually see.)
- Get user feedback. If people start complaining about missing data, pay attention.
Plan to tweak and improve. No integration is perfect out of the gate.
What to Ignore (Seriously)
- Don’t bother with “sync everything.” More data = more mess. Keep it lean.
- Avoid one-way syncs unless you’re 100% sure you’ll never need changes to flow back. Otherwise you’ll regret it later.
- Skip any integration that’s not supported or looks abandoned. If the last update to a connector was years ago, run away.
Common Pitfalls (and How to Dodge Them)
- Assuming field names match. They never do. Always double-check.
- Skipping documentation. You’ll pay for it later.
- Ignoring API limits. Salesforce is especially strict with daily API calls—don’t burn through them with sloppy sync jobs.
- Not planning for downtime. Both systems will go offline at some point. Your integration shouldn’t freak out when they do.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
Don’t overcomplicate your first integration. Start with the must-have data, make sure it works, and build from there. Most problems come from trying to do too much, too fast. Get one sync working, then expand.
And remember: a solid, boring sync beats a flashy, broken one every time. If you hit a wall, ask for help or look for simpler solutions. Good luck—and don’t forget to document what you build. Your future self will thank you.