How to integrate 6sense with Salesforce for seamless data syncing

If you’re running Salesforce and want to actually use your intent data from 6sense, you’re in the right place. This guide is for sales ops, admins, and anyone else tired of messy, out-of-sync data between platforms. We’ll cut through the fluff, show you what actually matters, and help you avoid the usual headaches. No need to be a developer, but you should have admin access to both Salesforce and 6sense.

Let’s get your systems talking to each other—without any mysterious “seamless integrations” that break whenever you blink.

Why Connect 6sense and Salesforce?

Connecting these two isn’t just about ticking a box. Done right, it means:

Sales gets real-time account insights—not stale lists.
Marketing can actually measure impact.
No more manual exports/imports.

But here’s the honest part: this only works if you set things up thoughtfully and keep it simple. Over-complicate it, and you’ll be in integration purgatory with support tickets piling up.

Step 1: Get Your House in Order

Before you start clicking buttons, do some prep. Most integration disasters happen because folks skip this. Here’s what to check:

Do you have admin access in both Salesforce and 6sense? If not, get it.
Is your Salesforce org a sandbox or production? Always test in sandbox first.
How’s your Salesforce data quality? Garbage in, garbage out. Clean up duplicate accounts/leads and standardize fields now.
Decide what you actually want to sync. Don’t just turn on everything—decide which 6sense data (like scores, segments, or buying stage) needs to land in Salesforce.

Pro tip: Write down your “must-haves” before you even log in. Trying to figure it out mid-setup is a quick way to get lost.

Step 2: Set Up the 6sense for Salesforce Package

6sense offers a managed package for Salesforce. Don’t try to DIY via APIs unless you have a really weird use case (and a dev team with time to spare).

Download the 6sense Managed Package
Go to your 6sense admin panel.
Find the Salesforce integration section and grab the installation link.
Install the package in your Salesforce sandbox first. (Seriously, always test in sandbox.)
Assign Permissions
6sense needs access to specific Salesforce objects (Accounts, Leads, Contacts, Opportunities).
Use the permission sets included in the package—don’t wing it. Assign them to the integration user.
Connect Salesforce to 6sense
In 6sense, enter your Salesforce credentials, usually via OAuth.
Use a dedicated integration user with the right permissions (not your personal admin account).
Authorize the connection. If you hit issues, check for IP restrictions or two-factor authentication roadblocks.

What to ignore: Don’t try to install the package in production first, no matter how much your boss wants it “live ASAP.” Sandbox saves lives.

Step 3: Map Your Fields (and Don’t Go Overboard)

Here’s where things get real. Decide what data goes where.

6sense pushes data (like account scores, buying stage, and segments) into custom fields on Salesforce objects.
In Salesforce Setup > Object Manager, locate the new fields the package creates (they’ll be on Account, Lead, Contact, maybe Opportunity).
In 6sense, use the integration mapping screen to decide which 6sense fields sync to which Salesforce fields.
Less is more. Only sync the data sales or marketing will actually use.

Pro tip: Give your sales team a heads-up about any new fields or page layouts that’ll appear. No one likes surprise clutter.

Step 4: Configure Sync Rules and Frequency

You don’t want to flood Salesforce with updates every five minutes, but you also don’t want stale data.

Choose your sync frequency: Most teams do hourly or daily. Real-time is overkill for 99% of use cases—and can eat up your API limits.
Set update rules: Only update records if the 6sense data has changed. This keeps your Salesforce clean and avoids unnecessary chatter.
Decide what happens on conflicts: Does 6sense overwrite Salesforce? Or vice versa? Usually, 6sense data should only update the custom fields it owns.

What works: Start with less frequent syncs. You can always turn it up later if your team really needs it.

Step 5: Test (Don’t Skip This)

Testing sounds boring, but it’s where most integrations go wrong.

Check a handful of test accounts/leads. Do the 6sense fields populate as expected?
Trigger a few updates in 6sense (move an account to a new segment, change a score).
Watch how quickly Salesforce reflects the changes.
Test your reports and dashboards. Does the new data show up where you need it?

If something breaks, check permissions first, then field mappings. Nine times out of ten, it’s one of those.

Step 6: Train Your Team and Set Guardrails

Don’t dump new data on your sales team and hope for the best.

Show them where the new 6sense fields show up in Salesforce.
Explain what the data means (e.g., “account buying stage” isn’t always self-explanatory).
Update your processes: If you want reps acting on 6sense scores, bake it into your playbooks.
Lock down field editing—only let 6sense update its fields, not random users.

What to ignore: Don’t build a dozen new workflows or automations until you see how the data actually gets used.

Step 7: Monitor, Tune, and Don’t Overcomplicate

Integrations aren’t “set and forget.” They break, or your team’s needs change.

Monitor sync errors in both 6sense and Salesforce.
Ask your users if the data is useful—and kill anything that’s just clutter.
Tweak sync frequency or field mappings as your process matures.
Stay skeptical of new “features”—not everything needs to be synced just because it exists.

Common Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)

API Limits: Salesforce has pretty strict API call limits. If you have a ton of data or short sync intervals, you might hit them. Watch your usage.
Data Overload: More isn’t better. Only sync what you need. Too many fields just confuse users.
Permissions Issues: Double-check field-level security and profile permissions, especially if data isn’t showing up.
Testing in Production: Don’t do it. Always use a sandbox first.

Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Keep It Useful

Integrating 6sense and Salesforce can be a game-changer—if you keep it focused. Start with the basics, make sure your team actually uses the new data, and don’t get seduced by every “advanced” option. Iterate as you go. If something’s not working, simplify.

And remember: the point isn’t just syncing data, it’s making your sales and marketing teams’ lives easier. That’s what actually drives results.