If you use Salesforce to track deals and Performio to handle commissions, syncing the two can save you from endless spreadsheets and late-night headaches. This guide is for admins, ops folks, and anyone tired of chasing down sales numbers in two places. We’ll walk through connecting Salesforce and Performio, what actually works, and what to watch out for—no fluff, just what you need to get it done.
Why connect Salesforce and Performio?
First, a quick reality check. Pulling sales data into Performio makes sense if: - You want commissions calculated on real, up-to-date numbers (not whatever’s in someone’s inbox). - Your sales team already logs everything in Salesforce. - You’d rather automate than run manual exports every week.
But it’s not magic. If your Salesforce data is a mess, Performio won’t fix that. Garbage in, garbage out. So, before you start, make sure your Salesforce records are accurate and the fields you care about (like Opportunity Amount, Close Date, Owner, etc.) are standardized.
Step 1: Decide what data you really need
Don’t try to sync everything. Focus on the fields and objects that actually matter for commissions. Usually, that means: - Opportunities: Most common for commission calculations. - Accounts or Contacts: Sometimes, if your plans depend on account type or territory. - Custom fields: If you track things like “Commissionable Amount” or “Product Type.”
Pro tip: Make a list of the exact fields you need. If you try to bring over everything, you’ll just create a mess. Start small; you can always add more later.
Step 2: Prep Salesforce for integration
Performio pulls data from Salesforce via an API connection, but the connection is only as good as your Salesforce setup. Here’s what you should do:
- Clean up your fields. Are your Opportunity Amounts always in the same currency? Are owners assigned? Missing data will trip you up.
- Create a dedicated integration user. Don’t use your own admin account, or you’ll run into issues if your permissions ever change.
- Check API access. The user you connect should have API rights and read access to all the fields you want to sync.
Heads up: If your Salesforce org uses custom objects or fields, jot down their API names. You’ll need these later.
Step 3: Set up the Performio-Salesforce connection
Performio has a built-in Salesforce connector. Here’s how to set it up:
- Log into Performio as an Admin.
- Go to Admin > Integrations > Salesforce.
- Click Connect to Salesforce.
- When prompted, log in with your dedicated Salesforce integration user.
- Authorize the connection. Salesforce will ask you to approve access.
What happens here? Performio uses OAuth to connect—no passwords stored. If you see errors, double-check your integration user’s permissions.
Step 4: Configure your Salesforce data import
Now you tell Performio what to pull in. This is where your prep pays off.
- Pick your Salesforce objects. Usually Opportunities, but you can add others if needed.
- Map Salesforce fields to Performio fields. For example:
- Salesforce “Amount” → Performio “Deal Value”
- Salesforce “Close Date” → Performio “Transaction Date”
- Owner, Stage, Product, etc.
Tip: Be picky. The more fields you map, the more places things can break. Only map what you’ll actually use for calculations or reporting.
- Set filters. You probably don’t want every single Opportunity. Use filters like “Stage = Closed Won” or “Close Date = This Quarter” to limit what gets pulled in.
- Decide on sync frequency. Daily sync is fine for most teams, but if you need real-time data, check your Performio plan—some features may cost extra.
Step 5: Test your integration with real data
Don’t just trust a “Success” message. Always test with actual records.
- Run a manual import first. In Performio, there’s usually an option to “Import Now” or “Run Sync.”
- Check the results. Look for missing or mismatched data. Are the right fields showing up? Are amounts correct? If not, revisit your field mapping.
- Watch out for duplicates. Some integrations create a new record every sync if you haven’t set a unique ID. Make sure you’re mapping a stable identifier (like Salesforce Opportunity ID).
What can go wrong? - Currency mismatches (USD vs. EUR) - Date formatting issues - Missing required fields in Performio (often not obvious until you try to import)
Step 6: Automate and monitor
Once you’re happy with your test imports, set up your sync schedule.
- Automate it. Schedule daily or weekly syncs so you’re not doing this manually forever.
- Set up alerts (if possible). Some errors won’t show up until days later. If Performio offers error notifications, use them.
- Spot-check regularly. No integration is totally “set and forget.” Check your data every couple of weeks, especially after any Salesforce changes.
What works, what doesn’t, and what to ignore
What works well: - Standard Opportunity data with clear ownership and simple commission plans. - Daily syncs for most sales orgs—real-time is usually overkill. - Filters that exclude junk (like test records or lost deals).
What doesn’t: - Syncing too many custom objects or fields—this tends to break or slow things down. - Complex logic (like multi-stage splits) handled in Salesforce. Do calculations in Performio when possible. - Relying on your Salesforce admins to keep fields consistent—they’re busy, so set up good defaults and alerts.
What you can skip: - Syncing every single Salesforce field “just in case.” - Building custom triggers or code unless you really need it. The out-of-the-box connector is usually enough.
Pro tips for staying sane
- Document your field mapping. Next time someone asks “Why isn’t this field showing up?” you’ll thank yourself.
- Keep your integration user’s password safe (and turn on two-factor if possible).
- Start with a pilot group. Don’t roll out to the whole team until you’ve ironed out the kinks.
- If it’s not working, ask for help. Both Performio and Salesforce support have seen every weird issue before. Sometimes it’s faster to just call.
Keep it simple and iterate
Integrating Salesforce and Performio isn’t rocket science, but it’s easy to overcomplicate. Start with just the fields and deals you need, test like crazy, and build up from there. Resist the urge to sync everything all at once. The simpler your setup, the less you’ll have to fix later. And hey, every manual export you don’t have to do is a small win.