Integrating Salesforce with Saleshood isn’t rocket science, but it’s also not a “set it and forget it” button. If you’re a sales ops pro, enablement lead, or just the one who owns the sales tech stack, you want data flowing between your CRM and your coaching tools—without spending all day untangling sync errors. This guide is for you.
Let’s walk through making Salesforce and Saleshood play nicely together, so your reps can focus on selling, and you can stop chasing down lost data.
Why bother syncing Salesforce and Saleshood?
If you’re reading this, you probably already know the pain: Saleshood has valuable coaching, training, and content usage data, but none of it shows up in Salesforce where managers live. Or, maybe you want to trigger Saleshood programs based on Salesforce stages. Either way, syncing the two means:
- No more double entry (or pestering reps to update two systems)
- Better visibility for managers
- Easier reporting on what actually works
- Less manual work for you—once it’s working
But here’s the thing: integrations are only seamless if you get the basics right and don’t overcomplicate it. Let’s get into it.
Step 1: Get Your House in Order
Before you even touch permissions or connectors, get clear on:
- What data do you actually need synced?
Is it activity completion, quiz scores, content views, or just user records? - Who owns the integration?
If it’s “everyone and no one,” things will break. Assign a point person. - What’s your source of truth?
Decide which system wins if there’s a conflict.
Pro tip: Start small. Sync just the essentials to test things out, then expand once you trust the system.
Step 2: Check Your Salesforce Setup
You need admin access (or someone who does) in both Salesforce and Saleshood. In Salesforce:
- Make sure you have API access enabled (this usually comes with Enterprise editions and up).
- Check user permissions for the integration user. This user should have:
- “API Enabled” permission
- Read/write access to objects you want to sync (Leads, Contacts, Opportunities, etc.)
- Clean up old custom fields or weird picklist values. Junk in, junk out.
You don’t need a squeaky-clean org, but if your Salesforce is a mess, syncing it just spreads the mess faster.
Step 3: Prepare Your Saleshood Account
Log into Saleshood as an admin. You’ll need:
- A Saleshood Enterprise or Business plan (integration features aren’t always included in lower tiers).
- API access turned on (some orgs need this enabled by Saleshood support).
- A dedicated integration user, or at least a user with admin rights.
If you’re not sure about your plan or permissions, check with Saleshood support before moving on. Nothing’s more annoying than doing all the prep only to hit a paywall.
Step 4: Choose Your Integration Method
There are three main ways to connect Salesforce and Saleshood:
1. Native Integration (Recommended)
Saleshood offers a built-in Salesforce connector for most standard use cases. It handles:
- User sync (matching users by email)
- Pushing Saleshood activity data into Salesforce (typically as custom objects or fields)
- Pulling Salesforce data to trigger Saleshood programs
This option is best if you want quick wins and don’t need heavy customization.
2. Middleware Tools (Zapier, Workato, Tray.io, etc.)
If the native integration doesn’t cut it, middleware can bridge the gap. Use these if you want to:
- Map unusual fields
- Build multi-step workflows (e.g., only trigger Saleshood if Opportunity is in a certain stage and rep missed a training)
- Connect to other tools at the same time
Just know: these add complexity and cost. Also, troubleshooting can get painful.
3. Custom API Integration
This is the “roll your own” route using Salesforce and Saleshood APIs. Only go here if you have in-house developers, very unique needs, or a love for debugging JSON.
Honest take: For 90% of teams, the native connector is enough. Only reach for other tools if you’ve hit a real wall.
Step 5: Connect the Systems
Here’s how to do it with the native Saleshood-Salesforce integration. (If you’re using middleware or custom code, you’ll follow their setup flows.)
- In Saleshood, go to Admin > Integrations > Salesforce.
- Click “Connect” or “Add Integration.”
- Authorize Salesforce.
You’ll need to log in as the integration user (see Step 2). - Choose what to sync:
- Users: Match by email address. Make sure emails line up in both systems.
- Activity: Decide if you want Saleshood activities (like “Completed Pitch Certification”) to show up as custom objects, activities, or fields in Salesforce.
- Reporting fields: Pick which data you care about, not everything under the sun.
- Map fields:
- Saleshood will offer default mappings, but double-check these. For example, if you want to track “Content Viewed” in Salesforce, pick a custom field or object that makes sense.
- Set sync frequency:
- Real-time is nice, but daily or hourly is often enough—and less likely to hit API limits.
Pro tip: Run a test sync with a single user or record before turning it loose on your whole org.
Step 6: Test Thoroughly
This is where most integrations break down.
- Pick a few test users (ideally with real data).
- Complete a few Saleshood activities and see what shows up in Salesforce.
- Check for duplicate records, missing fields, or weird formatting.
- Try the reverse: update Salesforce and see if Saleshood reacts as expected.
Don’t just check once—run a few cycles over a couple days. Some sync issues only show up after a delay.
Step 7: Roll Out Gradually
Don’t flip the switch for everyone on day one. Instead:
- Start with a pilot group (usually a single team or region).
- Gather feedback: What’s showing up? What’s missing? Are reps confused?
- Tweak your field mappings, sync settings, or training materials.
- Only expand when you’re confident it’s solid.
Honest take: You’ll never catch every weird edge case before rollout. But a pilot helps you catch the big, embarrassing ones.
Step 8: Train (and Retrain) Your Users
Even the best integration falls flat if nobody knows how to use it.
- Show sales reps where to find Saleshood info in Salesforce, and vice versa.
- Explain what’s automatic vs. what they need to do manually.
- Give managers a cheat sheet for reports or dashboards.
Expect to answer the same question five times. That’s normal.
Step 9: Monitor and Maintain
Integrations aren’t “fire and forget.” Keep an eye on:
- Sync failures: Check integration logs weekly (at least at first).
- API limits: If you start hitting Salesforce API quotas, dial down sync frequency or scope.
- Field changes: If someone changes a field in Salesforce, make sure it doesn’t break your mapping.
- User changes: When reps join or leave, check that user sync is working.
Set a calendar reminder to review the integration every quarter. It’s boring, but it saves headaches later.
What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Ignore
What works:
- Native connectors are usually enough for most teams.
- Simple field mappings keep things stable.
- Piloting with a small group catches most issues.
What doesn’t:
- Syncing every possible field “just in case.” You’ll just create noise and confusion.
- Ignoring user training. People will just keep emailing you.
- Assuming it’ll work forever without checks—something always changes.
What to ignore:
- Overhyped “AI-powered” sync tools (at least for now). Focus on reliability, not buzzwords.
- One-off customizations unless you have a team to maintain them.
Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
That’s the gist: start small, test often, and don’t fall for the promise of “seamless” out of the box. The integration between Salesforce and Saleshood can save you hours and give you better insights, but only if you keep it lean and revisit it as your processes change. Set it up, watch for snags, and keep listening to your users.
You don’t need perfection on day one—just a working, understandable system. The rest can wait.