How to integrate Signrequest with Salesforce to streamline sales agreements

If your sales team is still juggling PDFs, chasing down signatures, or manually updating Salesforce, you’re probably wasting time (and patience). This guide is for anyone who wants to connect Salesforce with an e-signature tool—specifically Signrequest—so agreements move faster and you don’t have to do the same task twice. I’ll cut through the fluff, flag what to watch for, and help you get set up without losing your weekend.

Why Bother Connecting Signrequest and Salesforce?

Let’s get real: Sales teams live in Salesforce. But the moment someone needs to sign a proposal, the process usually falls apart. Downloads, email ping-pong, and “Did you get my DocuSign?” follow-ups. It’s clunky.

Signrequest is a solid, no-nonsense e-signature tool. It’s simpler (and usually cheaper) than some big-name competitors. Integrating it with Salesforce means you can send agreements for signature, track status, and keep records—without ever leaving Salesforce. No more hunting through inboxes for signed contracts.

But: this integration isn’t a magic fix. It works, but you’ll need to set it up thoughtfully, and there are a few quirks to watch out for.

Step 1: Decide If This Integration Fits Your Needs

Before diving in, ask yourself:

  • Do you use Salesforce as your “source of truth” for deals? If not, this may not save you time.
  • Are your agreements straightforward? Signrequest handles standard e-signatures well. If you need complex workflows (multi-stage approvals, conditional routing), you may hit limits.
  • Is your team ready for new tools? If your people hate change, budget time for training.

Pro tip: Try out Signrequest’s free trial first, if you haven’t already. Make sure you like how it handles documents before bolting it onto Salesforce.

Step 2: Get Your Tools Lined Up

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • A Salesforce account (Enterprise, Unlimited, or Developer editions work best; Professional might need extra setup).
  • A Signrequest account with API access (check your plan—API isn’t always included by default).
  • Admin rights in both systems. You can’t do this as a regular user.

You’ll also need:

  • A test agreement in PDF or Word format.
  • Sample Salesforce records (like a test Opportunity or Account) so you’re not breaking live deals.

Heads up: If you’re not comfortable poking around Salesforce setup, consider looping in your admin. You don’t want to break automations or mess up permissions.

Step 3: Set Up Signrequest’s Salesforce Integration

Signrequest offers a few integration paths. The most common (and least painful) is via their AppExchange package. Here’s how to get going:

1. Install the Signrequest App from AppExchange

  • Go to Salesforce’s AppExchange, search for “Signrequest.”
  • Click “Get It Now” and follow the prompts. Install in your sandbox first, not production.
  • Approve the necessary permissions (read/write access to objects you want to use).

What’s good: It’s pretty turnkey. The package adds buttons and templates to standard Salesforce objects.

What’s not: The UI isn’t as slick as DocuSign's, but it gets the job done.

2. Connect Signrequest to Your Account

  • After installation, you’ll see a Signrequest tab in Salesforce.
  • Open it and log in with your Signrequest API credentials.
  • Configure organization-wide settings (who can send, default sender, branding).

Don’t skip: Double-check API keys—if you use the wrong one, nothing will work and the error messages are vague.

3. Add the “Send with Signrequest” Button

  • Go to Salesforce Object Manager (e.g., Opportunity).
  • Edit the page layout you want.
  • Drag the “Send with Signrequest” button to the layout.

You can add this to Opportunities, Accounts, or custom objects—wherever you want to send agreements.

Step 4: Build Your First Automated Agreement Workflow

Now for the meat and potatoes: getting your agreements out the door without manual steps.

1. Create a Signrequest Template

  • In Signrequest, upload your standard agreement.
  • Add signature fields, dates, and any other required info.
  • Save it as a template.

Best practice: Use merge fields for names, company, deal amounts, etc. The more you automate, the fewer typos.

2. Map Salesforce Fields to Your Template

  • In Salesforce, link the template you just made to your object (e.g., Opportunity).
  • Set up field mapping so Salesforce data (like client name, amount, date) auto-fills the template.
  • Test the merge—this is where most rookie mistakes happen.

Gotchas: If field names don’t match exactly, your agreement will show blanks. Double-check mappings.

3. Automate Sending

There are two routes here:

  • Manual: Users click “Send with Signrequest” on the Salesforce record.
  • Automated: Use Salesforce Flow, Process Builder, or Apex triggers to send automatically when a deal hits a certain stage.

My advice: Start manual, get the kinks out, then automate. Automation is powerful, but it’s also the fastest way to blast mistakes to customers.

Step 5: Handle Signed Documents and Status Updates

You don’t want to chase down PDFs or wonder if a contract was signed. Here’s how to keep everything in sync:

1. Store Signed Agreements in Salesforce

  • The integration can attach signed PDFs to the relevant Salesforce record (usually as a Note or Attachment).
  • Make sure your permissions allow this—otherwise, you’ll get errors or lose documents.

2. Track Status in Salesforce

  • Signrequest pushes status updates (sent, viewed, signed, declined) back to Salesforce.
  • You can add status fields to your Opportunity layout.
  • Use these fields to trigger automations (e.g., move stage to “Closed Won” when signed).

Warning: Status sync isn’t always instant. Sometimes it lags a few minutes. Don’t build automations that assume split-second updates.

Step 6: Test, Train, and Roll Out

Before you let your whole team loose:

  • Test with dummy data. Run through the full workflow—sending, signing, storing, status updates.
  • Train your sales team. Show them the new buttons and what to expect. Make a quick cheat sheet.
  • Have a backup plan. Sometimes integrations break (API changes, permissions, gremlins). Know how to revert if needed.

What Works and What to Watch Out For

The Good:

  • Cuts out manual steps—no more uploading, emailing, or chasing signatures.
  • Keeps everything logged in Salesforce—easy to audit.
  • Pricing is straightforward; no hidden fees for basic e-signatures.

The Not-so-Good:

  • Not as polished as DocuSign or Adobe for super-complex workflows.
  • Support is responsive but not lightning-fast.
  • Documentation can be a bit sparse (you’ll be Googling or guessing at times).

Ignore the Hype:

  • “Fully seamless integration”—eh, close, but you’ll still need to tweak things.
  • “Set and forget”—don’t believe it. Check your automations regularly.

Keep It Simple, Iterate Often

You don’t need a six-month project plan for this. Get the basics working—send, sign, store—then improve. Don’t try to automate every edge case out of the gate. Once your team is comfortable, you can get fancier with flows and templates.

Above all: keep it simple, make sure your salespeople like it, and don’t be afraid to tweak as you go. If you hit a snag, don’t be shy about reaching out to support or your Salesforce admin. It’s just software—and you’re in charge.