If your customer data lives in both Salesforce and Velaris, you already know the pain: duplicate records, updates gone missing, and teams working from different playbooks. This guide is for folks who want to actually fix that, not just talk about “alignment.” We’ll walk through how to connect Velaris and Salesforce, what matters, what doesn’t, and how to keep things running without making life harder for everyone.
Whether you’re in operations, revops, or just the unofficial “person who figures this stuff out,” you’ll get practical steps here — no fluff, no hand-waving.
Why Integrate Velaris and Salesforce?
Let’s be honest: most B2B teams end up with a mess of platforms. Salesforce is the system of record, but Velaris is where customer success actually happens. If data isn’t synced, you get:
- Account managers chasing the wrong info
- Missed renewals or upsells
- Reports you can’t trust
- A lot of Slack messages that shouldn’t exist
So, syncing the two is about more than convenience. It means your team can act fast, spot risks, and keep customers happy — without endless manual updates.
Step 1: Get Clear on What You Actually Need to Sync
Before you touch any settings, figure out what data really needs to move between Salesforce and Velaris. Every extra field or object you sync is something that can break or confuse people later.
Start with these basics: - Accounts/Companies - Contacts - Opportunities/Deals (if you track them in both) - Custom fields tied to customer health, usage, or segments
Don’t bother syncing: - Old, stale data you never use - Internal-only notes that don’t help CS or sales - Data that’s sensitive and shouldn’t move between systems
Pro tip: If you’re not sure, ask the people who use each platform. What do they look for first? What do they complain about missing? Build your integration around that, not what “sounds good” in a meeting.
Step 2: Check Your Velaris and Salesforce Access
You’ll need admin-level access in both Velaris and Salesforce to set up the integration. If you don’t have that, get ready for a bit of back-and-forth with IT or your CRM owner.
- In Salesforce, make sure you can create connected apps, manage API permissions, and view object setup.
- In Velaris, make sure you can reach the integrations or settings section, and create/manage API connections.
Watch out for:
Some companies lock down permissions tighter than a drum. If you’re stuck waiting for approvals, get the ball rolling early — nothing kills momentum like a stalled access request.
Step 3: Decide on Integration Method — Native, Middleware, or Custom
There’s more than one way to connect Velaris and Salesforce. Your choice depends on your budget, technical comfort, and how much you hate maintaining integrations.
Option 1: Velaris’ Native Salesforce Integration
If Velaris offers a built-in Salesforce integration (many do), start there. This is usually the easiest way, with clear guides and support.
Upsides: - Fast to set up - Fewer moving parts - Supported by both vendors
Downsides: - Limited customization - Syncs only the objects/fields Velaris supports
When to ignore:
If you need to sync custom fields, objects, or have weird business logic, the native connector might not cut it.
Option 2: Integration Platforms (Zapier, Workato, Tray.io, etc.)
If you want more control, but don’t want to code, middleware platforms can bridge the gap.
Upsides: - Flexible mapping and logic - Good for non-engineers - Can handle complex workflows
Downsides: - Extra cost (sometimes steep) - Yet another platform to learn and maintain - Can get messy if overused
Option 3: Custom API Integration
If you have in-house engineering and unique needs, rolling your own integration is an option.
Upsides: - Maximum flexibility - Can handle any object, field, or logic
Downsides: - Needs developer time (and maintenance forever) - Prone to breaking when APIs change - You own all the bugs
Real talk:
Unless you have truly unique requirements, start with the native option. Only go custom if you hit hard limits.
Step 4: Connect the Systems
Let’s assume you’re using the native Velaris Salesforce integration. (If not, most of these steps still apply, just swap in your middleware or API client.)
1. In Velaris
- Head to Settings → Integrations → Salesforce.
- Click “Connect Salesforce.”
- Velaris will prompt you to log in with your Salesforce admin credentials.
- Grant the requested permissions (read/write access to the objects you need).
2. In Salesforce
- Confirm you see Velaris as a connected app (under Setup → Apps → Connected Apps).
- Review the permissions granted. If you need to restrict access, do it now, not later.
- Make sure API access is enabled for the integration user.
3. Test the Connection
- Try syncing a single account or contact.
- Check both systems — did the data show up, and is it in the right place?
- Look for field mapping issues, missing data, or sync errors.
Pro tip:
Don’t try to sync everything at once. Start small, with just a few records, and only expand once you trust the process.
Step 5: Map Fields and Objects — Carefully
Field mapping is where most integrations go sideways. If your “Account Name” in Salesforce isn’t the same as “Company” in Velaris, you’ll get duplicates, overwrites, or worse.
How to get it right: - List out every field you want to sync (literally, in a spreadsheet). - Map each one from Salesforce to its equivalent in Velaris. - Decide which system is the “source of truth” for each field. - Example: Maybe Salesforce owns company address, but Velaris owns health score. - Set up rules for conflicting updates (last updated wins? Manual review?). - Sync only what you really need — don’t just check every box.
Things people mess up: - Picklist mismatches (e.g., “Active” vs. “Current”) - Required fields missing in one system - Custom fields with different names but the same data
Test again after mapping. Push sample records through and see what breaks.
Step 6: Set Up Sync Rules and Schedules
You need to decide how and when data moves between the two systems.
- Real-time vs. Scheduled: Real-time sync sounds great, but often isn’t needed. Hourly or daily is enough for most B2B teams.
- Bi-directional vs. One-way: Do changes in Velaris push back to Salesforce, or is it read-only? Be explicit here — accidental overwrites are forever.
- Conflict resolution: What happens if someone edits the same field in both places? Most tools let you set “system of record,” or prompt for manual review.
Pro tip:
Start with one-way sync (Salesforce → Velaris) until you’re sure your mapping and logic are solid. Bi-directional sync adds complexity and risk fast.
Step 7: Monitor, Audit, and Maintain
Even the best integration will break eventually — APIs change, fields get renamed, users do weird stuff. Build in ways to catch issues early.
- Set up basic alerts for sync errors or failures.
- Schedule a monthly audit: pick a few records, check both systems, and look for mismatches.
- Train your team to spot and report data discrepancies.
- Keep documentation up to date — future you (or your replacement) will thank you.
What to ignore:
Don’t get sucked into “integration dashboards” that look fancy but don’t actually help you find real problems.
Troubleshooting: Common Pitfalls
Here’s where most teams trip up:
- Duplicate records: Usually from bad field mapping or missing unique IDs. Always use Salesforce IDs as your match key if possible.
- Permission errors: The integration user doesn’t have access to a field or object.
- API limits: Salesforce limits API calls — if you sync too often or too much, you’ll get throttled.
- Custom fields not syncing: Make sure both systems have the field, and the integration is actually mapping it.
If you hit a wall, check logs in both systems. Most sync tools have some kind of error reporting, even if it’s buried in the UI.
Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple, Iterate Fast
Integrating Velaris and Salesforce isn’t glamorous, but it beats cleaning up data messes by hand. Start with the basics, sync only what matters, and don’t overcomplicate things. You can always add more fields, objects, or fancy logic later — but it’s a nightmare to untangle a bloated integration.
Get the essentials working, make sure your team can trust the data, and improve as you go. That’s the real secret to “seamless” data sync.
Now — go connect your tools, and reclaim some sanity for your team.