So you want your CRM to actually talk to Gan—and not just in theory. You want data to sync without constant headaches or manual exports. This guide is for anyone who’s tired of patchwork solutions and silent sync failures. Whether you’re a sales ops lead, a startup founder, or just the unofficial “tech person” on your team, this walk-through will help you get Gan and your CRM in sync (and keep them that way).
Let’s skip the sales pitch and get into what actually works, what’s a waste of time, and what you need to watch out for.
What Is Gan, Actually?
If you landed here, you probably know the basics, but just to keep everyone on the same page: Gan is a tool for streamlining business workflows, especially around customer data and automations. It’s not magic, but it can save you a ton of time if set up right. The catch? Integrations are only as good as the setup.
Step 1: Figure Out What You Really Need to Sync
Before you start clicking around, get clear on the data you actually need to move between Gan and your CRM. Don’t try to sync everything “just in case”—that’s asking for trouble.
Questions to ask: - Which objects matter? (Contacts, deals, notes, custom fields?) - Is it a one-way or two-way sync? - How often do you need updates? - Who cares about this data—sales, support, marketing?
Pro Tip:
Write this down. Seriously. Future you will thank you when debugging later.
Step 2: Check What’s Supported—Don’t Assume
Every CRM is different, and not all play nicely with Gan. Some give you a full-featured open API. Others… not so much.
Do this: - Google “Gan + [Your CRM] integration.” See if there’s an official guide or app. - Check Gan’s integrations page (if they have one). - Look at your CRM’s API docs—does it support webhooks, REST, or only CSV import/export? - If you’re using a major CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Zoho, etc.), odds are someone’s tried this before. Look for forum posts and reviews, not just the top Google result.
Things to ignore:
Don’t get lost in “integration marketplaces” that promise the world but deliver nothing but headaches. If Gan or your CRM doesn’t list the other as a supported integration, you’re in for some workarounds.
Step 3: Pick the Right Integration Method
You basically have three options:
- Native Integration
The best-case scenario. Gan or your CRM has a plug-and-play connector. - Pros: Easiest, usually most reliable.
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Cons: Sometimes limited in features or customization.
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Third-Party Middleware
Think Zapier, Make (formerly Integromat), or Tray.io. - Pros: No code required. Quick to set up.
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Cons: Monthly fees. Sometimes brittle. Can get expensive if you have lots of data or complex workflows.
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Custom API Integration
Write your own sync using APIs and maybe a little Python or JavaScript. - Pros: Total control. Handles edge cases.
- Cons: Takes time, needs someone technical, and you’ll be on the hook for maintenance.
Honest take:
If there’s a native integration, use it—even if it’s not perfect. Only reach for middleware or custom code if you must.
Step 4: Set Up the Connection
How you do this depends on your method:
If You’ve Got a Native Integration
- Go to Gan’s integrations page or your CRM’s marketplace.
- Connect your accounts (usually via OAuth or API keys).
- Grant the minimum permissions you actually need—don’t just click “allow all.”
- Test the connection right away. Don’t trust the green checkmark; actually move some test data.
If You’re Using Middleware (Zapier, Make, etc.)
- Sign up for the middleware platform.
- Connect both Gan and your CRM to the platform (again, API keys or OAuth).
- Set up your “trigger” (e.g., “New Contact in Gan”).
- Set up your “action” (e.g., “Create Contact in CRM”).
- Map fields carefully. Don’t assume “First Name” means the same thing everywhere.
- Test with real (but non-sensitive) data—never use actual customer info for your first test.
If You’re Going Custom
- Get API keys for both Gan and your CRM.
- Sketch out your data flow: What triggers sync? How do you handle errors?
- Write a small script to pull data from Gan, push to CRM (or vice versa).
- Log every step. You’ll need logs for debugging, trust me.
- Run the script manually a few times before automating.
What to ignore:
Don’t bother with “sync” options that only run once a day unless you truly don’t care about timely data. Real-time or near-real-time is usually worth the extra setup.
Step 5: Map and Transform Your Data
This is where most integrations break down. Field names, types, and formats don’t always line up.
How to do it right: - Make a field mapping doc: List every field in Gan and its match in your CRM. - Watch out for dropdowns, date formats, and custom fields—they love to trip people up. - Decide what happens if data doesn’t match (e.g., missing phone numbers, duplicate emails). - Set up data cleaning if needed. Don’t just sync garbage from one tool to another.
Pro Tip:
Start with a small subset of data. Get that working before going for the full firehose.
Step 6: Test Like You Mean It
Most integration failures happen because people skip real testing. Don’t be that person.
Test for: - Data accuracy (do fields match up?) - Speed (how quickly does data sync?) - Error handling (what happens if something fails?) - Duplicates (are you creating two records for the same person?)
How to test: - Use test records that are obvious (e.g., “Test User Gan Integration”). - Try edge cases: missing data, weird characters, big numbers. - Watch logs, not just the UI.
What to ignore:
Don’t trust “successful” status messages without checking actual records in both systems.
Step 7: Set Up Ongoing Monitoring
Integrations break. APIs change, permissions expire, and sometimes stuff just goes sideways.
Here’s how to stay sane: - Turn on error notifications (email, Slack, whatever works). - Check integration logs weekly—yes, even when things “seem fine.” - Assign someone to own the integration, even if it’s just you. - Document how to reset connections or reauthorize APIs.
Pro Tip:
Schedule a quarterly review. Don’t let “set it and forget it” become “set it and regret it.”
Step 8: Train Your Team—But Keep It Simple
People will break things if they don’t know what the integration does.
- Send a quick email or do a 5-minute demo: “When you update X in Gan, it shows up in the CRM within Y minutes.”
- Tell them who to contact if something looks off.
- Don’t over-explain. Most people just need to know the basics.
Step 9: Iterate (Don’t Over-Engineer)
You’ll never get it perfect the first time. Start simple, sync the most important stuff, and add more complexity only as needed.
- Keep a list of what you’d like to sync, but save it for phase two.
- Ask for feedback from actual users. If no one notices or cares about a sync, maybe you can skip it.
- If you hit a wall with Gan or your CRM’s limitations, let it go. Sometimes “good enough” beats “fully automated.”
Wrapping Up
Getting Gan and your CRM to sync is doable—just don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. Start small, test thoroughly, and keep things as simple as possible. If you ever feel lost, remember: Most integration problems aren’t technical—they’re about unclear requirements or bad data. Clarify what matters first, and you’re already ahead of the game.
Now go build something that works, not just something that demos well.