Integrating Salesforce CRM with workflow tools can save you hours every week—when it’s set up right. If you’re looking to connect Salesforce to Xiqinc and actually get value out of the integration (not just another dashboard), this guide is for you.
You'll get step-by-step instructions, a few honest warnings about what to watch for, and practical advice on what actually works in the real world—not just in glossy product demos.
Who This Guide Is For
- Salesforce admins tasked with workflow automation but tired of half-baked integrations.
- Ops folks who want reliable, maintainable automations—without needing a developer every time something changes.
- Anyone who wants Salesforce and Xiqinc talking to each other, not just exchanging data for the sake of it.
If you’ve got basic Salesforce admin access and a Xiqinc account, you’re ready.
Step 1: Clarify What You Actually Need to Automate
Before you start clicking buttons, map out the actual workflows you want. This sounds obvious, but most failed integrations come from fuzzy goals.
Ask yourself: - What’s the real problem I’m solving? (Example: “Leads from Salesforce need to trigger tasks for the sales team in Xiqinc.”) - Where does information get stuck? - What’s manual today that should be automated?
Pro tip: Write down 1-2 specific use cases. Stick them on a sticky note. When you get into the weeds later, refer back to these.
Step 2: Prep Your Salesforce CRM for Integration
Now, get your Salesforce house in order. Xiqinc can pull and push a lot of data, but garbage in means garbage out.
- Check your Salesforce edition. You’ll need API access (Enterprise, Unlimited, Developer, or Performance editions). No API access, no integration.
- Clean up your fields. Only expose the fields you actually use. Hide or remove clutter—Xiqinc will see every field you give it.
- Create an integration user. Don’t use your personal login. Create a dedicated Salesforce user just for Xiqinc integrations. This helps with auditing and security.
- Review permissions. The integration user should only have access to what Xiqinc needs—nothing more.
If you skip these steps, you’ll end up troubleshooting permissions and messy data later. Save your future self the headache.
Step 3: Set Up Xiqinc for Salesforce Integration
Log in to your Xiqinc account. If you haven’t already, check their documentation for any prerequisites—sometimes there’s an “integration” or “admin” role you need.
- Find the Salesforce integration module. Usually, this lives under “Integrations” or “Connections.” It should say “Connect to Salesforce” or something similar.
- Gather your Salesforce credentials:
- Integration user’s username and password
- Security token (Salesforce sends this to your email; if you don’t have it, reset it from Salesforce)
- Salesforce instance URL (e.g.,
https://na123.salesforce.com)
You’ll need these handy in the next step.
Step 4: Connect Xiqinc to Salesforce
This is the part where things often break—either because of permissions, expired tokens, or mismatched fields. Here’s how to get it right the first time:
- In Xiqinc, click “Connect to Salesforce.”
- Enter your Salesforce credentials: Use the integration user you set up earlier—not your main admin account.
- Input the security token and instance URL. Triple-check for typos.
- Test the connection. Most platforms will have a “Test” button. Use it. If it fails:
- Double-check the user permissions.
- Make sure the security token is correct.
- Check if your Salesforce org has IP restrictions. You may need to whitelist Xiqinc’s IP addresses.
If you get stuck, don’t waste hours guessing. Xiqinc’s support (assuming it’s decent) can usually help, but they’ll want screenshots and error messages—grab those before reaching out.
Honest take: OAuth-based connections are more secure and less headache long-term than username/password/token combos. If Xiqinc offers OAuth, use it.
Step 5: Map Salesforce Objects and Fields to Xiqinc Workflows
Once you’re connected, decide what data should sync.
- Pick the Salesforce objects you need: Leads, Contacts, Opportunities—avoid syncing everything “just in case.” More data = more complexity and more things to break.
- Map fields carefully: Xiqinc will prompt you to match Salesforce fields to Xiqinc fields or triggers. Don’t just click “auto-map”—review each one.
- Decide on direction: Do you want Salesforce data to push to Xiqinc, pull data from Xiqinc, or both? One-way is simpler and usually safer at the start.
Pitfall: If your field names don’t match up, or if you have custom fields, you’ll need to create matching fields in Xiqinc or use their field-mapping tools.
Step 6: Build and Test Your First Workflow
Let’s say you want “New Salesforce lead → Xiqinc task for sales team.” Here’s how you’d do it:
- Create a new workflow in Xiqinc.
- Set the trigger: Choose “New Lead in Salesforce” as the trigger event.
- Define the action: Tell Xiqinc what to do (e.g., create a new task, assign it to a user, send a Slack alert, etc.).
- Add conditions: Only trigger on leads with certain statuses, regions, or sources if needed.
- Test with real data: Don’t just use sample data—create a real (but fake) lead in Salesforce and see if it shows up in Xiqinc.
Pro tip: Test with edge cases—odd data, missing fields, etc. You’ll catch issues now instead of when it matters.
Step 7: Set Up Ongoing Sync and Error Handling
Automations break. APIs change, tokens expire, fields get renamed. Don’t pretend otherwise.
- Enable logging: Make sure Xiqinc logs every sync attempt, success, and failure. This will save you when something goes sideways.
- Set up notifications: Get Xiqinc to alert you (email, Slack, whatever) if a sync fails. Don’t wait until a sales rep complains.
- Schedule periodic checks: Once a week, do a quick review of recent sync logs. Boring, but it’ll catch problems early.
If something fails, check: - Has the Salesforce password or security token changed? - Did someone rename/delete a field? - Are you hitting Salesforce API limits? (If yes, you may need to throttle syncs.)
Step 8: Roll Out to the Team—Slowly
Don’t flip the switch for everyone at once.
- Start with a test group: A couple of users or a single team. Get feedback.
- Document the process: Screenshots, step-by-step notes, known issues. Don’t rely on memory.
- Train users: Show them how the integration works, what to expect, and who to contact when it breaks.
- Iterate: Fix what’s broken before rolling out wider.
Pro tip: People will find ways to break things you never thought of. That’s normal. Expect a few rounds of tweaks.
What to Ignore (For Now)
- “Sync Everything” Buttons: More data means more noise and more bugs. Start with the minimum you need.
- Two-way sync unless you absolutely need it: It doubles the complexity and risk of data overwrites.
- Advanced field formulas and workflows: Get basic syncing working before layering on complexity.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
Most integration projects go off the rails because people try to do too much at once. Connect a single workflow, make sure it’s solid, and then add more when you’re ready. When (not if) things break, logs and simple workflows will help you fix them fast.
Remember: The best integrations are the ones that quietly work in the background—so you can focus on your job, not on fixing sync errors.