If you need to get Salesforce data into a dashboard that actually makes sense, and you’re considering Grow, this guide’s for you. Whether your boss wants a “single source of truth” or you’re just tired of manually exporting CSVs, I’ll walk you through what works, what trips people up, and how to get real value out of this setup—without the usual nonsense.
Why connect Salesforce to Grow?
Salesforce is great for storing data—deals, contacts, activities—but its built-in reporting is… let’s just say “clunky.” If you want clean, interactive dashboards, Grow is a decent (if sometimes quirky) business intelligence tool that can pull in data from multiple sources, including Salesforce.
But don’t expect magic. Integration takes some elbow grease, and there are honest limitations. The good news: once you set it up, you can finally stop patching together reports in Excel.
What you’ll need before you start
Save yourself headaches—make sure you have these ready:
- Salesforce credentials: Admin access is best, or at least API-enabled user.
- Grow account: With permission to add data sources.
- A clear idea of what you want to report on: Don’t just “connect everything and see what happens.” Know your goals.
- Patience: Especially if your Salesforce data is messy or heavily customized.
Step 1: Prep your Salesforce data
Don’t skip this. If your Salesforce data has inconsistent fields, duplicate records, or weird custom objects, expect trouble. Grow can only make sense of what you feed it.
Checklist: - Clean up obvious junk records. - Identify what objects (Leads, Opportunities, etc.) you actually need. - Make sure API access is enabled on your Salesforce plan (not all editions have this by default).
Pro tip:
If you’re not sure how your data is structured, run a few Salesforce reports first and double-check the fields you actually use.
Step 2: Log in to Grow and add Salesforce as a data source
- Sign in to Grow.
- Go to “Data” (usually in the left sidebar).
- Click “+ Add Data Source” or similar—Grow changes its UI often, so look for anything that says “Add Connection.”
- Search for “Salesforce” and select it.
What to expect:
Grow uses the Salesforce API. You’ll be redirected to Salesforce to log in and grant permission. If you hit permission errors, talk to your Salesforce admin—API access is often restricted.
Pitfalls to avoid: - Sandbox vs. Production: Make sure you’re connecting to the right Salesforce environment. - API limits: Salesforce has daily API call limits. If you’re a big org, check this before pulling massive datasets.
Step 3: Authenticate and authorize the connection
- Enter your Salesforce username and password.
- Approve the connection when prompted.
- If your company uses Single Sign-On (SSO), you might need to do a few extra steps (sometimes IT will need to get involved).
Common hang-ups: - Password resets or expired credentials will break the connection later—set a reminder to update them. - Some custom Salesforce security settings might block Grow—watch for error messages.
Step 4: Choose what data to import
Here’s where people get greedy. Don’t just import every object—Grow will choke on too much data, and your dashboards will get unwieldy fast.
Tips: - Start with just the objects/fields you actually need for your first dashboard. - For sales dashboards, that’s usually Opportunities, Accounts, and maybe Activities. - Use Salesforce’s “Reports” export option in Grow if you need pre-joined data, but be aware: this can limit flexibility later.
What works: - Pulling standard objects is straightforward. - Custom objects can be imported, but naming can get confusing—double-check field names.
What to ignore: - Don’t bother importing system fields or legacy objects unless you’re sure you need them.
Step 5: Configure your data pull (tables, reports, or SOQL)
Grow gives you a few ways to pull Salesforce data:
- Standard tables: Easiest, but you might have to join data later inside Grow.
- Salesforce reports: Use if you already have good reports in Salesforce; Grow will treat them as a flat table.
- SOQL queries: Good for advanced users—lets you write custom queries, but the syntax is fussy and Salesforce limits what you can do.
My take?
If you’re just starting, use standard tables or existing reports. Only mess with SOQL if you really need to.
Beware: - Large data pulls can time out or get throttled. - If you use Salesforce reports, updates to those reports in Salesforce can break your Grow dashboards—keep documentation handy.
Step 6: Schedule your data syncs
You probably don’t need real-time data (and Grow doesn’t really do it anyway). Set a reasonable refresh schedule—hourly or daily is typical.
- Go to your data source settings in Grow.
- Set your sync frequency.
- Be realistic: Salesforce API calls aren’t free, and too-frequent syncs can slow things down or hit API limits.
Pro tip:
If you notice missing or delayed data, check both Grow’s sync logs and Salesforce’s API usage dashboard.
Step 7: Build your dashboards in Grow
This is where you’ll spend most of your time. Don’t try to make an executive dashboard and a granular sales report at the same time—start small.
Tips: - Drag in your connected Salesforce data. - Use Grow’s “Metrics” or “Charts” tools to visualize. - Add filters, but keep them simple at first. - Check your numbers against Salesforce directly to ensure data matches—mismatches are common due to filters or sync lags.
What works: - Simple bar/line charts, funnel visualizations, and summary tables. - Combining Salesforce data with other sources (like Google Sheets or HubSpot) for a more complete picture.
What doesn’t: - Overly complex dashboards with dozens of widgets—Grow’s UI gets slow and messy. - Relying on Grow for deep historical analysis if your Salesforce data is incomplete or full of gaps.
Step 8: Share and iterate
Once your dashboard makes sense, share it with your team. But don’t expect instant buy-in—people will have opinions, and you’ll probably need to tweak things.
- Use Grow’s sharing features to send dashboards or set up email digests.
- Get feedback, but don’t try to please everyone—focus on your main reporting goals.
- Update your data pulls and charts as your needs evolve.
Honest pitfalls and limitations
Let’s be real: this integration isn’t always smooth sailing.
- Data mismatch: Different field names, missing data, or time zone issues can cause headaches.
- API limits: If you sync too much, you’ll hit Salesforce’s limits and break other integrations.
- Data freshness: Grow isn’t truly real-time—there’s always a lag.
- Customization confusion: If your Salesforce setup is full of custom fields and objects, mapping everything takes extra work.
- Grow UI quirks: Expect occasional bugs, slow loading with big datasets, and features that aren’t as “drag and drop” as advertised.
Keep it simple—then improve
Don’t get sucked into building a monster dashboard on day one. Start with the data and metrics your team actually needs. Make sure your Salesforce data is clean. Keep your Grow dashboards focused, and iterate as you go. If something’s not working, don’t be afraid to cut it or try a different approach.
Unified reporting is possible, but it’s not magic—it’s just a bit of planning, some trial and error, and a good dose of skepticism about flashy features. Good luck!