Let’s be honest: integrating Salesforce with anything usually sounds easier than it is. If you’re trying to hook up Salesforce with Spinify to get leaderboard updates and real-time gamification, you’re probably either a sales ops person, a Salesforce admin, or the unlucky soul who got “volunteered.” This guide is for you.
Here’s how to actually get real-time data from Salesforce showing up in Spinify—without banging your head against the wall or falling for vague “magic integration” promises.
What You Need (and What You Don’t)
You’ll need: - Admin access to your Salesforce org (not just a basic user). - A Spinify admin account. - Reasonable comfort clicking around Salesforce setup. - About 1-2 hours (your first time).
You don’t need: - Coding skills (the official integration is “no code”). - Any extra middleware like Zapier (unless you want more complex automations).
What works: The official integration covers most use cases for real-time updates—new leads, closed deals, and other standard objects.
What doesn’t: If you need deeply custom events, you’ll probably have to mess with Salesforce Flows or extra automation.
Step 1: Prep Both Accounts
Before you start, make sure both systems are ready to talk to each other.
- In Salesforce:
Make sure you have a Salesforce admin login. Check your edition—Spinify’s integration works with Salesforce Enterprise and up. If you’re on Professional or Essentials, you’re out of luck (unless you pony up for API access). - In Spinify:
Make sure you’re an admin. If not, ask whoever is to add you, or you won’t get far.
Pro tip: If you’re testing in a Salesforce sandbox, know that some features may act weird or need extra setup. Real-time updates in sandboxes can be flaky.
Step 2: Install the Spinify App from Salesforce AppExchange
- Go to the Salesforce AppExchange and search for “Spinify.”
- Click “Get It Now” and choose where to install (sandbox or production).
- Complete the install wizard:
- Approve third-party access (Spinify needs to read your Salesforce data).
- Choose “Install for Admins Only” unless everyone needs access immediately.
- Wait for the email: Salesforce will let you know when the install’s done (it can take a few minutes).
Reality check:
The install process is usually smooth, but if it stalls, check your Salesforce notifications for any errors or requests for more permissions.
Step 3: Connect Spinify to Salesforce
- Log into Spinify.
- Go to Integrations > Salesforce.
- Click “Connect to Salesforce.”
- Authorize Spinify:
- You’ll be redirected to a Salesforce login screen.
- Approve all requested permissions (Spinify needs API access to read/write).
- Back in Spinify, finish setup:
- You’ll see confirmation that your org is connected.
Heads up:
If you have multiple Salesforce instances, double-check you’re connecting the right one. You don’t want to set up a leaderboard on the wrong org.
Step 4: Set Up Your Data Sync (What Gets Sent to Spinify)
By default, Spinify can sync standard objects like Leads, Opportunities, and Users. Here’s how to control what gets sent.
- In Spinify, go to Integrations > Salesforce > Data Sync.
- Pick what you want to track:
- Closed deals? New leads? Pick the objects and fields you care about.
- Set up filters:
- Only want deals over $10k? Only care about a certain region? Use filters to avoid cluttering your leaderboards.
- Map Salesforce fields:
- Make sure Spinify knows which Salesforce fields match up with Spinify’s data points (e.g., “Amount,” “Owner”).
What works:
Spinify’s default field mapping is usually fine for standard sales data.
What doesn’t:
If you use custom objects or fields, you’ll need to map them manually. This can get fiddly—document your field names so you don’t mix things up.
Step 5: Enable Real-Time Updates
This is where things get interesting. Out of the box, Spinify uses Salesforce’s “Streaming API” for real-time updates. Here’s what to do:
- In Spinify, check the “Real-Time Updates” toggle in the Salesforce setup.
- Follow any prompts to enable Salesforce’s Streaming API permissions.
- You may need to enable “API Enabled” and “Streaming API” for the Spinify integration user.
- Test it:
- In Salesforce, create or update a record (e.g., close an Opportunity).
- Watch Spinify—your leaderboard should update within seconds.
If it’s not working:
- Double-check user permissions. The Spinify integration user needs access to the objects and fields you’re tracking.
- Make sure your Salesforce org isn’t blocking outbound connections.
- Check that the Streaming API is enabled (sometimes it’s off by default in some orgs).
Don’t waste time:
If real-time still isn’t working after 10 minutes of troubleshooting, hit up Spinify support. Sometimes it’s a backend issue you can’t fix.
Step 6: Build Your First Leaderboard in Spinify
With the integration live, you can start building a leaderboard or contest.
- In Spinify, go to Leaderboards or Competitions.
- Choose Salesforce as the data source.
- Pick your metric:
- Total deals closed, fastest response time, highest new revenue—whatever you want.
- Set the timeframe and participants.
- Publish the board—watch it update in real time as Salesforce events come in.
Pro tip:
Don’t overcomplicate your first leaderboard. Start with something simple like “Closed Opportunities This Month.” You can always get fancy later.
Step 7: Fine-Tune Notifications and Privacy
Gamification is fun—until you accidentally blast private sales data to the whole company.
- Check notification settings:
- Make sure only the right teams get updates.
- Review what data is visible:
- Don’t show confidential fields on leaderboards.
- Test with a small group first:
- Work out the kinks before rolling out to 100+ reps.
What to ignore:
Don’t bother with every bell and whistle Spinify offers out of the gate—focus on the core metrics that actually motivate your team.
Step 8: Monitor and Iterate
- Watch how fast updates come through.
- If there’s lag, check for API limits or Salesforce sync delays.
- Get feedback from users.
- Are the leaderboards driving the right behavior? Or just noise?
- Tweak your setup.
- Change metrics, filters, or notifications as needed.
Honest FAQ
Q: Do I need Salesforce developer skills?
A: Not for the basics. If you want custom triggers or logic, you’ll need to mess with Flows or Process Builder.
Q: How “real-time” is real-time?
A: Usually within a few seconds, assuming the API isn’t throttled. During heavy Salesforce usage, it can lag a minute or two.
Q: What if my org uses custom Salesforce objects?
A: You’ll need to manually map those in Spinify. Sometimes, you’ll need extra permissions or API tweaks.
Q: Is this safe?
A: As safe as your Salesforce org is. Spinify gets the same level of access as the integration user. Don’t give it more than it needs.
Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple
Don’t let the integration hype fool you—connecting Salesforce and Spinify is straightforward if you follow the steps and don’t try to boil the ocean on day one. Start with a basic leaderboard, make sure real-time updates are working, and expand from there. Iterate based on what actually motivates your team, not what looks flashy in a demo.
Most importantly: if something’s not working, don’t waste hours in a rabbit hole—check permissions, check the docs, and don’t be shy about asking for help. The simplest setup is usually the one that works best.