Comparing the Best Ways to Import Data Into Salesforce

You’ve presumably selected Salesforce for an established business with active sales opportunities and tasks in progress. If this is the case, you know how cumbersome manual data entry can be either in the initial work to bootstrap a new Salesforce implementation or during day-to-day Salesforce data import operations.

Well, fret not; there are several methods for importing data into Salesforce to ensure that you are up and running in the least amount of time conceivable.

How do I import Data Into Salesforce?

Data entry and extraction are necessary skills for every Salesforce Admin or consultant. Did you know there are many programs available to assist you in your endeavor?

Salesforce offers a variety of data loaders, each with its own array of applications and suited to different methods of importing and exporting your data.

In selecting the best data loader for Salesforce, remember that it all relies on your particular objectives, experience level, and the degree of convenience you desire.

By far, the most frequently used data import Salesforce tools for managing complete data migration are Data Loader.io, Data Loader, and Data Import Wizard. But before we get into these three tools in greater depth, let’s take a look at two of the other popular Salesforce data uploaders available if you are starting from a basic spreadsheet.

Microsoft’s XL-Connector 365

Here is an add-on for Excel that allows you to interact with your Salesforce data directly from the spreadsheet. This approach is pretty convenient, given that before most data loaders, you will be altering data in Excel anyhow, at least for simple data sets.

Google’s Data Connector for Salesforce

This extension lets you import data from Salesforce, update data in Salesforce, or even delete Salesforce records. You can import data to a Google Sheet from Salesforce using their query builder or SOQL, and you can even bring a Salesforce report directly to your spreadsheet.

What is the Difference Between the Import Wizard, Data Loader, and Data Loader.io?

With any of the following widely used tools, the amount of Salesforce data you can import relies partly on your permissions settings, the sort of data you’re preparing to import, and the overall data storage constraints of your company.

Data Loader.io  

Dataloader.io is totally cloud-based and accessible via a web browser. You have the same options as with the Salesforce Data Loader, but with some added capabilities that really make this solution stand out. This is the most popular data loader for Salesforce, and you can import up to 10,000 records on a free account.

Two user-favorite features are the ability to schedule tasks and the fact that dataloader.io can automatically locate parent records using text rather than an ID, effectively performing the VLookup for you.

Pros

• It saves you a lot of time over a more manual data load.
• The mass upload/insert capability simplifies the process of updating many data sets on multiple fields.
• Although it has a simple UI, it is extremely powerful and entirely cloud-based.

Cons

• The free version will only get you so far before you have to pay for a subscription based on the number of users.
• Reviewers reference a steeper learning curve due to the interface’s slightly less-than-optimal design.

Dataloader.io was originally developed by Mulesoft and was later acquired by Salesforce.                                                

Data Loader

This Salesforce data import option provides bulk data import and export from files or a database connection — up to five million records of any data type at a time.

You can use Data Loader in two unique ways: Via UI or via the command line.

The user interface enables you to interact with configuration parameters, CSV files used for import and export, and field mappings that convert the field names in your import file to Salesforce field names.

When you use the command line (Windows only), you define the settings, data sources, mappings, and actions in files. This configuration enables you to automate the Data Loader processing.

Pros

• You can load objects that the Data Import Wizard does not support.
• Regular data loads, such as nightly imports, can be scheduled.
• For the seasoned Salesforce worker, this option is faster, more powerful, and has additional settings.                          

Cons

• A maximum upload limit of five million records may be insufficient for some larger enterprises — if you want more than 5 million records to be loaded, we suggest working with a Salesforce partner or searching the AppExchange for a suitable partner solution.
• Requires download and installation.
• Importing related Salesforce records requires much manual effort, as record mappings must be provided.
  Additionally, the solution can be difficult to scale if your data import contains more than a handful of Salesforce objects.

Data Import Wizard

Developed by Salesforce.com, the Salesforce Import Wizard is marketed as an easy-to-use tool for importing accounts, contacts, leads, solutions, and custom objects.

This software provides an entirely free service that prevents the loading of duplicate data. Its user-friendly interface is also ideal for newcomers.

Accessed via Setup or directly from a Salesforce campaign, this tool can import up to 50,000 records simultaneously. It provides an intuitive interface for configuring the setup parameters, data sources, and field mappings that transfer the field names in your import file to their Salesforce equivalents.

Pros

• Intuitive and simple to use on the first go.
• To avoid importing duplicate records, you can match records based on their name, email address, or Salesforce ID.

Cons

• Working with a maximum upload limit of 50,000 records may not be suitable for your objectives.
• Certain objects that you wish to import may be incompatible with the wizard
• The import procedure is not fully automated.

All editions of Salesforce include the Salesforce Data Import Wizard. Its user-friendly interface guides you step-by-step through the process. It has also been improved in recent years to support the import of additional objects, including custom objects.

FAQ

Can you import Excel/CSV fields into Salesforce?

Yes! You may import data from Excel into Salesforce by exporting the Excel spreadsheet as a CSV file (comma-separated values). The process is straightforward if the following procedures are followed:

1. Prepare your CSV file for import or edit by following these prompts:
   • A comma must be used to separate field values within a row
   • When creating a record, you must include all needed fields
   • Any fields not described in the CSV file are ignored when changing a record
2. Navigate to your Salesforce instance’s object tab and select ‘Import’ to initiate the import.
3. Select the type of object you wish to import or update.
4. Select whether to import new records, update current records, or perform both operations simultaneously.
5. Select the CSV file that you wish to import or change.
6. Map the data in your CSV file to the fields associated with the object type in your Salesforce instance. This step is typically performed automatically if your field headers match your Salesforce instance’s field names.
7. You are redirected to a comprehensive page where you can view the import status, the number of records that were imported correctly, and the number of records that were not. You will also get an email after the data import has finished.

Where is the Data Import Wizard in Salesforce?

The Data Import Wizard tool is easily accessible via the Setup menu or by clicking “Import Leads and Contacts” from any Campaign.

How do I import Leads into Salesforce?

If you have a database of leads, you’re probably looking for a more efficient approach to importing them into Salesforce than manually entering them.

First, verify that you have the required access or contact your Salesforce administrator for assistance in importing leads.

Next, navigate to the bottom of the Leads home page and click the Import Leads link beneath the Tools heading.

The Lead Import Wizard page will appear, guiding you through the procedure in four easy steps while providing helpful hints.

How do you automate data imports in Salesforce?

It is possible to automate the import process using API calls.
Application Programming Interface (API) calls denote certain activities that your client apps can invoke at runtime to accomplish tasks, such as:

• Conduct a data query on your organization’s data
• Data can be added, updated, and deleted
• Acquire metadata for your data
• Execute utilities to complete administrative duties

Beforehand, make sure you’ve specified key data sources, field mappings, and other parameters within Data Loader’s configuration files.

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