The document discusses the process of migrating data from various source systems into Salesforce.com. It involves understanding the data in source systems, exporting, consolidating, cleaning, importing the data, and validating. Key steps include profiling the data sources, removing duplicates, standardizing formats, mapping fields, and testing sample imports. Managing the process requires planning, communication, and validating the quality of the migrated data.

1. CONFIDENTIAL
Getting your data into Salesforce.com
A focus on migrating data from various sources
into Salesforce.com

2. Getting your data into Salesforce.com
• What is the process?
– Understanding and exporting data from source systems
– Consolidating data
– Cleaning and organizing the data
– Importing
– Check and validate data
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3. Profiling/Exporting Data from Source Systems
• Pain points
– Data in various systems
– Can involve multiple people/departments
– Process can be time consuming
• Key Questions
– What are the sources of data?
– Who is going to use the data?
– What data is relevant moving forward?
– Will any custom fields need to be added?
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4. Profiling/Exporting Data from Source Systems
• Solutions
– Plan and prepare
– Communicate to others what you are planning to do with the
information
– Build templates for others to use
– Conduct as few exports as possible
– Understand the business needs and processes
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5. Consolidating Data
• Pain points
– Multiple files
– Many different file formats/layouts
– Possible variations in field names
– Data formats could vary from file to file
• Key Questions
– Has all the data been gathered?
– Are field formats consistent?
– Does each file contain all the required information/data points?
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6. Consolidating Data
• Solutions
– Have teams return files rather than individuals
– Enforce the use of templates
– Communicate the importance of the process
– Get management on board
– Remove any irrelevant fields
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7. Clean the Data
• Pain points
– Not an easy process
– Can be time consuming
– Maintaining consistency across record types
– Determining which information is correct
• Key Questions
– Have all the duplicates been removed?
– Are naming conventions consistent?
– Is the data complete?
– What defines a winning record in the case of duplication?
– Has the owner for each record been identified?
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8. Clean the Data
• Solutions
– Use a data management tool if available
– Develop and agree on rules that determine what stays and what
goes
– Work with the people that are closest to the data
– Conduct data quality analysis
– Check for missing data and fill in where possible
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9. Import
• Pain Points
– Can seem overwhelming
– There are many different parts that need to end up matching
correctly
– Making sure data is loaded in the correct order
• Key Questions
– Have the import file fields been mapped to fields in Salesforce.com?
– Is the order of import defined?
– Are test batches ready to import?
– Is a process laid out for loading related items?
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10. Import
• Solutions
– Take a step back and review all the information
– Map out a relational diagram and start from the top
– Use a data management tool if available
– Import a small test batch to verify the process is working
– Make any adjustments to the import file before importing the
complete file
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11. Check and Validate
• Pain Points
– The reality check
– Time consuming
• Key Questions
– Have data quality reports been built?
– Are all the relevant data points accounted for?
– How do the reports in Salesforce compare to the source data?
– Do any changes need to be made?
– Have key stakeholders approved of the information?
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12. Check and Validate
• Solutions
– Build reports and test summaries
– Work with others that understand the data and can offer possible
explanations for any variations
– Make sure key stakeholders sign-off
– Save back-up copies of original data
– Don’t worry, it can be cleaned-up if need be
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13. Lessons Learned
• Do your research ahead of time
• Gain a deep understanding of the data and how everything
is related
• Communicate the process with both users and management
• Set firm dates and schedule (build in some flexibility)
• Ask for help if you need it
• Remember that everything can be corrected
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14. Resources
• Salesforce.com Learning Center
– 5 steps to getting your data into Salesforce CRM
– Salesforce CRM Getting Started Guide
– 5 steps to a successful implementation
– Apex Data Loader user guide
• Our Salesforce.com user group
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15. Questions
John T. Boney
770-712-4750
John.Boney@us.agc.com
404-483-9701
johnboney@yahoo.com
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