What is Integration? — Salesforce Interview Answer

Posted by Vinay Vernekar 6th November 2025

Introduction

Integration is the process of connecting two or more systems, applications, or data sources so they can exchange information and work together. In the context of Salesforce and enterprise architecture, integration enables seamless data flow between Salesforce and external systems (ERP, marketing automation, databases, legacy systems, third‑party APIs), helping organizations automate business processes, maintain data consistency, and deliver better customer experiences.

Why Integration Matters

Effective integration reduces manual work, prevents data silos, allows real‑time decision making, and supports unified reporting across systems. For Salesforce professionals, understanding integration patterns and best practices is essential to build scalable, secure, and maintainable solutions.

Common Integration Patterns

There are several integration patterns used with Salesforce. Choose the pattern that best fits requirements around latency, data volume, reliability, and complexity:

1. Real‑time API (Synchronous) — Use when immediate response is required. Examples: REST API, SOAP API, Apex callouts.

2. Asynchronous (Batch) — Use for large volumes or when latency is acceptable. Examples: Bulk API, scheduled ETL jobs.

3. Event‑driven — Use for decoupled, reactive systems. Examples: Platform Events, Change Data Capture (CDC), Streaming API, message queues.

4. Middleware/ESB — Use to centralize transformations, routing, orchestration, and security. Examples: MuleSoft, Dell Boomi, Informatica.

5. Database/Storage Sync — Use for near‑real time data replication. Examples: Heroku Connect, replication tools, ETL.

Salesforce‑Specific Technologies

Key Salesforce features and tools used for integration:

  • REST API & SOAP API — Standard web APIs for CRUD and complex operations.
  • Bulk API — Optimized for large data loads.
  • Apex Callouts — Custom outbound HTTP requests from Salesforce.
  • Platform Events & Change Data Capture — Event–driven integrations and CDC for record changes.
  • Outbound Messaging — Declarative SOAP messages from workflow rules (legacy).
  • Named Credentials & Auth Providers — Simplifies authentication for callouts.
  • External Services & Apex Actions — Register external API schemas for point‑and‑click use.
  • MuleSoft & Middleware — Centralized integration, transformations, and API management.

Example: Simple Apex HTTP Callout

Http http = new Http();
HttpRequest req = new HttpRequest();
req.setEndpoint('https://api.example.com/v1/data');
req.setMethod('POST');
req.setHeader('Content-Type','application/json');
req.setBody(JSON.serialize(payload));
HttpResponse res = http.send(req);
if (res.getStatusCode() == 200) {
// handle success
}

Benefits of Good Integration

Well‑designed integrations provide:

  • Data consistency across systems
  • Improved automation and faster business processes
  • Reduced duplicate data entry and errors
  • Scalable, maintainable architecture

Challenges and Risks

Integration projects face common challenges:

  • Authentication and authorization complexity
  • Data mapping, transformations, and schema drift
  • Error handling, retries, and idempotency
  • Latency and performance bottlenecks
  • Governance, monitoring, and security (PII/PCI compliance)

Best Practices

  • Choose the right pattern: synchronous for immediate needs, asynchronous for volume.
  • Use middleware when you need centralized transformations, retries, or routing.
  • Secure endpoints: use OAuth, Named Credentials, and certificate pinning where applicable.
  • Design idempotent operations and robust retry strategies.
  • Implement logging, monitoring, and alerts for failures and performance metrics.
  • Document data contracts and version APIs to avoid breaking changes.

Quick Checklist for Integration Design

  • Define business requirement and SLA (latency, throughput)
  • Choose integration pattern and tools
  • Design data model mapping and transformation rules
  • Plan authentication, security, and compliance controls
  • Design error handling, retries, and monitoring
  • Test with realistic data and edge cases

Summary

Integration is fundamental to modern enterprise systems. For Salesforce professionals, mastering integration patterns, tools, and best practices ensures reliable data flow, automated processes, and a unified customer view — all critical for delivering business value.