A Practical Guide to Salesforce API Integration

Why integrate with Salesforce?

Salesforce is the CRM of record for thousands of enterprise companies. Connecting your custom application unlocks real-time data sync, automated workflows, and 360° customer views.

At Softween, Anastasia holds 4× Salesforce certifications. Here is the integration approach we use most often.

Step 1: Create a Connected App

In Salesforce Setup, create a Connected App with OAuth 2.0 enabled. Note the Consumer Key and Consumer Secret.

Step 2: Authenticate with OAuth 2.0

For server-to-server integrations, use the JWT Bearer flow:

POST https://login.salesforce.com/services/oauth2/token
grant_type=urn:ietf:params:oauth:grant-type:jwt-bearer
assertion=<signed_jwt>

Step 3: Query with SOQL via REST API

GET /services/data/v59.0/query?q=SELECT+Id,Name+FROM+Account+LIMIT+10
Authorization: Bearer <access_token>

Step 4: Handle bulk data with Bulk API 2.0

For syncing thousands of records, Bulk API 2.0 processes data asynchronously and handles rate limits gracefully.

Common pitfalls

• API limits: Production orgs have 100,000 API calls/day per license. Cache aggressively.
• Field permissions: Always test with a profile that mirrors production.
• Sandbox vs Production: Use separate Connected Apps for each environment.

Need help with a Salesforce integration? Contact our team.