As your organization grows, your Salesforce data can become unruly and difficult to manage. That’s where a Salesforce data loader can help. Choosing the right Salesforce data loader can save you countless hours and reduce the risk of an error when handling large volumes of information. But with so many options available, how do you know which one is best for your company’s needs?
For instance, should you use the native Salesforce data loader, or would it be better to integrate a third-party option with an API to rein in your data? Here’s everything you need to know about choosing a data loader for Salesforce.
What Is a Data Loader in Salesforce?
With a data loader, Salesforce users can import, export, update, upsert, delete, or insert large volumes of information. A data loader tool provides critical functionality for managing your ever-growing organizational data. It can also support a wide range of important processes, including field mapping, data migration, and more.
So when would you need a data loader for Salesforce? There are many instances where a data loader becomes beneficial. Salesforce migrations are a prime example. You could also use this versatile tool to support bulk updates or perform data cleanup at scale.
One of the most valuable use cases for a Salesforce data loader involves deploying the tool to configure and seed sandboxes. For testing, validation, and development purposes, your sandbox needs to be configured and populated with information that mirrors your live Salesforce environment. A data loader makes this process easier.
Without a Salesforce data loader, you would have to devote countless hours to importing or updating records. Even the most diligent teams would be prone to making errors, especially when dealing with millions of records. A Salesforce data loader allows you to prevent mistakes and complete the task much faster than you would manually.
Data Loader Options for Salesforce
The first step in choosing a Salesforce data loader is to decide between a native or third-party option. Native tools are designed by Salesforce developers and provide seamless connectivity. However, these offerings may not include as many key features as third-party alternatives.
Native Salesforce Tools
The Salesforce CRM provides a pair of native tools that can assist with managing Salesforce records. These tools are compatible with both Mac and Windows devices, making it easy to manage your data, regardless of what your preferred operating system is. These tools include:
Salesforce Data Loader
Salesforce data loader is a native tool designed to help users import and export records in bulk. You can use it to handle large volumes of information and process up to five million records at once. The Salesforce data loader is available as a downloadable application for Windows and Mac.
The tool offers a friendly user interface and a familiar menu. It’s included free as part of an existing subscription, meaning downloading the tool won’t impact your monthly pricing. That’s one of the most appealing aspects of the native Salesforce data loader. It’s also already integrated with your Salesforce instance, which makes it a popular choice for Salesforce users.
Data Import Wizard
The Data Import Wizard is another native Salesforce tool, but it’s more suitable for smaller datasets. If your Salesforce admin doesn’t require the same level of complexity as the Salesforce data loader, the Data Import Wizard can be a good choice. It can handle bulk data of up to 50,000 records at a time.
The Data Import Wizard simplifies the process of importing information by guiding you through a step-by-step interface. It’s helpful for importing standard Salesforce objects like accounts and contacts. You can also import custom objects without needing extensive technical knowledge. Consider using the Wizard if you only need to handle small-scale data tasks.
Third-Party Tools
In addition to Salesforce’s native tools, there are several third-party data loader options that offer additional features and flexibility. These tools can be particularly useful for companies with specific requirements or those who need to integrate Salesforce with other platforms. Here’s a look at two options to consider:
Dataloader.io
Dataloader.io is a cloud-based data loader tool that allows you to easily import and export Salesforce records without needing to install any software on your local machine. You can also use Dataloader.io to purge old records and clean your org database.
One of the key features of Dataloader.io is its integration capabilities. You can schedule data imports and exports, as well as integrate directly with cloud storage solutions like Dropbox and Box. Dataloader.io makes it possible to automate many of your data management processes.
Dataimporter.io
Dataimporter.io is another cloud-based option that provides an easy-to-use platform for importing and updating Salesforce data. It is known for its simplicity and is aimed at users who want a quick solution for importing CSV files into Salesforce.
Dataimporter.io supports all standard and custom objects in Salesforce. Additionally, its drag-and-drop interface makes the process of uploading data straightforward for users with little to no technical experience.
How to Choose the Right Data Loader for Your Needs
So which Salesforce data loader will be the best fit for your company’s needs? The right choice depends on your budget and the size of your business. You should also consider the complexity of your Salesforce data. Here are a few recommendations for different types of organizations:
Small Businesses or New Salesforce Users
If you’re running a small business or are new to Salesforce, you could try one of Salesforce’s native tools. Since they are native to Salesforce, you won’t have to worry about compatibility issues and should have no trouble using the platform. At a certain point, Salesforce’s native data loader tools will likely not be able to support your needs, and you should consider a third-party solution.
Large Enterprises With Complex Data Management Needs
If your organization deals with vast datasets and complex integrations, you might be looking for a robust tool that does more than just push data into Salesforce. If you need to anonymize data or have a large seed size, you should look for enterprise solutions. Many third-party tools offer enterprise-grade capabilities, including our salesforce sandbox seeding solution.
We offer a free demo so you can see how our product would work before committing. This allows you to determine which platform best aligns with your company’s data needs.
Load Data Into Salesforce Accurately & Efficiently with Own
Choosing the right Salesforce data loader will simplify data management and support a wide range of important tasks. However, there’s much more to Salesforce sandbox seeding than just loading data.
Own Accelerate, our sandbox seeding solution, allows you to transfer accurate, relevant data from production or sandboxes to any Developer, Developer Pro, Partial, or Full sandboxes. Here are some key features of Accelerate:
- Customize seed templates to isolate perfect data sets to repeatedly seed to any sandbox with an identical data structure.
- Obtain accurate test data across releases by copying sandbox data from a refreshed sandbox.
- Easily create a seed template without knowing your exact schema by choosing object levels.
- Mask sensitive data before it is seeded to its destination with customizable anonymization templates.
- Customize your anonymization values with building blocks that allow you to create patterns based on free text, number ranges, lists, or a library of fake data.
Accelerate has two pricing options, one for small organizations and one for any business that requires advanced seeding capabilities.
Book a demo to learn more about how Own can help you load data into Salesforce accurately and efficiently with our seeding platform.
