What does the initial setup look like?

This starts simply by logging in to the SmartSurvey account to be integrated while also being logged into to the Salesforce instance to be connected (using a Salesforce account with the appropriate permissions). With this done, connection is just a single click.

How are surveys integrated?

Once the account is connected, any survey can be integrated to the connected Salesforce account via the survey settings. A survey is integrated by choosing a target object, an action, a trigger, and then by mapping fields between the survey and the object.

Can it be used to collect data for Salesforce?

Yes. The data collected by SmartSurvey Surveys can be pushed to Salesforce objects via the integration.

What kind of data can be collected?

The data that can be collected is defined by what the targeted Salesforce account is set up for, and by the SmartSurvey question types. This means any kind of data can be collected, but the user needs to ensure the correct mapping between SmartSurvey and Salesforce.

Can it be used to create new Salesforce records?

Yes. The “Insert” action will create a new record in the targeted object for each survey response.

Can it be used to update existing Salesforce Records?

Yes. An “Update” action is available to allow an integration to target and update a specific record. This requires the survey to be passed the record ID via a custom variable or as contact list data.

Can it be used to flexibly create and update in the same action?

Yes. An “Upsert” action is available that will attempt to update an identified record and if no matching record is found, will create a new one.

Can a survey have multiple integrations?

Yes.

If a survey has multiple integrations, can they use different actions or target different objects?

Yes.

Can I trigger a SmartSurvey Email invitation directly from Salesforce?

Not at the time of writing. Salesforce’s internal workflow builder does not allow outgoing API calls to be configured in the way we need them to be to trigger email or SMS invitations.

If you need to generate invitations based on Salesforce contacts, then we recommend either a manual process of export and import to a SmartSurvey Contact List or generating the emails within Salesforce itself.

By creating a tracking link in SmartSurvey, and a custom variable for any required identifier, you can create a Salesforce email with a link to the survey and use the Salesforce merge syntax to append the value of the identification variable on to the link so the respondent can be identified for Update or Upsert integrations.

Is data mapped one-to-one?

In a single integration, each element of survey data (answers to questions or other metadata) can only be mapped to one field in the targeted object. However, a single survey can have multiple integrations configured on it at the same time, targeting the same or multiple objects. This way, it’s possible to have data mapped on a one-to-many basis.

Can I trigger a SmartSurvey Email invitation directly from Salesforce?

Not at the time of writing. Salesforce’s internal workflow builder does not allow outgoing API calls to be configured in the way we need them to be to trigger email or SMS invitations.

If you need to generate invitations based on Salesforce contacts, then we recommend either a manual process of export and import to a SmartSurvey Contact List or generating the emails within Salesforce itself.

By creating a tracking link in SmartSurvey, and a custom variable for any required identifier, you can create a Salesforce email with a link to the survey and use the Salesforce merge syntax to append the value of the identification variable on to the link so the respondent can be identified for Update or Upsert integrations.

What support is available?

We can support you with all aspects of the SmartSurvey side of the setup. either via the ticketing system or your account manager. We can’t really offer detailed support on the Salesforce side beyond general advice. Every user’s Salesforce setup is unique and what is a good solution for one user may not be for another.

What happens with validated fields?

If survey is set to push data into a field that is set to validate data, and the pushed data does not meet the validation, then that push will fail, and none of the data for that response will be transferred.

What happens if a push fails?

If a push fails, it will be shown in the list of actions for that integration as failed. A (?) icon is available that will let you inspect the data payload that was sent and view any error messages. If desired, you can edit the contents of the data payload and retry the push.

What can cause a push to fail?

The most likely causes of pushes failing are:

• An Insert or Upsert push that is attempting to create a new record without valid data for a field that has been marked as “required” in Salesforce.
• A push that attempts to push data into a validated field that does not match the Salesforce validation criteria.
• The Salesforce instance being unavailable for some reason.
• The integration being disconnected at the Salesforce end.
  

Can we trial the feature?

The Salesforce integration can be activated on trial accounts, with no additional restrictions beyond those already applied to trial accounts. If you’re an existing SmartSurvey Enterprise subscriber, then we can create a new trial account for you so you can trial the feature.