How to Integrate Salesforce with Microsoft – Real World Examples

What’s in This Post?

In this post we shall see examples of different kinds of integrations between Microsoft and Salesforce:
1. Salesforce Connect based integration: Use Lightning Connect (aka Salesforce Connect) to connect Salesforce with MS NAV, .NET apps & with MS SQL Server database
2. API based integration: Use Salesforce pre-built toolkit for Visual Studio to Connect to Salesforce from .NET
3. UI integration: Use Canvas toolkit to embed .NET apps in Salesforce
4. Integrate using AppExchange Connector: Connecting Legacy .NET to Salesforce
5. Using Microsoft Power BI for Office 365 to Gain Insights from Salesforce Data
6. Microsoft Dreamforce Videos
7. Examples of Salesforce Integration with Office 365 – Sharepoint, Outlook, Exchange, Excel, Word
8. Strategic relationship between Salesforce & Microsoft – what it means for customers – Videos and links.

 

Salesforce Connect based integration: Use Lightning Connect (aka Salesforce Connect) to connect Salesforce with MS NAV, .NET apps & with MS SQL Server database

API based integration: Use pre-built toolkit for Visual Studio to Connect to Salesforce from .NET

A new version of the above toolkit is known as Salesforce Connected Services for .NET:   https://developer.salesforce.com/blogs/developer-relations/2014/11/nothing-net-connected-service.html

UI integration: Use Canvas toolkit to embed .NET apps in Salesforce

Integrate using AppExchange Connector: Connecting Legacy .NET to Salesforce

Additional Resources on Salesforce Microsoft Integration

Batch integration with on-premise MS SQL Server database:  http://www.forceamp.com/

Quickly Connect to Force.com from Visual Studio the new Connected Service Provider (This is an enhancement to the Salesforce .NET toolkit) :  https://developer.salesforce.com/blogs/developer-relations/2014/11/nothing-net-connected-service.html

Call the on-premise database from Salesforce: Here is an example how you can expose On-Premise data as API using SOAPBox:  https://developer.salesforce.com/page/Integrate_Salesforce.com_With_Your_On-premise_Database

Salesforce – Microsoft Office 365 Integration

Using Microsoft Power BI for Office 365 to Gain Insights from Salesforce Data –   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embuucevDPE

Integrate with Microsoft Outlook (including Office 365)

Integrate Salesforce with MS Exchange (Exchange Online)

SSO from Salesforce to MS Office 365

Integrate MS Office Docs (Office 365 & On-premise) with Salesforce:

Integrate MS Word and Salesforce for Mail Merge

Summary

Salesforce & Microsoft have a strategic partnership agreement with a focus on close integration with each other’s products. The following links provide more information about the Salesforce – Microsoft partnership and roadmap.