Fast-growing businesses rely on multiple applications to streamline operations and boost operational efficiency. Connected Apps in Salesforce offer a reliable solution for secure and efficient integration. Essentially, a Connected App serves as a bridge, enabling external applications to interact with Salesforce while maintaining high levels of security.
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What are Connected Apps in Salesforce?
A Connected App is a specially designed application that connects external systems with Salesforce. It facilitates secure access to Salesforce data, allowing various third-party applications, mobile apps, and internal tools to communicate with Salesforce, ensuring data is readily available where needed.
Why are Connected Apps Necessary for Salesforce Users?
Enterprises using Salesforce also implement many other applications for different business processes. In such cases, a Connected App becomes necessary for the following reasons.
Integration Across Platforms
Businesses often operate with several software platforms. A Connected App ensures these platforms can interact seamlessly with Salesforce, eliminating data silos.
Security and Access Control
Using OAuth 2.0, Connected Apps authenticate and authorize access to Salesforce, ensuring only verified applications can interact with your data.
Customizable Access
IT Managers can specify exactly what data and services an external app can access, maintaining strict control over organizational data.
How Do Connected Apps Work?
Here’s a brief overview of how Connected App works in Salesforce.
- OAuth 2.0 Authentication: When an external application requests access to Salesforce, OAuth 2.0 protocols authenticate the connection securely.
- API Interaction: Once authenticated, the external app can use Salesforce’s REST or SOAP APIs to access and manipulate data as required.
- Single Sign-On (SSO): Connected App in Salesforce can also enable SSO, allowing users to log in once and access multiple applications, enhancing user experience and security.
Benefits of Connected Apps in Salesforce
The key benefits of Connected App in Salesforce include:
Enhanced Integration
Connected Apps simplify the process of integrating Salesforce with other systems, ensuring smooth data flow across your organization.
Increased Security
Controlling which apps can access your data minimizes the risk of unauthorized access, safeguarding sensitive information.
Scalable Solutions
As your business grows and your needs evolve, Connected Apps can be easily scaled and customized to support additional integrations.
Use Cases of Connected Apps In Salesforce
Below are some of the most prominent use cases of Connected Apps in Salesforce:
- Marketing and CRM Integration: Synchronize Salesforce with marketing platforms like HubSpot or Marketo to align your marketing and sales efforts.
- Mobile Sales Teams: Enable your mobile workforce to access Salesforce data securely through mobile apps.
- Custom Business Tools: Integrate Salesforce with your internal tools to optimize operations and improve decision-making.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Connected Apps in Salesforce
Here’s an easy-to-follow guide that covers the entire process of successfully creating a Connected App in Salesforce.
Building Connected Apps in Salesforce
- Login into salesforce.
- Switch to classic mode and click on the Setup button.
- Go to the Build section. From the menu below, click on Create and then Apps.
- In Connected Apps section, Click on New.
- In the New Connected App creation page, provide the following details:
- Connected App Name: Name of the connected app
- Contact Email: The email address where you will receive the verification code when you access the Client ID and Client Secret.
- Enable the OAuth Settings and provide the callback URL and available OAuth Scopes.
- Callback URL: https://login.salesforce.com/services/oauth2/callback
- OAuth Scopes: Full Access
- Keep the remaining field data as it is. Then save the connected App.
Fetch Consumer Key and Consumer Secret
- Open the Connected App in Salesforce and click on the Manage Consumer Details button.
- You will see a verification window pop up.
- The Verification Code is sent to the email address you provided when creating the Connected App.
- Check the email, enter the code, and you will get the Consumer Key and Consumer Secret.
Connected App Access Issue from Postman
- If you are unable to generate the access token when you send the request from Postman, kindly make the following changes for the Connected App in Salesforce.
- Go to the Administer section. Click on Administer, then Mange Apps, then Connected Apps. Now click on the Connected App for which you want to make the changes from the list of apps in the main screen.
- Go to OAuth Policies, and change the IP Relaxation settings to Relax IP Restrictions.
Key Takeaways
Connected Apps are an indispensable part of Salesforce for organizations looking to enhance their integration capabilities while maintaining top-notch security. For IT Managers, implementing Connected Apps means achieving a balance between accessibility and data protection, ultimately supporting the broader business strategy.
Beyond enabling seamless data flow across platforms, Connected Apps also foster a scalable and secure infrastructure, essential for growing businesses. They allow organizations to leverage the full power of Salesforce by integrating external systems and internal tools, driving operational efficiency. As your business ecosystem evolves, Connected Apps can be tailored to meet future requirements, making them a long-term solution for agile and secure system integration.
