By: Mark Silber

As an IT system architect for a large company, I have extensive experience with Salesforce.com and integration. Although it’s “in the cloud”, it doesn’t necessarily mean integration will be more difficult than with an on-premise application since a lot depends on your integration strategy. For example, if your integrations are primarily at the database level using direct database connections (i.e., PL/SQL), then integration will be difficult without an integration tool that sits between Salesforce and your database (CastIron, Relational Junction, etc.). However, if your integrations are more modern SOAP / web services or TIBCO, then integration to Salesforce will in most cases be easier due to the very open and robust API Salesforce provides. There have been a lot of misconceptions about integrating with Salesforce versus an on-premise application like Siebel. My experience over the last few years has shown integrations are actually easier — not harder with Salesforce than our previous on-premise CRM system.