Force.com, part of the Salesforce Platform, is a cloud-based Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) designed for building custom applications using Salesforce’s infrastructure. It allows businesses to create scalable, secure, and cloud-native applications while leveraging Salesforce’s robust ecosystem for data integration, workflow automation, and user management. Force.com provides a rich set of tools, including Apex (Salesforce’s proprietary development language), Visualforce, and robust APIs, enabling businesses to design applications tailored to their specific needs. Integrating Force.com with Frends iPaaS allows organizations to further enhance the connectivity of their custom apps, automate workflows, and synchronize enterprise-wide data in real time.

Business use cases

Integration of custom Force.com apps with ERP systems

Custom apps built on Force.com often require integration with ERP systems like SAP, Oracle, or NetSuite for seamless financial or operational workflows. Frends can automatically sync the data between Force.com apps and ERP platforms. For instance, customer orders placed through a Force.com order management app can trigger workflows in Frends to automatically update the ERP system with the order details and inventory levels.

Real-time data synchronization with third-party systems

Custom applications on Force.com often need to interact with other platforms, such as CRMs, marketing platforms, or customer support systems. Frends can facilitate bi-directional data synchronization. For example, Frends workflows can transfer customer data from a Force.com app to a marketing platform like HubSpot and update the app when a campaign interaction occurs, maintaining consistent data across systems.

Automated workflow orchestration

Force.com applications often benefit from workflow automation, such as approval processes or task assignments. Frends can enhance automation capabilities by connecting these workflows to external applications. For example, when a document is uploaded in a Force.com app, Frends can automatically notify approvers via Slack or email, handle task assignments in tools like Jira or Asana, and update statuses in real time.

Advanced reporting and analytics

While Force.com provides reporting capabilities, some businesses require advanced analytics using tools like Power BI, Tableau, or Google Data Studio. Frends can extract data from Force.com applications and integrate it with these analytics platforms. For instance, Frends can produce real-time dashboards displaying metrics such as customer engagement, sales trends, or operational performance aggregated from Force.com data.

Customer data enrichment

Custom apps built on Force.com often manage customer data, and enriching this data from external sources can improve its quality. Frends can connect Force.com apps with data enrichment platforms like Clearbit or ZoomInfo. For example, Frends workflows can pull additional information (e.g., company size or industry) about new customer records in a Force.com app and update the database in real time.

E-commerce and order management integration

Organizations using Force.com for order management can leverage Frends to integrate with e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, Magento, or WooCommerce. For instance, when an order is placed on an e-commerce site, Frends workflows can sync order data to a Force.com application, triggering workflows such as inventory updates, billing, and customer notifications.

Event-driven notifications

Custom Force.com applications often need to notify users instantly about key events, such as project milestone completions or critical approvals. Frends can integrate Force.com with messaging platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or SMS gateways to trigger real-time notifications. For example, when a particular workflow in Force.com is completed, Frends can send personalized alerts to relevant stakeholders.

Integration with financial systems for billing automation

Force.com applications that include billing or subscription management capabilities often require integration with financial platforms like Xero, QuickBooks, or Stripe. Frends can streamline this integration by automating billing workflows. For instance, Frends can trigger an invoice in a financial system whenever a subscription is activated or modified in a Force.com billing app.

Multi-cloud or hybrid environment integration

Organizations working with hybrid or multi-cloud setups often need their Force.com apps to exchange data with external infrastructures. Frends can connect Force.com with AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud for seamless integration. For example, backups of critical data from Force.com can be routed via Frends to an external cloud storage system, ensuring data protection and accessibility.

SLA monitoring and customer support

Force.com apps used for SLA tracking or case management can benefit from integration with customer support tools like Zendesk, Freshdesk, or ServiceNow. Frends can automate workflows that transfer data between Force.com and support software. For example, when a high-priority case is created in a Force.com app, Frends can notify the support system, ensuring the SLA is met, and provide status updates in both systems.

Employee onboarding workflows

Force.com applications managing employee data, such as HR apps, can be integrated with other platforms like payroll systems, document management tools, or collaboration platforms via Frends. For example, when a new employee is added to a Force.com HR app, Frends can synchronize their information with payroll systems like ADP, create accounts in tools like Office 365, and share onboarding documents.

Real-time compliance reporting

Force.com applications often store sensitive business data, requiring compliance with regulations like GDPR or HIPAA. Frends workflows can automate the generation of compliance reports. For instance, Frends can periodically pull audit logs or user activity reports from Force.com and securely store them in long-term storage systems like AWS S3 or Google Cloud for regulatory purposes.

Integration with marketing platforms

Custom Force.com applications often track customer interactions or campaign metrics. Frends can integrate these apps with marketing tools like Marketo, Mailchimp, or Eloqua to automate campaign workflows. For instance, when a lead submits their details in a Force.com app, Frends can trigger marketing workflows in Eloqua to send a personalized email campaign.

Asset and inventory management workflows

Force.com apps managing assets or inventory can integrate seamlessly with external inventory management systems via Frends. For example, when asset utilization data is updated in a Force.com app, Frends can sync this data with platforms like NetSuite or Microsoft Dynamics 365 to ensure an accurate overview of stock levels and inventory valuation.

Legacy system integration

Organizations often need to extend the capabilities of legacy systems by connecting them to Force.com apps. Frends can act as a middleware solution, facilitating data transfer and synchronization between legacy systems and Force.com. For instance, Frends can extract data from an on-premises database and update financial records in a Force.com custom accounting app.

Automated resource scheduling

Force.com applications used for project management or resource allocation can be integrated with scheduling tools like Calendly or Google Calendar using Frends. For example, when a new resource booking is created in a Force.com app, Frends can automatically update the scheduling tool and notify team members, eliminating manual coordination.

Vendor and partner collaboration

Force.com apps used for vendor or partner management can benefit from integrations with external systems using Frends. For instance, workflows can automatically create vendor profiles in a Force.com app based on data received from procurement systems like SAP Ariba, ensuring all stakeholders have a unified view of key vendor data.

Long-term data archiving and retrieval

Organizations often require periodic archiving of data from Force.com apps for compliance or operational needs. Frends can automate workflows to extract and archive Force.com app data into secure storage systems like Azure Blob Storage, AWS Glacier, or on-premises databases. These archives can also be set up with automated retrieval capabilities for quick access during audits or system migrations.