Find answers to the most common questions about the Cognism Salesforce integration.
Do I need to enable Data Import to export records to Salesforce?
No.
The standard Salesforce integration allows you to export Leads, Contacts, and Accounts without enabling Data Import.
Data Import is only required if you want to:
- Use Salesforce filters in Search.
- Use CRM Enrichment.
- Synchronise Salesforce records with Cognism.
Does every user need to connect their own Salesforce account?
Yes.
After a Cognism Admin has configured the Salesforce integration, every user must authenticate with their own Salesforce account before exporting records.
Exports are performed using the permissions of the authenticated Salesforce user.
Can different users connect to different Salesforce organisations?
No.
All users within a Cognism account must connect to the same Salesforce organisation (Production or Sandbox).
Connecting different organisations may cause export failures and inconsistent behaviour.
Can I connect to a Salesforce Sandbox?
Yes.
Only Cognism Admins can configure a Sandbox integration.
When testing in a Sandbox, we recommend using a dedicated Cognism account or completing testing before other users connect their Salesforce accounts.
Can I switch from Sandbox to Production?
Yes.
To switch Salesforce organisations:
- Disconnect the existing integration.
- Connect the new Salesforce organisation.
- Review your field mappings and export settings.
- Ask users to reconnect their Salesforce accounts if required.
Does Cognism create new records or update existing ones?
Both.
Before exporting, Cognism checks whether a matching Lead, Contact, or Account already exists.
If a match is found, Cognism updates the existing record according to your configured field update rules.
If no match is found, Cognism creates a new record.
Salesforce then applies its own Matching Rules and Duplicate Rules before completing the export.
Can I export as a Lead or a Contact?
Yes.
When exporting records, you can choose to:
- Create or update a Lead, or
- Create or update a Contact and associated Account.
The available options depend on your Salesforce export settings.
Can I export records directly to a Salesforce Campaign?
Yes.
When exporting records, you can optionally add them to a Salesforce Campaign.
The exporting user must have the required Salesforce Campaign permissions and the Marketing User permission enabled.
Why can't I see a Salesforce field when configuring field mappings?
Only supported Salesforce field types are available for mapping.
A field may not appear if:
- The field type is unsupported.
- The field has been deleted.
- The Salesforce user configuring the integration does not have access to the field.
Can I map custom Salesforce fields?
Yes.
You can map Cognism data to both standard and custom Salesforce fields, provided the field type is supported.
Does Cognism overwrite existing Salesforce data?
It depends on your field update rules.
For each mapped field, you can choose to:
- Apply if blank – only update empty Salesforce fields.
- Overwrite – always replace the existing Salesforce value.
Does Cognism respect Salesforce Duplicate Rules?
Yes.
Cognism first checks for existing records using its own matching logic.
Salesforce then performs an additional duplicate check using your configured Matching Rules and Duplicate Rules before creating or updating the record.
Why did Salesforce block my export even though Cognism didn't find a duplicate?
Cognism and Salesforce use separate matching processes.
If Cognism does not find a matching record, Salesforce may still identify the record as a duplicate using its own Matching Rules and Duplicate Rules and prevent the export.
Does Cognism support Salesforce Essentials?
No.
The Salesforce integration requires Salesforce Professional Edition or above.
API access must also be enabled.
Can I use the Salesforce integration without the Chrome Extension?
Yes.
You can export records directly from the Cognism Legacy web application without using the Chrome Extension.
The Chrome Extension provides an additional way to reveal and export contacts while browsing supported websites.
Will disconnecting the Salesforce integration delete my Salesforce records?
No.
Disconnecting the integration does not delete any existing Salesforce records.
However, removing the integration may remove Cognism configuration, such as field mappings and export settings.