Different Data Loader Tools in Salesforce

Salesforce is one of the most popular Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms globally. It helps businesses of all sizes manage customer data, sales processes, and operations in an integrated and user-friendly environment. However, when it comes to migrating, importing, or exporting data into Salesforce, the right tools can make a significant difference. In this blog post, we will explore various data loader tools available for Salesforce that help you import, export, update, and delete data efficiently and effectively.

1. Data Loader

Data Loader is one of the most widely used data load tools in Salesforce. It is a client application that allows you to insert, update, upsert, delete, and export Salesforce data. It can handle large volumes of data and is ideal for users who need to perform data operations in bulk.

Features:

  • Supports CSV files for data import/export.
  • Offers both GUI and command-line interfaces for automation.
  • Can perform operations on both standard and custom objects.
  • Supports handling of large data volumes (up to 5 million records).
  • Allows scheduling of data loads through command-line interface.

Field mapping is a crucial step where you match the fields from your CSV file to Salesforce fields. Data Loader will try to auto-map the fields based on the name, but you might need to manually adjust the mapping if required.

The main operations you can perform using Data Loader are Insert, Update, Upsert, Export, and Delete. 

Data Loader

Go to the Salesforce Data Loader page to download the latest version, which is updated with every Salesforce release. The download button is typically located at the top of the page. 

In Salesforce, go to Setup -> Integration -> Data Loader. There, you will find the ‘Downloads’ button, which will redirect you to the same above link we mentioned.

Best For: Bulk data import, export, update, and delete operations.

Learn more about Salesforce Data Loader.

2. Data Import Wizard

The Data Import Wizard in Salesforce is a tool that allows users to easily import data into Salesforce without the need for advanced technical knowledge. It is designed to help both beginners and experienced users import various types of data, including standard objects (like Accounts, Contacts, Leads) and custom objects.

Features:

  1. Simple, user-friendly interface.
  2. Offers a guided experience to ensure data is mapped correctly.
  3. Allows importing data in smaller batches (up to 50,000 records).
  4. Direct integration with Salesforce objects.
  5. Built-in data validation to ensure accuracy. 
  6. The Data Import Wizard in Salesforce primarily supports CSV.
  7. Allows only for insert and update operations.

No need to install any application to use the Data Import Wizard in Salesforce.The Data Import Wizard is a built-in tool available directly from the Salesforce interface, and you can access it through Setup.

Setup -> In Quick Find box, type Data Import Wizard -> Data Import Wizard -> Launch Wizard! 

Best For: Non-technical users, small to medium-sized data imports.

Data Import Wizard

3. Workbench

Workbench is an advanced, web-based tool for Salesforce administrators and developers. It allows users to execute SOQL and SOSL queries, perform data loads, and interact with the Salesforce API. The tool is highly useful for bulk loading and managing data directly within Salesforce.

Features:

  • Direct integration with Salesforce’s REST and Bulk API.
  • Advanced options for querying and managing data.
  • Provides support for complex data operations like upserts.
  • Includes support for querying Salesforce data (SOQL), working with metadata, and handling bulk data jobs.

Best For: Developers and administrators needing quick data manipulation and API interaction.

Workbench

To access Salesforce Workbench, go to https://workbench.developerforce.com and select Production or Sandbox from the “Environment” dropdown.

Check our Ultimate Salesforce Workbench Guide to learn more.

4. Dataloader.io

Dataloader.io is a cloud-based version of Data Loader, designed to simplify data imports, exports, and updates for Salesforce users. It operates entirely in the cloud, making it accessible from anywhere and doesn’t require installation.

Features:

  • Cloud-based solution accessible through a web browser.
  • Supports bulk imports, exports, and updates.
  • Includes features like scheduling for automatic data loads.
  • Provides data cleansing and mapping features.
  • Email notification feature is also available, email will be triggered once the task is done. 
  • With Dataloader.io, you can schedule your tasks to run at any given time in the future. For example, you can set an export to run automatically every Friday at 9 AM IST.

To access Salesforce Dataloader.io, Visit the official Dataloader.io website at https://dataloader.io.and select Production or Sandbox from the “Environment” dropdown.
In salesforce also we can find it, Setup -> In Quick Find box, type DataLoader.io -> Launch dataloader.io button. It will be redirect to https://dataloader.io/ URL.

Dataloader.io

5. XL-Connector

XL-Connector is a popular Salesforce data integration tool that allows you to interact with Salesforce data directly from Microsoft Excel. It provides a simple way to perform data operations like querying, inserting, updating, and deleting records within Salesforce, all through an Excel interface.

Features:

  •  It allows users to connect Salesforce with Excel to perform operations like import, export, and data updates.
  • You can use SOQL to query Salesforce data directly within Excel. The results can be displayed in Excel, where they can be analyzed or further manipulated.
  • You can insert new records into Salesforce, update existing ones, or use upsert to insert or update records based on a specified ID.
  • It supports bulk data operations, making it easier to process large datasets efficiently.
  • XL-Connector can automatically synchronize data between Salesforce and Excel, making it convenient for frequent data updates.
XL-Connector

Using this link, https://www.xappex.com/knowledge-base/xl-connector-download/, you can download and install XL-Connector. Once the installation is complete, XL-Connector will be added to the Excel application. You will then need to sign in with your Salesforce credentials to manipulate the data. 

Learn How to Sync Data from Microsoft Excel to Salesforce: Use Cases.

6. Dataloader.ai

The last one, but definitely not the least one, is definitely worth it!.  Dataloader AI is a game-changer for people who are unfamiliar with traditional data management tools. As we’re in the AI era, this tool is completely powered by artificial intelligence. You simply need to provide a prompt in plain English, and the AI will automatically update or insert data accordingly. There’s no need to prepare complex Excel sheets or worry about errors and reloading data—just provide a simple prompt, and the tool will handle the rest.

Features: 

Provides an easy way to insert, update or delete Salesforce data by simply giving simple English prompts.

  • It’s a cloud-based tool. No need to install any software.
  • Eliminates the need for complex data preparation or checking error logs. Just provide prompts, and the AI takes care of the rest.
  • You can automate data updates or insertions, which significantly reduces manual effort.
Dataloader.ai

I personally love this application, and if possible, I’ll write a separate article about it to highlight its benefits further.

You can access Data Loader AI at https://app.dataloader.ai and start using it right away. 

7. Salesforce Inspector Reloaded

The Salesforce Inspector is a browser extension designed to make Salesforce development and data management easier. It’s available for both Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge and is widely used by Salesforce developers, administrators, and data analysts for tasks like data imports, exports, and metadata manipulation. 

Features: 

  • Allows us to quickly export data from Salesforce in various formats (CSV, JSON, etc.), and similarly, it enables the import of data into Salesforce. This is useful for managing large volumes of data when you don’t want to rely solely on Salesforce’s built-in Data Loader or the user interface.
  • Salesforce Inspector provides an interface to run Salesforce Object Query Language (SOQL) queries directly from your browser, which is handy for retrieving and manipulating data. The extension offers a simple query editor where you can write and execute SOQL queries, view the results, and download them in CSV format.  

You can find more details here https://www.apexhours.com/salesforce-inspector-reloaded/ 

Conclusion

Salesforce provides a diverse array of tools to manage data loading, from simple tools like the Data Import Wizard to more advanced solutions such as Dataloader.io. The right choice of tool depends on the specific needs of the organization, such as the volume of data, the complexity of data relationships, and the technical expertise of the users.

This is about different Data Load Tools in salesforce for better manipulating data in an efficient way. 

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Satyam parasa
Satyam parasa

Satyam Parasa is a Salesforce and Mobile application developer. Passionate about learning new technologies, he is the founder of Flutterant.com, where he shares his knowledge and insights.

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