Eloqua Blog

Eloqua Service: Migrating from the native Salesforce Integration to the SFDC App

Restored from the original article content, preserving the wording, screenshots and layout-heavy sections.

📅 First published: Feb 28, 2020

👤 Author: Greg Staunton

Diagram of a typical Eloqua Salesforce integration.
Before we start, this post does have a sales pitch attached to it. My colleagues and I at P8ypus have put together an off the shelf Eloqua Salesforce integration migration product, for more information and to begin your migration process please visit the website www.pl8ypus.com.

Support for the Eloqua Salesforce integration studio is ending

As of the 21st February 2021, Oracle is will stop support for the much loved or hated at times native Eloqua Salesforce integration commonly known as integration studio.

You may have also received an email that looks like this in your inbox on 28th February 2020.

Eloqua article screenshot
This may come as a shock. Please follow these steps:

  1. Stop
  2. Don’t stress
  3. Make yourself a tea or coffee
  4. Read the rest of my article so you can make an informed decision

Ok, hopefully you have a cup of tea or coffee in front of you… Let’s begin…

Eloqua Salesforce integration

A typical Eloqua Salesforce integration that does not use the new(ish) Eloqua Salesforce integration app looks something like this:

Eloqua article screenshot
The Eloqua Salesforce integration allows data to flow between the two platforms.

From Salesforce to Eloqua

The following objects are typically synchronised from Salesforce to Eloqua:

  • Salesforce Contacts
  • Salesforce Leads
  • Salesforce Accounts
  • Salesforce Opportunities
  • Other Salesforce Objects (Custom Eloqua Salesforce integrations)
    • Salesforce Campaigns
    • Salesforce Campaign members

 

Eloqua article screenshot

From Eloqua to Salesforce

Eloqua contact data is fed through Salesforce and either enriches or creates Salesforce leads (based on your sales methodology and Eloqua Salesforce integration setup) and updates Salesforce contacts.

Other data that gets sent through in custom integrations is:

  • Eloqua marketing activities
  • Eloqua campaigns
  • Eloqua campaign members (set on CDO)
  • Other Eloqua custom objects

 

Eloqua article screenshot
For over 15 years Eloqua customers have relied on Eloqua integration studio. Integration studio is this nifty little module on the Eloqua platform that plugged into Salesforce like a dream. It consists of two parts for all intents and purposes:

  • From Salesforce to Eloqua (Inbound)
  • From Eloqua to Salesforce (Outbound)

The integration is built up of two parts:

  • Internal events
  • External calls

Internal events have function. For example Create Salesforce lead tells Eloqua to create a Salesforce a lead in Salesforce.

Eloqua article screenshot
External calls are the parts that you use to map Eloqua and Salesforce fields. These External calls are separated into two categories:

  • Send data
  • Retrieve data

 

Eloqua article screenshot
These External calls then get used in two different parts of Eloqua integration studio.

Salesforce to Eloqua integration points are set up and mapped in the Autosynchs part of integration studio:

Eloqua article screenshot
The Eloqua to Salesforce parts are mapped using External calls:
Eloqua article screenshot
Finally an outbound Eloqua Salesforce integration is used to send Eloqua data through the outbound external calls using program builder:
Eloqua article screenshot
Now you know everything you need to know about your current set up, let’s get to the route of the problem that found you coming here.

Oracle are going to stop support for your Eloqua Salesforce integration using integration studio because they want you to move all Eloqua customers over to using their Eloqua Salesforce integration app.

The new Eloqua Salesforce integration app can be found here: https://cloudmarketplace.oracle.com/marketplace/en_US/listing/52467877

After some initial set up to get Eloqua to talk to Salesforce you will need to set up your inbound and outbound integration points in their new interface that looks like this:

Eloqua article screenshot
Finally you will need to set up your outbound integration program which now runs in Eloqua program canvas:
Eloqua article screenshot
This leaves you three choices:

  1. Do nothing, Eloqua Salesforce integration studio will continue to work
  2. Migrate the Eloqua Salesforce integration yourself
  3. Use a third party to migrate your Eloqua Salesforce integration

To help you with your decision I will provide you the same matrix I provide when pitching on behalf of companies such as Deloitte or PwC.

I am going to add in several factors to help you with your decision:

  • Technical expertize
  • Deployment time
  • Internal resource
  • Cost

 

Eloqua article screenshot

Technical expertize

When evaluating technical expertize you need to consider the following questions:

  • Has the person/team migrating my Eloqua Salesforce integration ever built an integration, from scratch, including designing the data flow using integration studio?
  • Has the person/team migrating my Eloqua Salesforce integration ever done the same using the Eloqua Salesforce integration app?
  • Has the person/team migrating my Eloqua Salesforce integration ever done this migration
  • How many times have they done these tasks?

If the answer is no to any of these you or a low number you should consider using a third party.

Now you have all the facts you can make your decision.

For those of you that are going to opt for a third party, I have developed an Eloqua Salesforce integration migration package that would be deployed using my agency Pl8ypus.

Your Eloqua Salesforce integration migration can happen either remotely or on-sit, or a combination, whichever is most cost effective and appropriate for you.

We will supply all staff required for the Eloqua Salesforce integration migration and upskill your key Eloqua team, alternately you can substitute some team members with your own staff.

Once you submit the interest form, your Eloqua Salesforce integration migration begins. The following steps will take place:

  • Confirmation email sent with a meeting request
  • Meeting to discuss specific requirements and migration stages
  • You will get your login to our client portal with your quote in under an hour
  • Detailed project plan delivered
  • You will sign off the quote
  • Verify or document your existing Eloqua Salesforce integration
  • Develop & setup Eloqua Salesforce integration test scripts
  • Security team sign off Eloqua Salesforce integration app
  • Eloqua Salesforce integration stages loaded in project management tool
  • Eloqua Salesforce integration migration sent to change board
  • The Eloqua Salesforce integration is migrated
  • Eloqua Salesforce integration testing is completed
  • Any defects are resolved and retested
  • Eloqua Salesforce integration testing signed off
  • (These steps are repeated for each environment)
  • Eloqua Salesforce integration is compete
  • Sign-off & final document handover

It is worth noting that if you wish to think about updating or building new functionality on your integration we are flexible enough to help you at the beginning of the project.

For more information about this service please go to the Pl8ypus.com website and use the enquiry form.

Need help with Eloqua?