A data loader is a software that allows for the automated export, import, and storage of Salesforce data in large volumes. Sales and marketing professionals cannot do their jobs effectively unless they have access to a large amount of actionable data, which a data loader provides.
The data is in bulk, and a Data Loader is used to perform import/export operations. It handles everything from inserting, deleting, updating, upserting, and exporting Salesforce records. It reads, extracts, and simplifies large amounts of data while importing them into comma-separated files (CSVs).
Assume a stockbroking firm wants to keep track of its accounts, customers, and so on. Every day, terabytes of data as well as thousands of transactions are processed in the stock market. The company is interested in analyzing these transactions and sending them to a specific client, so the raw data from the user’s end is imported into the Salesforce CRM platform.
When Should You Use Salesforce Data Loader?
The question now is why one should utilize a Salesforce apex data loader when the import wizard is available. However, an import wizard manages simple data records (up to 50,000 records), while a data loader manages complex data imports (around 5,00,000 records). Use a data loader if you need to load 50,000 to 500,000 records.
In addition, the data loader allows a property known as a scheduled loader. This means you can schedule import operations even while you are sleeping. Although the loading may take some time, this scheduled data load is unquestionably beneficial to any organization. Data loaders are also used to back up data, providing a sense of security.
Salesforce Data Loader Types
The following are the various types of data loaders that are commonly used on Salesforce:
Import Data Wizard
The Salesforce Data Import Wizard is the standard data loading tool included with all Salesforce editions. Its wizard-style interface guides you through the steps, making it very simple to use. It has also been upgraded in recent years to import more objects, such as Accounts & Contacts, Leads, Solutions, Campaign Members, and Person Accounts. You are able to import custom objects!
Data Loader for Salesforce
Consider the Salesforce Data Loader to be the Import Wizard’s older brother, with higher limits, more power, and greater possibilities.
This data loader, developed by Salesforce, is installed directly on your computer and can be used to engage with your data in a number of different ways. You can use it to insert, upsert, update, delete, and export data. You also get a bump from 50,000 to 5,000,000 records with the import wizard. There are also a number of backend settings, implying that this data loader can handle almost any scenario you throw at it.
dataloader.io
Initially created by Mulesoft, but now part of the Salesforce family thanks to an acquisition. When compared to the Data Loader, dataloader.io appears to be from the 1990s.
dataloader.io is completely cloud-based and can be accessed via your browser. You have all of the same options as with the Salesforce Data Loader, but with some additional functionality that helps make this product very appealing. Two of my favorite features are really the ability to schedule tasks and the fact that dataloader.io can instantly find parent records based on text rather than an ID, essentially performing the VLookup for you.
Dataimporter.io
Dataimporter.io is a cloud-based data-loading tool for connecting, cleaning, and importing data into Salesforce. You can look up records with text values, schedule tasks, and configure settings like date format and API type, just like with dataloader.io.
It also allows you to connect to external systems like Dropbox, SFTP, and Heroku, deduplicate data, roll back imports, and sample data to test imports prior to actually running the full job.
XL-Connector
While the data loaders mentioned above are impressive in their own right, some people prefer to work in Excel, which XL-Connector allows you to do.
XL-Connector is an Excel add-on that allows you to interact with Salesforce information directly from the spreadsheet. This is quite convenient, given that you will be attempting to manipulate data in Excel anyway before most data loaders. You have access to all of the standard data tools, such as insert, upsert, update, delete, and export, plus extras like converting leads and mass merging Accounts, Contacts, and Leads.
Prodly
When it comes to moving data between Salesforce organizations, Prodly AppOps Release is a fantastic alternative to traditional data loaders. AppOps Release, unlike CSV-driven data loaders, deploys data between organizations using reusable data set templates and includes features for maintaining record ownership, obfuscating data, and creating missing fields or picklist values.
It also offers a built-in audit trail, and advanced automation, and rollback capabilities for validation rules, deactivating/reactivating workflow rules, and Process Builder processes during deployments.
Conclusion
This article explains the significance of the Salesforce Data Loader, how it works, and how to use it. Other data loaders are used externally in Salesforce, but Salesforce Data Loader is one of the most widely used and best in the market to date.