topic Salesforce Custom Field Names in Marketing Integrations

Salesforce Custom Field Names

MichaelH — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 17:11:46 GMT

Do custom fields in Salesforce for Leads & Contacts need to be the same in order for the custom fields on Contacts to sync once the Lead is converted?

For example... use Field_Name__c for both instead of Field_Name_Lead__c and Field_Name_Contact__c

Re: Salesforce Custom Field Names

bradmin — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 18:36:58 GMT

Hi, @MichaelH. It's not technically required, but I urge you as strongly as possible to keep consistent API names between leads and contacts.

One of the reasons the connector handles this use case easily is because there's a related HubSpot Intelligence record on the lead or contact the HubSpot contact is syncing to. The HSI record knows whether HubSpot is talking to a Salesforce lead or contact, so it won't matter whether we're trying to pass $Lead.Field_Name__c or $Contact.Field_Name__c; the Field_Name__c designation applies, regardless the object.

If, instead, you had $Lead.Field_Name__c and $Contact.Slightly_Different_Field_Name__c, you could manage it, but you'd need to create two mappings in HubSpot: one for Field_Name__c, and another for Slightly_Different_Field_Name__c. You'd also need to ensure all fields with discrepancies in naming convention are mapped properly in the Map Lead Fields menu in Salesforce.

These kinds of inconsistencies require more planning and maintenance than simply keeping the API name of custom mapped fields the same, across Salesforce leads and contacts.

Re: Salesforce Custom Field Names

MichaelH — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 19:13:14 GMT

Exactly what I needed to know. Thank you!

Re: Salesforce Custom Field Names

afinney — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 03:58:09 GMT

Hello,

Just out of curiosity based on the reply above, if there is a scenario where we are using a out the box field (standard SF field) and a new custom field on one of the objects, what would be the best practice? Both Lavels are the same but the API Names and values dffer.

Example:

Lead - StandardField- Label Custom Field
Type Picklist / Dropdown Select
Values X,Y,Z
Contact - Stnadard_Field__c - Label Custom Field
Values A,B,C,D,E,F,G
Type Picklist / Dropdown Select

Would we have to create 2 HubSpot properties created as a placeholder for each field and have each property mapped to the relevant field in Salesforce, or would we have 1 Hubspot property which contains both sets of values and have 2 mappings?

Regards,

Arran

Re: Salesforce Custom Field Names

bradmin — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 11:23:46 GMT

I recommend changing the label on the custom field so that it's unique from the standard field. While HubSpot won't have issues writing to either, you only see the field label in the UI. You'd have to inspect the page HTML to know which value you wanted to use. This isn't a great experience and is prone to errors.

Re: Salesforce Custom Field Names

afinney — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 23:30:42 GMT

Hi Brad,

Thanks for the response, can you confirm which apporach would be best? Either 2 hubspot properties and 2 mappings, or 1 consolidated hubspot property with 2 mappings?

Kind Regards,

Arran

Re: Salesforce Custom Field Names

bradmin — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 01:23:17 GMT

You'll want two distinct mappings for this. If you map multiple Salesforce fields to the same property, an update to one Salesforce field could update the other, depending on the mapping rule. Even without that, it could be tough to determine which field triggered the change.