Push Data Extension records into Salesforce CRM custom object

Question

I am working on the requirement where we want to push records from the Data Extension into Salesforce CRM custom Object. Source Data Extension is updated every 24 hours. We are thinking to create a flag(default value = false) on the Data Extension on the Source Data Extension and mark it as true once record is successfully created into Salesforce CRM.

We are thinking to use SSJS Activity along with cloud page containing AMPScript to create record into Salesforce CRM using CreateSalesforceObject method.

I have following 2 questions:
Is there any other better way to create Salesforce Object from SFMC? Is there a way to create Salesforce object directly from SSJS without using Cloud Page?

Answer 1

You can do all of this in an SSJS Script Activity of Automation Studio

Given following:

• Data Extension name and external key: recordsToUpdate
• Custom object: fromSFMC__c
• Flag field: flag
• Field you want to send to SF: datafield

You can use below SSJS. It will also update the flag in the data extension, so you can keep track on what has been sent to Salesforce. Do observe, there are no functions in SSJS to update - so I am utilising AmpScript CreateSalesforceObject function. You might want to extend this solution, if you want to maintain/update records synced. For this, you will need to store the Salesforce ID of the custom object record, in data extension field. Whenever you want to update a record, instead of using CreateSalesforceObject, you should use UpdateSingleSalesforceObject.

<script runat="server">
Platform.Load("Core","1.1.1");

var records = DataExtension.Init("recordsToUpdate");
var data = records.Rows.Retrieve({Property:"flag",SimpleOperator:"equals",Value:0});
var datalength = data.length;

for (var i = 0 ; i < data.length ; i ++) {
    var sf_fieldUpdateString = [];
    sf_fieldUpdateString.push('ID__c');
    sf_fieldUpdateString.push(data[i].ID);
    sf_fieldUpdateString.push('datafield__c');
    sf_fieldUpdateString.push(data[i].datafield);

    var updateSFObject = "";
    updateSFObject += "\%\%[ ";
    updateSFObject += "set @salesforceFields = CreateSalesforceObject('fromSFMC__c',2,";
    updateSFObject += "'" +  sf_fieldUpdateString.join("','") + "'";
    updateSFObject += ") ";
    updateSFObject += "output(concat(@salesforceFields)) ";
    updateSFObject += "]\%\%";
    var idToUpdate = data[i].ID;

    try {

      results = Platform.Function.TreatAsContent(updateSFObject);
      var processing = records.Rows.Update({flag:'1'}, ['ID'], [idToUpdate]);

    } catch (e) {

      if (debug) { Write("<br>updateSF error: " + Stringify(e)); }

    }

}
</script>