Excel PowerPivot connection direct to Salesforce SaaS using ODBC for self service analytics

This tutorial shows how you can use the world's most widely used BI tool, Microsoft Excel, to get direct SQL access via ODBC to SaaS applications hosted in the cloud.  More specifically, we'll look at how Excel power users can leverage PowerPivot to build enhanced analytic capabilities directly on top of Salesforce.com data (Sales cloud, Service cloud, Force.com, Database.com).  This data can then be mashed up with other data sources for 360 degree analytics.  This is self-service BI at its finest since absolutely no staging database is required; and you are leveraging existing SQL-92 skills to directly access live data.

Warning: I have seen business analysts at Salesforce shops swarm the work spaces of those who completed this tutorial.

Getting started with with direct SQL access to Salesforce from PowerPivot

1. Download and install the 15 day trial of the latest 32-bit or 64-bit DataDirect Connect XE for ODBC Salesforce driver for Microsoft Windows.

2. Create an ODBC data source to Salesforce.com.  Here is a great video to help you install and set up an ODBC driver on Windows.

Note: Since PowerPivot can load large amounts of data in-memory, it is recommended to run the ODBC driver in server mode to avoid running out of memory.  To do this, go to the "SQL Engine" tab of the ODBC data source and change "SQL Engine Mode" to "1 - Server" and click "Edit Server Settings" and click services: "Start" button.

3. Launch the PowerPivot addon from Microsoft Excel 2010

4. Click small Database Icon to launch "Table Import Wizard" and choose "Others (OLEDB/ODBC)".

5. Specify "Use connection string" and click "Build".  Then select to the ODBC Data Source for Salesforce and authenticate. Make sure to check "Allow saving password".

6. Click OK and Next

7. There are two options to import data.  You can view the objects by selecting "Select from a list of tables and views to choose the data to import" or "Write a query that will specify the data to import".

SQL-92 INNER JOIN syntax is fully supported against Salesforce using DataDirect

8. Below is data pulled directly from Salesforce.

Mobile real-time analytics to go?

Got mobile devices like iPads, Surface, Android?  Publish the PowerPivot project to your Sharepoint server for a live real-time data refresh against Salesforce.com using the same ODBC driver.

What about SQL access to other SaaS sources?

The reason we all love standards based SQL access is that everyone can access the data.  Other SaaS solutions provide ODBC drivers such as NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, Service Now, Plex Online, etc.  Or for direct SQL access to sources such as Aprimo, Eloqua, SugarCRM, RightNow, Success Factors, Taleo, ADP. Intaact, Concur we encourage you to check out the recently announced DataDirect Cloud.

Questions, comments or snide remarks?

Post a blog comment or call 1-800-876-3101 to speak with a live Solutions Consultant to learn how other organizations are making progress with direct real-time SQL access to Salesforce from Microsoft Excel.