Using the Next Generation Salesforce1 Lightning Platform

Progress DataDirect Hybrid Data Pipeline is a Salesforce-preferred connectivity service for Salesforce Lightning Connect.

Last fall at Dreamforce 2014, Salesforce enhanced their developer tooling focused on mobility with the announcement of “Salesforce1 Lightning.” This is a huge deal as it introduces many new features focused on making application development and business automation “lightning fast.”

Get to know Lightning Connect

Lightning is made up of a number of tools and components. One that we are particularly excited about is Lightning Connect. Lightning Connect allows you to, in Salesforce’s own words:

Connect and access data from external sources with point–and-click simplicity. Incorporate data from legacy systems (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, you name it) in real time in Salesforce application objects. Dramatically reduce integration time to unlock and modernize back-office systems.

Translation? Your data that has been outside of the Salesforce ecosystem can now be programmatically integrated into your Salesforce applications in real-time without copying the data from the on-premise system to Salesforce!

Learn More about Lightning Connect

How can you get started learning about Lightning Connect? Salesforce is very good about posting resources to help users learn about new capabilities. There’s a very brief commercial video that provides a high-level overview of Lightning Connect.

If you’d like to get more technical, Salesforce has a video presentation from Dreamforce 2013 entitled “Introduction to External Objects and the OData Connector.” This is one of the first presentations that Salesforce gave on the subject, before they made access to external data available under the Lightning Connect brand. I think it is very good at explaining what problem Lightning Connect solves and why Salesforce developers, administrators and architects should care.

Getting Connected with Hybrid Data Pipeline

To fully leverage Lightning Connect and OData, you’re still going to need a data integration service to bring everything together. That’s why we’re incredibly proud to call DataDirect Hybrid Data Pipeline a Salesforce recommended solution with ready-to-go connectivity. The combination of the Hybrid Data Pipeline OData service and Lightning Connect means you can quickly connect your back-office and legacy systems to Salesforce1 platform, even those behind your firewall—so they are able to work in tandem with up-to-date data readily accessible wherever you are. All while using the familiar Salesforce1 interface that your users know and love. This is a game-changer for your business and well worth looking into.

In addition to the videos I have linked above, you can learn more about the Salesforce1 Lightning platform and Lightning Connect from their website. You should also swing by our site where you can read about Hybrid Data Pipeline and consider signing up for a free trial so you can start leveraging the power of OData immediately.