Salesforce Database Integration with WordPress
A key part of the new site setup was fundamentally rethinking the workshop database. The database was previously maintained in a customized and cumbersome Drupal-based CRM, and concurrent to the website project, AGCI worked to migrate all of the data and relationships into a new Salesforce database.
We worked extensively with the Salesforce API and SOQL (Salesforce Query Language) to pull out the individual records, combine them based on categorization and connectors, and then flow them into WordPress and onto the public site. Pulling the data into WordPress also added the ability for AGCI to organize and structure Salesforce-native content within the CMS.
With this setup in place, the site dynamically pulls roughly 8,000 records (as of this post!) from Salesforce and assembles them into single workshop pages with relevant data about attendees, agenda items, media assets, topics, and more. All of this information is pulled from independent Salesforce records that are stored across different Campaigns, Library Items, Categories, and Contacts. On the front-end of the site, the content is blended into a workshop page like this one: Navigating the Clean Energy Transition in a Changing Climate.
Custom Search with Algolia, WordPress, and Salesforce Integration
With more than 30 years of content being pulled into the site, we knew that a robust search tool would be essential for creating a smooth user-experience. We chose Algolia – a powerful search software tool – as a base for the search experience.
We set up an Algolia instance that sorts through the site’s Salesforce records and WordPress content to help users quickly surface information about particular keywords. Although the search is technically complex – it covers a huge volume of content and multiple data sources – it provides a seamless experience for users.
Prepared for Future Success
With more than a dozen interior templates, the site easily flexes to showcase a wide range of content. Users can efficiently browse workshops, explore overarching themes, filter through the resource library, and learn about AGCI.
Thanks to the site’s flexible WordPress base, every area of the site is set up to scale with AGCI as they grow their offerings and generate new content. Site admins can use a toolbox of content elements and pre-designed blocks to revise existing pages, create custom layouts, and build out new sections and content hubs.
