How to Integrate with the Salesforce API: A Step-by-Step Guide for B2B SaaS Teams (2026)

Integrating with the Salesforce API requires more than just basic REST requests, involving complex processes such as handling OAuth 2.0 authentication, managing token lifecycles, monitoring API limits, and utilizing real-time change notifications. This guide provides a detailed approach to direct integration with Salesforce's REST API, including setting up OAuth clients, implementing the OAuth 2.0 Web Server Flow, making REST API requests, and monitoring API usage. Additionally, it explores the use of Salesforce's event-driven architecture through Change Data Capture and Platform Events, as well as the complexities involved in maintaining a multi-tenant SaaS product with these integrations. For teams managing multiple CRM platforms, Unified's CRM API offers an integration layer that simplifies OAuth exchanges, token refreshes, and event infrastructure, providing a standardized approach to CRM integration. The decision between direct integration and using Unified should be based on factors such as the number of CRM platforms in use, desired control over infrastructure, and pricing preferences, with the overarching goal of balancing operational complexity with scalability and ease of maintenance.