Accelerating Data Integration in Fleet Management: Seamless Salesforce CRM Connectivity with OData

Organization

Our client, a global leader in car rental and fleet management, operates an expansive network with over 15,900 locations worldwide and a fleet of 5 million vehicles, serving millions of customers annually. To streamline operational and financial risks, the company licenses its brand to approximately 60 international franchises and provides “Insurance Replacement” services for major insurance companies like Allstate and State Farm, as well as corporate clients.

To maintain its market leadership, the organization launched a comprehensive digital transformation initiative to optimize processes, strengthen customer connections, and regain its competitive edge in the international market.

Challenge

In support of their digital transformation, the company implemented Salesforce CRM to enhance corporate and retail customer experiences. However, integrating Salesforce with the Data Warehouse to enable reporting and decision-making for corporate accounts presented several challenges:

• Massive Data Volumes: Required integration of 5 years of historical rental and reservation data for reporting.
• Dynamic Transaction Data: Daily transaction updates needed seamless batch loading into Salesforce.
• High Storage Costs: Storing such volumetric data within Salesforce was cost-prohibitive.
• Performance Expectations: Ensuring Salesforce could support business reporting without performance degradation.
• Integration Complexity: Managing multiple data flows with accuracy and reliability.

XTIVIA partnered with the client to design and implement a turnkey OData solution that enabled seamless data integration and reporting.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION

XTIVIA partnered with the client to design and implement a scalable OData solution, leveraging MuleSoft to deliver seamless external data connectivity and empower Salesforce CRM with advanced reporting capabilities.

Implementation Highlights:

• Collaborative Requirement Gathering: Partnered with client stakeholders to thoroughly understand CRM reporting needs, transaction data, and operational objectives.
• Data Consolidation and Optimization: Streamlined warehouse data curation and monthly processing to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
• API Development Across Layers:
  • System Layer: Configured OData APIs to establish robust external data connectivity.
  • Experience Layer: Built user-centric APIs for request handling and validation.
  • Process Layer: Developed response-focused APIs for efficient data synchronization.

OData Advantages:

• Open and Versatile Protocol: Supported multiple data formats (HTTP, ATOM, JSON) for flexible integration.
• Customization: Allowed bespoke method definitions tailored to client requirements.
• Lightweight and Efficient: Enhanced client-server interactions, boosting overall performance.

Scalable and Innovative Platform:

• Enabled dynamic external data reporting within Salesforce, driving faster and more informed business decisions.
• Minimized reliance on traditional ETL workflows, reducing operational costs and improving scalability.

High-Level data flow:

Detail Context Diagram

BUSINESS SOLUTION

XTIVIA’s transformative OData solution delivered the following measurable outcomes:

• Enhanced Data Accessibility: Facilitated seamless data flow to Salesforce for real-time insights without traditional ETL overhead.
• Cost Efficiency: Reduced Salesforce storage costs by integrating external data sources.
• Improved Decision-Making: Provided a unified, accurate view of critical metrics for faster and more informed business decisions.
• Scalability: Positioned the client to handle growing data volumes effortlessly, supporting future innovation.
• Operational Agility: Empowered stakeholders with live data updates for quick, actionable insights.

KEYWORDS
OData, MuleSoft Integration, Salesforce External Data Connectivity, API-Driven Reporting, Real-Time Data Visualization, Digital Transformation

SOFTWARE
Integration Tools: MuleSoft Anypoint Platform, OData, CRM and Data Management: Salesforce (SFDC), Teradata, Development Tools: Unix scripting

HARDWARE/PLATFORM
SFDC Software as a Service platform, Azure

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