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Learn about the Next-Generation Microsoft Integration Products
Get ready to move your sales reps to our cloud-based products: the Outlook integration and Einstein Activity Capture. What’s the benefit of cloud-based products? You avoid the complicated, manual software upgrades that come with Salesforce for Outlook, which is retiring. That’s because sales reps and Salesforce admins automatically get the latest product updates with each Salesforce release. Plus, they get the latest and greatest of our Microsoft integration features.
Required Editions
Outlook integration is available in Salesforce Classic and Lightning Experience in: Essentials, Group, Professional, Enterprise, Performance, Unlimited, and Developer Editions Einstein Activity Capture is available in Lightning Experience and all versions of the Salesforce mobile app in Essentials, Professional, Enterprise, Performance, and Unlimited Editions Salesforce for Outlook is available in Salesforce Classic and Lightning Experience in: Personal, Contact Manager, Professional, Enterprise, Performance, Unlimited, and Developer Editions |
Starting in Winter ’21, Lightning Sync isn’t available to new Salesforce customers. If you’re on Lightning Sync, use the Lightning Sync migration assistant for a seamless transition to Einstein Activity Capture, our long-term solution for syncing contacts and events between Microsoft® or Google applications and Salesforce.
In October 2026, Microsoft 365 replaces Exchange Web Service (EWS) with Microsoft Graph API. We recommend taking this opportunity to transition from Lightning Sync to Einstein Activity Capture with Graph API or another supported connection method. See Upgrade Microsoft Office 365 Authentication Method to Microsoft Graph in Einstein Activity Capture.
Depending on your business needs and the system requirements you meet, you can set up Outlook integration and Einstein Activity Capture together or separately.
Keep reading to learn more about how the next-generation features replace Salesforce for Outlook.
Replace the Salesforce for Outlook Side Panel with the Outlook Integration
Similar to the Salesforce for Outlook side panel, the Outlook integration lets reps work with Salesforce records and certain Salesforce features while in their Outlook email or calendar. The Outlook integration also offers productivity features that aren’t available from the Salesforce for Outlook side panel.
- Sales reps can log Outlook emails to Salesforce as emails and as tasks.
- Customers who have turned on Lightning Experience can build customized Outlook integration panes for different users. You can add Lightning components to the pane, including components available from AppExchange.
- Sales reps can draft Outlook emails using Salesforce templates.
- If you purchase licenses for Inbox, sales reps can access even more Salesforce productivity features in Outlook. Inbox gives reps email tracking, insert availability, text shortcuts, and email scheduling. From Outlook, reps see suggestions to log relevant records based on custom objects. See Outlook and Gmail Integration and Inbox Features.
To learn more about Outlook integration features, see Outlook and Gmail Integration Tour and View and Work with Salesforce Data in Outlook and Gmail.
Replace Salesforce for Outlook Sync with Einstein Activity Capture
Einstein Activity Capture syncs contacts and events between Outlook and Salesforce. Plus, it offers new productivity-boosting features for sales reps and setup improvements for you.
- Email and event capture automatically shows Outlook emails and events in the activity timeline of related Salesforce records. And updates to those Outlook emails and events are captured automatically. No more manual logging.
- Einstein Email Insights, which gives sales reps critical sales context to relevant emails, appear alongside captured emails in the activity timeline.
- Activity Metrics let reps see a summary of sales activity from list views, page layouts, and reports. You can also use Activity Metrics fields to automate processes with Process Builder and triggers. If you have Standard Einstein Activity Capture, Activity Metrics isn’t available. See Differences Between Einstein Activity Capture Editions
For more information about Einstein Activity Capture, see How Einstein Activity Capture Works.
See More Resources for Comparing the Next-Generation Products
To help you choose the best products for your reps and start planning your move, check out these resources.
