Force execution of Salesforce Lead Assignment Rules on lead update

Force execution of Salesforce Lead Assignment Rules on lead update

When synchronizing a lead to SFDC, if it's a new lead, we can choose the "-- Use Auto-Assignment Rules --" option that will fire the assignment rules in SFDC.

But when we are updating a lead, this option has no effect. The issue behind it is that we have to replace assignment rules with workflows in SFDC which makes often the project very tricky, all the more so as the workflows cannot be made as flexible as assignment rules.

And yet, in salesforce, when we one updates a lead manually he/she as the possibility to check the following box

Furthermore, SFDC API enables to manage precisely whether or not we want assignment rules to be executed on lead update through the "AssignmentRuleHeader" (Lead | SOAP API Developer's Guide | Salesforce Developers )

So this idea is to evolve the "sync lead to SFDC" flow step so that one could choose whether or not the assignment rules should be triggered on update. The option should also be available to implicit syncs that occur when a lead is added to a program which is sync'ed with an SFDC campaign. The option could also be set at instance level, but leaving flexibility would be better.

It would avoid many issues faced by customers. i.e. :

Marketo/Salesforce Assignment Headache. Advice needed.

re-run through sfdc auto assignment rules

Trigger assignment rules in SFDC to re-assign leads 

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17 Comments
Anonymous
Not applicable

Wholeheartedly agree

Grégoire_Miche2
Level 10

One step further would be for Marketo to get the list of assignment rules from SFDC and offer the choice to Marketo user between all available assignment rules (not just the default one).

-Greg

Grégoire_Miche2
Level 10

For those who are interested, we have developed an SFDC trigger that does the job. It's a workaround, and it will require a "Change Data Value" in the flow, prior to the sync.

Follow-me in the community and DM me to ask for it, I'll send over a package link. The package will contain all what's necessary. You can install it on your SFDC dev sandbox.

Safe harbor : We do not provide support for this. Use it at your own risks

-Greg

Anonymous
Not applicable

Hi Gregoire,

I'd definitely be interested in this trigger! I can't figure out how to PM you, but feel free to email me at carolyn.price@aquaticinformatics.com

Cheers,
Carolyn

Anonymous
Not applicable

I do want this option but...We used to have InsideView integration in SFDC/Marketo and it would fire the lead assignment rules once the lead was enriched. One of the biggest problems I would run into is when the owner was changed manually (for whatever reason) the rule would fire and it would assign back to the original owner. It takes adding a checkbox or step to the lead when it's assigned manually to remove it from these type of rules, but definitely something extra to consider should Marketo add this functionality.

Grégoire_Miche2
Level 10

Hi Emily,

The case you are talking about can be handled as follow: when a lead is assigned to a sales person, we use a salesforce workflow to change it's status (to "Sales Assigned"), and this status is excluded from the Lead Assignment Rules.

-Greg

Anonymous
Not applicable

I guess what I'm getting to is that it would be better to have scenario driven triggers for assignment rules vs when it's updated, but that is more of a SFDC functionality that is severely lacking than this Marketo Idea off to the True to the Core group to vote up ideas for Leads!

Grégoire_Miche2
Level 10

HI Emily,

In fact, the functionality exists in SFDC, but Marketo has not mapped it.

Some organizations have a solid set of assignment rules in place when you implement Marketo and are used to it. They do not want to get rid of them and prefer to continue using them, rather than implementing assignment in Marketo. In other words, assignment rules in Marketo are not the perfect thing for everyone...

But then comes the need to assign leads on update, since, with the event of Marketo, suddenly lead creation comes far earlier in the process (at nurture time) as leads are not yet MQL.

-Greg

Anonymous
Not applicable

Hello Gregoire! I would be interested in this package as well! Please let me know how to best proceed, as this would be hugely helpful with my current issues. Thanks!

Michelle_Tang3
Level 4 - Champion Alumni

Hi @Grégorie! Could you send me the information to force the assignment rules for an existing lead?