REAL-TIME STRIPE INTEGRATION FOR SALESFORCE
OVERVIEW
A prominent radio news station needed an automated solution for processing donor payments from its online donation page. Previously, donations were manually exported from Stripe and imported into Salesforce, creating delays and increasing the risk of errors. We implemented a webhook-based integration that delivers payment events in real time, ensuring accurate and immediate record creation in Salesforce.
THE CHALLENGE
Manual processing of donations was time-consuming and prone to errors. Staff exported payment CSVs from Stripe each week and imported them into Salesforce, delaying visibility into donor activity and slowing follow-up efforts. The station required an automated transfer of payment data without relying on custom coding within Stripe.
OUR SOLUTION
We evaluated three approaches for delivering Stripe payment data to Salesforce:
1. Scheduled REST API polling from Salesforce:
Salesforce would query Stripe at fixed intervals to retrieve payment data. This approach was inefficient as it would initiate API calls even on days when no payments were made, leading to unnecessary resource consumption.
2. Custom code inside Stripe to push payment events:
This option was unfeasible, as Stripe does not support custom scripts within its platform.
3. Webhook-based integration:
The most effective solution. By configuring Stripe webhooks to listen for key payment events—such as creations, updates, and refunds—the system automatically sends a JSON payload to a custom Salesforce REST API endpoint in real time. Salesforce processes these events with Apex, ensuring seamless, event-driven data integration.
This approach removes the need for scheduled API calls, improves data accuracy, scales with donation volume, and secures communication through Stripe’s signing secrets.
KEY FEATURES
- • Real-time updates: Payment events are instantly sent from Stripe to Salesforce as they happen, without delays.
• Automated data transfer: Donor information is automatically updated in Salesforce, eliminating the need for manual imports.
• Secure connection: Stripe verifies each payment event to ensure the data is authentic and safe.
• Scalable and flexible: The system can easily handle increased donation volume and different types of payments as needed.
• Error-free process: With real-time updates, the chances of mistakes or missed payments are greatly reduced.
GLOBAL IMPACT/RESULTS
- • Reduced manual effort and potential human error in donation tracking
• Enabled instant visibility into new donations
• Increased accuracy of donor records in Salesforce
• Better operational efficiency and faster donor follow-up
TECHNOLOGIES & SERVICES
Stripe Webhooks — real-time event delivery
Salesforce REST API — custom endpoint to receive webhook events
JSON — standardized event payload
Signing Secrets — secure verification of incoming webhook calls
CONCLUSION
The real-time webhook integration ensures donations are captured instantly, accurately, and securely in Salesforce. It provides a scalable, low-maintenance pipeline for managing online payments while improving donor engagement and operational efficiency.