Blog - Native vs. Integrated FAQs
5 questions in this category
A native Salesforce app is built directly on the Salesforce® platform and stores all data within your Salesforce org. An integrated app runs on separate infrastructure and connects to Salesforce through APIs or middleware. The practical difference is that native apps share your org’s security model, don’t consume API calls, and provide real-time data access without sync delays.
The primary benefits are real-time data (no sync lag between event activity and your CRM), zero API consumption for core operations, automatic inheritance of your org’s security and permission model, and the ability to build Salesforce reports and dashboards directly on event data. For teams that run events as a strategic function, these benefits reduce admin overhead and improve reporting accuracy.
Integrated platforms typically sync data through REST or SOAP APIs, middleware like MuleSoft, or third-party connectors like Zapier. Sync frequency varies — some platforms push updates in near-real-time, while others batch sync on intervals of 15 minutes to several hours. Each sync cycle consumes Salesforce API calls, and any field mapping errors or contact matching issues can create duplicate or orphaned records.
The Salesforce AppExchange lists several event management solutions, including Salesforce-native apps like Blackthorn Events and integrated tools that offer Salesforce connectors. When evaluating options, check whether the app stores data natively in your org or syncs from an external database — the AppExchange listing alone doesn’t always make this distinction clear.
Ask the vendor five questions: Where does event data live at rest? Does the app consume API calls for core functions? Does it inherit your org’s security model automatically? Can you build standard Salesforce reports on event data? Has it passed the AppExchange security review? If the answer to all five is yes, the app is genuinely native — not just “Salesforce-compatible.”