Salesforce SOAP Webhook Explained

It would be excessive to introduce what Salesforce is and what it's used for, so let's jump right into the real deal.

Sep 9, 2024

Introduction

It would be excessive to introduce what Salesforce is and what it's used for, so let's jump right into the real deal.
💡 Key Concept: Webhooks are "Outbound Messages"
In Salesforce, setting up a webhook is known as creating an "Outbound Message". This action is typically coupled with Salesforce Flows to trigger the message based on specific criteria or events.

⚙️ Creating a New Outbound Message

Here is the step-by-step process to configure a new outbound message (webhook) in Salesforce Setup.
  1. On the top right corner of your Salesforce dashboard, click the gear icon and select Setup.
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  1. In the Quick Find search box on the left, type "outbound" and click on Outbound Messages under the Process Automation section.
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  1. Click the "New Outbound Message" button.
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  1. Select the Object from the dropdown list that you want to send data from when an event occurs (e.g., "Case," "Lead," "Opportunity").
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  1. Fill in the required information for the outbound message:
      • Name: A descriptive name for your webhook.
      • Unique Name: An auto-generated API name based on the name you provide.
      • Description: A brief description for your reference.
      • Endpoint URL: The destination URL from your external system where the data will be sent.
        • ⚠️ No Custom Headers
          Salesforce's Outbound Message feature does not allow for the configuration of custom request headers. Any required authentication must be handled through the endpoint URL's query parameters.
      • User to send as: The user whose permissions will be used to send the message. This is often auto-generated.
      • Send Session ID: Check this box if your external system needs a Salesforce session ID for authentication or further API calls.
      • [Object] fields to send: Select the specific fields from the object that you want to include in the message payload.
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  1. Click Save to apply the configuration.

✅ Next Steps

Your outbound message (webhook) is now configured in Salesforce. The next step is to integrate it into a Salesforce Flow or another automation process to trigger it based on your business logic.

📚 Reference