Migrate from Zendesk Sell to Salesforce: A Complete Transition Guide 

Zendesk recently announced that Zendesk Sell will retire on August 31, 2027. While customers will still have access until then, the clock is ticking for businesses that depend on Sell to manage leads, track pipelines, and close deals.

This change may feel disruptive, but it also gives organizations the opportunity to move to a more powerful CRM system. For many, the natural next step is Salesforce CRM—a market leader in customer relationship management with unmatched flexibility, scalability, and AI-powered tools.

In this guide, we’ll explain:

• Why Zendesk Sell is retiring
• Why Salesforce CRM is a strong choice
• Key challenges in migration
• The step-by-step migration process
• Best practices to ensure a smooth transition

By the end, you’ll have a roadmap to confidently migrate from Zendesk Sell to Salesforce.

Why Zendesk Sell is Retiring  

Zendesk has chosen to retire Sell to focus on customer and employee service. This strategic shift means they will no longer provide a sales CRM solution after August 31, 2027.

For existing customers:

• Full access continues until August 31, 2027
• Data exports remain available
• After retirement, data will be deleted in line with Zendesk’s Service Data Deletion Policy

This means organizations need to find a long-term CRM replacement well before the retirement date.

Why Migrate to Salesforce CRM  

While Zendesk partnered with Pipedrive as a migration option, Salesforce CRM is often the preferred destination for enterprises and growing businesses. Here’s why:

1. Market Leader in CRM  

Salesforce is trusted by over 150,000 businesses globally. It provides end-to-end CRM capabilities—covering sales, service, marketing, commerce, and analytics.

2. Scalability for All Business Sizes  

Whether you’re a small business or a global enterprise, Salesforce scales with you. From Essentials (for small teams) to Enterprise and Unlimited editions, Salesforce adapts to your growth.

3. Customizable Sales Workflows  

With Salesforce’s drag-and-drop automation and workflow tools, you can replicate (and improve) the pipelines you used in Zendesk Sell.

Example: If your Sell workflow had 5 deal stages, Salesforce lets you rebuild those while adding automation for reminders, email alerts, and approvals.

4. AI-Powered Insights (Einstein)  

Salesforce Einstein provides AI recommendations on:

• Which deals are most likely to close
• Best time to reach out to prospects
• Predictive forecasting

This takes sales management beyond what Zendesk Sell offers.

5. Advanced Analytics & Dashboards  

Salesforce dashboards give real-time visibility into pipeline health, revenue forecasts, and team performance. You can create custom KPIs that align with your goals.

6. Integration Ecosystem  

With AppExchange (5,000+ apps) and APIs, Salesforce integrates seamlessly with email, ERP, marketing tools, and third-party apps.

7. Mobile Access  

The Salesforce mobile app ensures your sales reps can access data, log calls, and manage deals anytime, anywhere.

👉 In short, Salesforce offers everything Zendesk Sell provided and much more.

Challenges in Zendesk Sell to Salesforce Migration  

Before diving into the migration process, it’s important to acknowledge the potential risks:

• Data Loss – Improper mapping can lead to missing or incomplete records.
• Disrupted Operations – Teams may face downtime if migration isn’t properly planned.
• Broken Workflows – Automations in Zendesk Sell may not directly translate into Salesforce.
• Team Resistance – Without training, employees may hesitate to adopt Salesforce.
• Cost & Time Overruns – Poor planning often results in delayed projects and inflated budgets.

Recognizing these challenges upfront allows you to build a structured migration plan that mitigates risks

Steps to Migrate from Zendesk Sell to Salesforce  

Migrating to Salesforce involves more planning than a simple export/import. Here’s a structured process:

Step 1: Audit Your Zendesk Sell Data  

Review the data you currently store in Sell, such as:

• Leads
• Contacts
• Accounts
• Deals/Pipelines
• Notes & Tasks
• Smart Lists and Reports

This helps you decide what to keep, archive, or clean up before migration.

Step 2: Export Data from Zendesk Sell  

Zendesk allows admins to export data via Settings > Data > Export. Available exports include:

• Leads, Contacts, Accounts
• Deals & Pipeline data
• Notes & Tasks
• Reports and Sales data

Limitations: Activity history, emails, call logs, and documents cannot be exported directly. Plan to capture these separately if needed.

Step 3: Prepare Salesforce for Migration  

Before importing, configure Salesforce to mirror your sales process:

• Set up Leads, Opportunities, Accounts, and Contacts modules
• Define pipelines and stages (map them to Zendesk Sell stages)
• Customize fields and permissions for your team

Step 4: Clean and Map Data  

Use Salesforce’s Data Loader or third-party migration tools to map CSV exports into Salesforce. Key mapping tasks include:

• Lead → Lead
• Contact → Contact
• Deal → Opportunity
• Account → Account
• Notes/Tasks → Activities

Step 5: Import Data into Salesforce  

Run a test migration with a smaller dataset first to ensure:

• Fields align correctly
• Records aren’t duplicated
• Relationships (e.g., deal-to-account links) are preserved

Then, proceed with a full import.

Step 6: Recreate Automations & Reports  

If you had workflows in Zendesk Sell (e.g., automated emails or task reminders), rebuild them in Salesforce using:

• Flow Builder (for automation)
• Reports & Dashboards (for analytics)
• Einstein AI (for predictive insights)

Step 7: Train Your Sales Team  

Salesforce offers a wide ecosystem, but your team needs training to leverage it. Use:

• Trailhead (Salesforce’s free learning platform)
• Internal workshops and hands-on sessions

Step 8: Go Live and Monitor  

After data migration and team training, launch Salesforce as your primary CRM. Monitor adoption, fix any data gaps, and optimize processes over time.

Best Practices for a Smooth Migration  

• Start Early: Don’t wait until 2027—migrate at least 6–12 months in advance.
• Data Cleanup: Remove outdated leads and duplicates before migration.
• Work with Experts: Partner with certified Salesforce consultants for complex migrations.
• Pilot Program: Test Salesforce with a smaller team before a company-wide rollout.
• Communicate Clearly: Keep your team informed about timelines and benefits.

Conclusion  

Zendesk Sell’s retirement in 2027 doesn’t have to be a setback. Instead, it’s a chance to move to a world-class CRM platform like Salesforce.

With its robust features, AI-driven insights, scalability, and unmatched customization, Salesforce not only replaces Zendesk Sell but elevates your sales process to a whole new level.

By starting early and following a structured migration plan, you can ensure a smooth transition and empower your team to work smarter, close deals faster, and build stronger customer relationships.👉 Ready to migrate? Explore Salesforce CRM today with our Salesforce experts and take the next big step in your sales transformation journey.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)