Salesforce offers multiple tools to enhance email and calendar integration, with Salesforce Inbox and Einstein Activity Capture (EAC) being two of the most prominent. While both tools connect external email and calendar systems with Salesforce, their differences in data storage, reporting, control, and functionality make them suitable for different use cases.
1. Data Storage & Sync Mechanism
Where is the Data Stored?
Salesforce Inbox: Emails and events logged via Inbox are stored as standard Salesforce records (Tasks, Events, or Custom Objects if configured).
Einstein Activity Capture (EAC): Emails and events captured by EAC are not stored in Salesforce. Instead, they are kept in an AWS-hosted database managed by Salesforce.
How Does the Sync Work?
Salesforce Inbox: Users can log emails manually or automatically, with real-time sync between email, calendar, and Salesforce.
EAC: Syncs emails and calendar events automatically in the background, but with a delay of a few minutes.
📌 Key Takeaway: Salesforce Inbox ensures emails are saved as native records, providing direct control and historical tracking. In contrast, EAC functions more as a passive sync tool without retaining historical records in Salesforce.
2. Email Logging & Visibility
Email Logging Method
Salesforce Inbox: Users manually select emails to log and specify where they should be stored (e.g., Leads, Contacts, Opportunities, Cases).
EAC: Automatically captures emails and links them to matching Contacts, Leads, or Accounts.
Visibility in Salesforce UI
Salesforce Inbox: Emails appear in the Activity Timeline and are saved as Task/Event records, making them fully reportable.
EAC: Emails only appear in the Activity Timeline and cannot be reported on since they are not stored as records.
Reporting Capabilities
Salesforce Inbox: ✅ Emails and events can be reported using Salesforce reports & dashboards.
EAC: ❌ Emails are not reportable because they are not stored in Salesforce.
📌 Key Takeaway: If reporting and tracking are important for your business, Salesforce Inbox is the clear choice.
3. User Control & Customization
User Control
Salesforce Inbox: Users can choose which emails to log, providing full control over data.
EAC: Captures all emails automatically, with no user intervention.
Customization Options
Salesforce Inbox: Highly configurable with custom fields, workflows, and automation.
EAC: Limited customization; follows default Salesforce logic.
📌 Key Takeaway: If customization and control over logged emails are crucial, Salesforce Inbox is the better option.
4. Email Tracking & Engagement Analytics
Tracking & Insights
Salesforce Inbox: ✅ Tracks email opens, link clicks, and replies, providing engagement analytics.
EAC: ❌ No tracking; emails are simply stored for historical reference.
📌 Key Takeaway: Sales teams benefit more from Salesforce Inbox due to its engagement tracking features.
5. Calendar & Scheduling Features
Calendar Sync & Scheduling Tools
Salesforce Inbox: ✅ Syncs Google & Outlook calendars with Salesforce and offers a meeting scheduling tool (similar to Calendly).
EAC: ❌ No built-in scheduling features; only captures events from external calendars.
📌 Key Takeaway: Salesforce Inbox is far more feature-rich for scheduling and calendar integration.
6. Licensing & Cost
Pricing Differences
Salesforce Inbox: ❌ Requires a paid license ($25–$50 per user/month).
EAC: ✅ Free with Sales Cloud and Service Cloud licenses.
📌 Key Takeaway: If budget is a concern, EAC is included for free, whereas Salesforce Inbox requires additional investment.
Final Recommendations
| Use Salesforce Inbox if... | Use Einstein Activity Capture if... |
|---|---|
| You need email tracking (opens, clicks, replies). | You only need automated email and event capture. |
| You want full reporting capabilities for logged emails. | You're okay with emails only appearing in the Activity Timeline. |
| You want manual control over which emails get logged. | You prefer hands-off automation. |
| You need to log emails to custom objects. | You only work with standard objects (Contacts, Leads, Accounts). |
| You want an integrated meeting scheduling tool. | You don’t need built-in scheduling. |
| You have the budget to pay for licenses. | You want a free solution. |
Final Thoughts
Both Salesforce Inbox and Einstein Activity Capture offer seamless email and calendar integration but serve different purposes:
Salesforce Inbox is ideal for sales teams who need tracking, reporting, and control.
Einstein Activity Capture is better for automated syncing without additional costs, but lacks reporting and customization.
Understanding these differences can help businesses choose the right tool based on their needs and budget.
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