Technical guide

Zenkraft technical guide

Everything an engineer needs to connect Zenkraft to Salesforce: architecture, the exact build steps with real code, field mapping, the data model, security, monitoring, and the pitfalls we design out.

Platform: ZenkraftType: ShippingDirection: Two-wayObjects: Shipment

Multi-carrier shipping across FedEx, UPS, and 130+ carriers. We have shipped it across 1 client project and 10 build tasks.

The value is that the action happens automatically from the record your team already works in, with the result tracked back in Salesforce.

We deploy the managed package the right way: sandbox first, licenses and permission sets assigned, templates and layouts configured, and automation wrapped around it so it fits your process.

Every Zenkraft build is delivered by a senior Salesforce architect on a fixed price, tested end to end in a sandbox, deployed to your org, and backed by 30 days of hypercare. You own the result: documented, source-controlled, and free of black-box middleware lock-in.

the connection at a glancesync active
01Zenkraft
02Managed package
03Salesforce records
Integration facts

How Zenkraft connects to Salesforce

The real connection surface: how it authenticates, what it is built on, the endpoints and events in play, and where the reference docs live.

Connects via
100% Salesforce-native managed package installed from AppExchangeApex callouts from the package to Zenkraft multi-carrier API (fans out to FedEx/UPS/USPS/DHL + 200+ carriers)Triggered via an LWC shipping wizard, Flow invocable actions, bulk, or custom Apex
Package
Zenkraft Multi-Carrier Shipping
Authentication
Per-carrier credentials stored in Zenkraft Preference records inside Salesforce; a Zenkraft account/API key authorizes the package callouts
API type
SDK
https://api.zenkraft.com (in-org integration is via managed-package Apex)

Key endpoints

Invocable/Apex: Create ShipmentInvocable: Create Pickup (Multi Carrier)Get Rates (multi-carrier rate shopping)Track Shipment

Webhook and platform events

Carrier tracking checkpoint updatesProof of Delivery updatesDelivery status change
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From our builds

What we build for a Zenkraft integration

The Zenkraft multi-carrier shipping package configured for FedEx, UPS and 130+ carriers, with rate and label generation and custom address-source config, deployed across dev and prod sandboxes.

1client projects
10delivery tasks shipped

Multi-carrier shipping

Configured the Zenkraft package for rate shopping and label generation across FedEx, UPS and more than 130 carriers.

Address config and rollout

Set up custom address-source configuration and deployed the package cleanly across dev and prod sandboxes.

Real components we ship

Zenkraft (zkmulti) packageFedEx / UPS + 130+ carriersRate and label generationCustom address-source configDev and prod deployment
Step 0

What you will need

What we confirm on both sides before writing a line of code.

A Salesforce edition with API access (Enterprise, Unlimited, or Developer)
The managed package, installed in a sandbox first
A dedicated sandbox to build and test in
A Zenkraft account on a plan with API access
System Administrator access on both systems
A dedicated integration user with a minimum-access permission set
Agreement on the objects, fields, and sync direction for the Zenkraft data
How it works

From trigger to record, end to end

The production runtime flow, with what happens in each system.

runtime sequence4 steps
  1. 01

    Trigger in Salesforce

    In Salesforce

    A record change or a button starts the Zenkraft action.

    $A record-triggered flow or a Quick Action fires the process.
  2. 02

    Payload is built

    In Salesforce

    A flow or Apex assembles the request and maps the Salesforce fields.

    $Serialized with JSON.serialize; the callout is queued to run asynchronously.
  3. 03

    Call Zenkraft

    In transit

    The request is sent to Zenkraft.

    $HTTPS callout via callout:NamedCredential over Managed package, Multi-carrier, with no secrets in code.
  4. 04

    Result written back

    In Salesforce

    Zenkraft performs the action and the status is written back.

    $Response parsed; status and external ids stored on the record for audit.
Architecture

How the data actually flows

Left to right: sources, the integration layer, Salesforce, and the outcomes it drives.

system architecture
Sources
Salesforce record
Flow / Apex trigger
Integration layer
Payload build
Zenkraft API call
Status write-back
Salesforce
shipment
Related records
Reports
Outcomes
Action done automatically
Status on the record
No app-switching

// sources feed the integration layer, Salesforce persists, outcomes ship

Data model

The objects behind the integration

The Salesforce objects we read and write, what each one is for, and the fields that carry the load.

ObjectPurposeKey fields
shipmentThe primary Salesforce record Zenkraft data maps onto.External_Id__c, Name, Status
AccountMatched or created for the customer or company behind the record.Name, External_Id__c
Error_Log__c (custom)Captures every request, response, and failure so anything can be replayed.Payload__c, Status__c, Related_Id__c

Salesforce objects typically in play for Zenkraft

Zenkraft__Shipment__cZenkraft__Package__cZenkraft__Pickup__cOrderCase (returns/RMA)
Step by step

Build the Zenkraft integration

Every step we follow to ship a production-grade build, with the code that matters.

1

Plan the integration and prerequisites

We line up licenses and access before installing anything.

  • A Salesforce edition compatible with the package, and a sandbox to install into first
  • A Zenkraft account and admin rights on both systems
  • The records, templates, and outcomes agreed up front
2

Install the managed package

We install Zenkraft the safe way.

  • Install from AppExchange into a sandbox first, choosing Install for All Users
  • Approve the third-party access it requests, and note the API or remote endpoints it uses

Pro tip: sandbox first

Install the managed package in a sandbox first and choose Install for All Users, so you can configure and test safely before anything touches production.

3

Assign licenses and permission sets

We give the right users the right access.

  • Assign the package licenses and its permission sets to the integration user and the end users who need it
4

Authenticate to Zenkraft

We connect the package to your Zenkraft account securely.

  • Authenticate Zenkraft via OAuth and configure the org-wide and per-user settings
  • Confirm any Named Credential or Remote Site the package relies on is configured
5

Configure objects, templates, and layouts

We set Zenkraft up around how you actually work.

  • Configure the Zenkraft-specific pieces such as templates, gateways, or components
  • Add the Lightning components and actions to the right page layouts
  • Map Salesforce fields into Zenkraft so documents and records are accurate every time
6

Build automation around the package

We make Zenkraft fire from the right place and write results back.

  • Record-triggered flows or Quick Actions invoke the package's invocable methods
  • Status and results are written back onto the Salesforce record automatically
GenerateDocument.clsapex
public class GenerateDocument {
  @InvocableMethod(label='Generate document via package')
  public static void run(List<Id> recordIds) {
    // a record-triggered flow calls this; it hands off to the managed package
    for (Id recId : recordIds) {
      pkg.DocumentService.createFromTemplate(recId, 'Order Form');
    }
  }
}
7

Test in a sandbox

We validate the full flow before go-live.

  • Run real scenarios end to end and confirm the records, documents, and callbacks
8

Deploy and monitor

We ship it and support it.

  • Deploy configuration via change sets and assign permission sets in production
  • Monitor callbacks and errors, with 30 days of support
Field mapping

Example field mapping

How Zenkraft data lands on your Salesforce records. We tailor the full mapping to your org.

ZenkraftSalesforceNotes
Salesforce shipmentZenkraft recordDirection: Salesforce to Zenkraft
Record idZenkraft external referenceStored back on the record
Key fieldsZenkraft fieldsMapped per template
StatusZenkraft statusWritten back on completion
Created / updated atLastModifiedDateEnables delta sync and audit
Owner or repshipment.OwnerIdAssignment rules or a default owner
API & limits

Rate limits and governor limits

The platform constraints we design around, so the integration stays fast and never falls over at scale.

Specific to Zenkraft

Salesforce callout limits: 100 callouts and 120s cumulative timeout per transaction
Bulk shipping is subject to Apex batch/async limits
Tracking refresh cadence up to once per hour
API version pinned to the installed package version

Salesforce platform limits

The managed package uses its own API budget. We confirm the limits on your plan before go-live.
Zenkraft rate limits apply to bulk operations. We chunk batches to stay within them.
Security

Secure by design

How we keep the integration safe, least-privilege, and compliant.

Secrets stored in Named Credentials and permission sets, never in code or metadata
A least-privilege integration user, with field-level security and sharing scoped tight
All traffic over TLS, with signature verification on inbound events
Shield Platform Encryption available for sensitive fields
A full audit trail: every request and response logged for traceability
Every automation runs as a dedicated integration user, so actions are attributable and revocable
Sandbox-first delivery and change-set deployment keep production changes reviewed and controlled
Monitoring

Monitoring, retries, and reliability

What keeps the integration trustworthy in production, and how you know the moment something needs attention.

Every request and response is logged to a custom Error Log object, tagged with the related record id.
Failed calls retry with exponential backoff; anything still failing lands in a dead-letter queue for review.
Idempotency keys guarantee a retried or duplicate event never double-posts a record.
A dashboard surfaces failures, latency, and volume so problems are caught before users notice.
Optional email or Slack alerts fire on repeated failures or a stalled sync.
Testing & deployment

How we test, deploy, and hand it over

The quality gates every build clears before it touches your production org.

Apex unit tests with HttpCalloutMock cover the success path, failure handling, and a 200-record bulk case, at 75 percent or higher coverage.
The full flow is validated in a sandbox against real sample data and the edge cases that matter.
A parallel run reconciles the integration against your live system before cutover.
Everything deploys through change sets or an SFDX and CI pipeline, under version control.
Permission sets, sharing, and Named Credentials are configured in production, then we run 30 days of monitored hypercare.
Pitfalls

Common pitfalls we design out

The mistakes that quietly break integrations, and how we avoid each one.

Config lost between orgs

Deploy configuration via change sets and document the setup.

Users cannot see the feature

Assign the package license and permission set to the right users.

Vendor limits hit unexpectedly

Confirm the API and volume limits on your plan before go-live.

No visibility when it breaks

We log every call and surface failures on a dashboard with alerts, so an issue never goes unnoticed.

Reporting drifts from reality

External-id keys and a delta timestamp keep Salesforce and the source reconciled, so reports stay trustworthy.

Gotchas specific to Zenkraft

Demo Mode must be turned OFF for live carrier calls; each carrier needs its own Preference record with real credentials
Because callouts run from Apex, bulk label operations must respect the 100-callout and 120s limits
Custom Address Source config is required to ship from non-standard objects
FAQ

Zenkraft integration: technical FAQs

How do you authenticate Zenkraft with Salesforce?

We connect Zenkraft using the managed package with OAuth and store every secret in Salesforce Named Credentials with a permission set, so nothing is hard-coded or shipped in metadata.

Does the Zenkraft integration handle bulk volume?

Yes. All Apex is bulkified, volume moves to Queueable or Batch Apex, and we respect the Salesforce governor limits (SOQL, DML, and callout caps per transaction).

How do you prevent duplicate records?

We upsert on a unique external-id field, so a retried or duplicate payload is idempotent and never creates a second shipment.

How is the integration tested and deployed?

Apex tests with HttpCalloutMock cover the success, failure, and a 200-record bulk case (75 percent plus coverage). We deploy via change sets or an SFDX and CI pipeline.

What happens if Zenkraft or Salesforce is briefly down?

Failed calls retry with backoff and land in an Error Log object with alerting, so nothing is lost and any event can be replayed.

Do we still need custom code?

Usually only a thin layer: record-triggered flows or a small invocable Apex method to fire the package and write results back. The heavy lifting is the managed package.

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