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Connecting your CRM to Dakota Marketplace is one of the highest-leverage moves your firm can make. When your investor data syncs directly into the platform your team already works in, logging becomes faster, follow-up becomes sharper, and your pipeline reports reflect reality instead of last quarter's snapshot. Dakota supports integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, DealCloud, and more, so your team spends time selling, not switching between tools.
But before Dakota can link your records on the backend, there's one step your team needs to complete: reviewing and reconciling your return files. It's straightforward once you know what you're looking at.
Here are the questions our Professional Services team hears most often.
Understanding What You Receive
What exactly did I receive?
After Dakota's Professional Services team completes the matching process, you'll find six files in your ShareFile folder: two matched files (one for accounts, one for contacts), two unmatched files of your records with no corresponding Marketplace match, and two unmatched files of Marketplace records with no match to your data.
Your job is to review and reconcile the two matched files only. The other four are provided for transparency and require no action on your end.
What is the "tier" column and should I care about it?
Yes. The tier column, located in the rightmost column of each matched file, tells you how each record was matched. Higher-confidence tiers like CRD number or email address are more reliable. Lower-confidence tiers like name only warrant a closer look. Use this column to prioritize your review: start with the lower-tier matches and confirm they look right before moving on.
What do I need to do with the unmatched Marketplace files?
Nothing. They're included for transparency so you can see which Marketplace records didn't map to your data. No action required.
What does it mean if a record doesn't appear in the matched files at all?
It means Dakota couldn't find a corresponding Marketplace record for it. Only records in the matched files will be linked on the backend. Unmatched records will remain unlinked after the process is complete. If your CRM is Salesforce, records that come back unmatched here can still be linked manually afterward, either one at a time or through the guided mass linking wizard once your integration is live.
Reviewing Duplicates
Some rows are highlighted in red. What does that mean?
Red highlighting flags a potential duplicate: one of your CRM records has been matched to more than one Marketplace record. Because the integration only supports a 1:1 relationship, you need to reduce those to a single row before returning the file. If you're finding a lot of duplicates, it may be worth reviewing your overall CRM data hygiene practices before completing the reconciliation.
We only have one record on our side, but it's showing as a duplicate. Why?
This typically means Dakota has multiple records for the same firm, such as different entities or subsidiaries. Review each row and keep the one whose data best aligns with how the account is used in your CRM. Delete the others.
How do I resolve a duplicate?
Delete any rows you don't want linked. Keep only the single row that represents the correct match for each CRM record. If neither option in a duplicate pair looks right, delete both. Only rows remaining in the file will be linked on the backend.
We're not sure which Marketplace record to keep for a duplicate. How should we decide?
Review the data in each row, account name, city, entity type, and select the record that best aligns with how the account is used in your CRM and your business purpose. If you're still unsure, reach out to the Professional Services team before returning the file. It's much easier to resolve before linking than after.
What if neither option in a duplicate pair is the right match?
Delete both rows. Do not leave any row you don't want linked. Only rows remaining in the file will be linked on the backend.
Questions about which integration is right for your CRM? Book a call with our team to walk through your options.
Uploading the Reconciled Files
After I clean up the matched files, what do I do next?
Re-upload the reconciled matched files to the ShareFile folder Dakota provided, then notify the team that your upload is complete. Dakota handles the backend linking from there and will reach out once it's finalized.
Do I need to return all six files, or just the matched ones?
Only the matched account and contact files need to be returned after reconciliation. The four unmatched files require no action.
Does Dakota need access to our CRM to upload the files?
No. Dakota provides you with the return files and your team is responsible for reconciling and uploading them. Dakota handles linking on the backend only and does not need admin access to your CRM environment.
Will Dakota notify us when the linking is complete?
Yes. A member of the team will reach out once backend linking is finalized. If you have questions in the meantime, you can always request a quick call to walk through the process.
Common Questions During Review
How will I know when the matched files are ready for my review?
Dakota will email you directly with a summary of matching statistics and a link to your ShareFile folder. No need to check the folder proactively.
Can I make edits to the matched files beyond removing duplicate rows?
No. Only remove rows you don't want linked. Don't add new rows, modify field values, or reformat the file. Changes beyond row deletion can cause errors when Dakota processes the upload.
What happens to new accounts and contacts we add after this initial linking is complete?
This reconciliation process covers your existing dataset at the time of setup. For Salesforce customers specifically, records added afterward don't need a new file-based round: the app's Marketplace Accounts and Marketplace Contacts tabs support linking and creating going forward, plus a guided wizard for linking up to 5,000 contacts and their related accounts in one pass if a backlog builds up between syncs.
3 Tips for Getting Through Reconciliation Faster
Once you know what to look for, the process moves quickly. A few things that help:
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Start with the tier column. Sort by tier and tackle your lowest-confidence matches first. If those look right, the rest will likely be clean.
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Use your CRM as the source of truth. When deciding which row to keep in a duplicate pair, ask which Marketplace record best matches how you currently use that account. Your CRM context matters more than what looks "right" in isolation.
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When in doubt, reach out. Contact the Professional Services team before returning the file. It's much easier to resolve before linking than after.
Getting through reconciliation cleanly sets the foundation for everything that follows. Once your records are linked, your team will have live Marketplace data flowing directly into your CRM, verified contacts, allocator profiles, investment preferences, and job change alerts, all without manual updates. For a full look at what's possible, visit Dakota Integrations to explore all supported CRM connections.
Book a demo to see how live Marketplace data flows directly into your team's existing workflow.
