Introduction
In today’s global marketplace, expanding into China presents both immense opportunities and unique challenges. Navigating complex data regulations like the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) while adapting to local business practices requires a strategic approach and expert guidance. This case study explores how CLD partnered with a renowned luxury fashion house to successfully migrate its Salesforce implementation to Alibaba Cloud, ensuring full PIPL compliance, enhancing operational efficiency, and laying the foundation for future growth in the Chinese market.
The Challenge:
Navigating China’s Stringent Data Regulations and Localized Business Needs
A renowned global luxury fashion house faced the challenge of expanding its operations in China while adhering to the country’s strict data privacy regulations, particularly the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL). The company needed to:
Comply with PIPL
Ensure all customer data, including personal accounts, purchases, and profile information, is stored within China, adhering to PIPL’s data localization requirements.
Adapt Global Processes
Modify global sales processes to align with local sales team workflows while maintaining core Salesforce functionality.
Integrate with Local Systems
Migrate POS system integration to a China-based solution using a local database hosted within China.
Maintain Data Integrity
Migrate customer data from Global Salesforce to Salesforce on Alibaba Cloud with minimal downtime and ensure data accuracy.
The Solution
A Strategic Migration to Salesforce on Alibaba Cloud (Salesforce on Alibaba Cloud) with Custom Middleware
CLD partnered with the luxury fashion house to execute a seamless migration to Salesforce on Alibaba Cloud (Salesforce on Alibaba Cloud), incorporating a custom middleware solution to address the unique challenges of the Chinese market. The solution included:
Key solutions included:
PIPL-Compliant Data Storage
Securely store all Chinese customer data within China on Salesforce on Alibaba Cloud (Salesforce on Alibaba Cloud), ensuring full compliance with local regulations.
Localized Business Process Adaptation
Tailor Salesforce workflows and functionalities to align with unique Chinese market requirements, enhancing sales team productivity and customer engagement.
Seamless Integration with Local Systems
Integrate Salesforce on Alibaba Cloud with local POS systems and other critical applications through a custom middleware solution, ensuring real-time data synchronization and operational efficiency.
Real-Time Data Synchronization
Enable near real-time synchronization for POS transactions into Salesforce on Alibaba Cloud.
Key Features of CLD’s Solution
PIPL Compliance
Storing all customer data within China on Salesforce on Alibaba Cloud, ensuring full compliance with PIPL regulations.
Localized Business Processes
Adapting global sales processes to meet local market needs, including custom store association rules, loyalty management, and customer profile management.
Custom Middleware Development
Developing a custom middleware and bridge service to interact between the local database (hosted on Alibaba Cloud) and Salesforce on Alibaba Cloud, complying with localization rules.


API Integrations
Developing APIs to synchronize data from third-party applications, such as clienteling, HCM, and e-commerce systems.
Data Migration with Minimal Downtime
Migrating customer data from Global Salesforce to Salesforce on Alibaba Cloud while ensuring minimal disruption to business operations.
Custom Loyalty Management Module
Creating a custom loyalty management module to assign loyalty points and store associations based on purchase values and customer profiles.

The Results
Seamless Compliance, Enhanced Efficiency, and a Foundation for Future Growth
The successful migration to Salesforce on Alibaba Cloud delivered significant benefits:
Full PIPL Compliance
Ensured complete adherence to China’s Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL), mitigating legal and reputational risks.
Improved Operational Efficiency
Streamlined sales processes and enhanced data management through localized workflows and integrated systems.
Enhanced Customer Engagement
Enabled personalized customer experiences through targeted marketing campaigns and loyalty programs.
Scalable Foundation for Growth
Provided a secure and scalable platform for future expansion in the Chinese market.
Rapid Migration
Migrated 4 million+ Chinese production records with real-time sync with source systems done in 160 days!
Future Plans in China
Integration with Local Reporting Platforms
Implementing local reporting platforms to provide sales trends by customer demographics, behavior, region, and seasonality.
WeChat Deep Integration
Enabling bi-directional synchronization between Salesforce on Alibaba Cloud and WeChat for enhanced customer engagement.
CDP Integration
Custom integration to connect a Customer Data Platform (CDP) with Salesforce on Alibaba Cloud to unify customer data from CRM, social channels, websites, and POS systems for personalized marketing automation.
Empowering Global Brands to Succeed in China’s Dynamic Market
CLD empowers global brands to navigate the complexities of the Chinese market by providing expert Salesforce implementation, data migration, and custom development services. Our deep understanding of local regulations and business practices ensures compliance, optimizes operations, and drives sustainable growth.
Contact us today to see how we can help you with:
Data migration & Salesforce on Alibaba Cloud setup for Service or Sales Cloud in 75 days!