Conversion vs. Salesforce Marketing Cloud

Salesforce Marketing Cloud was built in 2007. Conversion is built for today.

Comparing Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Conversion? Salesforce Marketing Cloud is built for enterprise, multi-channel broadcast journeys, and it often takes specialist skills (SQL, AMPscript) plus extra products to make the data and orchestration feel modern. Conversion is built for B2B MarOps teams running Salesforce and a warehouse, with a flexible data model, a unified query engine, and campaigns that are easy to scale without rebuilding logic across tools. And unlike SFMC’s add-on heavy world, Conversion includes native deliverability and white-glove onboarding plus 24/7 support without ticket queues or wait times.

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Why customers choose Conversion over Pardot

Flexible data model (FDM) built for CRM + product data

SFMC is built around Contacts plus Data Extensions. Modeling richer, relational product and lifecycle data usually turns into a maze of Data Extensions, relationship setup, and maintenance overhead.

Data model

Native data warehouse sync (Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift) designed for activation

SFMC is not warehouse-native. To activate warehouse data, teams typically push data into Data Extensions (ETL/reverse-ETL), then rebuild logic in Journey Builder. That creates brittle mapping and duplicated audience logic as volume grows.

Data activation from warehouse

Enterprise-grade two-way SFDC sync designed for ops control

SFMC works best when it is tightly coupled to Salesforce, but the CRM sync is still scheduled and connector-driven. Typical polling intervals are configured in minutes (commonly 15), which creates lag between “CRM changed” and “marketing reacted.”

SFDC sync

One query layer across CRM objects, product events, and enrichment data

In SFMC, segmentation often becomes a mix of SQL queries, Data Extensions, and Journey filters. You end up recreating the same audience logic across multiple surfaces instead of defining it once and reusing it everywhere.

Unified query engine

AI enrichment and actions embedded directly in workflows

SFMC can automate journeys, but “enrich, classify, then route” usually requires extra products or custom implementation. The core workflow layer is not built around embedded enrichment decisions.

AI Workflows

Avoid paying for “database bloat” when only a subset is truly active

SFMC is typically a bundle plus add-ons. As teams add personalization, intelligence, or CDP-style capabilities, cost expands across multiple products, not a single clean orchestration layer.

Cost model

WYSIWYG email builder + AI-assisted creation, with reusable dynamic components (Magic Blocks / Snippets)

SFMC email creation is where productivity goes to die. The builder experience is fragmented across studios and assets, and “simple changes” routinely turn into specialist work (templates, content blocks, scripting, approvals). Most teams end up relying on dedicated SFMC operators to ship and maintain emails, which slows iteration and makes consistent reuse painful.

Email builder

Robust campaigns with true reusable tokens and structure

SFMC has strong journey tooling, but campaign operations often sprawl across studios, Data Extensions, and assets. Reuse and standardization tends to rely on process and specialists rather than a clean campaign architecture.

Campaigns

Native, managed deliverability tooling and guidance included (Dedicated IP, Servers, Warming, etc.)

Key deliverability and branding capabilities are packaged as separate components like Sender Authentication Package / private domain configuration. Deliverability at scale often becomes an extra purchase and setup project.

Email deliverability

White-glove onboarding plus 24/7 live Slack/Teams support, no ticket queues

SFMC support in large orgs often means tickets, queues, and escalations. When a journey breaks or data fails to land, you can lose days to investigation across studios, queries, and sync jobs.

White-glove onboarding & 24/7 deployment strategy team

The Case for Conversion

Legacy marketing platforms are stuck in the 2000s. Conversion is built for speed and personalization. Here’s why modern B2B teams are making the switch.

image showing price per usage in the conversion app

Advanced Workflow Triggers

Conversion's Statement Query Engine gives you advanced triggers, filters, and logic, making complex workflow orchestration effortless.

Deliverability Built for Modern Teams

Protect your domain with dedicated IPs, automatic warming, built-in validation, marketing vs non-marketing safeguards, and strict subscription controls.

AI Built Into Every Workflow

Use AI enrichment, logic, previews, and guardrails directly inside your automations so every step is powered by reliable, native AI.

Design-first email builder

Create polished, on-brand emails and forms with an intuitive builder designed for modern marketers, not legacy templates.

Smarter Data Foundations

Ensure every contact stays clean and accurate with built-in email deduplication and detailed data controls that Pardot cannot match.

Deep Product and Custom Object Integration

Activate product usage data, warehouse integrations, and any custom object. Trigger, filter, and segment on every relationship field without limitations.

Built for modern enterprises

Create faster. Stay aligned. Scale with confidence. Conversion gives every team the power to automate, personalize, and grow.

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preview images of the conversion app for enterprise customers

Enterprise Compliance

Give your team enterprise-grade control: granular permissions, comprehensive audit trails, SOC 2 Type II compliance, SSO, SCIM, and premium support.

Custom Data Models

Bring in data from custom objects, CRM, engagement signals, and warehouse. Power GTM automations that adapt to any model — free trials, usage-based billing, or sales-led onboarding.

Asset Organization

Organize all your marketing activities with Conversion campaigns, bi-directionally sync to SFDC for reporting, and implement global tokens to scale.

Integrations

Connected to every piece of data

Conversion integrates with the tools you already use for sales and marketing, including your CRM, data warehouse, CDP, slack, and custom webhooks.

HockeyStack

How HockeyStack Automated Persona-Based Nurtures and Drove Higher CTR with Conversion

Hockeystack uses Conversion to qualify, route, and engage high-intent leads — automatically. It helped their sales team close deals 2x faster.

Read Case Study

Frequently Asked Questions

Experience how an AI-native platform approaches security, privacy, and data handling differently from legacy marketing automation.

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How difficult is migrating from Pardot to Conversion?

Migration is smooth and fast with your dedicated deployment strategy team. Most customers fully transition in 2 to 6 weeks depending on scope.

What does AI native actually mean?

AI native means Conversion was designed with AI at the foundation. Every feature runs with AI level performance, low latency, and built-in guardrails that keep your content accurate, consistent, and reliable at scale.

Can Conversion support complex data models?

Absolutely. Conversion natively handles custom objects, product usage data, enrichment sources, and warehouse integrations so your segmentation and triggers stay accurate.

Turn Every Form Fill-Out Into Your Next Customer

Use workflows to qualify, enrich, and engage leads the moment they convert.

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