Import a DeDupe File but Use Winner Rules

[jazmindensmore]

Hi team! I have a scenario that I'm hoping there's a solution for, but I cannot find anything available. 

I have a file of accounts that we know are duplicates, but we haven't determined which are winning vs losing. We have very robust winner rules configured in our Dedupe module, so ideally we'd like to load in the list of accounts with columns Duplicate 1 and Duplicate 2 (as an example), and allow DemandTools to assess and determine winning vs losing. Is this possible somehow, without having to manipulate the data to make them field-level duplicates that would get picked up? 

The issue is that these accounts do not have common fields which would pick them up through standard duplicate logic. This is a file of accounts which have been located through some exception logging, and we already know that they are truly duplicates that need to be resolved while they have different names, websites, locations and owners. 

[Pugs_Validity]

Hey @jazmindensmore - If I am understanding correctly, the duplicates are on the file, not on their potential matching records in Salesforce? DemandTools can help limit new record creation during import but it would need to be off a speficic field, such as no duplicate records that share an email or name, etc..not on the intricate level you can setup a Winner Rule. That being said, we do have a seperate product that would better suit your situation and can be used in a more "as needed" method, DemandTools File Edition.

[jazmindensmore]

Sorry, I may have been unclear. I have a file of duplicate accounts - account A and account B. I know these are duplicates because we've done research and found them, but I don't know just from the spreadsheet whether account A or B is the winner. I want to use winner rules in the Dedupe module to assess my spreadsheet and determine winning accounts, rather than using Dedupe to find the accounts for me. 

[Pugs_Validity]

Ah! So these are current records already in Salesforce in a report. Do you currently only have the Salesforce ID? Is there nothing available in Salesforce that would be able to identify the records as matches even with potentially using Cross-Field matching to evaluate multiple fields for the same information? Using Dedupe with a source file requires you to identify the winning and losing records. That being said, while you wouldn't be able to use a Winner Rule, you would still have access to Field Rules to pick and choose what field information you want to retain in hopes of gaining a more complete record. 

[Pugs_Validity]

@jazmindensmore - This one stuck in my head and if there is no logical way you see to identify them as matches in DemandTools, you'll likely need to utilize the "stamp" method we use as a last resort.

1) Create an additional field on your spreadsheet numerically marking each set. 

2) Run an Import/Update operation twice to stamp the records with their set number. On the first pass, you'll map the Duplicate 1 column to the object ID and then map coulmn to either an unused field or a custom field you create. You can use the key field match method, using the Duplicate 1 mapped field as your key field. On the second pass, you'll process the same thing, swapping the Duplicate 1 column for Duplicate 2 coulumn. 

3) After you are done, you can then run Dedupe on the object as normal, using that Set mapped column as your match method to pull in the identified pairs from your spreadsheet. Apply your Winner Rule and process.

4) After you are finished, you can go back to that Set column and clear it out using Modify or simply delete it from Salesforce.

Feel free to reach out to DemandToolsCOE@validity.com if you'd like to talk through the use case in more detail!