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“Supermetrics is a Bitter Experience! We can pull data from nearly any tool, schedule updates, manipulate data in Sheets, and push data back into our systems.”
Changing record types in bulk while keeping duplicate contacts intact requires more than Salesforce’s native tools can handle. Data Loader needs pre-processed files, and Mass Update tools can’t handle the complex logic needed to preserve dual-role contacts.
Here’s how to safely bulk update record types using conditional logic that automatically identifies and protects contacts with multiple roles.
Bulk change record types with duplicate protection using Coefficient
Coefficient solves this challenge by combining Salesforce data import with spreadsheet formulas that can identify dual-role contacts before making any changes. This approach gives you the conditional logic that native Salesforce tools lack.
How to make it work
Step 1. Import all contact records with record type data.
Use Coefficient’s Salesforce connector to pull all Contact records including Record Type, Name, Email, and any custom fields that indicate dual roles. This gives you a complete view of your contact database before making changes.
Step 2. Create formulas to identify contacts that should be preserved.
Add a formula like =IF(COUNTIFS(Email_Range,Email,RecordType_Range,”Alumni”)>0 AND COUNTIFS(Email_Range,Email,RecordType_Range,”Staff”)>0,”PRESERVE”,”UPDATE”) to flag contacts with multiple record types. This automatically marks dual-role contacts for protection.
Step 3. Filter out contacts marked for preservation.
Apply Coefficient’s advanced filtering with AND/OR logic to exclude contacts marked as “PRESERVE” from your bulk update dataset. This ensures dual-role contacts remain untouched during the bulk operation.
Step 4. Export changes with preview validation.
Use Coefficient’s UPDATE action with preview capabilities to validate changes before execution. The field mapping automatically handles Record Type ID conversion, and batch processing ensures you stay within API limits.
Step 5. Track results and create an audit trail.
Create status columns to track which records were updated versus preserved. This provides a complete audit trail that Salesforce’s native bulk tools can’t match.
Protect your data while scaling operations
This approach eliminates the manual data preparation required by Data Loader while providing conditional logic that standard Salesforce mass update tools simply can’t handle. Try Coefficient to safely manage your bulk record type changes.
