Which technology should an architect use to minimize custom development replacing a home-grown CRM system with Salesforce?

When transitioning from a home-grown CRM system to Salesforce, using middleware is advantageous because it serves as a bridge between the two systems, facilitating smooth data integration and communication without extensive custom development. Middleware platforms are designed to handle data transformation, connectivity, and orchestration of processes across different systems, which can drastically reduce the complexity and amount of code required in custom development.

By leveraging middleware, an architect can streamline the integration process, allowing for better scalability and maintainability of the integration over time. Most middleware solutions come with pre-built connectors for Salesforce and can handle error management, data mapping, and real-time or batch data transfers efficiently.

This approach not only speeds up the integration project but also allows for flexibility in adjusting to changing business requirements or future integrations with minimal disruption, thus proving to be a strategic choice when migrating from a custom-built CRM to Salesforce.