[SOLVED] Einstein Activity Capture Duplicate Contacts

Eliminate duplicate contacts from Google with simple, practical syncing tips

3 min read
Updated: March 27, 2025
Sam Brashears
Written by
Sam Brashears
Einstein Activity Capture Workflow
Source: Salesforce

Introduction

Einstein Activity Capture can sometimes create duplicate contact records in Google. This syncing issue leads to mismatched and cluttered contact lists. Teams need clean data for smooth operations. The problem disrupts everyday tasks and adds extra work. The following sections explain the issue, share real examples, and lay out precise steps to fix the problem.

Real-world Experience

Consider a case where duplicate contacts caused real headaches:

I've been struggling with Einstein Activity Capture. We set it to sync both ways and ended up with multiple contacts showing different owners. Even after changing the settings to one-way sync, my Google contacts still show duplicates. I wish there was a way to force a resync and fix everyone's account automatically.

— Trailblazer Community Member
source

This example reflects a common issue where syncing conflicts lead to inconsistent contact records, creating extra administrative work across many users.

Einstein Activity Capture Solution

Community feedback shows that the only current fix is to manually clear duplicate contacts from each user account. Adjust the sync settings in Salesforce to a one-way sync and then have users remove old duplicate records in Google. Next, force a resync so that only the correct contacts appear. Below are the steps needed to resolve this issue:

1

Backup Contacts and Verify Settings

Before making changes, back up all contact data. Next, verify that Salesforce is set to sync from Salesforce to Google only. Check the integration settings in Salesforce to be sure.

2

Delete Duplicate Contacts

Ask each user to delete duplicate contacts in their Google Contacts app. This manual cleanup is necessary to remove the clutter that was created during the two-way sync.

3

Force a Resync

Turn off the sync setting in Salesforce and then turn it back on. This will force a resync and update Google with only the correct, non-duplicate contacts.

4

Monitor and Confirm Results

After the resync, check Google Contacts to see if duplicates have been removed. Continue to monitor both systems to confirm that no new duplicates are being created.

Limitations to Consider

This solution cleans up duplicates but has limits. Manual deletion is time-consuming, especially for large teams. The workaround depends on users following the process accurately, and future system updates may undo these fixes.

Alternative Solution

It can be really frustrating when Einstein Activity Capture causes duplicate Google contacts, adding more clutter and extra work for you. DryMerge offers an alternative that focuses on fixing this exact issue. DryMerge is an AI-native app that connects with Salesforce and Google Contacts to keep your information accurate and up to date. It looks at your emails and calendar events to update Salesforce with the correct contact details. This means that duplicate contacts are cleaned up and you get the right information where you need it. Its built-in AI tools pick out the key data needed for your tasks, making your daily work smoother and more reliable.

EAC vs. DryMerge Comparison

Feature Einstein Activity Capture DryMerge
Custom Object Sync
Automatic sync to custom objects isn't supported
Emails, calendar events, and anything else can be synced to your custom objects in Salesforce
Email Attachments
Attachments are not captured or saved to Salesforce
Email attachments are captured and saved in Salesforce however you need
Multiple Email Accounts
Cannot connect to both Gmail and Outlook simultaneously
Connects to both Gmail and Outlook simultaneously
Unstructured Data Processing
Limited ability to extract and organize meaningful data from unstructured email content
AI processing of unstructured email content to extract key details and create structured records
Data Enrichment
Basic activity logging with minimal data enrichment capabilities
Intelligent enrichment that pulls contact details, action items, and key insights from communication data

By addressing these key limitations of Einstein Activity Capture, DryMerge offers a comprehensive solution that empowers your team with superior data handling capabilities. From intelligent processing of unstructured data to advanced enrichment features, DryMerge transforms your communication data into actionable insights while providing the flexibility to work with custom objects and multiple email accounts.

Tired of Einstein Activity Capture issues?

We'd love to show you how DryMerge handles emails, calendar events, and unstructured data extraction more reliably and accurately than Einstein Activity Capture.

Frequently Asked Questions