What it is
Zero-copy integration lets Data Cloud query data living in external systems like Snowflake or Databricks via virtual connections instead of ETL pipelines. Agents and analytics reference live external data without duplicating storage or risking staleness.
Why it matters
Cuts integration cost and data-sync lag for mid-market teams that already have data warehouses, letting AI agents ground on fresh data instantly.
Key components
- Virtual data federation
- Bring-your-own-lake connectors
- Real-time query layer
How it connects
Data Cloud's zero-copy architecture feeds grounding contexts for Agentforce agents and Einstein features without a separate migration project.
Good to know
Confirm your external warehouse supports the required connector before promising zero-copy in a scoping call.
Related terms
Customer 360
Salesforce's vision (and product suite) for having a complete, unified view of every customer across all touchpoints - sales, service, marketing, commerce.
Data Cloud
Salesforce's unified data platform that centralizes customer data from all sources, making it available for agents, analytics, and insights in real time.
Grounding
Connecting AI responses to your actual business data so agents answer with facts, not hallucinations.
Headless Architecture
A software design pattern that separates backend logic and data from the presentation layer, letting any frontend — UI, API, agent, or CLI — consume the same business capabilities.
