Can our Salesforce history be licensed to AI companies, and how do we get it out?
Sometimes, but CRM (customer relationship management software) data is mostly about customers, so rights and privacy checks matter more here than for most systems. Salesforce's Data Export Service produces CSV (comma-separated values, a plain spreadsheet format) files on a weekly or monthly schedule depending on your edition, and Data Loader can export specific objects. Some buyers instead connect with read-only access.
What lives in Salesforce, and why is it valuable?
Salesforce typically holds accounts, contacts, leads, opportunities, activity history, case notes, emails logged against records, and custom objects built for your business. Over years, this becomes a detailed record of how the company sells and services customers.
Buyers tend to care less about contact lists and more about the work trail: notes on why a deal stalled, how a case was resolved, how quotes changed. Free-text fields and logged activity usually carry the most value, and also the most personal data.
Usually in scope
- Work conversations about operations
- Tickets, tasks and project histories
- Process documents and SOPs
- Orders, invoices and workflow records, de-identified
- Code repositories you own outright
Commonly left out
- HR, payroll and personnel files
- Board, legal and M&A material
- Direct messages and private channels
- Data you hold for customers under contract
- Health, financial-account or other regulated personal data
How does a Salesforce export work?
As of October 2026, Salesforce's Trailhead material describes two built-in options:
- Data Export Service: a tool in Setup that packages your data as CSV files in a zip archive. Manual exports can be run once every 7 days or every 29 days depending on edition. Weekly exports are available in Enterprise, Performance and Unlimited editions; Professional and Developer editions are limited to every 29 days. Salesforce says the zip files are deleted 48 hours after the notification email.
- Data Loader: a separate desktop or command-line tool that exports chosen objects to CSV. Salesforce's Data Loader guide says you need read access to the records you export.
Who has to run it?
In practice, a Salesforce system administrator runs the Data Export Service from Setup. Data Loader only exports what the logged-in user can read, so an export run by a regular user may be incomplete. Have your admin confirm the export covers the objects and date range agreed with the buyer, and nothing more.
Is there an easier route?
Some buyer programs read Salesforce through a connected app an admin approves, instead of taking export files. Ask whether the app's user can be limited to specific objects and fields, so contact details and other sensitive fields are never read. Confirm where copies go and how they are deleted, then revoke the app when the work ends.
What should stay out?
- Contact details: names, emails, phone numbers, and addresses of customers and leads.
- Payment information and anything resembling account or card numbers.
- Records for customers whose contracts bar reuse of their information.
- Notes about employees, commissions, and compensation.
- Health or other regulated details that may sit in free-text fields.
What rights questions apply?
Most business software agreements let the customer export its own data. But a CRM is full of information about other people: customer contacts, their messages, and sometimes their purchase history. Privacy laws such as the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), marketing consent rules, and customer contracts can all limit what you may license, even after names are removed. Read our guides on de-identification and on employee and customer privacy, and talk to your lawyer.
Where should you start with Salesforce data?
Have your admin list the standard and custom objects in use and which fields hold free-text notes. Check edition-specific export limits early, since Professional edition exports are limited to every 29 days. Narrowing the license to a few objects, such as closed opportunities and cases, makes both de-identification and the rights review easier.
Common questions
How often can we run a full export?
Salesforce says weekly in Enterprise, Performance and Unlimited editions, and every 29 days in Professional and Developer editions.
Does the export include attachments?
Data Loader does not export attachments. Salesforce points to its weekly export feature for those. Confirm with your admin before scoping a deal.
Can we license only deal notes?
Yes, many companies scope a license to specific objects and fields. A narrow scope also makes de-identification easier.
Do we need customer permission?
It depends on your customer contracts and privacy laws. Ask your lawyer before including customer-related records.
Sources
- Learn Data Export Methods and Steps for Salesforce | Trailhead, accessed 2026-10-15
- Export Data from Salesforce | Data Loader Guide, accessed 2026-10-15
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.