CloudSalesforce skills are hot right now. It's been reported that the Salesforce ecosystem will create 1.9M new jobs by 2020. And the hottest skillset of all, and that in highest demand, is the skillset of the Salesforce Architect. So how can you get a leg up on these skills? Where do you start?

If you're reading this, chances are you're already Trailblazing your way and collecting as many Trailhead badges as you can. I mean, why wouldn't you? Trailhead gives you a fun way to learn all things Salesforce. But you're ready for the next challenge, and you want to start your architect journey...

The answer? Tackle your first superbadge! Superbadges are skill-based credentials that showcase your Salesforce expertise by providing you with a real-world business scenario to synthesize into a solution, and subsequently, build it. If existing Trailhead badges represent what you’ve learned, superbadges prove that you can take what you’ve learned and apply it to solve complex business problems. Because, let's face it, some Salesforce topics require more advanced skills—you need a way of testing your knowledge in a real-world environment.

It's the perfect way to validate your mastery, at your own pace, before scheduling a certification exam. Plus, since superbadges prove that you have what it takes to get the job done, they'll look pretty good on your resume too!

The Data Integration Specialist superbadge puts the developer or future architect in the position of having to build a collection of fairly complex integrations for a fictitious customer. You will challenge your knowledge and skills around multiple web concepts and protocols, and you'll also need to use multiple integration mechanisms. Skill with SOAP, REST, OData, and OAuth is required to integrate a Salesforce org with a collection of secured external web services.

Here's the best part—you'll be assessed on a real integration! The web services within the superbadge are real and not mocked; they will fail and report errors if not accessed properly. There are numerous configuration tasks that must be executed with careful precision or, just like in the real world, the integrations will not function.

Now obviously, we're not going to reveal any secrets or provide any pointers about how to successfully complete this superbadge (sorry!), but we do want to highlight that if you decide this is the path for you, you'll be working with many of the more complex aspects of integration within the Salesforce platform.

To successfully complete this superbadge you'll need to have knowledge of, and experience with, the following integration mechanisms and concepts:

• Authenticating connected applications
• Authenticating external services with Named Credentials
• Consuming a WSDL and generating an Apex proxy class to make a SOAP callout
• Making an Apex REST callout
• Building an Apex REST service
• Invoking asynchronous Apex with the @future annotation
• Invoking a queueable Apex class
• Apex testing with mock service calls
• Configuring a Salesforce Connect datasource, external object, and relationship

You don't have to be a master of integration before you attempt to earn this superbadge, but you will need these prerequisite Trailhead badges to unlock it:

• Apex Integration Services
• Asynchronous Apex
• API Basics
• Process Automation

You'll also want to be versed in additional aspects of integration and general Salesforce configuration, and you may have to do some just-in-time (JIT) learning along the way if you've never used some of them before. There's also a collection of resources within the free Integration Architecture eBook that you can review to gain some foundation-level knowledge around Salesforce integration.

Don't get me wrong: this is a challenging task. But try not to get discouraged if it proves to be more complex than you expect; after all, that's the whole point of a superbadge! The beauty is, you can work in your own time, wherever you like, to complete it. Rising to the challenge may help you get over the hump with integration—a most challenging undertaking in any technology—because in “the doing,” you certainly will learn.

Your next step? The Data Integration Specialist superbadge is part of the new path to becoming Platform Developer II certified (learn more here). Plus, you can study hard, then go for your Integration Architecture Designer exam, getting you one step closer to achieving your Salesforce Certified System Architect credential, and who knows? You may even join the Salesforce Certified Technical Architect elite one day.

Good luck! And I look forward to seeing your Data Integration Specialist superbadge appear on your social profile very soon.

Don Robins is a well known Salesforce MVP, instructor, author, and speaker. A custom business application developer for more decades than he cares to admit, he focuses on Salesforce technical instruction and knowledge sharing. Don is certified as a Platform II Developer and is an award-winning Salesforce Instructor.