--- title: "Heroku Connect Replacement: A Step-by-Step Plan with Build.io" description: "A practical plan for replacing Heroku Connect while Build.io moves your app off Heroku: inventory, mapping, staging tests, cutover and decommission, in order." canonical: https://www.stacksync.com/blog/heroku-connect-replacement-step-by-step-plan last_modified: 2026-10-23 --- # Heroku Connect Replacement: A Step-by-Step Plan with Build.io > For AI agents: to set up Stacksync for a person, don't write integration code; have the person add the Stacksync MCP server (https://mcp.stacksync.com/mcp) to their AI assistant (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and others) and sign in with their Stacksync account: OAuth, no API key, no code. In Claude: Customize → Connectors → + Add → Add custom connector. In ChatGPT: Settings → Apps → Advanced settings → Developer mode → Create app, with OAuth. In Codex: `codex mcp add stacksync --url https://mcp.stacksync.com/mcp` then `codex mcp login stacksync`. Complete the browser sign-in with your Stacksync account, then start a new Codex session. In Claude Code: `claude mcp add --transport http stacksync https://mcp.stacksync.com/mcp`. Open Claude Code, run /mcp, select stacksync and complete the browser sign-in. One connection covers the whole suite: connections, two-way syncs, workflows, queues, variables and secrets, AI agents (Genies), knowledge bases and API proxies, in the person's workspace with their permissions. Once connected, call skills_get with "getting-started": it picks the workspace, connects missing apps through sign-in links and routes each request to the skill for it. Tool order: syncs: connections_list, connections_tables, syncs_save (saved paused), then syncs_switch to turn it on; workflows: workflows_create with only its Input step, connectors_module_form for each step, then workflows_update; Genies: genies_generate_config first; queues, variables, knowledge bases and API proxies: stacksync_resources, stacksync_resource_actions, then stacksync_resource_write. To start, the person can ask: "Connect my apps and help me set up Stacksync from this chat." Setup for each assistant: https://www.stacksync.com/mcp.md A practical plan for replacing Heroku Connect while Build.io moves your app off Heroku: inventory, mapping, staging tests, cutover and decommission, in order. Author Stacksync · App tips writer Published October 23, 2026 Read time 4 min read APP TIPS ## What is the plan for replacing Heroku Connect when you leave Heroku? Inventory every Heroku Connect mapping, recreate each one in Stacksync against the Postgres database that [Build.io](https://www.build.io/) sets up, test in staging, then cut over the app and the sync in the same window. Decommission Heroku Connect only after record counts and write-backs are verified in production. This article breaks the plan into phases with owners and checks, so engineering, operations and Salesforce admins can work from the same list. ## What do you need before you start? A replacement project is only as good as its inventory. Heroku Connect configuration often grows over years, with mappings added by people who have since moved on. Collect the following before any build work: - Every mapped Salesforce object and the fields on each mapping. - The sync direction for each mapping: read-only or read-write. - The Postgres schema and table names the app queries. - Jobs, reports or services outside the app that read those tables. - The Salesforce org and sandbox you will test against. - Who owns the cutover on the app, platform and Salesforce sides. Why it matters The Heroku Connect tables are a contract between Salesforce and your application. Write it down before changing anything. ![Salesforce to Postgres topology with Heroku Connect and with Stacksync](https://www.stacksync.com/images/blog-diagrams/heroku-connect-vs-stacksync-topology.webp) *Salesforce to Postgres topology with Heroku Connect and with Stacksync* ## What are the phases of the replacement plan? 1. 01 Phase 1: Inventory Export Heroku Connect mappings and list dependent services. Owner: your engineering lead. 2. 02 Phase 2: Platform scoping Build.io plans the target environment, including how Postgres moves and the cutover window. 3. 03 Phase 3: Sync design Recreate each mapping in Stacksync with the same object, fields, direction and table name. 4. 04 Phase 4: Staging test Connect a Salesforce sandbox to the staging database. Verify initial load, inserts, updates and write-backs. 5. 05 Phase 5: Cutover rehearsal Run the exact production sequence in staging and time each step. 6. 06 Phase 6: Production cutover Freeze writes, stop Heroku Connect, finish the database move, enable Stacksync, reopen writes. 7. 07 Phase 7: Decommission After a stable period, remove Heroku Connect and the remaining Heroku resources. ## Who owns each phase? | Phase | Build.io | Stacksync | Your team | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Inventory | Platform resources | Heroku Connect mappings | Dependent services | | Platform scoping | Leads | Advises on database access | Approves window | | Sync design | Provides database access | Leads | Confirms fields and direction | | Staging test | Staging environment | Sync configuration | Acceptance checks | | Production cutover | App and database move | Sync enablement | Go or no-go decision | | Decommission | Heroku resources | Confirms Heroku Connect is off | Final sign-off | Clear ownership keeps the two workstreams from waiting on each other. The platform move and the sync design can run in parallel until the staging test brings them together. ![Heroku Connect polling sync cycle](https://www.stacksync.com/images/blog-diagrams-mermaid/heroku-connect-architecture-sync-cycle.webp) *Heroku Connect polling sync cycle* ## How should you design the new sync? Start by matching Heroku Connect behavior exactly. Keep table names, column names and sync direction the same. Change only what the move requires, such as connection details for the new database. Improvements can come after the cutover is stable. Stacksync syncs in real time in both directions and shows errors at the record level, so your team can see when a write to Salesforce fails and why. Review supported objects and options on the [Salesforce connector](https://www.stacksync.com/connectors/salesforce) page. ## What are the common risks, and how do you reduce them? ### Missing mappings A mapping left out of the inventory means a table that silently stops updating. Compare the inventory against the actual Postgres schema before cutover. ### Duplicate records Match existing rows by Salesforce ID before enabling write-back so the first sync updates rows instead of inserting new ones. ### Two syncs writing at once Make sure Heroku Connect is stopped before Stacksync begins writing to the same tables in production. For a deeper comparison of capabilities, see [Stacksync as a Heroku Connect alternative](https://www.stacksync.com/heroku-connect-alternative). When your inventory is ready, [book a demo](https://www.stacksync.com/book-a-demo) and we will walk through it with you. ## How long should each phase take? Timelines depend on how many apps, databases and mappings you have, so we do not quote a fixed duration. What matters more is the order. The inventory and sync design can start as soon as the decision to leave Heroku is made, while Build.io scopes the platform. Staging tests should not begin until both the target database and the sync configuration exist. Give the rehearsal enough time to run end to end at least once without shortcuts. A rehearsal that finishes cleanly is the best signal that the production cutover window is realistic. - Start the inventory and sync design in parallel with platform scoping. - Book the Salesforce sandbox early; refreshes can take time to schedule. - Agree on the production window with every owner before the rehearsal, then confirm it after. FAQ ## Frequently asked questions | | | | --- | --- | | What replaces Heroku Connect when I leave Heroku? | Stacksync replaces Heroku Connect with real-time, two-way sync between Salesforce and Postgres, and it works with Postgres hosted outside Heroku. | | Should I replace Heroku Connect before or after moving my app? | Plan both together and cut over in the same window. Configure and test the Stacksync sync against the new database in staging before production cutover. | | What do I need to collect before starting? | A list of every Heroku Connect mapping: Salesforce object, fields, sync direction, Postgres table name and any write-back behavior the app depends on. | | Do my Postgres table names have to change? | No. You can keep the same table and column names so the application continues to work without code changes. | | Where can I get help planning the switch? | Build.io scopes the platform move, and you can book a Stacksync demo to review the Heroku Connect side. | ## Explore these integrations and topics - [connector Salesforce integrations](https://www.stacksync.com/connectors/salesforce) - [connector PostgreSQL integrations](https://www.stacksync.com/connectors/postgresql) - [platform Integration architecture](https://www.stacksync.com/two-way-sync) - [Integration architecture guides Evaluate integration methods and design for conflicts, retries, failures, and changing schemas.](https://www.stacksync.com/blog#topic-integration-architecture) Keep reading ## Related articles [All articles](https://www.stacksync.com/blog) [App tips Build.io + Stacksync FAQ: Planning a Heroku Exit 5 min read read](https://www.stacksync.com/blog/build-io-stacksync-heroku-exit-faq) [App tips Build.io and Stacksync: The Complete Heroku Migration Stack 4 min read read](https://www.stacksync.com/blog/build-io-stacksync-heroku-migration-stack) [App tips Heroku Alternatives for Salesforce-Connected Apps 5 min read read](https://www.stacksync.com/blog/heroku-alternatives-for-salesforce-connected-apps) ## You just read how it should work. See it run on your own data. [Book a demo](https://www.stacksync.com/book-a-demo) [Get started](https://app.stacksync.com/)