What integration pattern is suitable for alerting Customer Service Managers when a case is closed?

Utilizing the Salesforce Streaming API is the most suitable integration pattern for alerting Customer Service Managers when a case is closed because it allows you to receive real-time notifications about changes to specific records without the need for continuous polling. The Streaming API employs a publish/subscribe model where clients can subscribe to specific events, such as case status changes, and get immediate updates when those events occur. This means that as soon as a case is closed, an alert can be dispatched to the respective Customer Service Managers efficiently and swiftly.

In contrast, using the Bulk API to process batch updates is aimed at managing large volumes of data and is not suitable for real-time alerts. Direct database connections can present security and scalability challenges and are typically not recommended for Salesforce integrations due to potential complexities and the risk of breaking standard Salesforce functionalities. Scheduled data exports involve periodic transfers of data rather than instant notifications, making them less effective for alerting purposes in real-time situations.