Define the source of truth
For every field or object, decide which system owns it. Products, prices, inventory, customer accounts, orders and shipment status may each have different authorities. Without this, two systems can repeatedly overwrite each other.
Choose event-driven, scheduled or batch flow deliberately
Not every update needs real-time transport. The right frequency depends on customer impact, operational urgency, data volume, API limits and the cost of failure.
Use stable identifiers across systems
SKU, order number, external customer ID and shipment IDs need clear mapping. Idempotent processing depends on being able to recognise the same event or record when it is seen again.
Design the exception path before launch
- What gets retried automatically?
- What must be corrected manually?
- How are duplicates prevented?
- Who is alerted?
- How can operations replay a failed message?
- How are the two systems reconciled?
Make support possible
Integration logs should contain useful correlation identifiers, enough context to understand the failure and a clear link between the record in each system. Silent failures are one of the most expensive integration defects.
Questions we are often asked
Should every integration use middleware?
No. Middleware is valuable when orchestration, transformation or multiple system connections justify it; simple integrations can remain direct.
Are webhooks always better than scheduled jobs?
No. Webhooks are useful for timely events, but scheduled jobs can be simpler and more robust for some high-volume or reconciliation workflows.
How much logging is enough?
Enough to trace a business record across systems without exposing sensitive data unnecessarily.
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