An integration connects business models as well as endpoints. Specify record ownership, conflicts and recovery before treating the work as a simple data transfer.
Choose the source of truth
In a fictional CRM-to-proposal integration, which system owns the customer address? If both can edit it, define a conflict rule. Unqualified two-way synchronisation can overwrite a recent correction with stale data.
| Decision | Record explicitly |
|---|---|
| Identity | Mapping between local and external identifiers |
| Direction | Read, write or bidirectional sync |
| Conflict | Priority rule and manual review path |
| Failure | Retry, alert and blocked business operation |
| Deletion | Effect in each system and retained history |
Use difficult test records
Include a renamed account, missing address, merged customer and simultaneous edit. Check the integration account's permissions and the effect of later permission changes. A demonstration using three perfect records cannot establish production readiness.
Is real-time synchronisation necessary?
Only when the workflow needs it. Delayed processing can support a daily report but not an instant-availability promise. Define acceptable freshness and show users when the information was last reconciled. The useful output is a data contract and recovery procedure, with provider limits understood before a delivery date is committed.
Multiple regions, one customer record
A global CRM may represent one business as regional accounts while the destination product expects one organisation. Agree the mapping before synchronisation. This is a business identity decision; matching names alone cannot safely resolve it.
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