JOURNAL / 2026-10-11

Before you build an ecommerce integration, map the workflow

A practical starting point for connecting your storefront to inventory, orders and fulfillment.

By Masum Rana · 1 min read

Start with the business event

An integration should solve a specific operational problem. Write down what starts the workflow, which system owns the record and what a successful result looks like. An order placed in the storefront, for example, may need to reach a fulfillment system before inventory is updated.

Define the source of truth

Decide which system owns each field. Product descriptions may belong in the storefront while inventory belongs in an ERP. Document these boundaries so conflicting updates do not overwrite valid data.

Design for retries

Networks fail and webhook deliveries can repeat. Use stable identifiers to avoid duplicate processing, store the processing status and give the operations team a way to inspect failures. A retry should continue a workflow without creating a second order.

Agree on a release checklist

Test missing data, duplicates, delayed events and service outages before launch. Define monitoring and a recovery procedure alongside the implementation.

Talk through your workflow

If you are planning a Shopify, Magento or custom API integration, share your current tools and the manual steps you want to improve through our contact page.