Start with the business event
An integration should be defined by what needs to happen in the workflow, not only by which endpoints exist. Write down the event, source system, destination, required data, expected timing and what the business should do when the connection is unavailable. This exposes missing assumptions before implementation begins.
Define ownership for every field
When two systems contain similar customer, order or product data, decide which one is authoritative for each important field. Without ownership rules, bidirectional synchronization can overwrite newer information or create endless update loops. Stable identifiers are more reliable than matching records by names or free-text values.
Validate at the boundary
Treat data from another system as untrusted until it is validated. Check required fields, formats, allowed values and permissions before changing internal records. Return useful errors where appropriate, but avoid exposing secrets, database details or internal stack traces to external clients.
Design safe retries
Networks fail and APIs time out. Retrying can improve reliability, but only when duplicate requests are safe. Use idempotency keys or stable operation identifiers for actions that must happen once, such as creating an order or charging a payment. Add backoff instead of retrying aggressively during an outage.
Add observability before launch
Record enough information to answer what failed, when, for which operation and whether it was retried. Track latency and error rates, and alert on sustained failures rather than individual transient errors. Logs should avoid unnecessary personal data and credentials.
Plan for API change
External providers change versions, authentication methods and limits. Isolate provider-specific logic where possible, monitor deprecation notices and keep test cases for important workflows. A reliable integration is an operating responsibility, not a one-time connection that can be forgotten after launch.
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