Synchronization
Synchronization, or sync, is the work Sqquid performs to exchange information with a Connection. It can include importing source data, publishing changes to a sales channel, receiving orders, or sending fulfillment updates.
Sync behavior depends on both the type of information and the provider.
Common directions
Section titled “Common directions”| Information | Common direction |
|---|---|
| Products | Source Connection → Sqquid → sales Connections |
| Inventory | Source Connection → Sqquid → sales Connections |
| Orders | Sales Connection → Sqquid |
| Routing assignments | Sqquid Account rules → Sqquid fulfillment workflow |
| Fulfillment and tracking | Sqquid or shipping service → originating sales Connection |
This table describes the general model. A provider may support only part of a flow or require additional settings.
Changes take time to reach each system
Section titled “Changes take time to reach each system”A change does not always appear in every system immediately. Depending on the provider, sync work may begin after an external event, a manual action, an import, or a scheduled background process.
A typical product or inventory change follows this path:
- The source of truth changes.
- Sqquid receives or imports the change.
- Sqquid updates its Account records.
- Sqquid prepares the supported value for each enabled sales Connection.
- Each provider accepts or rejects its update independently.
A completed source import does not necessarily mean every destination export has also completed.
Connection settings control the flow
Section titled “Connection settings control the flow”A Connection must be set up and enabled before normal synchronization can run. Its settings can determine:
- Which product fields are exchanged
- Whether products are synchronized
- Whether only inventory is synchronized
- Which Locations participate
- Whether inventory buffers are applied
- How orders and fulfillment updates are handled
See Connections in the app to find these controls, then check the Connection guide for the options your provider supports.
Understand sync status
Section titled “Understand sync status”The Syncs area in the Sqquid app shows background work for the selected Account. Follow Check sync activity to find a run, read its details, and choose the next step.
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Running | Work is still in progress. |
| Completed | The sync finished. Review its details to confirm what it processed. |
| Failed | The sync stopped with an error. |
Products and variants can also show their most recent sync error in the Products area. See Sync status at a glance and Read the error details. The Dashboard’s error alerts provide shortcuts to records that need attention.
How Sqquid handles sync failures
Section titled “How Sqquid handles sync failures”A destination system, such as Shopify, RunIt POS, BigCommerce, or TikTok Shop, may reject an update or be temporarily unavailable. Sqquid records the error and retries automatically, up to three attempts. If the third attempt fails, you need to review the error, fix its cause, and retry from Sqquid.
| What fails to sync | What happens after the third failure | What you need to do |
|---|---|---|
| Product information or inventory for the same product, three times in a row | Sqquid automatically deactivates synchronization for that product on the affected Connection and marks the error. | Read the product’s error, resolve the cause, and select Resync. |
| An order | Sqquid marks the order as Skipped, records the error, and stops automatic attempts for that order. | Resolve the error, then select Retry for the order. |
| A return | Sqquid marks the return as Skipped, records the error, and stops automatic attempts for that return. | Resolve the error, then select Retry for the return. |
For products, deactivation means the product’s Sync switch is off on the affected Connection. This rule applies to both product information and inventory updates, including inventory-only synchronization. That product needs your attention before synchronization can resume.
The app shows product errors and skipped orders and returns. The Dashboard alerts link to the affected records. Fixing the issue in the destination system alone does not restart a deactivated product or a skipped order or return. You must resync or retry it in Sqquid, then check that the next attempt succeeds.
Follow the recovery guide for the affected record:
Why systems can temporarily disagree
Section titled “Why systems can temporarily disagree”Short-lived differences can occur when:
- Work is still queued or running.
- One Connection has completed and another is still processing.
- A provider limits or delays updates.
- A product is disabled for synchronization or set to inventory-only mode.
- A Location is not mapped for that Connection.
- A SKU or external product record cannot be matched.
- The provider rejected a field or inventory update.
Troubleshoot a missing change
Section titled “Troubleshoot a missing change”Follow the flow in order:
- Confirm the change was made in the correct source of truth.
- Confirm the relevant Connections are enabled.
- Check that the product is enabled for synchronization.
- Check the Connection’s product, inventory, and Location settings.
- Review the Syncs area for running or failed work.
- Open the affected product and check its latest error.
- Check the provider to see whether it rejected or delayed the update.
After correcting a product issue, follow Resync a product if it needs another export attempt. For order export failures, use Retry skipped orders. For returns, use Return sync errors.
When contacting Sqquid support, include the Account, Connection, product SKU or order number, approximate time, and the sync ID when available.