A stock feed needs a clear boundary

An integration joins two systems with different assumptions. Before connecting them, define which information each system owns and what should happen when they disagree.

Map fields explicitly

Write down the relationship between incoming fields and the catalogue. Include identifiers, optional values and the difference between an empty value and an instruction to remove something. Avoid relying on a display name as an identifier if it can change independently.

Plan the uncomfortable states

Consider an incomplete update, an unexpected value and a repeated delivery. Decide what the integration should accept, flag or leave unchanged. A small, visible exception queue is easier to investigate than silently treating every unusual value as valid.

Make recovery understandable

Record enough context to explain what was processed without collecting unnecessary information. A person reviewing the integration should be able to identify the affected item and understand the next action. Clear ownership and a documented recovery path make the connection easier to maintain as either system changes.