Choose a source of truth

What you will learn

• Name the owner of each key field.
• Use stable record identifiers.
• Avoid conflicting updates.

The lesson

When an ERP, CRM and branch spreadsheet all contain a customer record, a sync can create confusion unless one source owns the value being changed. Define the system of record for order status, customer contact data and financial totals separately; there may not be one owner for everything.

Use stable identifiers when records move between systems. Names and email addresses can change. A shared order or customer ID helps teams trace updates, detect duplicates and repair a failed handoff.

Try this

List three systems involved in one workflow. For each important field, mark where it is created, where it may be edited and which copy your team should trust.