Integration – Definition

The process of connecting different software systems to enable them to work together and share data.

System integration is crucial for modern e-commerce operations, connecting CMS, commerce platforms, CRM, ERP, and other business systems. Integration methods include APIs, webhooks, middleware, and custom connectors. The complexity and cost of an integration typically depends less on the number of systems involved and more on how well those systems' data models align — connecting two systems that both think in similar structures is far simpler than bridging a system with a rigid, proprietary data model to one with a flexible, open one. Integrations fall into two broad patterns: real-time (a change in one system immediately triggers an update in another, typically via webhooks or API calls) and batch (data syncs on a schedule). Content and pricing generally need real-time or near-real-time integration, since stale product information or incorrect prices create direct customer trust problems. For SFCC specifically, native integration — where a system is built to understand SFCC's data structures and API conventions from the start — tends to be more reliable and cheaper to maintain over time than a generic integration retrofitted through middleware.