Real-time vs scheduled syncs: which one should you use?

SyncTec offers two ways to sync products: real-time (webhook-triggered) and scheduled (batch).

Which one should you use? It depends on your store architecture, update frequency, and how much control you want.

Real-Time Sync (Webhooks)

**How it works:** When something changes on your source store, Shopify sends a webhook to SyncTec. We process it immediately and push the change to your destination stores.

**Speed:** Usually under 2 seconds from source change to destination update.

**Best for:**

• Stores where products change frequently
• Inventory that needs to stay perfectly in sync
• Merchants who want 'set it and forget it' automation

**Example:**

You update a product description on your main store at 2:00:00pm. By 2:00:02pm, the description is updated on all destination stores.

**Pros:**

• Instant propagation
• No manual intervention needed
• Customers always see current data

**Cons:**

• Can't review changes before they sync
• Uses more API calls (may hit rate limits on high-volume stores)
• Harder to troubleshoot when something goes wrong

Scheduled Sync (Batch)

**How it works:** SyncTec checks for changes on a schedule you set (hourly, daily, etc.) and syncs everything that changed since the last check.

**Speed:** Depends on your schedule. Hourly sync = up to 1 hour delay. Daily sync = up to 24 hours.

**Best for:**

• Stores where products don't change often
• Merchants who want to review changes before syncing
• Large catalogs that would generate too many webhooks

**Example:**

You set a daily sync at 3am. Every morning at 3am, SyncTec checks what changed yesterday and pushes those changes to destination stores.

**Pros:**

• Predictable sync times
• Easier to review changes in batches
• More efficient for large catalogs with few changes

**Cons:**

• Delay between source change and destination update
• Requires active management if you need things synced immediately

Hybrid Approach

Many merchants use both:

• Real-time for inventory: Stock levels need to stay in sync immediately to prevent overselling
• Scheduled for products: Product descriptions, images, etc. can wait until the nightly batch

This gives you the best of both: instant inventory updates, but controlled product updates.

How to Choose

Ask yourself:

**How often do products change?**

• Multiple times per day → Real-time
• Once per day or less → Scheduled

**How important is instant sync?**

• Critical (e.g., inventory) → Real-time
• Nice to have → Scheduled

**Do you want to review changes first?**

• Yes → Scheduled
• No → Real-time

**How large is your catalog?**

• < 1,000 products → Either works
• 1,000-10,000 products → Scheduled is more efficient
• 10,000+ products → Definitely scheduled

Configuration

**For real-time:**

1. Go to Settings → Sync Settings

2. Enable 'Real-time sync'

3. SyncTec automatically configures webhooks on your source store

**For scheduled:**

1. Go to Settings → Sync Settings

2. Choose a schedule (hourly, daily, weekly)

3. Pick a time

4. Save

Common Patterns

**Pattern 1: Fully automated**

• Real-time sync enabled
• All product changes propagate immediately
• Used by: 60% of SyncTec customers

**Pattern 2: Nightly batch**

• Daily sync at 3am
• Review changes in the morning, fix any issues
• Used by: 25% of SyncTec customers

**Pattern 3: Hybrid**

• Real-time for inventory
• Scheduled for everything else
• Used by: 15% of SyncTec customers

Tips

• Start with scheduled: It's easier to control. Switch to real-time once you're confident everything works
• Monitor for the first week: Check sync logs daily to catch any issues early
• Use field locking: Protect fields that shouldn't sync, regardless of timing

Final Thoughts

Real-time is convenient. Scheduled is controlled. Hybrid is flexible.

The right choice depends on your business. Most merchants start with scheduled and switch to real-time once they trust the system.

Either way, SyncTec handles the mechanics. You just decide when.