The Product Synchronization tool allows you to automate how Connectif reviews your eCommerce product catalog and updates it in your Connectif Store. Through its interface, you can choose the bulk synchronization option, either by Web Scraping or through the Product Feed, as well as configure this process.
In addition to the synchronization and verification methods available in the Connectif interface, it is also possible to import and update products by making calls to the Connectif API. For more information, please review the associated documentation.
How to Access
You can access the bulk product synchronization functionality via the path "Ecommerce > Catalog" by clicking on Product Synchronization.
Interface
The main interface of Product Synchronization consists of 3 sections:
1. Tabs: to navigate between the two synchronization options, as well as to review the synchronization log:
- Web Scraping: to automate synchronization by Connectif querying the eCommerce catalog.
- Product Feed: to automate synchronization by Connectif querying a previously published product feed.
Only one synchronization option can be activated at a time. To see how to configure each type of bulk product synchronization, please refer to the Operation section.
- Synchronization Log: to review the latest synchronization processes and their details.
2. Main Panel: where the options for each tab are located.
3. Return to the integrations list: to return to the Catalog once the integration is configured.
Operation
You can activate bulk synchronizations of your product catalog in Connectif with their status in your eCommerce. To do this, you have two methods that work differently:
- The Web Scraping method, which makes individual requests to your web server to update its information.
- The Product Feed method, which makes a single request to download your feed file and process the status of your products.
1. Synchronization via Web Scraping
Web Scraping consists of Connectif reviewing the URLs of the product pages found in your catalog. During synchronization, Connectif visits these URLs one by one, searching for the visited product tag present on your eCommerce site, to update the products with the information available at that moment on your website.
If these products do not exist in your eCommerce catalog, Connectif will not visit them.
Learn how to configure this method in Product Synchronization via Web Scraping.
2. Synchronization via Product Feed
Bulk synchronization via Product Feed makes a single request to download your eCommerce file instead of making a request for each product. This way, the process is faster and reduces the load on your web server.
Only one Product Feed can be added, so it must be complete.
Connectif saves a copy of the original Feed when the synchronization starts. If you make changes to the Feed after that moment or during an ongoing synchronization, these changes will not be reflected in Connectif until the next synchronization.
Products are set to "Discontinued" status if they do not appear in the Feed for 10 days. This check is performed daily.
Learn how to configure this method in Product Synchronization via Product Feed.
3. Deactivate one type of synchronization to activate another
It is not possible to have both synchronization processes active simultaneously, so if one is active, it must be deactivated before configuring the other.
To do this, go to Tab (1) of the active synchronization type and, in the Main Panel (2), click Deactivate.
4. Review the Synchronization Log
In Tabs (1), go to Synchronization Log.
In the Main Panel (2), you can review the execution dates of past synchronization processes, as well as any status changes for each synchronization.
Regardless of the execution time marked for the synchronization process, the product discontinuation process runs daily, so the list will show more processes than indicated in the configuration.
Congratulations!
You have reached the end of the lesson.
Keep Learning!
To make the most of your Connectif account, we recommend continuing with the following articles:
Onboarding, to gain proficiency with our interface.
Initial Workflows, to implement your first strategies in the account.
Integrations with External Systems, to integrate with Facebook, forms, and webhooks on your website.
Events that Consume Activities, to better understand your account’s consumption.