So your data's not syncing in Piperai, and now you’re the lucky one tasked with untangling the mess. If you’re responsible for keeping B2B operations running—maybe you’re in ops, IT, or you’re just the person who cares most—this guide is for you. We’ll skip the marketing fluff and get right into what actually goes wrong, how to spot it, and what to do about it.
If you’re new to Piperai, it’s a tool for connecting business systems—think CRMs, ERPs, e-commerce platforms—so your data moves where it’s supposed to, without manual uploads or copy-paste marathons. When it works, it’s great. When it hiccups, things can grind to a halt fast.
Let’s dig into the most common sync gotchas, how to fix them, and what to look out for next time.
1. Figure Out What Actually Isn’t Syncing
Before you start re-authorizing accounts or mashing the sync button, slow down. Most data sync issues with Piperai come down to a handful of basic problems:
- Nothing’s syncing: No data moves at all.
- Some records are missing: Partial sync, often with no obvious pattern.
- Data is duplicated: You see the same record two or three times.
- Data is out of date: Changes in one system aren’t reflected in the other.
- Weird errors or mismatches: Data types, field formats, or unexpected blanks.
Pro tip: Always check which direction the sync is failing—system A to B, B to A, or both.
Start by checking:
- The last successful sync time (in Piperai dashboards or logs)
- Which records failed, and what error messages you see
- If the issue is with one integration (e.g. Salesforce) or across the board
Don’t just assume it’s Piperai’s fault—it could be an upstream or downstream system, bad credentials, or a change to an API.
2. Check Connection Status and Credentials
Nine times out of ten, sync failures are authentication problems. The connection to one of your systems has expired, the password was changed, or an API key was revoked. Here’s how to check:
- Go to your Piperai integrations panel.
- Look for any “disconnected” or “reauthorize” warnings.
- If you see one, re-enter the credentials or reconnect the integration.
- If you’re using OAuth (like with Google or Microsoft), someone might’ve revoked access—double check user permissions.
What works:
- Reauthorizing the connection usually fixes sudden, full-stop sync failures.
- Make sure the user account used for the connection still exists and has enough permissions.
What to ignore:
- Don’t bother resetting your password unless you know it changed.
- Ignore any advice to “wait a few hours”—expired tokens don’t fix themselves.
3. Audit Field Mappings and Data Types
If only some records fail to sync, or you see a lot of “type mismatch” errors, your mappings are probably off.
- In Piperai, each integration lets you define how fields in System A map to fields in System B.
- If someone added a new field (say, “Customer Tier” in your CRM) and didn’t map it, syncs can fail or skip those records.
- Data types matter. If a field expects a date and gets “n/a,” it’ll usually fail.
What to check:
- New or changed fields: Did your source system get updated recently?
- Field requirements: Is the destination field marked as “required” but sometimes left blank?
- Picklists/enums: Are all possible values accounted for, or are new options popping up?
How to fix:
- Update your Piperai mappings to account for new or changed fields.
- For required fields, add a default value or make sure the source always supplies something valid.
- For picklists, map new values or create fallback rules.
Pro tip:
Don’t rely on auto-mapping. It’s often “good enough” until something changes—then it’s a headache.
4. Dig Into Logs and Error Messages
It’s tempting to ignore logs, but Piperai’s sync logs are usually straightforward. Here’s what to actually look for:
- Timestamps: When did the failure start?
- Error codes/messages: Is it a 401 (authentication), a 400 (bad request), or something else?
- Sample data: Which record caused the error?
Common error types:
- Auth errors: Almost always a credential or permission issue.
- Validation errors: Data format or field mapping problems.
- Quota/rate limit errors: You’re sending too many requests—check API limits on the destination system.
What works:
- Copy the exact error message and search Piperai’s knowledge base or forums.
- If the message mentions a specific field or record, check that data directly.
What doesn’t:
- Generic “try again later”—this is rarely helpful. You need specifics.
5. Watch Out for API Limits and Throttling
A lot of business systems—Salesforce, NetSuite, Shopify—put limits on how many API calls you can make. If you’re syncing big volumes or syncing more often than usual, this will bite you.
Symptoms: - Syncs start failing at certain times of day - Logs mention “rate limit exceeded” or similar - Data syncs partially, then stalls
How to handle:
- Adjust your sync schedule—spread jobs out so they don’t all run at once.
- If possible, use incremental sync (only syncing what changed) instead of full syncs.
- Check each system’s API docs for daily/hourly limits.
Pro tip:
Don’t just throw more retries at the problem. If you’re hitting limits, you need to sync less—or pay for higher limits.
6. Handle Data Duplicates and Merge Conflicts
Duplicates usually happen when the same record gets created in both systems before the sync can link them, or when the “unique identifier” field is set up wrong.
To check:
- What field is being used as the unique identifier (email, customer ID, etc.)?
- Did someone change that field recently?
- Are there rules for merging or deduping records in Piperai?
To fix:
- Tighten up your unique identifier rules—use something that never changes.
- Set up deduplication rules in Piperai if they exist.
- Consider a one-time cleanup to merge or delete duplicates.
Don’t bother:
- Blaming Piperai for duplicates that started before you integrated it. Garbage in, garbage out.
7. Don’t Overcomplicate It—Test With Simple Data
If you’re stumped, strip things back:
- Set up a test sync with a single, simple record.
- Remove custom field mappings, extra filters, or complex logic.
- See if the sync works with just the basics.
If it does, start adding complexity back in, one step at a time. This is boring but effective.
Why this works:
It’s usually not the system as a whole, but one corner case, field, or rule that breaks things. Isolate, then rebuild.
8. Know When to Call Support (and What to Send)
Some problems are out of your hands—Piperai bugs, backend outages, undocumented API changes. Here’s how to get help faster:
- Gather: error logs, sample records, screenshots of your mapping/rules, and the exact time the issue started.
- Be specific: “Syncs from Shopify to Netsuite fail on orders with discount codes after May 2” is more helpful than “it’s broken.”
- Don’t wait days before reaching out, especially if you see a pattern or a new error code.
What to ignore:
- Don’t bother with “it worked yesterday” unless you can tie it to a system change.
A Few Things That Aren’t Worth Your Time
- Restarting Piperai: Unless their status page says there’s downtime, this is rarely the fix.
- Toggling the sync off and on, repeatedly: It won’t fix bad data or expired tokens.
- Blaming the cloud: Outages happen, but most sync issues are config or data problems.
Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
Most sync issues in Piperai come down to stale credentials, bad field mappings, or someone moving the goalposts in a connected system. Start with the basics, fix what you can see, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when things get hairy.
The best way to stay ahead? Keep your integrations simple, document any changes, and review your sync logs once in a while—before things break. If you’re trying to sync everything under the sun, remember: less is more, especially when you’re the one on call.
Good luck, and may your next sync run clean.