Choosing Between Synchronous and Asynchronous Integration for Dynamics 365
When working with Dynamics 365, one of the key decisions during integration design is whether to implement synchronous or asynchronous communication. Understanding the differences and use cases for each approach is critical to building reliable, efficient, and scalable integrations.
Understanding the Difference
- a) Synchronous Integration
Synchronous integration operates like a real-time conversation. One system sends a request and waits for an immediate response before proceeding.
Example: Checking a customer’s credit limit in Dynamics 365 before creating a new order. - b) Asynchronous Integration
Asynchronous integration works more like sending a message or email. The sending system does not wait for an immediate response; the receiving system processes the data independently.
Example: Pushing daily sales orders from an e-commerce platform to Dynamics 365 for batch processing.
When to Use Synchronous Integration
Synchronous integration is appropriate when:
- 1. A real-time response is required for the transaction to continue.
- 2. The operation is critical and depends on immediate feedback.
- 3. The volume of requests is manageable to prevent system delays.
Advantages: Immediate confirmation, straightforward error detection.
Considerations: Can slow down the system if the target application experiences latency, less scalable for high-volume scenarios.
When to Use Asynchronous Integration
Asynchronous integration is better suited for scenarios where:
- 1. Immediate responses are not required.
- 2. Large volumes of data need to be processed efficiently.
- 3. You want to avoid blocking the source system while the target system processes the data.
Advantages: Highly scalable, non-blocking operations, suitable for batch processing.
Considerations: Errors may not be detected immediately, and tracking processing status requires additional monitoring.
Real-World Examples
- a) Synchronous: A customer service portal queries Dynamics 365 to confirm a warranty claim before allowing the user to proceed. Immediate feedback is necessary.
- b) Asynchronous: Hundreds of daily orders from multiple sales channels are submitted to Dynamics 365 for processing overnight. Real-time response is not required.
Decision-Making Approach
When evaluating which approach to use, consider these questions:
- Is an immediate response required? If yes, synchronous is appropriate.
- What is the volume of data? High-volume scenarios often favor asynchronous integration.
- What is the error-handling requirements? Critical transactions may benefit from synchronous workflows to ensure failures are caught in real time.
To conclude, both synchronous and asynchronous integrations have distinct advantages and trade-offs. Synchronous workflows provide real-time feedback and simpler error handling, while asynchronous workflows offer scalability and efficiency for high-volume or non-urgent processes.
Selecting the right approach for your Dynamics 365 integration requires careful consideration of business requirements, data volume, and system performance. By aligning the integration method with these factors, you can ensure reliable, efficient, and maintainable integrations.
We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com.
