Source of Truth
A source-of-truth decision defines which system wins when the same business fact exists in more than one place.
Also called: system of record
Definition
A source of truth is the agreed authoritative system or rule used when duplicate representations of the same business data disagree.
Why it matters to the business
Without an explicit owner for a field or record, integrations can overwrite correct data, create loops or leave teams unsure which system to trust.
How it works
The implementation identifies the authoritative system for each important object or field and defines direction, reconciliation and exception handling around that decision.
Where it appears in real systems
Customer records across CRM and billing, product data across ERP and ecommerce, or KPI totals across source systems are common examples.
Common failure modes
- Both systems overwrite each other.
- No one owns a disputed field.
- Historical backfill uses a different authority than live sync.
- Manual edits bypass the agreed ownership rule.
Implementation considerations
- Choose authority at field or object level where needed.
- Document sync direction.
- Define reconciliation for exceptions.
- Test conflicts deliberately.
When it is appropriate
Make a source-of-truth decision whenever two systems can create or change the same important business fact.
When it is not appropriate
Do not invent a complex master-data model for a simple one-way transfer where ownership is already obvious.
Relationship to BYFORCE
Integration Discovery asks for source-of-truth decisions before a Sprint is finalized.
Source basis
- docs/website/BYFORCE_SELF_SERVICE_INTAKE_SPEC_2026-09-23.json
- docs/commercial/BYFORCE_PACKAGE_BIBLE.md