Bulk import sales orders into an ERP with error handling

Steps

1. Prepare the import payload in the format required by the ERP: structured JSON or XML for API-based imports (e.g., SAP OData batch, Oracle FBDI CSV, D365 data management package), or a flat file for file-based imports; validate required fields and data types before submission.
2. For API-based bulk import, use the ERP's $batch endpoint (OData) or bulk import job API to submit all orders in a single request or small batches; this reduces authentication overhead and allows the ERP to optimize processing.
3. Capture and log the ERP's response at both the batch level (overall success/failure) and the individual order level; most ERPs return per-record success/failure indicators with error codes and messages in the response body.
4. Segregate successfully created orders (capturing ERP order numbers) from failed records; write failed records to a retry queue or error file with the original payload and the ERP error message for human review and correction.
5. Implement idempotency: include an external reference number (e.g., source system order ID) in the import payload; before retrying failed records, check whether the order was actually created despite an apparent error (e.g., timeout before response received).