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Subscription data integrity check workflow

Zuora

Subscription data integrity check workflow

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In any mobile subscription ecosystem, data integrity is critical to accurately understanding customer subscriptions, behavior, and overall business health. When integrating with Apple, Google, and Roku, subscriptions are updated based on notifications from these platforms. However, issues like missed, delayed, or out-of-order notifications can lead to discrepancies in Zuora's subscription data. This workflow addresses these potential data issues by performing a nightly data integrity check to ensure subscription data in Zuora is current and accurate.

Objective

The purpose of the Subscription Data Integrity Check Workflow is to proactively detect and resolve inconsistencies in subscription records. By regularly comparing stored subscription information with data fetched directly from Apple, Google, and Roku, the workflow minimizes data inaccuracies caused by:

  • Missed notifications from the app stores.
  • Delayed or out-of-order notifications affecting renewal or subscription status.
  • Updates not being reflected in Zuora’s database due to connectivity or processing issues.

With consistent data accuracy, you gain reliable insights for analytics, reporting, and decision-making.

Workflow steps

  1. Input data: 

    • Pull active subscription IDs: Initiate the workflow by querying a list of active subscription IDs that need verification. This may include all active subscriptions or subscriptions with recent state changes.

  2. API task:

    • Call Zuora's mobile subscription refresh API: For each subscription ID, the workflow sends a request to Zuora’s Subscription Refresh API. This API acts as a bridge to request updated subscription data directly from Apple, Google, or Roku.
    • Data synchronization: The API checks each subscription’s latest status, renewal date, and any other key fields for updates, ensuring that data discrepancies are identified before impacting other processes.

  3. Data comparison:

    • Compare current and refreshed data: Once the refreshed data is returned from each provider (Apple, Google, or Roku), the workflow compares it to the existing Zuora data.
    • Identify discrepancies: Conditional logic is used to flag any inconsistencies (e.g., differing renewal dates, expiration status, or other critical attributes). Only subscriptions with detected discrepancies proceed to the update step.

  4. Update records:

    • Resolve discrepancies: For any records found to have data differences, the workflow automatically updates the subscription data in Zuora to match the provider’s latest information.
    • Minimize disruptions: This proactive step prevents data integrity issues that might affect reporting, billing, or customer communication.

  5. Notifications and logging:

    • Log status for each subscription check: Each subscription’s verification status is logged for future reference, allowing for auditability and a record of any adjustments.
    • Alert team on major discrepancies: If significant discrepancies are found (e.g., multiple missing renewals or substantial data mismatches), the workflow triggers notifications to alert relevant teams.

Benefits of the subscription data integrity check workflow

  • Improved data accuracy: Ensures subscription records in Zuora are consistent with Apple, Google, and Roku records, which reduces the risk of incorrect billing, reporting, or engagement activities.
  • Enhanced customer experience: Accurate data supports timely customer notifications, billing accuracy, and better support interactions, as representatives have up-to-date information.
  • Reliable reporting and analytics: Minimizes the potential for outdated or incorrect data to skew business insights, allowing teams to make strategic decisions based on accurate, real-time information.
  • Proactive data management: Rather than waiting for manual interventions to correct data, this workflow automates discrepancy resolution, streamlining operations and freeing up time for other critical tasks.

Important considerations

  • API rate limits: Apple, Google, and Roku impose rate limits on API requests, so it’s important to optimize the workflow’s frequency and volume. Refer to each platform's API documentation to manage call volumes and avoid throttling.
  • Scalability: Ensure the workflow is built to scale as the number of subscriptions increases. Consider scheduling the checks during off-peak hours to reduce load on the API and optimize performance.
  • Audit and logging: Enable thorough logging to track which records were updated, ensuring traceability for any updates made to subscription data.