Author
Antonina Smyrnova
If you have set up data synchronization between systems, you have likely used triggers. Database triggers, webhooks, and event listeners feel fast and efficient because updates are sent as soon as something changes.
Over time, this simple setup can cause missing records, silent failures, and more complex operations. In many real-world systems, triggerless synchronization ends up being more reliable.
Overview of Synchronization Approaches
Before comparing the two models, it helps to define them clearly.
Trigger-Based Synchronization
Trigger-based synchronization reacts immediately to changes in data. When a record is added, updated, or deleted, a trigger or event notifies other systems.
This approach usually includes:
- Database-level triggers
- Webhooks and callbacks
- Event streams that need guaranteed delivery
If everything goes as planned, updates are shared almost in real time.
Triggerless Synchronization
Triggerless synchronization checks the overall state of the data instead of each event. Rather than reacting instantly, systems look for differences on a schedule or keep checking until everything matches.
This approach usually depends on:
- Scheduled or continuous sync processes
- Timestamps, version numbers, or checkpoints
- Idempotent updates and safe retries
The main goal is to keep data consistent and make recovery easy, rather than focusing on instant updates.
Prioritizing Data Reliability Over Immediate Propagation
Trigger-based systems assume that everything will work perfectly. They rely on every trigger firing, every event being delivered, and all systems being available.
But in reality, things can go wrong. Network issues, service downtime, or misconfigured triggers can easily lead to missed updates.
Triggerless synchronization addresses this by checking the current state of the data over and over. Instead of assuming every event was recorded, it verifies what has actually changed.
Because of this, triggerless systems can:
- Automatically recover from temporary outages
- Detect and correct missed updates
- Reduce long-term data inconsistencies
For many applications, having accurate and recoverable data is more important than getting updates instantly.
Reducing the Risk of Cascading System Failures
Trigger-based synchronization often runs within important transaction paths. If downstream systems slow down or fail, these problems can affect the main application.
This often leads to:
- Increased latency on write operations
- Backpressure across services
- Higher risk of user-facing failures
Triggerless synchronization decouples data changes from synchronization logic. Core systems write data independently, and synchronization occurs asynchronously.
This setup offers:
- Greater operational stability
- Improved scalability
- Safer failure isolation
The Role of resynced.io in Triggerless Synchronization
resynced.io is built around triggerless, state-based synchronization that prioritizes reliability and recoverability over brittle real-time coupling. Instead of requiring database triggers or invasive changes, resynced.io continuously reconciles data across systems.
In practice, resynced.io:
- Keeps systems aligned through repeated reconciliation
- Handles retries and partial failures automatically
- Maintains consistency even after downtime
- Works across APIs, databases, and SaaS platforms
Modern applications evolve continuously. Data models change, fields are added, and schemas are refined.
Trigger-based synchronization tends to be sensitive to these changes, often requiring manual updates and careful coordination during deployments.
Triggerless synchronization is more tolerant. Because synchronization can be replayed and reconciled, schema changes are easier to manage and recover from. This flexibility is particularly valuable for teams iterating quickly.
Consider synchronizing customer records from an internal application to a CRM system.
With a trigger-based approach:
- A trigger fires on record update
- A webhook attempts to deliver the change
- The CRM is temporarily unavailable
- The update is lost
With a triggerless approach using resynced.io:
- The CRM is unavailable for a period of time
- Synchronization resumes when the system is reachable
- Differences are detected and reconciled
- Data consistency is restored automatically
The end result is the same, but with much less risk.
Conclusion
Trigger-based synchronization emphasizes immediacy. Triggerless synchronization emphasizes correctness, resilience, and scalability.
In modern distributed systems, these qualities often matter more than real-time delivery. This is why platforms like resynced.io are designed around triggerless principles, enabling teams to build reliable data flows without fragile dependencies.
In many production environments, choosing triggerless synchronization is not just safer. it is the more sustainable architectural choice.
Ready to get started? Head over to the integration page at resynced.io and follow the quick-start steps.
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