# Sequencing connectors, synchronization and cutovers

*B2C Solution Architect Study Guide · Data Models and Management · Last updated November 13, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/b2c-solution-architect/data-models-and-management/sequencing-connectors-synchronization-and-cutovers*

How to order the work that connects B2C Commerce, Marketing Cloud Personalization and Marketing Cloud Engagement to Data 360, sets up Marketing Cloud Connect and Synchronized Data Sources, and cuts over orders, inventory, customer groups, prices and person accounts without surprises.

- Certification: Salesforce B2C Solution Architect
- Exam section: Data Models and Management
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/b2c-solution-architect

**Official exam objective:**

> Given a set of business objectives and priorities, recommend an appropriate sequence for system integration, data exchanges, and process updates to satisfy known requirements, with recommendations and potential impact to overall program delivery.

## What the exam expects

- Sequence the prerequisites for the Data 360 B2C Commerce, Marketing Cloud Personalization and Marketing Cloud Engagement connectors, and explain what each one ingests and how often.
- Order Marketing Cloud Connect, Synchronized Data Sources and CRM data loads, and explain the impact of a shared system user.
- Plan B2C Commerce and Order Management cutovers (order integration, inventory lists, customer groups, price books) so the storefront never shows a half-built state.
- Flag irreversible decisions, such as enabling Person Accounts, before data migration starts.

Key terms: **Order bundle** (the data bundle that creates and maps all B2C Commerce data streams in Data 360, formerly Data Cloud); **refresh mode** (full refresh replaces a stream's data, upsert adds and updates records); **Synchronized Data Sources** (Contact Builder sources that copy Salesforce org data into Engagement on a schedule); **system user** (the Salesforce user that connects Engagement business units to the org); **valid period** (the dates during which a price book is active).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Commerce connector instances | Production only | [Set Up a B2C Commerce Connection](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_connect_commerce_cloud_instance.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Commerce history | 30 days before the connection date | [Create a B2C Commerce Data Stream](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_create_commerce_cloud_starter_bundle.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Order bundle | No individual data stream deployment | [Create a B2C Commerce Data Stream](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_create_commerce_cloud_starter_bundle.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Product vs order streams | Daily full refresh vs hourly upsert | [Data Stream Schedule](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_data_stream_schedule.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Engagement account type | Enterprise 2.0 only; 90 days of history | [Engagement Connector](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_marketing_cloud_data_sources.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Connect prerequisite | Subscriber Key enabled, or migrate first | [Connect Prerequisites](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_co_prerequisites_connect_clouds.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Synchronized objects | Six per refresh cycle | [Synchronized Data Sources](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_cab_data_integration_for_your_account_with_synchronized_data_sources.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Include in Order Management | Per site, repeated per instance | [Enable Order Management](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=commerce.om_impl_enable_integration.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Dynamic group memberships | Not persistent, not replicated | [Dynamic Customer Groups](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=cc.b2c_using_dynamic_customer_groups_for_active_merchandising.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Person Accounts | Can't be disabled once enabled | [Enable Person Accounts](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sales.account_person_enable.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |

## Check yourself

- When does B2C Commerce recalculate a dynamic group membership it cached at login?
- Why can't the top-level business unit be removed from Data 360's Engagement ingestion?
- How quickly does Data 360 apply incremental updates to Personalization engagement data streams?
- Which two permissions does an admin need to enable Person Accounts?

## Sources

- [Create a B2C Commerce Data Stream](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_create_commerce_cloud_starter_bundle.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Set Up a B2C Commerce Connection](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_connect_commerce_cloud_instance.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Data Stream Schedule in Data 360](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_data_stream_schedule.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Marketing Cloud Engagement Connector](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_marketing_cloud_data_sources.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Set Up a Marketing Cloud Engagement Connection in Data 360](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_set_up_marketing_cloud_connection.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Marketing Cloud Connect Prerequisites](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_co_prerequisites_connect_clouds.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Synchronized Data Sources in Contact Builder](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_cab_data_integration_for_your_account_with_synchronized_data_sources.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Interact with Synchronized Data Sources](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_cab_interact_with_synchronized_data_sources.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Enable Order Management for B2C Commerce](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=commerce.om_impl_enable_integration.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Assign an Inventory List to a Site](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=cc.b2c_assigning_an_inventory_list_to_a_site.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Inventory Management](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=cc.b2c_inventory_management.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Using Dynamic Customer Groups for Active Merchandising](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=cc.b2c_using_dynamic_customer_groups_for_active_merchandising.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Pricing and Price Books in B2C Commerce](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=cc.b2c_pricing_and_price_books.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Enable Person Accounts](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sales.account_person_enable.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Prepare Business Accounts to Be Converted to Person Accounts](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sales.account_person_ba_to_pa_prereqs.htm&type=5&language=en_US)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 15 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the B2C Solution Architect pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams