Choose the join key
Use the panel order identifier as the primary link between records. Keep your campaign reference alongside it. Matching only by target or amount can merge legitimate repeated orders or confuse different services that happen to share a price.
Normalize without losing originals
Standardize time zones, numeric formats, and status categories for reporting, but retain the original values. Check whether quantities and charges are exported as text. A spreadsheet conversion should not silently remove leading characters from an identifier.
Explain missing rows
Compare the export's date filters and account scope with your ledger. A missing entry may fall outside the selected period or belong to a different account. Confirm that the export is complete before treating absence as proof that an order was never placed.
Decision checklist
| Decision | What to check |
|---|---|
| Key | Panel order identifier |
| Period | Included date range |
| Fields | Preserved original values |
Worked example
A hypothetical ledger contains 50 approved orders while an export shows 48. Two were submitted just after midnight outside the export's end date. Correcting the reporting window resolves the mismatch without inventing two missing transactions.
Example figures explain the decision; they are not current prices or promised results.