How to Resolve Sync Errors in Bill.com: Troubleshooting Common Issues

published on 23 January 2024

It's frustrating when you run into sync errors using Bill.com that prevent you from seamlessly managing your billing and payments.

The good news is that most common Bill.com sync errors can be quickly resolved by following some basic troubleshooting tips.

In this post, we'll cover everything you need to know to troubleshoot sync errors in Bill.com, including:

  • What causes sync errors and how they impact your workflow
  • Step-by-step instructions for fixing the most common sync errors
  • Best practices for preventing sync issues going forward

By the end, you'll have the knowledge to quickly resolve Bill.com sync errors so you can get back to running your business.

Introduction to Bill.com Sync Errors

Sync errors in Bill.com occur when there is a failure in the synchronization process between Bill.com and connected accounting software or bank accounts. This prevents complete and accurate financial data from being shared across the linked platforms. Resolving sync errors quickly is critical for reliable financial reporting and smooth workflows.

What Are Sync Errors in Bill.com?

Sync errors happen when the data transfer between Bill.com and integrated software runs into problems, causing transactions, invoices, bills, or other financial information to fail updating properly across systems. This leads to missing, incomplete, or outdated data.

Common sync errors include:

  • Authentication errors when credentials are incorrect or expire
  • Temporary outages preventing connectivity
  • Rate limits exceeded due to high transaction volumes
  • Conflicting or corrupted data between systems

Common Causes of Sync Errors

Some of the typical causes of sync errors in Bill.com include:

  • Incorrect login credentials or API keys
  • Account permissions problems
  • Software updates or configuration changes
  • High transaction volume exceeding rate limits
  • Intermittent internet connectivity issues
  • Inconsistent data formatting across systems

Errors can occur on either the Bill.com side or within the integrated accounting software/bank itself. Identifying the source of the problem is key for troubleshooting.

Impacts of Unresolved Sync Errors

Letting sync errors go unaddressed leads to:

  • Incomplete and inaccurate financial reports
  • Inability to track real-time cash flow
  • Delayed billing and payments
  • Broken financial workflows and approvals
  • Manual data entry to compensate for missing information

Resolving sync errors quickly restores data integrity across systems so businesses can access reliable and up-to-date financial insights for reporting and decision making. This also avoids productivity loss from workaround manual processes.

How do I fix sync error on Bill com?

If you encounter a sync error in Bill.com, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the issue:

  1. Open the Bill.com Sync Dashboard and select the sync profile that is erroring.

  2. Click "Edit" and confirm your QuickBooks company file location on the "Where's your QuickBooks Company File" page. Select "Next".

  3. On the "Enter your Bill.com username and password" page, update your login credentials if needed. Select "Next" to save changes.

  4. If your credentials are correct but the sync error persists, try unlinking and relinking your QuickBooks account in Bill.com using the "Accounting" tab.

  5. As a last resort, delete the existing sync profile entirely and create a brand new one, carefully entering your QuickBooks credentials again from scratch.

Be sure to double check that your Bill.com and QuickBooks login details are entered correctly in the sync profile. This is the most common source of sync errors. If problems continue even after credential updates, reach out to Bill.com support for further troubleshooting assistance.

How do I resolve conflicts in Bill com?

When using Bill.com, you may occasionally run into sync conflicts. This occurs when the same transaction or entity is edited in two places, creating a discrepancy that Bill.com cannot automatically resolve. However, fixing sync conflicts is straightforward:

  1. Select "Sync" at the top of the page in Bill.com
  2. Click on "Resolve Conflicts"
  3. Select the conflicts you want to resolve by checking the boxes on the far left. You can also select all on the page by clicking the checkbox at the top of the list
  4. Click "Remove Conflict Messages"

This will clear out those sync conflicts in bulk. Bill.com will then re-sync the data and the conflicts should be resolved.

Some key points around sync conflict resolution:

  • It's generally easiest to resolve conflicts in bulk by clearing all messages at once
  • For a specific stubborn conflict, you may need to go into the transaction details and manually select which version to keep
  • Sync conflicts can occur if the same entity gets edited in Bill.com and in your accounting software like QuickBooks
  • It's a good idea to check for sync conflicts regularly and clear them out, to ensure your financial data remains in sync

Let me know if any tricky conflicts persist even after attempting to remove the messages. There may be an underlying data issue, but the bulk conflict resolution flow outlined above should work for most basic sync errors.

What does Bill com sync with?

Bill.com offers seamless two-way sync with many popular accounting software platforms. This allows transactions from Bill.com to automatically flow into your accounting software, and vice versa, eliminating the need for duplicate data entry.

Specifically, Bill.com supports automatic sync with the following accounting software:

  • QuickBooks Online
  • QuickBooks Desktop (Pro, Premier, Enterprise)
  • Xero
  • Oracle NetSuite
  • Sage Intacct
  • Microsoft Dynamics

When you connect your accounting software to Bill.com, here are some of the key transactions that will sync:

  • Invoices
  • Bills
  • Payments
  • Credits

For example, when you create an invoice in Bill.com, that invoice will automatically flow into your QuickBooks Online account after syncing. The sync works both ways too. If you enter a bill into QuickBooks, that bill will show up in your Bill.com account after the next sync.

This two-way sync is hugely beneficial as it saves you time on manual data entry. Everything stays up-to-date across both systems. So you can create invoices, record expenses, and make payments in Bill.com while still having everything sync properly into your books.

The sync process itself happens automatically on a regular basis. You don't have to manually trigger it. Just connect your accounting software once, and Bill.com will take care of keeping everything in sync from that point forward.

So in summary, Bill.com offers seamless two-way sync with all major accounting platforms. This eliminates duplicate data entry and keeps everything properly updated across systems.

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Troubleshooting Tips for Common Bill.com Sync Errors

Bill.com offers seamless integration with popular accounting software to streamline financial workflows. However, sync errors can occasionally occur that disrupt this process. Here are some troubleshooting tips for the most common Bill.com sync errors:

Errors Due to Invalid Credentials

If you encounter a sync error related to invalid credentials, first double check that the credentials entered in Bill.com match those for your connected accounting software. Specifically:

  • Confirm your username or email is entered correctly in Bill.com. Typos can easily happen here and lead to access issues.
  • Verify your password is up to date and matches your accounting software login. If you recently changed your accounting software password, you will need to update it in Bill.com as well.
  • Check that two-factor authentication or multi-factor authentication is not enabled or required in your accounting platform unless the corresponding codes have also been configured in Bill.com.

If your credentials are confirmed valid, try fully disconnecting the accounting integration in Bill.com settings and re-establishing the link with your credentials. Inputting fresh credentials can clear up lingering access issues.

Errors Due to Service Outages

If Bill.com is experiencing an outage or your accounting software is undergoing maintenance, sync errors can occur even with valid credentials configured. Check the status pages for both Bill.com and your connected accounting platform to confirm there are no ongoing incidents impacting availability or performance.

If either service is reporting issues, you will need to wait for the outage to be resolved before sync will function properly again. Continue checking the status pages until updates are provided indicating normal operations have resumed.

Errors Due to Exceeding Rate Limits

If sync errors reference exceeding rate limits or throttling thresholds, adjust your Bill.com settings to sync less frequently. The number of API calls made during each sync can occasionally surpass limits enforced by Bill.com or your accounting platform, resulting in throttling.

To avoid hitting rate limits, consider:

  • Reducing the sync frequency in Bill.com from daily to every few days or weekly. This lessens the API load.
  • Syncing fewer data types like only invoices rather than all financial documents. This limits the number of API requests.
  • Upgrading to a paid Bill.com plan with higher rate limits if available and cost effective long term.

Adjusting these settings can help prevent rate limiting and its associated sync disruptions while still keeping your key financial data closely in sync.

Best Practices for Preventing Sync Errors

Sync errors can be frustrating when using Bill.com to manage your accounting workflows. However, there are a few proactive steps you can take to avoid running into issues:

Enable Auto Retry for Failed Syncs

Bill.com has an auto retry feature that will automatically attempt to retry failed syncs periodically. This prevents you from having to manually resolve errors.

To enable auto retry:

  1. Go to Settings > Account Settings
  2. Scroll down and check the box next to "Automatically retry if sync fails"
  3. Adjust the retry frequency if desired (e.g. every 5 minutes)

With auto retry enabled, Bill.com will keep trying to complete failed syncs in the background without any extra effort on your end.

Review Error Logs for Early Warning

Bill.com keeps detailed logs of all attempted syncs and any errors that occur. Reviewing these regularly can help you spot problems early.

To access sync logs:

  1. Go to Settings > Data Sync
  2. Click "View Data Sync Log"

Scan for error messages, looking for any patterns or consistent issues cropping up. Address any problems proactively before they have larger downstream effects.

Adjust Sync Rate Settings

If you are running into frequent sync failures, adjusting your sync settings may help. Syncing less frequently reduces load on the system and likelihood of timeouts.

To adjust automated sync frequency:

  1. Go to Settings > Data Sync
  2. Under "Automated Sync Frequency" select the desired option (e.g. Every 2 hours)

Start conservatively with longer intervals between syncs. Monitor error logs and gradually increase sync rate once stability improves.

Staying proactive about these best practices will help avoid the majority of sync errors in Bill.com. Enable auto retry, monitor error logs, and optimize sync frequency based on system stability. Addressing issues early and reducing sync rate at the first sign of trouble can prevent bigger headaches down the line.

When to Contact Bill.com Support

Bill.com offers helpful troubleshooting resources to resolve many common sync errors. However, in some cases additional support may be needed.

Sync Errors Persisting Despite Troubleshooting

If you have thoroughly tried the recommended troubleshooting steps but are still seeing persistent sync errors, it is recommended to open a support ticket with Bill.com. Be sure to provide:

  • Clear description of the specific error message(s) received
  • Details on troubleshooting attempts already made and outcomes
  • Screenshots of any error notifications in the Bill.com platform
  • Overview of your setup (e.g. connections, integrations, etc.)

Providing these details will help Bill.com Support diagnose the underlying cause and provide customized solutions.

Unsure About Underlying Cause

In some cases, sync errors may be complex or related to unique aspects of your Bill.com configuration and integrations. If the self-help troubleshooting advice does not clearly resolve your issue, and you are unsure of the underlying cause, it is best to engage Bill.com Support.

The Support team can review your full configuration and logs to pinpoint potential culprits. They can also walk you through advanced troubleshooting to test theories and rule out possibilities. Reaching out promptly when self-help options are exhausted can minimize business impact from ongoing sync failures.

Conclusion and Next Steps

To resolve sync errors in Bill.com, here are the key steps to take:

  • Enable auto retry in your Bill.com account settings. This will automatically attempt to retry failed syncs periodically, resolving many errors.

  • Check the error logs in Bill.com to identify the specific error codes and messages. This additional context can help troubleshoot the root cause.

  • If errors persist, contact Bill.com support. Provide the error details and they can investigate further based on your unique configuration.

  • As a preventative measure, routinely monitor your Bill.com error logs even if no active issues. This allows you to catch potential problems early.

By following these troubleshooting tips, most common Bill.com sync errors can be quickly resolved. Enabling auto retry and regularly checking error logs are simple steps to avoid major disruptions. Contacting Bill.com support is recommended for complex or reoccurring issues.

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