how does SKU mismatch affect inventory management in WooCommerce and Square

1. Inventory Sync Issues:
- If the SKUs do not match between the two platforms, the inventory sync will not work correctly. [1][2]
- Inventory changes made in one platform may not get reflected in the other, leading to inconsistent inventory levels. [1]

2. Duplicate Products:
- The sync process may create duplicate products in Square if the SKUs do not match exactly between WooCommerce and Square. [4]
- This can happen even if the products have the same SKU, but other details like variation names or categories are not aligned. [4]

3. Loss of Sales Data:
- When duplicate products are created due to SKU mismatch, the sales data may not get properly reassigned to the new products. [4]
- This can lead to a loss of historical sales data, which can be problematic for reporting and analysis. [4]

4. Difficulty in Troubleshooting:
- SKU mismatch issues can make it challenging to identify the root cause of inventory sync problems between WooCommerce and Square. [1][2]
- Troubleshooting becomes more complex when the product data is not aligned between the two platforms. [1][2]

5. Limitations in Square:
- Square has limitations in handling multiple attributes and categories per product, which can further exacerbate the issues caused by SKU mismatch. [2][3]

To mitigate these issues, it is crucial to ensure that the SKUs are correctly matched between WooCommerce and Square, and that other product details like variations, categories, and names are also aligned. Proper configuration of the sync settings and regular monitoring of the sync process can help maintain consistent inventory management across both platforms.