Summary:
A custom plugin developed for a WordPress site failed to correctly pass loyalty card registrations and price updates to a third-party API. Freshy’s developers audited the plugin and restored full API communication, allowing loyalty cards to properly register and points to be redeemed via the POS system.
Issue background
The client reported that while customers could register their loyalty cards via the website and receive a confirmation message, the loyalty program provider was not receiving the data. Additionally, store managers noted that price updates submitted through the website were not syncing with the provider’s system.
This created a critical failure in the loyalty redemption workflow—cards appeared active on the website, but the POS system flagged them as unregistered when customers tried to redeem points.
Diagnosis
Freshy’s development team reviewed the plugin code responsible for sending registration and pricing data to the third-party loyalty system’s API. Key observations included:
- The plugin appeared to show a success message even when the API request silently failed.
- No fallback logic or error logging was capturing failed submissions.
- A potential change on the third-party API’s end may have invalidated the structure of the POST requests.
Resolution steps
- Plugin review: The team identified that the plugin had been developed in-house at Freshy and was using
wp_remote_post()for API submissions. - API response handling fix: Updated the plugin to check the actual response body and HTTP status code. Previously, it displayed a success message regardless of whether the external API acknowledged the data.
- Enhanced error logging: Introduced error handling and logging to flag failed transmissions in the WordPress admin.
- Re-tested the flow: Submitted loyalty card registrations and pricing updates through the plugin, then confirmed with the loyalty program vendor that the data was successfully received.
Final outcome
After patching the custom plugin, customer loyalty card data now syncs correctly with the third-party system. Customers can register through the website, see their name on receipts, and successfully redeem loyalty points at the point of sale. Store managers are also able to submit pricing updates that reflect in real-time.
Need help debugging or extending a custom plugin in WordPress? Contact Freshy — our team builds and supports tailored solutions that power eCommerce, loyalty, and business workflows.
