Connections integrate your customer profile data with your existing data sources, such as point-of-sale systems, CRM systems, and email service providers. BlueConic offers numerous connections to import and/or export data to various systems.
In BlueConic, connection execution follows a sequential order. When multiple connections are scheduled concurrently, they are placed in a queue and processed one after another. It's crucial to be aware of concurrent connection limits, which are often tied to IP addresses or users, and to adjust these limits or utilize alternative servers if necessary to avoid bottlenecks. Strategic scheduling of connections, avoiding peak server usage times, can optimize performance.
Navigate to Connections
Select Connections from the main navigation bar.
The Connections page displays a table of connections that are configured in your tenant. Active connections have a green dot; inactive ones have a red dot.
Search, filter, and customize the columns to adjust your view.
Click the name of a connection to open its details.
Create a connection
Select Add Connection.
In the popup, search or scroll to find a connection.
Select one to configure.
The new connection page opens, give the connection a name and click Save to add it to your tenant.
(Optional) Adjust the connection's metadata, including the description, labels, and email notifications.
Now, configuration depends on the specific connection you've selected.
Connection status
In the top right corner of a connection, you will see two icons with data flow arrows. This provides an overview of the connection's status, including data direction, configuration errors, and data exchange errors. The connection must have at least one active goal, be switched to On, and saved to populate the status icon.
Run a connection
There are three different ways a connection can be run depending on the connection type. Each way is detailed below.
1. Manually
Switch the connection to On and click Save.
On the connection's Set up and Run page, scroll down to Run history table.
Click Run now to begin executing the connection's goals.
A Stop run button will appear in the Run history table if you wish to terminate a manual run prematurely.
2. Scheduled
On the connection's Set up and Run page, scroll down to Run history table and click the cogwheel icon.
Choose your desired schedule type from the dropdown options.
Click OK.
Switch the connection to On and click Save to activate the schedule.
3. Instant or in real-time
A select few connections don't require any action to run. Once the connection has been configured successfully, saved, and turned On, it will begin executing its goals immediately.
To stop this type of connection from running, toggle its status to Off and click Save.
In order to run, make sure your connection:
Is using the correct system credentials.
Has at least one goal enabled.
Has been switched to On.
Report on a connection
The success of a connection can be measured using:
Connection insights: Configured on a dashboard to provide out-of-the-box data visualizations, including:
Run history table: Shows past and scheduled connection run information, including status terms:
Unchanged: An update was sent to BlueConic, but the profile's values remained the same.
Checked: The total number of profiles evaluated.
Skipped: Profiles in the file that were not sent to BlueConic (because the data was already processed) are labeled as skipped.
Data exchange: Provides a quick overview of the number of profiles imported or exported using this connection.
Delete a connection
To delete a connection, open it's configuration page.
Click on the dropdown arrow on the Save button, and select Delete.
Warning: If you delete a connection instance, it cannot be restored. But would have to be recreated.
Next steps
Determine the specific connection you want to configure and procure authentication credentials as needed.
Set up test data to pass between the two systems before configuring the connection fully.
FAQ
What should I do if a connection fails to run?
To view details for a failed connection run, hover over the entry in the Run history table and click the Download icon. This can be helpful for troubleshooting failed runs. For more detailed instructions and common error messages, refer to the Troubleshooting Connections article.
How does BlueConic handle multiple connections running simultaneously?
Connections run sequentially in BlueConic. If multiple connections are scheduled to run at the same time, they will be queued and executed one after another. BlueConic displays the queued connections and the currently running connection.
How does BlueConic match profiles between systems?
BlueConic matches profiles with data in external systems based on unique identifiers. These identifiers are configured by selecting the "Is unique identifier" checkbox for the relevant profile property. When configuring multiple link identifiers for an import goal, BlueConic uses OR logic, meaning only one identifier needs to match.
Why can't I preview files in a connection?
If PGP encryption was enabled during the connection's authentication at any point, the file preview feature will be unavailable. Consider creating a new connection if you need to use the file preview feature.