What Is Data Sharing?
Data Sharing allows you to pull data from one TapClicks instance into another instance using a feature called TapAccess. The most common use case for this is when a brand that is using TapClicks hires an agency that also uses TapClicks. Rather than log in to multiple instances, the brand can simply set up Data Sharing to pull all their campaign information from the agency into the brand's TapClicks instance. This enables the brand to see all data in one place, even if it is coming from multiple external agencies.
Data Sharing utilizes a feature called TapAccess, which is one of the Delivery Methods found in a SmartConnector™. To learn more about Delivery Types in general, please refer to this article.
How Does Data Sharing Work?
Here is how Data Sharing works generally (please refer to the step-by-step instructions below for more detail):
In this example, let's assume you are a brand and have your own instance of TapClicks. You have hired an agency that also uses TapClicks and will be running your Facebook campaigns. Rather than see the Facebook reporting from your agency in their instance, you want to bring the Facebook data into your instance so you can see it alongside all of your other marketing activities.
There are six components needed to activate a successful transfer of data between two instances:
Brand side instance ("consuming instance")
- Agency instance of TapClicks
- Agency instance user ID & login
- Agency instance SmartConnector
Agency side instance ("provisioning instance")
- Client instance of TapClicks
- Client instance user ID & login
- Client instance Data Profile
In this use case, you first need to configure the agency instance. This is often referred to as the "provisioning instance" or the instance providing the data. To configure the provisioning instance for this task, you will need to ensure the agency user credentials you will provide to the SmartConnector are assigned to a Data Profile with the appropriate Data Views and fields enabled. This means having someone log in to the agency instance, review the Data Profile assigned to the agency user, and ensure it has all the fields you are expecting to use. If the Data Profile isn't configured correctly, you may end up establishing a good connection, but the data you expect won't be pulled across.
- For more information about Data Views generally, refer to this article.
- For more information about Data Profiles, refer to this article.
The second part of establishing this connection occurs on the brand side of this arrangement. As the brand user, you will log in to your instance and create a SmartConnector™. You will select TapAccess as the Delivery Type. Then you provide the credentials for the agency user and select the Data Source and Data Views you want to pull from the agency instance.
How to Set Up Data Sharing Using TapAccess
These step-by-step instructions involve two parts:
- Verifying configuration of the client user Data Profile
- Creating a SmartConnector™
Part One: Configure Data Profile in Provisioning Instance
1] Log in to the TapClicks instance that you will be pulling data from.
2] Navigate to Admin in the left sidebar.
3] Select Data Profiles.
4] Choose the Data Profile assigned to the user whose credentials will be provided to the SmartConnector.
| Note: If you don't know the Data Profile assigned to the user, type the user's name into the Universal Search feature, identified as a magnifying glass icon in the left sidebar. Clicking on the user's name will take you to a page with details about the Data Profiles they've been assigned. |
5] Select the Data Sources tab.
6] Choose the Data Source you will be accessing with the SmartConnector.
7] Select the Detail Grids sub-navigation tab.
| Note: In this example, we are looking at the "Client - Elite" Data Profile and viewing the Data Source called Centro Basis DSP. The image below shows the Conversions Data View. Scrolling down will reveal additional Data Views, each with their own Active and Inactive Columns. |
8] In the Detail Grids area, scroll down and review the Data Views. You will see Active and Inactive columns. The Active columns are the fields that will be accessible by your SmartConnector.
9] If a field you want to use in your reporting is listed under the Inactive column, click the ← add button next to it to make it active.
10] Once you have reviewed the Data Source and Data Views for this Data Profile, click Save Changes.
Part Two: Create Your SmartConnector
After you have confirmed the configuration of your provisioning instance Data Profile(s), navigate to the instance that will be importing the data. This is called the consuming instance.
1] On the Data menu, click SmartConnector.
2] Click the Add SmartConnector (plus sign) icon in the top right corner of the page.
3] Fill in the details for your SmartConnector™.
4] Select TapAccess from the Delivery Type dropdown menu.
5] Enter the provisioning TapClicks instance URL in the Dashboard URL field.
6] Click Authenticate.
7] Enter the credentials for the provisioning instance you configured in Part One.
8] After you complete authentication, the Data Source Selection area will be displayed.
9] Select the Data Category from the options available.
10] Choose a Data Source from the list.
11] Select the Data View that contains the data you want to pull in.
12] Click the Load Data Fields button.
Once you are done with these steps, map the fields as you would with any SmartConnector™. For more details on how to map data, please read this article.