Real-time data import

[gigi_jin]

Hi - what options do I have if there's a requirement to import data from a third party system to Adobe Campaign in real time?

They have been using SFTP file drop for some time, and would like to explore the possibility to have the data synced in real time.

What are the cons and pros of using that option?

Thanks

[david--garcia]

Adobe's soaprouter API https://docs.campaign.adobe.com/doc/AC6.1/en/CFG_API_Web_service_calls.html

Other options:

External database connectivity such as views

Or

use Adobe's FDA module.

[Vipul_Raghav · Accepted solution]

Pros is that you can send real time updates.

Cons is that for an Adobe hosted customer, when signing a contract, has a paid quota of API calls to server. If not respected, you might easily end up exhausting that and go overquota with the usage. this will lead to overbilling.

Also, you can put additional load on the web server which might hinder the performance or application connectivity for the end users.

SOAP is also not recommended for bulk operations.

In short, if these API updates will be for hundreds of records then it is fine but in case you are talking about bulk operations flat file is the way to move forward.

Regards,

Vipul

[gigi_jin]

Thanks David.. But is FDA not same as View? Or they are different things?

[gigi_jin]

Thanks Vipul - very helpful insight.

Do you happen to know if there's any Adobe documentation around the API vs SFTP in terms of security and performance consideration?

[david--garcia]

Hi Gigi

FDA essentially gives you the option to connect to external database systems, could be a table, a view etc. but you need to pay for this module or your contract agreement must include this module. Otherwise you could use a 'Linked server' connection between you and the third party and you can either pull data to your environment or query data from their view/tables in real time.

In terms of transferring flat files, the best way would probably be a central repository where all approved third parties connect to store their daily feeds over a VPN connection controlled by a firewall.

This means:

Party A |FW|-------------------VPN---------------|FW| Party B

Security control on your company firewall to allow part A access to some system that is used to store feeds from all parties probably on an linux server, you need network admins, and sys admins as well as the help from an architect and security admin to do this kind of stuff on a company

SFTP is also fine, in terms of performance it really is down to line quality and internet speeds.

[Vipul_Raghav]

Hi Gigi,

If your instance is hosted by Adobe then the sFTP will be provided by Adobe itself. All communications (inbound or outbound) will be encrypted and hence will be secured.

When you use FDA the schema created on Adobe Campaign side will treat it as a view.

Also if your instance is Adobe hosted, you won't be able to make use of FDA, as we do not provide FDA connection to external Database server.

Regards,
Vipul