How does Target randomly allocate traffic?

[Rommil]

How does Adobe Target decide which experience a visitor sees? I'm looking for more detailed information to satisfy internal stakeholders that the selection is random.

[Eric_Vidana]

This sort of depends on the type of activity that you are using. If you are talking about AB activities, it is a random percentage split. If you would like control over the split to feel more comfortable, you could use a profile script as mentioned below and switch to an XT activity to set up an experience for each of the groups.

https://experienceleague.adobe.com/docs/target/using/audiences/visitor-profiles/use-profile-scripts-...

[Rommil]

Is there more details around the random percentage split? I assume there's is a qualification step, the the randomization is based on some value.. trying to get some more specific details.

[Eric_Vidana]

Would give this a read - https://experienceleague.adobe.com/docs/target/using/activities/abtest/test-ab.html?lang=en

[Rommil]

I'm specifically looking for information around A/B tests. I.e., how does Adobe Target, specifically decide which variant a user receives?

[kchaitanya · Accepted solution]

Hi @Rommil , 

Though we don't know the exact algorithm that Adobe Target uses in the backend it more or less works as described below:

1. Adobe Target sets cookies for every new user and retains it till the profile is active (by default 14 days)
2. Based on the cookie values Adobe Target will qualify visitors into different buckets. Say all cookies ending with even number go to group A, all cookies ending with odd number go to group B.
3. As you can imagine there are many ways in which you can achieve this. The link that @Eric_Vidana shared regarding the profile scripts should give you more ideas on how the split can happen (and be controlled if you wish to). 

Ultimately, it is the persistent cookies + some basic logic defined within the Target product that helps you split the traffic between A and B experiences.