AJO IP Warmup - Understanding how to set up the IP Warmup schedules for Inbox success

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Adobe Journey Optimizer's (AJO) IP Warm-up Plans feature offers a streamlined approach to building sender reputation, moving beyond complex manual journey configurations. However, a common point of confusion during run activation within these plans is the following error: 'The run failed as there are no qualified profiles. Select the 'Split runs to a new phase' option to choose a different campaign and audience."

This often stems from a critical, yet frequently overlooked, timing issue related to AJO's batch segmentation processes. 

Understanding and correctly aligning your run activation with your batch segmentation schedule is paramount to ensuring your warm-up campaigns execute smoothly and reach their intended audience. 

The Challenge: "No Qualified Profiles" 

When you activate a run within your AJO IP Warm-up Plan, the system creates a new segment specifically for that run. If this segment isn't processed by your organizations daily batch segmentation job before the scheduled run execution time, AJO will report that there are "no qualified profiles," leading to a failed run and a frustrating delay in your warm-up progress. 

Understanding the Root Cause: Batch Segmentation Alignment

AJO's IP Warm-up Plans rely on batch audiences that are evaluated daily at a specific batch evaluation time. When you activate a run in your IP Warm-up Plan, a new segment is dynamically created for that specific run. For profiles to be correctly evaluated and qualified for this new segment, the batch segmentation job must include this newly created segment in its execution cycle. 

Crucially, if you activate a run after the batch segmentation job has already started its daily cycle, the segment associated with your run will not be processed until the next daily cycle. This means that when your warm-up run is scheduled to start, the audience it expects to target simply hasn't been populated yet, resulting in the "no qualified profiles" error. Batch audiences are evaluated every day at the daily batch evaluation time 

The Solution: Manage Schedules Correctly

To ensure seamless audience qualification and delivery for your IP Warm-up Plan runs, it is crucial to align the activation of your runs with your batch segmentation job schedule. 

Example Scenario: 

Let's assume your organization's daily batch segmentation job starts at 1:00 AM and typically completes by 5:00 AM, including batch export and audience composition evaluation for your hundreds of segments

Recommended Setup: 

• Activate the run before the segmentation job starts, allowing for buffer time.
  • Recommended: Activate the run before 12:30 AM. This ensures that the new segment created by the run activation is available and picked up by the segmentation job when it begins its cycle.

• Schedule the run to start after the segmentation job completes, with some buffer to ensure completion. 
  • Recommended: Schedule the run for 6:00 AM or later. This provides ample time for the segmentation job to fully process the audience, including the newly created segment, and for the data to become available for your warm-up run. 

Why This Is Important 

Following this timing sequence is critical because: 

• When a run is activated, a new segment is created specifically for that run. 
• For profiles to be evaluated and qualified, the batch segmentation job must include this segment in its execution. 
• Activating the run before the segmentation job starts ensures the newly created segment is picked up during that cycle, leading to correct audience qualification. 
• Activating the run after the segmentation job has already completed means the segment will not be processed until the next cycle, resulting in profiles not qualifying in time and causing missed or delayed deliveries. 

Summary 

To avoid qualification issues and ensure your IP Warm-up Plan runs successfully: 

• Always activate the run before your batch segmentation job begins. 
• Ensure the run is scheduled to start after your batch segmentation job has fully completed, incorporating buffer time on both ends. 

Following this sequence ensures that profiles are accurately evaluated and included in your warm-up runs, paving the way for a smooth and effective IP warming process in Adobe Journey Optimizer.