Data Collaboration Platform (DCP) - Add connections

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At a glance: Create inbound and outbound connections between your cloud services and AppsFlyer DCP to securely ingest data and export audiences for collaboration and activation.

About DCP connections

Connections determine how data is ingested into DCP and how audiences are exported. After setting up your cloud services, the next step is to connect them to DCP. This involves setting up inbound and outbound connections.

Create inbound connections

Create inbound connections to bring first-party source data into DCP. Setting up inbound connections can be done via either of the following options:

  • As part of the source creation process
  • Outside the source creation process (before creating sources)

Newsourceconnection.png

To create inbound connections:

Option 1—as part of the source creation process

  1. Create the connection while you are specifying the source location.
    • If there are no connections defined in your account, the New connection dialog will open, prompting you to create one.
    • If you have existing connections but want to use a new one, click + New connection to open the New connection dialog. 
  2. Continue with the specific inbound cloud service provider instructions below.

Option 2—outside of the source creation process

  1. In AppsFlyer, from the side menu, select Collaborate > Data Clean Room.
  2. From the top-right menu, click Manage connections.
  3. Click New connection. If you already have existing cloud connections in your account, you'll see them under Source.
  4. Continue with the specific inbound cloud service provider instructions below.

Inbound cloud service connections

Inbound cloud service connections connect your cloud storage or data warehouse to securely ingest your first-party data into DCP. 

To create an inbound cloud service connection: From the New connection dialog, select the data connection (cloud service or data provider) and enter the details according to the relevant cloud service provider below.

BigQuery

In the New connection dialog, enter the BigQuery project ID for the project that contains your source data.

  • You can get this information from the Big Query page of your Google Cloud Console. BQ_project_ID.png

Snowflake

In the New connection dialog, enter the Snowflake account ID and region for the account that contains your source data. You can get this information by clicking on the account name at the bottom-left menu of your Snowflake console:

  • ACCOUNTADMIN > Account > hover over the relevant account > Copy account identifier. See here Snowflake documentation.
    Important! Look for the ID labeled Locator. This is NOT the same ID as the one used to create outbound Snowflake connections.

ui-snowsight-account-identifier.png

Amazon S3 and GCS

In the New connection dialog, enter the name of the bucket you created for the exclusive use of the AppsFlyer Data Clean Room (DCR).

Salesforce Cloud/CRM

See here how to set up a Salesforce connection.

Local file connection

Local file system connections allow you to upload data files directly from your computer into the DCP. This option is typically used only for testing and isn't recommended for ongoing or large-scale data ingestion. 

Set up a local file connection

A local file connection is used to test the platform using a sample file. This option allows you to familiarize yourself with DCP functionality before starting to share data. However, it isn’t the recommended choice for sharing data, has a data retention limit of 14 days, and doesn’t enable integrating automation processes.

A local file connection can be set up during source creation.

Create outbound connections

Create outbound connections to send your audiences to cloud services or media partners for activation. There are two outbound connection options for sending audiences:

  • Export audiences to the cloud - Outbound cloud service connections allow you to export audiences to your cloud storage or data warehouse.
  • Connect audiences to media partners - Media partners are the main destination for audience activation (subject to permissions).

Outbound cloud service connections

You can create audiences and have them sent to your cloud services. These cloud service connections to AppsFlyer are created via AppsFlyer Data Locker. You can choose to create these connections either:

  • As part of the audience-builder flow
  • Outside of the audience-builder flow (before creating audiences)

 Note

Receiving audiences doesn't require a premium subscription to Data Locker. However, if you're interested in receiving AppsFlyer reports via Data Locker, contact your CSM or send an email to hello@appsflyer.com.

To create an outbound cloud connection as part of the audience-builder flow:

  1. Create the connection while you're setting the audience destination.
    • If there are no connections defined in your account:
      • A new tab will open in your browser (showing the AppsFlyer Data Locker page)
      • A New connection dialog will open.
    • If you have existing connections but want to use a new one, click the + New connection in Data Locker:
      • A new tab will open in your browser (showing the AppsFlyer Data Locker page)
      • A New connection dialog will open.
  2. Follow the instructions for your specific provider in the outbound cloud service provider section below.
  3. Continue with the instructions in the Complete the connection section.
  4. After creating the connection, return to the DCR tab in your browser and select the newly created connection from the list of Data Locker connections.

To create an outbound cloud connection outside of the audience-builder flow: 

  1. In AppsFlyer, from the side menu, select Export > Data Locker. 
    • If you have existing Data Locker connections in your account, you'll be taken to the main Data Locker page. From there, click New connection in the upper-right corner to open the New connection dialog.
    • If you are creating your account's first Data Locker connection, you'll see Data Locker's Get started page. Click Get started to open the New connection dialog.
  2. Follow the instructions for your specific provider in the Outbound cloud service providers section below.
  3. Continue with the instructions in the Complete the connection section.

Outbound cloud service providers

From the New connection dialog, select the data connection (cloud service or data provider) and enter the details according to the relevant tabs below.

Newsourceconnection.png

BigQuery

  1. In the New connection dialog, enter a name for the connection; then select the BigQuery option.
  2. Enter the Project ID and Dataset name for the BigQuery project that contains the dataset you created for Data Locker. 
    • You can get this information from the Big Query page of your Google Cloud Console. BQ_project_ID_dataset_name.png
  3. Click Test connection to ensure that Data Locker is connected to the dataset.
  4. Click Save to create the connection.

Snowflake

The procedure for connecting Snowflake to Data Locker is a 2-step process:

  • Step #1 – In AppsFlyer, create the initial connection.
    • This gives your Snowflake account the ability to access an AppsFlyer Snowflake share. 
  • Step #2 – In your Snowflake account, create a database from the share.
    • This creates a database in your account that references the tables in the AppsFlyer share.

Note: The following procedure must be performed by a Snowflake Accountadmin.

Step #1 (create the initial connection)

  1. In the New connection dialog, enter a name for the connection; then select the Snowflake option.
  2. Enter your Snowflake account region and account ID. You can get this information by clicking on the account name at the bottom-left menu of your Snowflake console:
    • ACCOUNTADMIN > Account > hover over the relevant account > Copy account identifier. See here Snowflake documentation.
      Important! Look for the ID labeled Locator. This is NOT the same ID as the one used to create inbound Snowflake connections. ui-snowsight-account-identifier.png
  3. Click Test connection to ensure that Data Locker is connected to your Snowflake account.
  4. Click Save to create the connection.

Step #2 (create a database from share)

  1. Log in to your Snowflake account.
  2. Switch your role to Accountadmin.
  3. From the left-side panel, select Private Sharing.
  4. In the page that opens, select the Shared With You tab.
  5. From the share whose name begins with APPSFLYER, click the Get data snowflake_get_data_button.png button.
  6. [Optional] In the Get Data dialog, change the default database name according to your needs and select the roles in addition to Accountadmin that can access the database.
  7. Click Get Data to create the database.

Amazon S3 and GCS

  1. In the Data Locker New connection dialog, enter a name for the connection; then select either the Amazon S3 or GCS option.
  2. Enter the name of the bucket you created for the exclusive use of AppsFlyer Data Clean Room (DCR).

Media partner connections

Outbound media partner connections enable you to securely connect your DCP audiences to supported media partners, so you can activate tailored campaigns on their sites. It is the main destination for audience activation. Learn how to set up specific media partner connections.

New media partner connection.png

You can set up connections with your media partner for audience activation in one of two ways. The setup process is identical for both options:

  • As part of the audience-builder flow
  • Outside of the audience-builder flow

To create a media partner connection as part of the audience-builder flow:

  1. Follow the instructions detailed here.
  2. Continue with the instructions in the Complete the connection section, below.

To create a connection outside the audience-builder flow:

  1. In AppsFlyer, from the side menu, select Collaborate > Data Clean Room.
  2. From the top-right menu, click Manage connections.
  3. Click New connection. If you already have existing cloud connections in your account, you'll see them all under Partner.
  4. Continue with the instructions in the Complete the connection section, below.

Complete the connection

  1. From the New media partner connection dialog, select the relevant media partner.
  2. Enter a connection name.
  3. Log in to the media partner account with your credentials, and follow their instructions to enable AppsFlyer access.
  4. Click Select account ID and select the relevant account for this connection.
  5. Click Save. The new connection is added to the list of partners.

Create Data & Identity connections

Data & Identity connections unify fragmented user data to improve match rates with activation partners. This enables larger partner-side audiences and more impact from your campaigns. 

ID5

Enrich your first-party data with ID5 identifiers to unify fragmented user data, improve match rates with activation partners, and increase the size of partner-side audiences.