The author is a Data Engineer in Eucloid. For any queries, reach out to us at: contact@eucloid.com
LinkedInThis is How API Automation Can Enhance CRM Reporting in Eloqua
Gone are the days when businesses could afford to have a scattered approach towards customer management. With the increasing number of touchpoints and channels at, tracking customer interactions has become a complex task. But thanks to Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, businesses have been able to centralize all customer data and interactions in one place. As per a recent study, around 80% of business leaders have reported using CRM systems as their primary source of information for their customers.
The Importance of CRM Reports in Modern Business Operations
An essential component of CRM management is the generation of insightful reports. CRM reporting is an ongoing process that helps companies keep a pulse on their customers' ever-changing needs and expectations. They allow businesses to:
Challenges in Generating CRM Reports with Eloqua
Eloqua, a trusted CRM platform, offers powerful features for automating marketing processes. However, when it comes to generating CRM reports, traditional methods usually involve a series of manual tasks. This takes away valuable time and resources that could be better utilized in understanding and analyzing the data to drive business outcomes.
The method often involves extracting data from different sources and ensuring its accuracy and consistency. However, human errors can occur, leading to delayed report generation and impacting decision-making.
The next step is transforming the data into a visually appealing report format, which involves creating charts and graphs. These reports may need to be customized for different stakeholders, adding to the time and effort involved.
Once the report is created, it needs to be distributed to relevant parties within the organization. This can be time-consuming if it needs to be shared with multiple teams or individuals.
That's why businesses are using automated solutions for timely and accurate CRM reports with minimal effort. Factors like report complexity and data volume may impact the time it takes, ranging from hours to days for frequent reports.
Breaking Down Barriers: Automating CRM Reporting with API
Fortune 100 companies often send campaigns to millions of users, generating a large amount of data that cannot be easily processed through traditional means like manual data entry or excel exports. Fortunately, the use of python and automation can save organizations time and effort while also providing more accurate insights. At Eucloid, we took advantage of the powerful BULK API to efficiently retrieve data from Eloqua.
With the help of programming languages like Python, the data is seamlessly incorporated into a CSV file. This format offers easy filtering based on specific criteria, making it ideal for regular reports to stakeholders.
Take, for instance, a client who wants to track and verify activities with a total count of over 100,000. With the CSV file, we can easily filter according to firm requests, making it ideal for weekly or monthly reporting to clients. The key email activities that can be tracked include bounce backs, click-throughs, opens, sends, external activities, form submits, page views, subscribes, unsubscribes, and web visits.
Implementing API Automation for Efficient CRM Reporting in Eloqua
To export data from Eloqua, we first set up authentication parameters using Postman. Next, we establish a connection and define the export with necessary data and filters. A sync is created for real-time updates. Using a GET command, data is retrieved and saved in a CSV file using csv.writer function. This allows for easy analysis by stakeholders.
For developers looking to try out this process, please head to our GitHub repository for step-by-step instructions and code:
Safeguarding Customer Privacy
While implementing the API automation for efficient CRM reporting in Eloqua, we also addressed some challenges to ensure the protection of customer data. Due to the critical PII information that can be found in CRM software, our team used hashed email ids instead of actual email addresses to export data and ensure that only non-PII data, such as preferences and interaction history, were shared. Sensitive information was excluded from the export to comply with GDPR regulations and maintain the confidentiality of customer data.
Unlocking Growth and Success: Saving You Time and Resources
Although most companies have a centralized repository for all their data, CRM data cannot exist in isolation from other data sources. This would result in working with only partial information about customers, without insights from other sources such as transaction and website data. While our client was in the process of building a comprehensive Customer C360, which typically takes 6-12 months, they needed a solution to analyze and optimize their campaigns in the interim. Automation enabled us to efficiently process and integrate all available data, allowing for more effective campaign management.
Thus, Automation in CRM reporting through Eloqua's API offers immense benefits for businesses looking to optimize their data management processes.
The benefits of automating CRM reports in Eloqua through API are more than just a matter of convenience, they are a critical element of a successful business strategy. At Eucloid, we have cultivated a deep expertise in leveraging advanced automation technology to help organizations tap into the full potential of their CRM reports and achieve growth and success in today's competitive market. For more information on how we can support your business goals, please contact us at contact@eucloid.com.
Posted on : November 30, 2023
Category : Digital Commerce
About the Authors
Harsh Bhandari