Automation Studio for Exporting Data from Marketing Cloud

When you’re unable to use the Marketing Cloud Intelligence API to grab granular data or a specific dimension and then connect that data to a Granular Data Center, try Automation Studio. With Automation Studio (a Marketing Cloud app) you can extract the granularity of data you need so you can analyze your data with ease.

1. Log into Marketing Cloud.
   1. Make sure you have an FTP user enabled in your account. Go to Settings > Setup > Data Management > FTP Accounts. If you don’t have an FTP user, then add one.
2. Create a Data Extension
   In this step you need to create a data extension that is a table containing your data. There are predefined Data Views you can use to help get a data extension.
   1. Go to Audience Builder > Contact Builder >Create.
   2. Name your data extension.
   3. Add the attributes: Measurements and Dimensions.
   4. After the data extension is created, copy the “External Key” (the value you’ll get after you’ve completed the previous step).
3. Create an Automation Activity
   1. Go to Journey Builder > Automation Studio > New Automation to set-up the export of the desired data extension to the FTP.
   2. Select the following activities: “Schedule”, “SQL Query”, “Data Extract”, and “File Transfer”.
   3. Define the schedule options (hourly, daily, weekly... timezone).
   4. Refresh the data extension information.
   5. Extract the data to a secure folder that isn’t accessible to anybody.
   6. Transfer this file from this folder to the FTP.
4. Define the Schedule
5. Configure the properties of the “SQL Query” Activity
   1. Select Create New Query Activity
   2. Enter a name and then click Next.
   3. Create the Query.
   4. Select your data extension then select the Overwrite radio button.
6. Configure the Properties of the “Data Extract” Activity
   1. Select Create New Data Extract Activity.
   2. Enter a Name.
   3. Select the file naming pattern and make sure you add a valid file format to the end (valid formats: csv or txt).
   4. From the Extract Type dropdown list, select Data Extension Extract. Make sure you copy the File Naming Pattern as you’ll need it in the next step.
   5. Add the file delimiter and then select the Headers checkbox and add the “DECustomer Key”/“External Key” (this is the key you copied earlier).
7. Configure the Properties of the “File Transfer” Activity
   1. Select Create New File Transfer Activity.
   2. Enter a Name.
   3. In the File Action area, select the Move a File From Safehouse radio button. This is the internal Marketing Cloud folder.
   4. Enter the same File Pattern Name.
   At this stage you have finished configuring Automation Studio. Now you have to configure the Data Stream in Marketing Cloud Intelligence.
8. Configure the Data Stream in Marketing Cloud Intelligence
   1. Go to Connect & Mix > Data Streams.
   2. Select your Data Stream and edit it.
      Continue to configure your Data Stream with all the parameters you defined in steps 1–6:
   3. Define the Host/Port (this is the Marketing Cloud FTP URL).
   4. Enter your Credentials (your User and Password.)
   5. Set the Directory as: /export/ (this is the folder where Automation Studio generates files to).
   6. Enter the file name you defined in step 6 in the File name wildcard match.