Sitecore CDP Explained

Editor’s note: This blog post is the first in a series focused on a developer’s quick guide to Sitecore CDP.

Customer data platform (CDP) is a packaged software that creates a persistent, unified customer database that is accessible to other systems.

The CDP collects customer data from multiple sources, has a web-based user interface that allows marketers to segment customers into specific audiences, helps teams manage their day-to-day operations, and gives them a real-time customer insight which, in turn, helps to run and refine existing marketing strategies.

Sitecore has its own version of a CDP. It’s a powerful headless tool that captures, unifies, and activates omnichannel customer data to help marketers increase conversion rates and deliver exceptional customer experience.

This article is focused on Sitecore CDP from a developer’s perspective. Additionally, it’s broken down into two parts, with part two diving into the actual coding process and how to activate the CDP. And, if you’re interested in learning more about the features of Sitecore CDP, visit the Sitecore page, or listen to Americaneagle.com’s podcast series dedicated to Sitecore titled “The Sitecore Water Cooler Podcast: A Marketer’s 360 View with Sitecore CDP.”

Identity Resolution

When a visitor interacts with a site, the browsing data and events is being sent to the CDP. In real time, the CDP will compare it to all guest profiles using personally identifiable information (PII) such as email address, member ID, and more, to determine the guests identify.

If there is enough data to identify the guest, the CDP will merge current browsing data to the existing guest profile. If not, the CDP will create a new guest profile. The Sitecore CDP supports multiple hierarchy which means that the guest can be identified by more than one rule. For example: it first searches by the customer ID (rule one), and if no profile exists, it’ll search by email address (rule two).

As a result, any session data from any device or browser will be collected and merged together. Guests can have multiple sessions and each session can have multiple events (page views, log ins, etc.)

How Does This Work?

Before you start coding, you will need to generate an API access token in order to create a point of sale from the Sitecore CP dashboard. It only takes about one minute to complete.

1. Generate API access token and client key.

2. Create a point of sale. Think of it as a storefront tag used to group your requests and data.

Americaneagle.com is a Sitecore Platinum Implementation and Hosting Partner with platform expertise spanning over 10 years. For mid to large enterprise clients looking for a flexible, powerful content management solution, Americaneagle.com creates user-focused, digital experiences by integrating strategy, UX, and design that delivers transformative results. Contact us today to learn how Americaneagle.com is the perfect Sitecore partner.