How is data synced between systems?
**How is data synced between systems?**
Short answer: Certain syncs data using two main methods — Signal for real‑time, tag‑driven outbound flows to external systems (Marketo, Eloqua, CRMs, etc.), and API Fetch for scheduled/polled inbound imports. In addition, Platform → Touchpoint syncs use account‑level tags on Conference Custom Fields and Registration Statuses to map specific fields into the Touchpoint app.
Details — how each works
- Signal (real‑time outbound)
- Real‑time event data is routed by configurable Flows in Certain Signal.
- Flows are controlled by account‑level tags you apply to registration statuses, custom properties, questions, attendee types, or events; those tags determine which records and when they are sent.
- Signal requires a Connection (OAuth2 or Basic credentials) to the external system and supports per‑flow mapping/transformations.
- Examples: guides for connecting to Eloqua and Marketo show creating Connections and Flows to push registrations, status changes, and activity in real time.
- Source: Signal Integration with Eloqua Guide, Signal Integration with Marketo Guide, Signal infographic.
- API Fetch (scheduled inbound or custom polling)
- API Fetch pulls data from external systems on a schedule (REST endpoints), supports pagination, incremental checkpointing, and JSON schema transformations (Jolt), then maps inbound records into Certain actions (e.g., Bulk Registration Upsert).
- Useful for importing large datasets or periodic syncs from registration systems, CRMs, or marketing systems.
- Source: API Fetch — Eloqua step‑by‑step configuration.
- Platform → Touchpoint mapping (Platform custom fields → Touchpoint)
- Use account tags such as `Touchpoint: Related Link` on Conference Custom Fields to tell the integration server which fields to sync to Touchpoint.
- The integration recognizes the FIRST link in a tagged custom field (Title → Related Link title; URL → Related Link URL). If you need multiple links, put each in its own custom field (one custom field per related link).
- If you add the tag after integration activation, run a mass action on sessions so the integration server reprocesses and syncs them.
- For registrant syncs, apply the `Touchpoint: Synced` tag to Registration Statuses that should be pulled into Touchpoint.
- Source: Session Related Links: Syncing from Platform to Touchpoint; Syncing Registrants to Touchpoint from Platform.
- Data transformation & governance
- You can transform and map data before sending/after receiving (Jolt transforms are used in API Fetch; Signal supports mapping and tagging).
- Tags provide governance and let you apply consistent flows across events without editing each event’s mapping.
Important operational notes
- Tags are central: set them at the account level and apply them to events/items you want included in flows.
- For Touchpoint related links, only the first link in a tagged custom field is recognized — multiple links require separate fields.
- For API Fetch, configure pagination, checkpointing (initial checkpoint value for the first run), and timeouts so incremental pulls resume correctly.
- Authentication: Signal connections use OAuth2 (recommended) or Basic credentials depending on the external system.
Sources
- [Session Related Links: Syncing from Platform to Touchpoint](https://platform-support.certain.com/hc/en-us/articles/4423228333335-Session-Related-Links-Syncing-from-Platform-to-Touchpoint)
- [API Fetch - Eloqua step by step configuration](https://platform-support.certain.com/hc/en-us/articles/15699604647959-API-Fetch-Eloqua-step-by-step-configuration)
- [Syncing Registrants to Touchpoint from Platform](https://platform-support.certain.com/hc/en-us/articles/360036369953-Syncing-Registrants-to-Touchpoint-from-Platform)
- [Signal Integration with Eloqua Guide](https://platform-support.certain.com/hc/en-us/articles/10901808925975)
- [Signal Integration with Marketo Guide](https://platform-support.certain.com/hc/en-us/articles/10901541136151)
- [Certain Signal: Event Data in Action (infographic PDF)](https://certain.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/signal_infographic_final.pdf#page=1)
Question for you
Which external system are you trying to sync with (Touchpoint, Eloqua, Marketo, CRM, or something else) so I can give step‑by‑step guidance?