Glossary
Some useful terms to understand:
Term | Description |
Channels | Ways to communicate with a contact, for example, email or SMS. |
Channel identifiers | Contact data that allows communication, for example, email address or mobile number. |
Unified contacts | The new contact model in Dotdigital. Instead of separate SMS contacts and email contacts, a single contact record can store both an email address and a mobile number against it. |
Broadcast SMS | SMS messages sent manually to an audience you select. |
Triggered SMS | SMS messages sent automatically by automated programs or auto-responders. |
Scenario | A Dotdigital account data and channel usage configuration. |
Why merge contacts
The new Dotdigital with unified contacts allows you to unify separate contact data into one single contact record, no matter what channels they have.
To take full advantage of the new Dotdigital, you should merge your existing SMS and email contacts into unified contacts.
The merging process
This guide is designed to help you navigate the transition to unified contacts and merge your contacts smoothly. The merging process uses a number of Dotdigital’s features:
Contact imports
Segments
Contact deletions
Custom data fields
Merging your data allows you to combine an SMS contact with a corresponding email contact into a single unified contact record.
You have complete control over which data is merged and with which contact.
Merging scenarios
The best way to merge your contact data depends on how you’ve been using Dotdigital up to this point. There are a number of different configurations, which we refer to as scenarios.
If at any point during the merge process you’re not sure how to complete the task you’re doing, then contact your Customer Success Manager for help.
Our goal is to ensure a smooth and successful transition for you.
Scenarios
Scenario | Account conditions | Merging instructions |
1. SMS and Email contacts using Broadcast SMS and Triggered SMS in automations | Your account:
| |
2. SMS and email contacts using SMS campaigns but not SMS automations | Your account:
| |
3. Email contacts in Dotdigital, while collecting SMS data outside of Dotdigital | Your account:
but you:
| |
5. Using send SMS action node in live programs | Your account:
|