Report Builder

Enabling decision-making and allowing users the opportunity to investigate and solve all kinds of identified issues, reporting has stood out as a turnkey solution since time immemorial. The process of reporting begins by compiling and reviewing the information within a specific functional area where performance is monitored and measured. Once the gathered information has been reviewed, conclusions are drawn and recommendations are made. The reports might end up explaining why an issue has occurred and eventually will recommend a course of action to fight the same.

On this front, the Zeta Marketing Platform has its very own Report Builder, which is a flexible, ad hoc reporting tool that allows users to build their own Customer Marketing, Prospect Marketing, Programmatic, Customer Data Management, Website - Overlay, and Website- In Page reports in the Zeta Marketing Platform.

Choose from hundreds of metrics and dimensions, dynamic and fixed date ranges, exhaustive filters, and data visualizations to surface only the most important data.

Navigating

To get to the Report Builder, follow these steps within the ZMP:

1. From the menu on the left, navigate to Analytics > Report Builder.

2. This will open the reports list page. All your saved or automated reports will be displayed here. To build a new report click on the Build A Report button on the top-right.

Depending on your permissions and Zeta products configuration, the navigation menu may vary.

Building

Now that you’re in the Report Builder, you can begin building a report.

If this is your first time in the Report Builder, you’ll see the Feature Exploration guide that highlights important aspects of the Report Builder and gets updated with new releases. 

Check the 'Do not show this again' box to stop the Feature Exploration guide from opening automatically. 

Builder

The Builder is the tool you can use to design your report. The Builder can be moved anywhere on the screen. It can be resized however you would like. It can also be collapsed to either the right or left side of the screen (report content will adjust when the Builder is collapsed so that you have a clear view of your content).  

Narrative

This section shows a clear narrative for the report you’re building. As you select the report parameters like metrics, dimensions, filters, date range, etc. in your report, the Narrative will automatically update. The colored pills are interactive. Metrics, dimensions, filters, and forecasts can all be removed by hovering over the pill. When you click on data, dates, and visualizations from the narrative you will be taken to that tab. 

• By default, the Narrative is in Narrative View but can be switched to List View which will show the parameters in a list instead of a sentence format. The Narrative can be popped out into its own window that can be moved and resized as needed, separate from the rest of the Builder.  Clicking on the colored pills while the narrative is popped out will still control the Builder. 

At any time you can copy the narrative to a clipboard in order to more easily share insights. 

Data

Below the Narrative, you can see the Data, where you will select the data you want to build your report on. On the left side of the screen, you’ll notice that the Data Panel is open.

To collapse the Builder, drag it to either the left or right side of the screen or click on the x in the top right side of the component.  The following data sets are available by default for users to select from: 

Metrics

The Metrics tab is where you can select all the metrics you would like included in your report. In order for a table to populate, you will need to select at least one metric and one dimension.

Dimensions

The Dimensions tab is where you can select all the dimensions you would like included in your report. In order for a table to populate, you will need to select at least one metric and one dimension.

The Metrics & Dimensions Dictionary is always available for your reference.

Filters

Once you have made your metric and dimension selections, you can filter your data in the Filters tab.

You can add more filters by selecting the + Add Filter button. When adding a new filter, you can adjust the and/or operator. To remove a filter, click on the action menu to the right of the filter and select Delete from the dropdown.

The filters below are not currently supported for Programmatic reports:

• Does not contain

• Contains one of

• Starts with

• Ends with

• Lesser than or equal

• Greater than or equal

• Between

You can add more filter options or a new filter by selecting the + Add new filter button again or by clicking on the + button above the first filter.

By adding a new filter, you must select and/or as your operator.

OR operators are not supported in the Programmatic Report Type.

To remove a filter, click on Clear on the top right side of the filter box.

Please note that some metric filters only allow numeric values

Visualizations

The Visualizations tab allows you to customize and add new visualizations to your report. You can add up to three visualizations to your report. Visualization options are as follows: 

Table:

You can add a name to your table and select whether or not you would like totals to be displayed. 

Table view is the default view. If the table is selected, users will need to make dimension and metric selections before being able to change the type of data visualization shown.

Line Chart:

You can adjust the Y-and X-Axis values for your line chart as well as give it a name in the right panel of the modal.

Bar Chart:

You can adjust the Y-and X-Axis values for your bar chart as well as give it a name in the right panel of the modal.

Additional Information on Line and Bar Charts

There are three customization options you can make in the Bar and Line charts to refine what is shown. These options are Y-Axis 1, X-Axis, and Y-Axis 2.  

• Y-Axis 1: this is the left-most axis on the chart.  

  • By default, the first metric in the Builder is pre-selected in the Y-Axis 1 field.  

  • You can select up to 10 metrics in the Y-Axis 1 field 

    • The metrics you selected in the Builder are the only metrics that show up in either Y-Axis field dropdown.  

    • All 10 metrics need to be in the same category. You can find more information on the number categories below.  

  • If you only select 1 metric in the Y-Axis 1 field, you can select one additional metric of the same or different number category in the Y-Axis 2 field.  

• X-Axis: this is the bottom axis on the chart.  

  • By default, the first dimension in the Builder is pre-selected in the X-Axis field.  

  • You can select only 1 dimension in the X-Axis field.  

• Y-Axis 2: this is the right-most axis on the chart.  

  • By default, nothing is selected in the Y-Axis 2 field.  

  • You can select only 1 metric in the Y-Axis 2 field. 

    • You must have only 1 metric selected in the Y-Axis 1 field in order to make this additional selection in the Y-Axis 2 field.  

    • The metrics you selected in the builder are the only metrics that show up in either Y-Axis field dropdown.   

    • The metric you select in the Y-Axis 2 field does not need to be the same number category as the metric selected in the Y-Axis 1 field.   

Whenever changes are made in the Bar Chart Options, you need to click on Apply to see those changes in the chart. 

Number Categories

Number categories refer to the way numerical values are represented in Report Builder. Some number categories you’ll see in Report Builder are:  

• Averages (AOV, Average Opens, Average Clicks, etc.) 

• Counts (Impressions, Clicks, Bounced, etc.) 

• Percentages (Open Rate, Click Rate, Conversion Rate, etc.) 

• Monetary (Revenue, Spend, ROAS, etc.)  

This is an important distinction in data visualization as some number categories lose value when displayed on the same axis in bar and line charts. For example, a common use case would be to compare Sent (categorized as a count number) to Delivered Rate (categorized as a rate number) over a period of time so marketers can determine if fluctuations in send volume have an impact on their ability to deliver emails to the inbox (hint: it usually has a huge negative impact). If both Sent and Delivered Rates were on the same Y-Axis, the charts would be very hard to interpret (Example 1). Adding a second Y-Axis, allows us to view and interpret data quickly and easily (Example 2). 

Dates

In the Dates tab of the Builder, you can select a dynamic or fixed date range. By default, new reports have the dynamic date range Last 30 days applied.

All dynamic date range options include today’s (as in, the day you are building the report) data excluding yesterday’s, which includes only the day before today’s data.

Fixed Date Ranges

To select a Fixed Date Range, scroll to the end of the Dynamic Date Range list and click on Select date range. Then, select your start and end dates using the calendar tool.

Forecasts

In the Forecasts tab of the Builder, you can select metrics from a limited list to forecast 1, 7, or 30 days out for Customer Marketing or Media Activation reports. 

Forecastable Metrics in Customer Marketing: 

• Click Rate

• Conversions

• Opens

• Sent

In order to forecast these metrics you must also have at least one of these dimensions selected. If you do not, the Builder will autoselect them for you. Removing the required dimension will remove the forecasted metric as well. 

• Campaign ID

• Channel Name

 Forecastable Metrics in Media Activation: 

• Impressions

• Click Rate

• Conversion Rate

 In order to forecast these metrics you must also have at least one of these dimensions selected. If you do not, the Builder will autoselect them for you. Removing the required dimension will remove the forecasted metric as well. 

• Device

• Hour

• Deliver Channel 

Parameters

Depending on the data type you selected in the Data tab, you may see an additional tab called Parameters. in this tab, you can make additional selections specific to that dataset. 

Feedback

We are always looking to optimize your experience while building reports. Let us know if you like the new Builder component by making a selection on the bottom left side of the Builder. Once a selection has been made the feedback option will disappear. 

If you see the feedback option again in the future that means we've made an update and would love to know what you think of it! 

Exporting

There are two ways to share your report: during building and from the Reports list. 

Exporting While Building

In the top right corner select Export/Automate from the action menu.

Exporting from Reports List

In the Reports list, click on the action menu in the row with your report and click on Export/Automate.

As the Export & Automate panel appears on the right:

Select the way in which you want to receive your report: Amazon S3, Microsoft Azure Blob Storage, Email, Google Buckets, or SFTP, and click on Next.

Email

1. If you wish to export your report via Email, add the recipient’s Email Address(s), Email Subject, and Comments (Optional) to be included within your report.

2. Select the file type for your report: CSV or XLS.

3. Click on Export.

Amazon S3

Make sure you’ve set up Amazon S3 connections for your ZMP account from within Settings > Connections.

1. If you wish to export your report via Amazon S3, select the Amazon S3 Connection from the dropdown and click on Next.

2. Select the file type for your report: CSV or XLS.

3. Click on Export.

Microsoft Azure Blob Storage

Make sure you’ve set up Microsoft Azure connections for your ZMP account from within Settings > Connections.

1. If you wish to export your report via Microsoft Azure, select Microsoft Azure Blob Storage from the dropdown and click on Next.

2. Select the desired Microsoft Azure Blob Storage Connection from the available list and click on Next.

3. Select the file type for your report: CSV or XLS.

4. Click on Save As & Export.

Google Buckets

1. If you wish to export your report via Google Buckets, select the Google Buckets Connection from the dropdown and click on Next.

2. Select the file type for your report: CSV or XLS.

3. Click on Export.

SFTP

Make sure you’ve set up SFTP connections for your ZMP account from within Settings > Connections.

1. If you wish to export your report via SFTP, select the SFTP Connection from the dropdown and click on Next.

2. Click on Add Subdirectory to choose the address the SFTP connection should link out to.

3. Select the file type for your report: CSV or XLS.

4. Click on Export.

Automating

To schedule your report for continued delivery, use the Automate Export feature.

1. Within the Export & Automate panel, click on the Automate Export toggle.

2. Select the cadence at which you want to receive your report, and fill in the required respective details.

Daily

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Yearly

3. Click on Schedule Export.

When scheduling the automated report, ensure that the scheduled automation occurs one hour after the current timezone set for the account.

Saving

To save your newly created report for later viewing, use the Save feature. In the Save modal, you will see the report Details on the left and the Narrative on the right.

1. In the top right corner, click on the Save button.

2. Add a Name for your report

3. Add a Question for your report. This is to help determine what business question the reports helps answer. This is optional. 

4. Add a description of your report. This is optional. 

5. If you would like to save your report as a template then check the Save as Template checkbox. 

• Templates require dynamic date ranges, so if you do not have one selected you will be prompted to make that selection before being able to save as a template. 

Report List

You can manage all of your previously saved and automated reports in the Report List.

Viewing Report Details

1. Click anywhere on a report row to pop open the About section of the report.

Editing a Report

1. Within the action menu, select Edit to open the Report Builder screen.

2. Once you’ve made the necessary edits, click on Save to save the report with the name and description as is.

3. Click on Save As from the dropdown to change the report’s Name and Description in the popup that appears. Any changes made to the saved report's name or description will save a new report.

Deleting a Report

1. Within the action menu on the far right, select Delete.

2. In the popup, you can confirm your deletion by clicking on Yes, Delete or Cancel.

• Metrics and Dimensions Dictionary

• Check out our FAQs page to find all your answers at once.