Onboarding

Understanding your data timeline

Overview When you first connect your data sources to Datadrew, it takes some time before your dashboards are fully populated. This article explains the data timeline — from connection to when you can start making decisions based on your analytics. The data pipeline stages Your data goes through three stages before it appears on your dashboards: Stage 1: Extraction (sync) Datadrew pulls data from each connected platform. This is the "Syncing" status you see on the Integrations page. The time depends on the platform and the volume of data: - Shopify — 15 minutes to 6 hours (depends on order volume) - Facebook Ads — 30 minutes to 3 hours - Google Ads — 30 minutes to 3 hours - Google Analytics 4 — 30 minutes to 2 hours Stage 2: Transformation After raw data is extracted, it goes through a transformation process. This is where Datadrew calculates metrics, blends data across platforms, builds cohort tables, computes RFM segments, and prepares everything for your dashboards. Transformations run automatically after each sync and typically take 15-30 minutes. Stage 3: Dashboard refresh Once transformations are complete, your dashboards and reports are updated with the latest data. This happens automatically — simply refresh your browser to see the newest numbers. Timeline from connection to first insights | | | | --- | --- | | Milestone | Time after connecting | | Integration shows "Connected" | Immediately | | First sync begins | Within minutes | | Shopify data on dashboard | 30 minutes to 6 hours | | Ad platform data on dashboard | 1 to 4 hours | | GA4 data on Website Traffic report | 1 to 3 hours | | Blended metrics fully populated | 2 to 6 hours | | Cohort analysis tables ready | 2 to 6 hours | | RFM segments calculated | 2 to 6 hours | | Product Performance with ad data | 2 to 6 hours | Historical data When you first connect a platform, Datadrew imports your historical data — not just data from the day you connect. This means: - Shopify: Your full order history is imported, giving you cohort analysis and LTV data going back to your store's first order. - Facebook Ads: Historical ad performance data is imported, typically going back several months. - Google Ads: Historical campaign data is imported based on your account's available history. - Google Analytics 4: Historical data is imported based on the GA4 property's available date range. Note: The amount of historical data available depends on the platform. For example, GA4 retains data based on your property settings (typically 2 or 14 months). Facebook Ads retains data going back to the start of your account. Ongoing data freshness After the initial setup period, your data refreshes on a daily schedule: - Daily syncs pull new and updated records from each platform - Transformations run after each sync to update metrics - Dashboards reflect the latest data within minutes of transformation completing For near-real-time data, the Hourly Performance dashboard refreshes more frequently throughout the day. For live data from Klaviyo and Google Search Console, Drew AI queries the platform APIs directly, so answers are always up to the minute. What to do while data is loading While waiting for your initial syncs to complete, you can: - Connect additional data sources (Facebook Ads, Google Ads, GA4, Klaviyo, Google Search Console) - Invite team members (Settings > Invite Member) - Book an onboarding call with our team - Explore the sidebar to familiarize yourself with the available reports - Try Drew AI — it works as soon as your first data sync is complete Need help? If your data has not appeared after the expected timeframe, or if something looks off, contact us at support@datadrew.io or use the in-app chat. We can check your sync status and make sure everything is on track. Related articles - Understanding data sync and freshness - Understanding data delays and sync schedules - Your first 7 days with Datadrew - Why is today's data not available?

Book a call for onboarding or audit

Overview Getting the most out of Datadrew is easier with a guided walkthrough. Our team offers free onboarding calls to help you set up your integrations, explore your dashboards, and understand the insights most relevant to your business. What to expect on an onboarding call An onboarding call is a 30-minute one-on-one session with a member of the Datadrew team. During the call, we will: - Review your setup — We will check that all your integrations are connected correctly and data is syncing properly. - Walk through your dashboards — We will give you a guided tour of the dashboard, ad reports, and customer analytics tailored to your store's data. - Show you Drew AI — We will demonstrate how to use Drew AI to ask questions about your business and get instant answers. - Answer your questions — Bring any questions about your data, metrics, or how to interpret specific reports. We are here to help. - Share recommendations — Based on your store's data, we may suggest specific reports or features that are most valuable for your business. How to book a call There are several ways to schedule an onboarding call: Option 1: From the onboarding flow When you first set up Datadrew, the onboarding steps include a "Book an onboarding call" task. Click on it to open the scheduling page. Option 2: From the setup widget On your Dashboard, the setup widget includes a task to book an onboarding call. Click the task card to open the booking link. Option 3: Via email Send an email to support@datadrew.io and ask to schedule an onboarding call. We will reply with available times. Option 4: Via in-app chat Use the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of Datadrew to request an onboarding call. Our team will respond with scheduling options. Data audit calls In addition to onboarding, we also offer data audit calls for existing users. During a data audit, we will: - Review your current Datadrew setup and integrations - Identify opportunities to improve your analytics workflow - Walk through advanced features you may not be using (RFM segmentation, Klaviyo sync, product performance, etc.) - Help interpret specific data trends or anomalies Data audit calls are available for all paid plans. To request one, email support@datadrew.io or use the in-app chat. Preparing for your call To make the most of your onboarding or audit call, we recommend: 1. Install Datadrew and connect at least one integration before the call. This way, we will have real data to work with during the session. 2. Write down your goals. What do you want to learn from your data? Which metrics matter most to your business? 3. Note any questions you have about your current analytics setup or specific reports. Tip: You do not need to have everything set up before booking a call. We can help you connect integrations and configure your account during the session. Need help? To book a call or ask about our onboarding process, reach out to us at support@datadrew.io or use the in-app chat. Related articles - Your first 7 days with Datadrew - Installing Datadrew from the Shopify App Store - Contacting support - Understanding your data timeline

Your first 7 days with Datadrew

Overview Congratulations on installing Datadrew! Your first week is the best time to set up your integrations, explore your dashboards, and start getting actionable insights from your data. Here is a day-by-day guide to help you make the most of Datadrew from the start. Day 1: Install and connect your core data sources 1. Install Datadrew from the Shopify App Store and create your account. 2. Your Shopify data starts syncing automatically. No action needed — orders, customers, and products begin importing in the background. 3. Connect your ad platforms. Go to Integrations and connect Facebook Ads and Google Ads. This takes just a few clicks per platform. 4. Connect Google Analytics 4 to bring in website traffic and conversion data. Tip: Connecting all your data sources on Day 1 means your dashboards will be fully populated by the time you come back on Day 2. Day 2: Explore your dashboard 1. Open the Dashboard from the sidebar. You should now see your blended ad metrics, Shopify revenue, and customer breakdowns. 2. Try the date picker — switch between "Last 7 days," "Last 30 days," and custom ranges to see how your metrics change. 3. Review the setup widget on the dashboard. It shows your remaining onboarding tasks and suggested next steps. Day 3: Meet Drew AI 1. Click Drew AI in the sidebar to open your AI analytics assistant. 2. Ask your first question. Try something like: - "What were my total sales last month?" - "Which products have the highest ROAS?" - "How does my Facebook Ads performance compare to Google Ads?" 3. Experiment. Drew AI can answer questions about orders, customers, products, ads, and marketing — all using your actual data. Day 4: Dive into acquisition reports 1. Go to Acquisition > Ads > Blended Summary to see your cross-platform ad performance. 2. Check Product Performance under Acquisition to see which products generate the best return on ad spend. 3. Review Website Traffic (if GA4 is connected) to understand your traffic sources and conversion rates. Day 5: Understand your customers 1. Go to Retention > Customer > RFM Analysis to see your customer segments. Champions are your best customers; At Risk customers need attention. 2. Check New vs. Returning Customers to understand your retention rate. 3. Explore Cohort Analysis under Retention to see how customer groups from different months continue to spend over time. Day 6: Set up automation and team access 1. Set up Scheduled Reports. Go to Settings > Scheduled Reports to configure automated weekly email reports for your team. 2. Invite team members. Go to Settings > Invite Member to add colleagues to your Datadrew workspace. 3. Configure Global Filters if needed. Go to Settings > Global Filters to exclude test orders or specific sales channels from your analytics. Day 7: Connect remaining sources and refine 1. Connect Klaviyo (if you use it) to ask Drew AI about email marketing performance. 2. Connect Google Search Console to get organic search insights via Drew AI. 3. Book an onboarding call with our team if you want a personalized walkthrough. You can schedule one from the onboarding widget or by emailing support@datadrew.io. 4. Explore Industry Benchmarks to see how your store compares to similar Shopify merchants. What to do next After your first week, you will have a fully set up Datadrew workspace with all your key data sources connected. From here: - Use the Dashboard as your daily check-in for store performance - Ask Drew AI whenever you have a question about your business - Review Product Performance and Cohort Analysis weekly to spot trends - Check RFM segments monthly and use them to target customers in Klaviyo Need help? If you get stuck at any point during your first week, reach out to us at support@datadrew.io or use the in-app chat. We are happy to help you get the most out of Datadrew. Related articles - Installing Datadrew from the Shopify App Store - Understanding the Datadrew dashboard overview - Book a call for onboarding or audit - Understanding your data timeline