Transforming a Fragmented Marketing Cloud Setup into a Fully Automated, Data-Driven Engine with Salesforce

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Services:

Industry:

Entertainment

Location:

NY, USA

Client since:

2023

Business problem 

The client relied heavily on manual work for their marketing operations. Email sending, data preparation, and audience segmentation were performed manually, consuming significant time and creating delays in campaign execution. 

They faced several systemic issues inside Salesforce Marketing Cloud: 

icon Lack of expertise in data engineering

Decentralized, fragmented data

Subscriber consent and preference fields were spread across numerous Data Extensions. No single source of truth existed for understanding subscriber communication preferences.

icon Legacy software infrastructure

Outdated, non-synced consent data

Consent information was static and didn’t update in real time. Unsubscribes from core campaigns did not update preference fields, creating compliance risks.

Poor personalization

Data fragmentation prevented effective segmentation. Marketers struggled to build relevant, timely, and personalized campaigns. Manual processes slowed responses to market changes.

Operational inefficiency

Hours or days were spent performing tasks that should take minutes. The team was unable to scale or launch campaigns quickly.

Technical solution 

Tech stack: Automation Studio, SQL, Journey BuilderCloudPages & APIs.  

Data consolidation and master preferences table

Unified all subscriber consent fields into one “master preferences” Data Extension. Eliminated inconsistencies across legacy DEs and created a single source of truth.

Full automation of manual processes

Moved all repetitive tasks (import → transformation → segmentation → send prep) into scheduled automations. Reduced human error and improved reliability.

Improved segmentation and personalization

SQL-based targeting allowed for: 

  • granular segmentation, 
  • multi-attribute personalization, 
  • dynamic content variations, 
  • Enabled more relevant and timely communication.

Integrated ecosystem

Connected SFMC with CloudPages and external systems via API. Real-time updates improved preference accuracy and dynamic content logic.

Client enablement

Delivered documentation, training, and best practices. Enabled the team to manage campaigns independently. 

Business value 

The project transformed the client’s marketing operations from manual and reactive to streamlined, centralized, and data-driven. 

  • Campaign velocity increased significantly due to automation. 
  • Marketers spent time on strategy instead of repetitive operational tasks. 
  • Centralized data improved compliance and reduced risk. 
  • Higher engagement due to better personalization. 
  • Measurable improvements in efficiency and ROI. 

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