Facebook Export Channel

This page explains how to configure and use the Facebook Export Channel in the Customer Data Platform (CDP). It provides step-by-step instructions for exporting audience data to Facebook, including setting up the integration, selecting audiences, and managing the data synchronization process.

The Facebook Export Channel enables clients to create segments on the HCL CDP UI and export them in real-time to their respective business managers.

Set up Facebook Export Channel

Set up through Access Token

To enable Facebook Export as a channel, please provide the following details to HCL CDP:

  • Access Token
  • Ad Account ID

Follow below steps to generate and manage access tokens:

Tip: If you already have an access token, you can skip the Access Token generation process.

Access Token

To generate the System User's Access Token, you need a Business Type App.

If you already have a Business Type App, proceed directly to the steps for generating the System User's Access Token. Otherwise, follow the instructions below to create an app first.

Create an APP

  1. On the Facebook Business Manager, navigate to Apps > AddButton > Create a new App ID.

  2. Select Business as the App Type, and click Next.

  3. Provide the appropriate DisplayName, and App contact email, and click Create App.

The next step is to create a System User. If you already have one, skip directly to the generate access token.

Generate System User’s Access Token:

  1. On the Facebook Business Settings page, click Users > System Users > Add, type the appropriate name, and select Admin as the user role.

Generate Access Token

  1. Navigate to System Users tab, click Admin System User > Generate new token, and select Business App from the drop-down list.

  2. Select read_insights, ads_read, and ads_management from the list of Available Permissions, and then click Generate AccessToken.

  3. Copy the Access Token displayed in the dialog box and share it with the HCL CDP team.
    Tip: Make sure to save the token after generating it, as it will not be visible in the UI later.

Add Ad Account ID

  1. Select Business Settings > Accounts > Ad Accounts.
  2. Select the Ad Account and share the associated account ID.

Set up through Partner Access

Pre-requisites

Share Facebook Business Partner Information

  • Contact Name
  • Contact Email
  • Partner Business ID. For more information about business ID, refer find your business ID.

Accept Partner Request

After receiving this information, HCL CDP will send a Partner Request. You need to accept the request and further share the Ad Account asset with HCL CDP.

Share Ad Account Assets with HCL CDP

  1. After you accept the Partner Request, you should see HCL CDP listed among your partners. Click the Partner, then select Share Assets.
  2. Under Asset Type, choose Ad accounts, and select the specific asset to share.
  3. Under Full Control, enable Manage Ad Account and click Save Changes.

Facebook Channel Setup at HCL CDP

To set up Facebook notifications, you'll first need to create an engagement.

  1. Navigate to HCL CDP > Activate drop-down> Channels. The Channel Summary tab opens by default.

  2. Click Facebook Export tab or click icon in the Facebook Export tab in the dashboard.
  3. Then, click +Add Engagement. A Create an Engagement pop-up appears.
  4. Now, select a segment from the Select Segment drop-down.

  5. Click Confirm and proceed to the next step.
  6. In the General Settings section, enter engagement name in the Engagement Name text box.
  7. Check the box and choose one of the export options to specify your export.

  8. In the Select Label drop-down list, select the desired label.
  9. Click Save to complete your engagement, which will now appear under the Facebook Export tab.
  10. In the Status column, you can activate or deactivate the engagement at any time using the toggle switch.
Tip: User identifiers enable you to locate existing users by gathering information like email addresses, mobile numbers, and more. Facebook hashes this data and matches it with your customer profiles, allowing you to target them for advertising.

To simplify tasks further, you can use macros in HCL CDP to automate repetitive actions.

Tip:
  • The Exported Audience will carry the same name as the Engagement Name.
  • Once the user moves out of the segment, then user will be automatically removed from the audience.
  • You can also set an Expiry (TTL) to remove users from the audience.

External ID

Facebook External ID (external_id) is a unique identifier that represents a user from other systems. Using External ID helps you create varied custom audiences on Facebook and improve match rates across channels. For more information about External ID benefits, refer here.

HCL CDP allows you to export HCL CDP User ID (viz_cookie_id) as a unique identifier for each user to Facebook as Facebook's external_id. Alternatively, you can select a custom variable to use as your own user identifier.

A Facebook Pixel ID is required to enable external ID use cases effectively.

To export External ID to Facebook via HCL CDP, follow the steps below:

  1. Under User Identifiers, select the External ID checkbox, when creating a Facebook Export engagement.
  2. Check the HCL CDP User ID checkbox to send the unique user ID to Facebook.
  3. If you want to send your own user ID stored in the user profile, choose the appropriate variable from the Select Macro drop-down.
Important: Since the campaign will be hosted on Facebook's UI, HCL CDP will not manage performance and reporting.

Journey Builder Support

Facebook Export can only be used as the final node in the user journey.

Supported Audience Exports

The Journey Builder supports exporting User Identifiers, as Segment Tagging requires the user to return to the website.