Ad spend data import

With Adjust's Data imports solution, you can upload your ad spend data and campaign information directly to Adjust. This is helpful if you measure ad spend with a partner that doesn't have an integration with Adjust.

When you import your ad spend data to our system, it brings it together with Adjust-measured data for more powerful insights and actionable reporting.

Important:
Adjust cannot verify the accuracy of the data you provide. You are responsible for the ad spend data you submit, that is matched and displayed in Adjust.

Before you begin

Here's what you need to know before getting started.

Requirements

  • You need to be on the SpendWorks Enterprise or Custom package to get the Ad spend data import solution on your account.
  • Admin or Editor permissions in Adjust.

Select a file sharing method

Use the instructions below to set up your preferred method to send ad spend data to Adjust.

Google Sheets

To accurately import your ad spend data to Adjust, you need to set up your Google Sheets file in a specific format and include key information.

  1. Create a Google Sheets file titled: [YourCompany]_[Network being integrated]_[Data type] data import.
    • Example: companyname_networkname_adspend_data_import
  2. Modify the Share settings to:
    • Share with View permissions to the automate.import@adjust.com email address.
  3. Use the Ad spend Data Imports template to build your CSV report in the correct format.
    • Ensure there are no commas (,) or dollar signs ($) in the document, as this will cause errors during the import.
    • Do not leave any empty rows between the rows of data.
    • Make sure there are no random cells filled outside the rows of data.
  4. Set up ad spend data import in Adjust.

Email | AWS Redshift | Direct link

  1. Use the ad spend data import template to build your CSV report in the correct format.
  2. Provide your Technical Account Manager with the following information:
    • The email address you'll send reports from.
    • The email address you'll send reports to. Adjust provides an address template that you can add an identifier to, so that only your reports are sent to that address.
      • Template: automate.import.sa+{your_recipient_identifier_here}@adjust.com
      • Example email address: automate.import.sa+14et85dc9ed48c0489ed4c@adjust.com. Replace 14et85dc9ed48c0489ed4c by your own recipient_identifier.
    • The time of day (including time zone) you'll send reports.
      • Adjust will schedule data pulls accordingly.
  3. Send reports to the Adjust email address you defined and shared with the Technical Account Manager.

Column formatting

Ensure that your CSV file contains the following parameters:

  • Required parameters - date, campaign_name, store_id, store_type, ad_spend
  • Recommended - campaign_id
    • Specify a unique campaign_id for each campaign.
  • All other fields can be left empty if you don't receive them from the network.
Column TitleData TypeComments
Required parameters
datestringDate in yyyy-mm-dd format


  • Example: 2024-07-01
  • campaign_namestringName of the campaign
    store_idstringApple App Store ID, Google Play Store ID or the web app ID


  • For web apps, the value of the store_id needs to follow this format: web_{adjust_app_token}
  • store_typestring
    Possible values: “google_play”, “app_store” or “web”
    ad_spenddecimalTotal Ad Spend to report, based on the “currency” parameter selected. Use decimal point (not comma) for separator.

    Do not leave this field blank, use `0` if no value.
    Recommended parameter
    campaign_idstringID of the campaign
    • Specify a unique campaign_id for each campaign.
    Optional parameters
    countrystringTwo-digit ISO 3166 country code


  • Example: FR
  • adgroup_namestringName of the adgroup
    adgroup_idstringID of the adgroup
    ad_namestringName of the ad/creative
    ad_idstringID of the ad/creative
    source_namestringName of the source/sub publisher app
    source_idstringID of the source/sub publisher app
    data_typestringIndicates if the data is SKAN-specific or not.

    Possible values: skan, non_skan, unknown.

    Default: unknown
    currencystring3-letter code (ISO 4217), default is USD
    impressionsintegerNumber of ad impressions in the app


  • Example: 1000
  • clicksintegerNumber of ad clicks in the app


  • Example: 10
  • installsintegerNumber of app installs


  • Example: 1000
  • Set up ad spend data import

    Follow the steps in this section if you want to send ad spend data to Adjust via Google Sheets.

    1. Under DataWorks, select Data imports.
    2. Select New data import.
    3. Under Data type, select Ad Spend.
    4. Select a partner from the list.
      • If you do not see your partner in the list, reach out to your Account Manager to get this partner added.
    5. In the Google Sheets link field, paste the correct Google Sheets link that you set up.
    6. Now, select Check table to validate your Google Sheets file. Any errors in your file would be displayed here, and you need to correct them, before you can go to the next step.
    7. Under Frequency, choose how often should the data import process run automatically.
      • Select Daily, and choose a time in UTC. When you choose to run a daily import, data is checked daily at the selected time. The import process runs only if 24 hours have passed since the last import.
      • Select Weekly, and choose a day and then time in UTC. When you choose to run a weekly import, data is checked weekly at the selected time. The import process runs only if a week has passed since the last import.
    8. Select Create data import.

    You're all set! Now, Adjust pulls data for the last 7 days automatically. If you want to modify this lookback window, reach out to support@adjust.com.

    Adjust displays ad spend data in Datascape automatically. You don't need to integrate the Adjust SDK into your app or create an Adjust link for your partner in Campaign Lab.

    View and manage your data import setup

    1. Go to DataWorks > Data imports. This page displays a list of all data imports that you've set up. This page gives you an overview of the following:

      • ID - The identifier of the data import. Always share the ID with your Technical Account Manager if you have questions or need to discuss issues.
      • Partner - The name of the advertising network for which you're importing ad spend data.
      • Ad account - The ad account of the partner.
      • Frequency - The frequency at which the data import process is run automatically.
      • Data type - The type of data. In this case, ad spend data.
      • Source type - The source of ad spend data. Example: Google Sheets
      • Last import - The last time when the data import process ran successfully.
      • Failed imports - The number of the times the data import process failed to complete.
        • None - Denotes that the data import process has never failed.
        • Failed - Denotes the number of times that the data import process failed. Under Actions, select (more icon) > Open to view the reasons for a failed import.
    2. On the Data imports page, under Actions, select (more icon) > Open to view a specific data import. You can perform the following tasks for this data import:

      • Select (delete icon) to delete the data import setup.
      • Select Edit import to edit the import setup configuration.
      • Under the Import settings section, you can:
        • View your import settings, and turn on or turn off the automatic data import process.
        • View the import log with details of all import processes run till date. This section displays the time at which the import process was run, and the period for which data was imported. For all successful imports, select View imported data to view imported data in reports in Datascape. For all failed imports, select Check error details to view and resolve errors in the data import process.
    3. On the Data imports page, under Actions, select (more icon) and then:

      • Select Edit to edit an existing import setup configuration.
      • Select Delete to delete the data import setup.

    Campaign mapping

    When Adjust receives ad spend data, we attempt to connect it to available aggregated campaign data. This matching of ad spend data to attribution data can be performed using different methods: an automated matching service or custom mapping.

    Automated mapping

    Our automated campaign matching handles data from the Report Service API. This includes:

    • Attribution data
    • Ad spend reported by Network APIs

    The matching is done primarily using the campaign ID and campaign name. Since this matching is performed automatically, no setup is required.

    Custom mapping

    In cases where automated matching cannot be performed, Adjust can set up custom mappings. For example, if a network API only shares the campaign_id which cannot be matched to the Adjust campaign_name.

    Provide one of the following pieces of information to your Adjust Technical Account Manager:

    • Your networks' campaign ID or adgroup ID.
    • The corresponding Adjust campaign name.
    • The Adjust adgroup name.

    Your Technical Account Manager will then set up the mapping in Adjust so that you see all your ad spend data in one place, giving you a full overview of your ad spend information.

    Custom mappings are created and managed directly in Adjust using information you provide. We can match data in one of the following ways depending on the data you provide:

    Adjust informationNetwork information
    campaign namecampaign ID
    adgroup nameadgroup ID
    Tip:
    For the best results, include your campaign ID in your campaign name. This helps Adjust match ad spend and aggregated data automatically. Use the following structure for the best results: {campaign_name}_{campaign_id}.