Amazon Ads Integration Guide for Detrics

When working with Amazon Ads data in Detrics, you might notice that your queries take significantly longer to execute compared to other data sources. This isn't due to the amount of data—after all, Amazon Ads queries are typically limited to a 60-day timeframe. The real reason is that Amazon seems to allocate fewer resources to their HTTP REST API, which is the only interface we can connect to Google Sheets.

Quick Navigation Index:

• Account Limitations and Our Solutions
• Why Do Amazon Ads Queries Take Longer?
• Best Practices for Amazon Ads Queries

Account Limitations and Our Solution

You might wonder why we limit the number of Amazon Ads accounts you can query at once. The reason is directly related to query execution time:

• Query Duration Limit: Our system has a maximum waiting time of 2 hours for any query. This limit ensures efficient use of resources and prevents indefinitely hanging queries.
• Multiple Account Impact: Querying multiple Amazon Ads accounts simultaneously can push the execution time beyond this 2-hour limit, especially given the slower response times of Amazon's API

To address this limitation and still provide you with the data you need, we've implemented the following solution:

• Account Chunking: We divide your queries into chunks, with each chunk containing data from up to 3 accounts.
• Sequential Processing: These chunks are processed sequentially, ensuring that each query stays within our 2-hour limit while still fetching data from all your accounts.

We understand this might not be as convenient as querying all accounts at once, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Unfortunately, this limitation is beyond our control due to the nature of Amazon's API and our commitment to maintaining system stability and efficiency.

Rest assured, we are continuously working on optimizing our processes and exploring ways to improve this experience. If you have any specific concerns or need assistance with managing queries across multiple accounts, please don't hesitate to reach out to our support team.

Why Do Amazon Ads Queries Take Longer?

When working with Amazon Ads data in Detrics, you might notice that your queries take significantly longer to execute compared to other data sources. This isn't due to the amount of data—after all, Amazon Ads queries are typically limited to a 60-day timeframe. The real reason is that Amazon seems to allocate fewer resources to their HTTP REST API, which is the only interface we can connect to Google Sheets.

Amazon's API, while reliable, isn't optimized for speed. This means that even simple queries can take some time to process. Unfortunately, this is beyond our control, but we've developed strategies to make this delay less disruptive to your workflow.

Best Practices for Amazon Ads Queries

1. Start Small, Then Expand: When querying data manually, it's best to start with a shorter timeframe, such as the last 7 days. This allows you to quickly access the table you need and make any necessary adjustments. Once you've finalized your query structure, you can increase the timeframe to your desired range when setting up the automated schedule.
2. Set it and Forget it: Once you've set up your Amazon Ads query, hit execute, and then feel free to close your spreadsheet window. The query will continue running in the background, and the data will be automatically written to your sheet when it's ready. There's no need to wait around—give it about 30 to 60 minutes, then come back to find your data ready for you. We're also working on adding a notification feature that will email you when your query is complete.
3. Bypass the 60-Day Data Retention Limit: To work around Amazon's 60-day data retention limit, you can use our "Append Data" feature to accumulate data over time. Here's how:
   • Set the timeframe to "yesterday"
   • Click on the small button with a "+" sign and two cells below the "Filters" section, located at the bottom right.
   • Choose the "Append Data" option.
   • Save the query and schedule it to run daily (e.g., tomorrow at 8 AM)
   This approach will allow you to build a historical dataset beyond the 60-day limit. For a more comprehensive past view, you can download 60 days of data in a separate sheet and consolidate it with your accumulated data using sheet formulas. If you need assistance with this process, our support team is ready to help.

Conclusion

While Amazon Ads queries may take longer due to API limitations, these best practices can help streamline your workflow. By starting with smaller queries, using the Append Data feature, setting up "set it and forget it" queries, and leveraging scheduled automations, you can efficiently manage your Amazon Ads data without letting slower execution times hold you back.

If you have any questions or encounter any issues, our support team is always here to help at support@detrics.io.