From Data to Action: Using AppExchange App Analytics API Effectively

“Data really powers everything that we do.” — Jeff Weiner.

The saying that never gets old. The more the data, the better the analytics and best is the solution. Especially if you are an independent software vendor (ISV), App analytics is the key to give your business a boost. You can get to know how your users are interacting, check on attrition risks and accordingly make the feature development decisions with salesforce analytics.

How to get through that?

Salesforce AppExchange is the marketplace for you!

A few years back, Salesforce Company released a new tool important for its Salesforce partners: AppExchange App Analytics. This API provides the Analytics for Salesforce ISV partners like how subscribers interact with their app exchange solutions.

Having such data can provide quite a benefit to partners. Not just will it help you identify the churn risks, but you can better up the user experience. Therefore, Good Business. Once you know how your subscribers are using the app, the sky is the limit.

Let’s see all about AppExchange App Analytics API and how you can make use of it to the fullest.

AppExchange App Analytics API: The Ever-Needed Tool

App Analytics in Salesforce ecosystem provide partners with deep insights on how your subscribers interact with your AppExchange managed packages and their contents. It gives a user interface to submit requests, view the status of query requests and retrieve requested analytics data.

With AppExchange App Analytics API, you get an intuitive, robust way to monitor and optimize your Salesforce ISV Application. It empowers you to make informed decisions that enhance user experience, drive engagement, and ultimately, elevate your business performance.

Here are some common cases where App Analytics can be of great use:

Presales Engineer or Account Executive:

Gain insights into how potential customers are interacting with trial versions of your app, helping you tailor your sales pitch and increase conversion rates.

Customer Success Representative:

Monitor customer health and salesforce apps usage patterns to provide proactive support and prevent churn.

Product Manager:

Leverage analytics to make informed decisions on product development, prioritizing features that drive the most engagement.

Software Engineer:

Use detailed logs and usage data to identify and fix bugs, optimize performance, and ensure your app runs smoothly for all users.

How to Get Started with AppExchange App Analytics API

If you’re new to such Salesforce integrations, setting it up might seem overwhelming, but it’s a straightforward process once you know the steps. Here's a clear and detailed step to help you navigate through the setup and make the most of it.

1. Accessing AppExchange App Analytics API

Log into Salesforce: Use your Salesforce credentials to access the Partner Community.

Navigate to AppExchange: Once logged in, head to the AppExchange portal. If you can’t find it, use the search bar in the top-left corner to locate it quickly.

Access the App Analytics Dashboard: In the AppExchange, go to the “Manage Packages” section. Here, you’ll see an option for “AppExchange App Analytics.” Click on this to open the analytics dashboard.

2. Enabling Analytics for Your Package

Not all packages are automatically enabled for App Analytics. If your package isn’t showing up in the dashboard, you’ll need to enable analytics. Here’s how:

Log a Case in Partner Community: To enable analytics for your package, you’ll need to create a support case within the Salesforce Partner Community. Provide all necessary details, such as the package name and the reason for enabling analytics. Salesforce will review and activate the analytics feature for your package.

Wait for Confirmation: Once you’ve logged onto the case, you’ll receive confirmation from Salesforce after your package is enabled. This process might take a few days, so plan accordingly.

Note: Before diving into the tool, ensure that you have appropriately followed the instructions on ISVForce Guide for App Analytics. Also, make sure your packages have passed the Security Review and registered to a License Management App (LMA).

You can also directly get access to app analytics through AppInsights in just a few taps. Contact us and let’s chat!

3. Accessing Your Query Requests

Once you’ve accessed AppExchange App Analytics API, you’ll be greeted by a dashboard that categorizes your existing query requests. These categories help you stay organized and track the status of your queries:

Active Requests: These are queries that are currently being processed. You can monitor them in real-time to understand where they stand in the pipeline.

All Requests: This section displays every query you’ve ever submitted, both past and present. It’s your comprehensive history of data requests.

Expired Requests: Here, you’ll find queries that are no longer valid. This is useful for tracking down historical data that you might need to resubmit or reference for further analysis.

Requests with Errors: This category is crucial for identifying any queries that issues encountered during processing. If something goes wrong, this is where you can diagnose and troubleshoot the problem.

4. Submitting a New Analytics Query Request

If you need fresh data, you can submit a new app analytics query request. The process is straightforward but powerful in its flexibility:

Custom Object Usage Summary:

This feature allows you to discover how many customers are accessing your custom objects (i.e., specific features or data structures that you’ve created within your app). You can see not just the number of users, but also what operations they are performing. For example, if you’ve developed a custom object for managing customer feedback, this summary will tell you how often it’s being used and in what ways. This insight helps you assess the value of your features and adjust your development priorities accordingly.

Custom Object Usage Log:

This log provides a deeper dive into user behavior by analyzing data from custom object usage log files. These logs track user interactions in detail, which can be invaluable for understanding adoption rates and identifying trends over time. For example, if you notice that usage of a particular feature spikes after you release an update, you can infer that the update was well-received.

Note: The logs list activities for a maximum of 7 days within each 24-hour period, allowing you to capture snapshots of user behavior. This limitation means you need to be strategic about when you pull data, especially if you’re tracking changes over time.

5. Selecting a Timeframe for Your Query

When submitting a query, you have the option to define a specific timeframe for the data you want to analyze. This is essential for tracking trends or comparing performance before and after a particular event (like a feature release or marketing campaign).

If you don’t specify an end date, the system will automatically pull all data from your chosen start date up to the present moment. This is useful for continuous monitoring but can also generate large datasets, so be prepared for longer processing times if you choose this option.

6. Understanding the Package List

The Package List shows all packages you stored in your AppExchange account. These packages represent different versions or configurations of your app that are available to your subscribers.

However, only the packages with analytics enabled will be available for query requests. So, if you find that your package isn’t listed, you’ll need to log a case in to the Salesforce Partner Community to get analytics enabled for that package. This ensures you have access to the most relevant data for your app.

7. Filtering the Subscriber List

Once you’ve selected a package, the system will filter the Subscriber List to show only the subscribers who are associated with that package. This filtering helps you narrow down your analysis to the most relevant users.

You have two options:

View All Subscribers: This option lets you see every subscriber associated with the selected package. It’s useful if you want to conduct a broad analysis.

Select a Subset of Subscribers: If you’re interested in focusing on a specific group (for example, a set of enterprise clients), you can choose a subset of up to 15 subscribers. This targeted approach is particularly useful for testing hypotheses or conducting in-depth studies.

Note: You must select at least one subscriber or one package to submit a request. You cannot select all packages and all subscribers at the same time due to system constraints. This ensures that your queries remain focused and manageable.

8. Submitting Your Request

After setting all your parameters, including the timeframe, package, and subscriber selections, you’re ready to submit your request. Once you click Submit, your query enters the processing stage.

Processing times vary depending on the amount of data being analyzed. For large datasets or complex queries, expect some delays. However, the system will notify you once your request is complete.

9. Viewing and Downloading the Data

Once your request has been processed, you can view the details by clicking on the relevant entry in your query list. The details page provides a summary of the request, including:

Request State: This will show whether the query is still processed or complete.

Request Type: You get to see the nature of the query, such as whether it was focused on custom object usage or another metric.

Submission Date: Check for when the request was made.

Selected Packages and Subscribers: A recap of which packages and subscribers were included in the query.

You will also see a Download URL that allows you to retrieve the data you requested.

Important: The URL expires 15 minutes after it is generated, so be sure to download the data promptly. Once downloaded, you can analyze the data using any tool you prefer, such as AppInsights or other analytics platforms. This flexibility allows you to integrate the data into your existing workflows and reporting structures.

Final Thoughts

AppExchange App Analytics API provides a treasure trove of data that can transform how you manage and improve your app on the Salesforce platform. By understanding how to navigate and utilize this tool effectively, you can gain valuable insights into user behavior, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions that drive your business forward.

Whether you're a product manager looking to prioritize features, a customer success representative aiming to reduce churn, or a software engineer focused on performance, App Analytics tools like App Insights is all you need to succeed.