When it comes to data segmentation in Salesforce Marketing Cloud (SFMC), you have the option of utilizing an “Out of the Box” Filtered Data Extension (DE) in Email Studio or creating a Selection in DESelect Segment.
In this article, we will explore the key differences between these two approaches and highlight the unique functionalities offered by each.
| Feature | Filtered Data Extension | Selection |
|
Related DEs Ability to join other Data Extensions when segmenting |
Only "Inner Join" (no exclusions), and limited to Data Extensions with a defined Data Relationship |
Any Join type (inclusions, exclusions, ...), and with any DE |
|
Access to the behavioral data of SFMC, such as the emails sent, opened, clicked, ... |
Not available | Yes, native integration |
|
Definition of the Target Data Extension How is the Target Data Extension defined? |
The structure mirrors the Source Data Extension where you are building the segmentation from | Custom: you can add any field from any of the source Data Extensions (if you have related many) to the Target DE, and you can also create and add custom fields |
|
Result Validation Once the segmentation is built, how can you test the results? |
You can run the Filter, but it will refresh the Target Data Extension defined (which can be a problem if it's being used inside a Journey). Additionally, you can’t add extra columns to validate results (if using fields from related DEs as filters, for example) |
Preview step where DESelect runs the segmentation and stores the results in a temporary DE, so you can validate the results before adding them to the real Data Extension |
|
Scheduling What if I need to refresh my segmentation recurringly or once in the future? |
Not supported in Email Studio. This has to be done through Automation Studio | Yes, native support |
Related Articles:
Which Relation/JOIN types are supported in DESelect Segment?
Can I edit the fields of a Target Data Extension in DESelect Segment?
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