Capabilities rolling out in July 2023

Summary

General

Theming

We now provide three separate themes for Alterian CX. These are selected via a dedicated themes icon next to the “Help” icon. Click on the Icon and a dropdow shows providing the choice of:

• Light Theme - Existing and default

• Dark Theme - Dark Grey

• Dark-alt Theme - Dark Blue

Improved user and version information to aid triage

To provide additional information about the solution you are using for triage, the Help section includes a dedicated "system" section. This section highlights the user of the system and the version they are currently on. We have also incorporated the URL of the page you are currently on into the details we provide. This enables us to precisely identify the page you were on when you raised a bug. Furthermore, we have included a button that allows you to conveniently copy the contents to your clipboard.

When you submit a feature request or bug through the Alterian CX interface, we will now automatically populate the ticket with this system information. This enhancement greatly simplifies the process for both you and our team to understand where the issue is occurring.

Global Parameters

Create or Edit Global Parameters directly from the Parameters screen in Rules

To simplify the process of creating or editing Global Parameters, we have introduced a new feature that allows you to access them directly from the Parameters screen in Rule Designer. If a local rule parameter is not linked to a global parameter and you wish to create one, you can now initiate the global parameter creation process with just a simple click, prefilling the client and name fields for your convenience.

Templates Screen

Templates about screen updated

The Tile “About” screen within Rule Designer now has a Template Builder and help link to make it easier to understand what the tile does.

You can now link directly to the Templates screen from a local Template

The Templates screen displays the most recent version of a template and provides an overview of all the configurations associated with it, including inputs and outputs. Additionally, you can access the template usage report, which provides a clearer understanding of where the template is being used.

Previously, searching for a template in the Templates screen was necessary. Now, you can simply click on an icon in the "About" section of the tile context menu in Rule Designer to directly access the complete, live Template details.

If the template used in a rule is older than the Template available in the Templates screen, we will display the details in read-only mode.

Curser usage on the Templates screen

You can now use the up and down cursers to scroll through the templates. This is very useful when the side panel showing the descriptions is showing. Allowing you to scroll through and clearly see the selection of templates available.

Template Builder

Improved help links in our steps in Template builder

Previously our steps in template builder had help link buttons, but these did not work. We have now added link, that link through to comprehensive Alterian documentation for all our steps.

Template Builder Journey Orchestration functions have been redesigned

In previous versions of Template Builder, there was a folder called "DDE" that included some, but not all, of the functionality related to Alterian Journey Orchestration. This folder provided features such as setting up links, generating best practice reports, and uploading templates.

To enhance user experience and clarity, we have redesigned the functionality in Template Builder. The key functions have been reorganized and grouped together, making it easier for our users to understand and navigate the necessary actions.

Rule Groups

The Rule Group pages have been redesigned to reflect the usage patterns seen in our other screens.

Opening a Rule Group from the Rule Group screen opens in full screen with four tabs highlighting , About, Rules, Parameters and Data grids. This simplifies the view our users see in each section and improves performance.

Rule Designer

Allow choice of previously used “constant” values

The constant values you need to add into field mappings may differ each time you need to add them, but you may have a standard set of values you consistently use. We now provide a dropdown that will show the last constant values you have used, so you can simply scroll through and select the one you need.

Autofill - now works on single click

In previous versions, you had to manually select the mappings where you wanted to use the "autofill" feature. However, based on user feedback, it became evident that users would prefer to simply click on "autofill" and have all the fields updated with the saved values. We have implemented this change, and now the autofill option is available at any time. The fields that have been automatically mapped will be highlighted with an "A" indicator, indicating the automatic mapping has occured. These should be reviewed and edited accordingly.

Show origin of linked rules

Rules can call out to other rules. The name and location of the Rule being called is often set a parameter. We now show the parameter that holds the value in the Linked Rules page making it much easier to identify where the value for a linked rule should be added, if it is missing or edited.

Email Manager Integration now honours control group behaviour

The Email Manager integration now allows you to set the standard control group logic.

Rule Testing

We have changed the default time period you see when clicking into the logs from the test screen to improve performance. We will now show the last hour of logs rather than showing the last 100 logs. Wiht the previous functionality these 100 logs may have been created a long time ago and are often no longer relevent to the running rule. If a different data range is needed using the customer date filter in the logs screen allows you to select a alternative time period.

Copying Rules

When clicking on a Tile in Rule Deisgner the right click context menu now allows you to Copy the tile.

Opportunity Matrix

Show conversion rules against initiatives

We have implemented a feature that displays Conversion rules alongside the initiatives they are linked to. At the top of the screen, a filter allows you to specify whether you want to view Influencer rules, Conversion rules, or both. Since Conversion rules can be associated with multiple initiatives, we only show the relationships on the main screen without the ability to modify or remove them. Editing or removing Conversion Rules can still be performed in the Initiatives screen.

Steps/API

GET CXID - Validation where Identification fields are missing

The Get CXID Template takes three elements of identifying information from the fields flowing into it. We don’t stipulate the fields in the template inputs themselves. Instead we ask our users to highlight the chosen identifying fields in a parameter called AlterianCX_identificationFields.

We need the Get CXID to be able to identify the individual so having at least one identification field is paramount. Now, where our customers have chosen these identifying fields but they have not added at least one of these fields into the flow of the rule we will fail validation for the rule. Find out more information on Identification Fields here.

To resolve the validation failure ensure at least one identifying field is includes in the flow of the rule or if the field is present but the wrongly named add with the correct name using the decode functionality.

GET CXID - Not merging exclusive identifiers

We now have the ability to restrict merging where an exclusive identifier is already held by an individual.

Retry Rows

Where your rules integrate with unreliable systems it’s useful to be able to retry the rows that fail. We have introduced the Retry rows step that will take a failing rows and allow the user to place the row back into the flow of the rule to be tried again. More details on how the Retry Rows step can be found here.

Public Templates

GET CXID - Bulk Optimised

The GET CXID - Bulk optimised public template has been designed to allow our customers to efficiently bulk load data into Alterian CX but it does not change any customer attributes.

This Template should be pulled into any Rule where you are bulk loading data that is related to an individual.

The Get CXID - bulk optimised template takes a single element of identifying information, saves this value, compares the value to those recorded before and either provides back a new CXID (Customer Experience ID) to identify this person or presents back the CXID that was previously assigned to this person.

This Public Template does not create conversations.

General

Journey Orchestration Upgrade to Java 11

We have upgraded the version of Java we use for Journey Orchestration and the plugins to Java 11. This upgrade brings several benefits, including the ability to utilize more precise date formats.

This upgrade means that our internal steps now require Java 11. Therefore, users who utilize local spoon to create or edit templates will also need to upgrade to Java 11. The process is straightforward, and can be found here. Customers using Template Builder do not need to make any changes.

Journey Analytics

Fixes

Known Issues

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To report an issue with the application not detailed here, please contact Technical Support. Please use our Service Desk to report issues.