Replacing ad hoc data drops with secure, standards-based APIs to boost customer engagement and efficiency

Our client, a marketing agency heavily reliant on customer data, faced a critical challenge as its clients began refusing to use the legacy, non-standardized data intake processes. Operational gridlock and stalled data acquisition were the key symptoms of a larger problem facing a prominent marketing agency with its fragmented data-sharing infrastructure. The growing reluctance from customers to use outdated SFTP and custom data-sharing platforms posed a major risk to a marketing agency's ability to collect and process essential data.

Challenges

• Customer Resistance: Outdated and inefficient data-sharing methods reduce customer willingness to collaborate, hindering the acquisition of essential data.
• Security and Compliance Risks: Fragmented systems expose sensitive information to cyber threats and make it difficult to ensure adherence to regulations like GDPR and CCPA.
• Data Integrity Issues: The lack of standardization and inconsistent data formats compromise the reliability of analytics due to errors, duplication, and inconsistencies.
• Operational Inefficiencies: IT teams spend excessive time managing manual data intake, preventing them from focusing on more strategic priorities.

The Solution

To address this situation, Knackforge started with:

• Developed secure APIs using ECS and Application Load Balancer (ALB) to improve data exchange and replace outdated methods like SFTP.

• Ensured scalability and reliability by allowing ALB to automatically route data requests to ECS containers based on demand.

• Supported long-running workloads beyond the limits of serverless APIs for extended processing times.

• Enhanced security by integrating with Web Application Firewall (WAF) for threat protection and robust authentication mechanisms.

The Impact

• Increased Customer Adoption: Modern and secure APIs help customers feel safe when sharing their data.

• Operational Efficiency: These APIs reduce the need for manual work, allowing IT teams to focus on important tasks.

• Data Integrity and Compliance: They ensure accurate data and meet regulations through better data management.