Overview
When you first connect your data sources to Datadrew, it takes some time before your dashboards are fully populated. This article explains the data timeline — from connection to when you can start making decisions based on your analytics.
The data pipeline stages
Your data goes through three stages before it appears on your dashboards:
Stage 1: Extraction (sync)
Datadrew pulls data from each connected platform. This is the "Syncing" status you see on the Integrations page. The time depends on the platform and the volume of data:
Shopify — 15 minutes to 6 hours (depends on order volume)
Facebook Ads — 30 minutes to 3 hours
Google Ads — 30 minutes to 3 hours
Google Analytics 4 — 30 minutes to 2 hours
Stage 2: Transformation
After raw data is extracted, it goes through a transformation process. This is where Datadrew calculates metrics, blends data across platforms, builds cohort tables, computes RFM segments, and prepares everything for your dashboards. Transformations run automatically after each sync and typically take 15-30 minutes.
Stage 3: Dashboard refresh
Once transformations are complete, your dashboards and reports are updated with the latest data. This happens automatically — simply refresh your browser to see the newest numbers.
Timeline from connection to first insights
Milestone | Time after connecting |
Integration shows "Connected" | Immediately |
First sync begins | Within minutes |
Shopify data on dashboard | 30 minutes to 6 hours |
Ad platform data on dashboard | 1 to 4 hours |
GA4 data on Website Traffic report | 1 to 3 hours |
Blended metrics fully populated | 2 to 6 hours |
Cohort analysis tables ready | 2 to 6 hours |
RFM segments calculated | 2 to 6 hours |
Product Performance with ad data | 2 to 6 hours |
Historical data
When you first connect a platform, Datadrew imports your historical data — not just data from the day you connect. This means:
Shopify: Your full order history is imported, giving you cohort analysis and LTV data going back to your store's first order.
Facebook Ads: Historical ad performance data is imported, typically going back several months.
Google Ads: Historical campaign data is imported based on your account's available history.
Google Analytics 4: Historical data is imported based on the GA4 property's available date range.
Note: The amount of historical data available depends on the platform. For example, GA4 retains data based on your property settings (typically 2 or 14 months). Facebook Ads retains data going back to the start of your account.
Ongoing data freshness
After the initial setup period, your data refreshes on a daily schedule:
Daily syncs pull new and updated records from each platform
Transformations run after each sync to update metrics
Dashboards reflect the latest data within minutes of transformation completing
For near-real-time data, the Hourly Performance dashboard refreshes more frequently throughout the day.
For live data from Klaviyo and Google Search Console, Drew AI queries the platform APIs directly, so answers are always up to the minute.
What to do while data is loading
While waiting for your initial syncs to complete, you can:
Connect additional data sources (Facebook Ads, Google Ads, GA4, Klaviyo, Google Search Console)
Invite team members (Settings > Invite Member)
Book an onboarding call with our team
Explore the sidebar to familiarize yourself with the available reports
Try Drew AI — it works as soon as your first data sync is complete
Need help?
If your data has not appeared after the expected timeframe, or if something looks off, contact us at support@datadrew.io or use the in-app chat. We can check your sync status and make sure everything is on track.
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