Customer data infrastructure

Customer data infrastructure (CDI) is a comprehensive framework that includes the systems, tools, and processes necessary to collect, store, and manage customer data from various sources. This infrastructure is crucial for creating a unified view of customers, enabling better decision-making and personalized marketing strategies. CDI consists of data warehouses, integration tools, and analytics platforms that work together to ensure data integrity and accessibility.

The main difference between a CDI and a customer data platform (CDP) is their approach to data. CDI provides the foundational architecture for data management, while a CDP is a specialized tool that allows businesses to analyze this data for actionable insights. CDP focuses on enhancing customer engagement through targeted marketing efforts.

For more information about CDP, read our articles:


  • first party data

    First-party analytics without consent: Your Digital Omnibus compliance guide

    The Digital Omnibus is the European Commission’s simplification initiative to modernize the EU’s digital rulebook and reduce consent fatigue. The framework would enable first-party analytics without consent when specific criteria are met, ending years of uncertainty about the use of legitimate interest for web statistics.

  • University website personalization: First-party data strategies for student recruitment and retention

    University websites receive millions of visits annually from diverse audiences – prospective students, admitted students weighing their options, current undergraduates, graduate students, parents, alumni, and faculty. Yet most institutions serve identical content to all these visitors, missing critical opportunities to engage each audience with relevant information.