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Core concepts

Pulse brings all of your customer data together into one trusted, real-time view. Before you dive into the app, it helps to understand a handful of ideas — what a schema is, how Pulse unites records into profiles, and what an audience really is.

These pages explain the concepts in plain language and link to the step-by-step guides when you're ready to put them into practice. Start with How Pulse works for the big picture, then explore the rest in any order.

Explore the concepts

  • How Pulse works


    The journey of your data, from a connected source to a finished audience.

    How Pulse works

  • Schemas & your data model


    Describe the shape of your data so Pulse can validate and trust it.

    Schemas & your data model

  • Datasets


    Where your records land and are stored securely in your workspace.

    Datasets

  • Identity


    How Pulse links the records that belong to the same person.

    Identity

  • Customer profiles


    A single, unified view of each customer, assembled for you in real time.

    Customer profiles

  • Audiences


    Group customers by who they are and what they've done.

    Audiences

  • Workspaces & access


    Your private environment, and how you invite teammates into it.

    Workspaces & access

  • Trust & governance


    How Pulse keeps your data private, isolated, and under your control.

    Trust & governance

  • Journeys


    Orchestrate multi-step customer experiences — a capability on the way.

    Journeys