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Connecting to Data · Legacy self-service product

Choose a Data Source

Select the right connection method for your data

You're viewing documentation for the legacy Scoop self-service product. For the current product, see What Is Scoop.

Choosing a Data Source

Scoop connects to data wherever it lives—spreadsheets, cloud applications, databases, or automated reports. Choosing the right connection method affects automation, refresh frequency, and analysis capabilities.

Quick Decision Guide

I want to... Use this Why
Quickly explore a spreadsheet File Upload Fastest way to start
Automate recurring reports Data Email Set and forget
Connect CRM, marketing, etc. SaaS Connector Live sync, full API access
Query my data warehouse Database Connector Direct SQL access
Combine multiple sources Blended Dataset Unified analysis

Connection Types Explained

File Upload

Best for: One-time analysis, prototyping, small datasets

Upload spreadsheets directly to Scoop:

  • CSV, Excel (.xlsx, .xls)
  • Google Sheets (via link)
  • Drag and drop interface
Pros Cons
Instant setup Manual updates
No credentials needed No automation
Works with any file Limited to file size

When to use: Exploring new data, ad-hoc analysis, testing before automation.

When to upgrade: When you need regular updates, consider Data Email or SaaS Connector.

Learn more: Upload a File

Data Email

Best for: Automated ingestion of scheduled reports from any system

Scoop provides a unique email address for each dataset. Send or forward reports to this address for automatic ingestion.

Pros Cons
Works with any system Depends on email delivery
No API required Slight delay (email timing)
Handles CSV, Excel, PDF Manual setup of source schedule

Supports:

  • CSV and Excel attachments
  • PDF reports (with table extraction)
  • Multiple files per email

Common use cases:

  • CRM scheduled reports (Salesforce, HubSpot)
  • ERP exports (NetSuite, SAP)
  • Marketing platform reports
  • Any system with "email report" feature

Learn more: Data Email Ingestion

SaaS Connectors

Best for: Live connections to cloud applications

Connect directly to 100+ popular applications with OAuth authentication:

Category Examples
CRM Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Monday.com
Marketing Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Marketo
Support Zendesk, Intercom, Freshdesk
Finance QuickBooks, Xero, Stripe
Product Mixpanel, Amplitude, Segment
Operations Jira, Asana, Airtable
Pros Cons
Native API integration Requires OAuth access
Automatic schema updates API rate limits may apply
Scheduled or on-demand sync Some apps have limited APIs

Features:

  • One-click OAuth setup
  • Automatic field discovery
  • Daily sync (or more frequent)
  • Snapshot tracking for entity data

Browse Connectors: Specific Applications

Database Connectors

Best for: Direct access to data warehouses and operational databases

Connect to databases for live queries or scheduled extracts:

Database Type Examples
Cloud Warehouses Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift
Relational PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server
Cloud Databases Azure SQL, AWS RDS
Pros Cons
Full SQL access Requires credentials
Large data volumes Network/firewall setup
Live or scheduled Technical expertise needed

Features:

  • Custom SQL queries
  • Table or view selection
  • Scheduled extracts
  • Incremental loading

Learn more: Database Connections

Blended Datasets

Best for: Combining data from multiple sources

Create unified datasets by blending:

  • Multiple Scoop datasets
  • Different connection types
  • Aggregated and filtered views
Pros Cons
Cross-source analysis Requires existing datasets
Automatic refresh Blend logic to configure
Visual formula builder Row count considerations

Common blends:

  • CRM + Marketing (attribution)
  • Sales + Finance (revenue recognition)
  • Support + Product (customer health)

Learn more: Blending Datasets

Decision Matrix

Your Goal Typical Example Recommended Connector Characteristics
Quick exploration "Analyze this spreadsheet" File Upload Instant, manual
Automate reports "Load CRM export weekly" Data Email Scheduled, reliable
Live SaaS sync "Connect Salesforce deals" SaaS Connector Real-time, OAuth
Warehouse access "Query Snowflake tables" Database Connector SQL, scheduled
Multi-source analysis "Combine sales + support" Blended Dataset Unified, auto-refresh

Choosing Between Similar Options

File Upload vs. Data Email

Factor File Upload Data Email
Automation Manual Automatic
Frequency One-time Recurring
Setup effort Lowest Low
Best for Exploration Production

Recommendation: Start with File Upload, upgrade to Data Email when you need automation.

Data Email vs. SaaS Connector

Factor Data Email SaaS Connector
Data freshness Report schedule Daily/real-time
Setup Email address OAuth flow
Flexibility Any report format API-defined fields
Reliability Depends on email Direct API

Recommendation: Use SaaS Connector when available; fall back to Data Email for systems without API.

SaaS Connector vs. Database

Factor SaaS Connector Database Connector
Access level API permissions Database credentials
Data Application objects Raw tables
Setup OAuth (easy) Connection string
Best for App-specific data Warehouse/BI data

Recommendation: Use SaaS Connector for application data; Database Connector for warehouse data.

Getting Started

  1. Identify your data source — Where does the data live?
  2. Check for native connector — Browse SaaS Connectors
  3. Consider automation needs — One-time or recurring?
  4. Start simple — File Upload for exploration, upgrade later

Tip: You can always change connection types. Start with what's easiest, then optimize for automation and freshness as your needs evolve.

Related Topics

Updated December 4, 2025