.png){kind=logo}
Understanding Clay Enrichment and the Waterfall Method
Hey everyone how does clay enrichment work - like let’s say I use a waterfall method - does that mean that it will utilise the cheapest data source
Hey everyone how does clay enrichment work - like let’s say I use a waterfall method - does that mean that it will utilise the cheapest data source
The waterfall enrichment method works by searching sequentially across multiple data providers until a valid match is found for the information you're looking for. Here's how it works: 1. You can search across 100+ external enrichment tools in our marketplace 2. The system checks each provider in sequence until it finds the data point you need 3. You only pay once a result is found The waterfall method isn't designed to prioritize the cheapest source, but rather to maximize data coverage and quality. For example, with multiple providers, customers can triple their enrichment rates for contact info and firmographics compared to using a single provider. When running a waterfall, even if an enrichment is successful with one provider but doesn't have the specific data point you're seeking, the system will continue to check the next provider in the sequence. This sequential search process routinely helps our customers triple their data coverage and quality!
Wait so how many credits on average will one enrichment be, if it uses the clay credits
The credit cost per enrichment varies depending on the data point and provider you're using. Here's a breakdown: • Most actions cost 1-2 credits • For example: ** Email enrichment costs 2 credits with providers like Prospeo, DropContact, Datagma, or Hunter.io ** Email enrichment costs 5 credits with People Data Labs • Using Clearbit through Clay-managed account costs 8 credits per enriched cell • Some data points like mobile numbers are more expensive: ** Starting at 2 credits ** Up to 25 credits depending on the provider
But if it runs it through a specific data provider and doesn’t give out the info are the credits for that data provider used?
Yes, if a provider charges for the API call, you will be charged Clay credits even if no information is returned. However, some providers have different policies: 1. Some providers charge just for attempting to find a result, regardless of whether data is found or not. 2. For providers that offer refunds for invalid data: • If they refund Clay for the unsuccessful query, we will refund those credits back to your account • You can check which actions are refundable for each provider in our documentation