Few vs. many data sources
Few vs. many data sources
The third difference is the kind of data sources that marketing and campaign automation use. Marketing automation typically uses a few key data sources, such as CRM and website analysis data. In contrast, campaign automation uses many different data sources from many diverse channels. This includes CRM and website data, and it also includes transactional data (e.g. when someone has bought something and for what amount), individual interests and preferences, and third-party data. It is not untypical to have five or more data sources feeding into campaign automation.

Website vs. other behavioural data
Closely linked to the data sources being used, marketing automation is largely driven by website user behaviour and specific events and journeys that happen on a website. Things like: where someone clicked, what pages they visited, which items they put in their online basket, whether they signed up for something, and so on.