Affiliate Marketing Software
Partner and affiliate program management.
Key Functions
| Function | Description | AI Opportunity |
|---|---|---|
| Partner Recruitment | Find, vet, onboard affiliates | Partner matching |
| Link Management | Tracking links, deep links | Smart routing |
| Commission Tracking | Sales attribution, payouts | Fraud detection |
| Influencer Management | Creator relationships, campaigns | Performance prediction |
| Reporting | Partner performance, ROI | Anomaly detection |
| Payouts | Commission calculation, payments | Auto-reconciliation |
| Creative Assets | Banners, links, content | Personalization |
| Communication | Partner portal, notifications | Engagement |
| Fraud Prevention | Click fraud, invalid traffic | ML detection |
| Compliance | FTC disclosure, terms | Auto-monitoring |
Data Footprint
Core Entities
| Entity | Fields | Volume | Sensitivity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partners | name, contact, payment info, tier | Medium | High |
| Clicks | link, source, timestamp, IP | Very High | Medium |
| Conversions | order, value, commission, partner | High | Medium |
| Payouts | amount, period, status, method | Medium | High |
| Links | URL, campaign, parameters | Medium | Low |
| Creatives | assets, performance metrics | Low | Low |
| Contracts | terms, rates, exclusivity | Low | Medium |
Integration Points
| System | Data Flow | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Ecommerce | Orders, products, customers | Bi-directional |
| Payment | Payouts, reconciliation | Outbound |
| Analytics | Attribution, tracking | Bi-directional |
| CRM | Partner relationship data | Bi-directional |
| Influencer Platforms | Creator data, campaigns | Bi-directional |
Data Retention
| Data Type | Typical Retention | Compliance Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Click data | 90 days - 1 year | Attribution windows |
| Conversion data | 2-3 years | Tax/audit |
| Payout records | 7 years | Tax compliance |
| Partner records | Until termination + 3 years | Contractual |
Evaluation Criteria
| Criteria | Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking accuracy | High | Revenue depends on it |
| Fraud prevention | High | Invalid traffic costs money |
| Payout automation | Medium | Operational efficiency |
| Partner portal | Medium | Self-service reduces support |
| Integration depth | Medium | Ecommerce platform |
| Reporting | Medium | Partner optimization |
Market Leaders
| Product | Strength | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Impact | Enterprise, partnerships | Large programs |
| PartnerStack | B2B/SaaS focus | Software companies |
| Refersion | Ecommerce, Shopify | DTC brands |
| Influencity | Influencer discovery | Creator programs |
| Tapfiliate | Simplicity, price | SMB |
AI Disruption Potential
| Function | Current State | 2027 Projection |
|---|---|---|
| Partner discovery | Search + filters | Predictive matching |
| Fraud detection | Rules + ML | Real-time prevention |
| Commission optimization | Manual tiers | Dynamic rates |
| Attribution | Last-click dominant | Multi-touch AI |
| Content generation | Templates | Personalized assets |
Build vs Buy: Buy for most. Tracking infrastructure and fraud detection require specialized expertise. Build only if affiliate is core to business model and you need unique features.