“Composable CDP” has been consuming much attention at CDP Institute as we wrestle with how best to help buyers who are considering it as an option. The Institute published a Composable CDP Self-Assessment tool a few weeks ago, which gives a checklist of the functions required to replicate the profile-building capabilities of a standard CDP. This was intended as the centerpiece of our Composable CDP Knowledge Hub but has attracted fewer users than expected. The explanation I find most plausible is that few people can answer the Self-Assessment’s detailed questions about existing systems and requirements.

In itself, this isn’t terrible: much of the value in the Self-Assessment comes from giving users a comprehensive checklist of items to consider, thereby highlighting the true scope of a Composable project.…