A Custom Acceptance environment, also known as a customacc environment, is a separate Spotler MailPro environment in which you can test changes and integrations without working directly in your production environment.
A Custom Acceptance environment is an additional option. Contact your Account Manager if you would like to use one.
What can you use a Custom Acceptance environment for?
You can use the environment to test things such as:
- REST API integrations;
- imports and data processing;
- campaigns and database fields;
- templates, mailings and personalisation;
- process changes before applying them to production.
The available functionality depends on the agreed configuration of the environment.
Separate from production
A Custom Acceptance environment has its own URL and is technically separated from your production environment. Its URL generally has the following format:
https://[licence-name].customacc.webpower.eu/admin
Changes made in the Custom Acceptance environment are not automatically applied to production. Similarly, later changes in production are not automatically synchronised with the acceptance environment.
Approved changes must therefore be applied separately to the production environment.
Test new versions in advance
Custom Acceptance environments receive new MailPro versions before production environments. A version is generally released to production approximately two weeks later.
This allows licence administrators to test new functionality and changes in advance. They can verify that existing campaigns, templates, integrations and workflows continue to function correctly before the production environment is updated.
Use this period to test important processes and report any issues to Spotler in good time.
Sending emails
A Custom Acceptance environment is primarily intended for safe testing. Email delivery is therefor blocked by default.
Spotler can whitelist email domains to which messages may be sent. For example, the environment can be configured to send only to addresses belonging to your own organisation or an email testing service.
Discuss the following with your Account Manager in advance:
- whether you need to send emails from the environment;
- which types of mailings you want to test;
- which recipient domains need to be permitted.
We recommend using fictional contacts and dedicated test addresses. A Custom Acceptance environment is not intended for running live campaigns or sending emails to customers.
Users and access
Users and access rights are configured separately for the Custom Acceptance environment. Access to the production environment therefore does not automatically provide access to the acceptance environment.
Depending on the configuration, users will receive separate login details or an invitation to activate their account.
What can you not do with a Custom Acceptance environment?
A Custom Acceptance environment:
- is not intended for live campaigns;
- does not replace the production environment;
- is not automatically synchronised with production;
- only provides the functionality and sending options configured for that environment;
Test results should always be verified before applying the same change to production.
Requesting a Custom Acceptance environment
A Custom Acceptance environment is available as an additional option. Contact your Spotler Account Manager to request one.
Please include:
- the production environment related to your request;
- what you want to test;
- which integrations or API functionality you use;
- whether you need to send test emails;
- which recipient domains may need to be permitted;
- which users require access.
Your Account Manager will use this information to discuss the available options, costs and required configuration with you.