Create Data-Driven Videos

Data-driven videos are videos generated from dynamic data. This can be anything from customer data, product details, to real-time sport results or weather forecasts. Let's explore 3 ways to create data-based videos through video automation, using code and no-code.

Create data-driven videos in bulk
Create data-driven videos using no-code tools
Create data-driven videos through API

How to Create Data-Driven Videos?

To make data-driven videos, you need a video automation platform that allows you to make your own video templates, then connect a data source to make the video creation process automated. There are several ways to automate data-driven video, depending on the application and purpose. Here is a brief overview.

1
Start with a video template

Automating data-driven videos begins with a video template. The template serves as the starting point for all generated videos and allows you to designate specific elements as dynamic placeholders, such as text and images. These placeholders can then be automatically filled in with data derived from one of the available automation methods.

Creatomate provides an online template editor that allows you to create your own video designs for automation. With a wide range of editing options, you can create designs for any use case that perfectly align with your brand requirements. In addition to creating a template from scratch, you can also choose to use a ready-made template.

01	Spring Sale	Image 1	#4980f1
02	Summer Sale	Image 2	#4980f1
03	Autumn Sale	Image 3	#4980f1
…	…	…	…
99	Holiday Sale	Image 99	#4980f1

99 videos generated

2
Choose your automation method

Now that you have created a template, you can choose one of the following three automation methods that best suit your needs:

Bulk generation using spreadsheets is the easiest method to create data-driven videos. This approach allows you to generate videos by importing content from a data source like product catalog, CRM tool, or CSV file. To begin, you can refer to this 7-minute tutorial for step-by-step guidance.
No-code tools like Zapier provide an excellent way to automate the entire video creation process. With support for over 5000+ apps, you can create custom workflows to generate videos from any other application, including HubSpot, Shopify, Airtable, Google Sheets, RSS feeds, and many more. Take a look at our 8-minute tutorial to get started.
With the API integration, you can programmatically generate data-driven videos directly from your software or app. If you're a developer or have one on your team, you can create these videos using a programming language like Node.js, PHP, Ruby, or Python. Check out the instructions in this article to get started.

3
Automatically create data-driven videos

Creating videos based on dynamic data is quick and easy. With the three solutions mentioned above, there is always a method that will work for you. By creating a template that fits your use case, whether it's for social media, personalization, or advertising, anyone can automate data-driven videos in a matter of minutes, regardless of technical expertise.

If you're not sure which method is best for you, we recommend starting with video generation using spreadsheets. Then, if it becomes necessary to automate the entire process, you can use a no-code tool such as Zapier or integrate with the API. We have many practical step-by-step tutorials available to guide you along the way.

Want to try it yourself? Get started for free in minutes:

Frequently asked questions

What are data-driven videos?

The term "data-driven video" refers to videos that contain dynamic data, such as customer information or real-time data, to personalize and customize the content for the viewer. Video content is created through workflows that automatically respond to dynamic data from any other software application or data source. This makes it possible to auto-generate videos that would otherwise take a lot of human resources.

How do I create data-driven videos?

As data-driven videos are often generated from large amounts of data, or data collected in real time, they're usually generated automatically with little or no human intervention. In a nutshell, the process involves creating a video template, then mapping data to the template in order to produce large volumes of derivative videos. This can be achieved using video generation through spreadsheets, a no-code automation platform like Zapier, or using a programming language such as JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, or Python.

How long does it take to set up?

Regardless of the automation method you choose, you can create your first data-driven videos within 10 minutes. To assist you in getting started, we have created many step-by-step tutorials explaining practical use cases, using both bulk generation, Zapier, and the API.

Do I need any technical skills to create data-driven videos?

You don't need any coding knowledge or technical skills to create data-driven videos using our bulk generation spreadsheet and Zapier integration.

What's the best tool to create data-driven videos?

We believe Creatomate is the best video automation tool for creating data-driven videos. It provides a wide range of automation and design capabilities, allowing users to produce visually captivating and high-quality videos in large quantities. For a thorough comparison with other products, you can refer to our article on the best video generation APIs.