Who can use this feature?
Available on:
All Culture Amp subscriptions that include Engagement.
What is an External Comparison?
An External Comparison allows you to import previous survey scores for benchmarking, helping you compare your data with historical results from other platforms. Once imported, you can analyze these scores alongside your Culture Amp survey data.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to complete the external comparison import process.
Before You Begin
Ensure that the survey you are loading your external survey comparison against has been recreated in the Culture Amp platform with the same questions and factor setup. This step is key for a successful import.
Tip: Even small changes in wording can influence how people respond. To track trends accurately, keep your question wording and response scale consistent. Changes in phrasing may impact results more than actual sentiment shifts.
Timeline
External Comparisons typically take 2-3 business days to process. If you have multiple comparisons to upload, this timeline may increase.
Import Limitations
Supported Survey Types: Experience (e.g., Onboarding, Exit) & Attributed e.g., Engagement surveys. 360 Effectiveness Surveys are not supported.
Design Format: Comparisons can only be loaded for Rating Scale questions and Factors in your Culture Amp survey.
Demographic Comparisons: You can only compare using one demographic level at a time (e.g., by Department or Location, but not both together). Stacked or multi-level demographics aren't supported.
Leader-Based Reports: Comparisons are not compatible with Leader-Based Reports.
Repetition Required for Future Surveys: If you want to use the same comparison in a future survey, you’ll need to submit a new request and get a fresh template. This is because each survey has its own unique question and demographic codes, so templates can’t be reused.
Step 1: Choose Comparison Type
Import External File: This option imports basic scores for each question only. It does not include factor (overall group) scores.
Import External Comparison from File: This option imports both question-level scores and factor (overall group) scores. It provides a more detailed comparison, including overall results and the option to include demographic breakdowns.
Tip: Not all historical data is suitable for comparison. Before importing, review our guidance.
Step 2: Request the External Comparison Template
Once your survey setup is finalized—and the questions and structure in Culture Amp match your external survey—you’re ready to request the comparison template:
Reply with "Ask a Person" in a support conversation to speak with a Product Support Specialist.
Request the external comparison file, and provide the exact survey name to ensure the correct template.
Step 3: Prepare Your External Comparison Data
Once you receive the template, fill it in with your historical survey data. Follow the format carefully to ensure an accurate import.
Company Overall Only
For company-wide comparisons (not broken down by demographics), you'll need to populate the following columns in the template:
type:Indicates whether you're adding the comparison to a question or a factor (use lowercase).demographic: Leave blank for company overall comparisons, but ensure the column is present in the file.demographic question code:Leave blank for company overall comparisons.score:Enter the historical comparison score as a decimal (not a percentage). For example, a 93% score should be written as 0.93.entity code:This will be populated automatically in the template upon download.reference text:This will also be pre-populated in the template, helping to identify the specific question or factor.
File Format Example:
type | demographic | demographic_question_code | score | entity_code | reference_text |
factor |
|
| 0.93 | 001 | Employee Engagement Factor |
Company Overall & Demographic Level Comparisons
If you wish to add comparisons at the demographic level (e.g., by department), you will need to duplicate the entire factor and question set for each demographic group.
Additional columns to populate:
type:Indicates whether you're adding the comparison to a question or a factor (use lowercase).demographic:Specify the demographic group (e.g., "Customer Success").demographic question code:Enter the demographic question title (e.g., "Department").Score:As with the company overall score, enter the historical comparison score as a decimal.entity codeandreference text:These will be automatically populated, just as in the company overall comparison.
File Format Example:
For a demographic comparison in the "Customer Success" department, a row might look like this:
type | demographic | demographic_question_code | Score | entity_code | reference_text |
factor | Customer Success | Department | 0.85 | 002 | Employee Satisfaction in Customer Success |
Step 4: Save and Submit Your File
Once your file is ready:
Save Your Data: Ensure the file is correctly formatted and saved as either an Excel or CSV file. Double-check for any errors or extra spaces.
Contact Product Support: Reach out to Culture Amp Product Support via in-platform chat or email support@cultureamp.com.
Attach Your Data: Submit your formatted file or secure download link.
Provide Survey Information: Include the name of the survey that the data should be loaded against.
Confirm the name of the external comparison: Specify the name you'd like to use for the external comparison (e.g., Engagement Survey 2024).
Note: The name of the external comparison cannot be changed once the comparison has been uploaded so choose carefully.
Tip: If your previous provider is managing the data transfer, Culture Amp has secure processes in place. Type “Ask a Person” in a support conversation to speak with a specialist to learn more.
Viewing Your External Comparison
Once the external comparison has been uploaded, you’ll be able to view it in your survey reports.
To view the comparison:
Navigate to your Surveys page and click View reports for the survey you loaded the comparison against. This will open your Administrator reports page.
Use the Compared to drop-down to select your comparison survey (e.g., Engagement Survey 2024).
To view scores for demographic-level comparisons: Click Add filter, then select the relevant demographic group from the drop-down menu.
Note: External comparisons are not included in Leader-based Reports, but you’ll see them reflected in filtered reports and PowerPoint exports.
Tips for a Successful Import
✔️ Use the template we give you
Each survey has its own format. Using the right one helps avoid errors.✔️ Don’t change the column names
Leave the headers in the template exactly as they are.✔️ Enter scores as decimals
For example, write 87% as 0.87.✔️ Match your demographic names
Make sure demographic names e.g., department, location etc match exactly with what’s in Culture Amp on your Account demographics page.✔️ Ask for Help: If you're unsure about any part of the process, don’t hesitate to reply with "Ask a Person" in a support conversation to speak with a Product Support Specialist.
FAQs
Can I edit the imported comparison data once it’s loaded?
No, once the comparison data is imported into Culture Amp, it cannot be edited within the platform. However, you can modify the import file and submit an updated version for our team to re-import. This will replace the previously imported data.
What types of surveys can I use for External Comparisons?
Experience (e.g., Onboarding, Exit) and Engagement surveys are supported. 360 Effectiveness Surveys are not.
How long does the external comparison import take?
External Comparisons typically take 2-3 business days to process, keeping in mind that if you have multiple comparisons to upload, it may take longer.
Can I add more than one demographic level to my comparison?
No, only one demographic level can be used per comparison. This means you can compare by a single group like Department or Location, but not a combination (e.g., Department and Gender together). These are sometimes called "stacked demographics," and they aren’t supported in external comparisons.
Where will I see the external comparison data?
You'll see external comparisons in your surveys filtered reports and PowerPoint exports, but they’re not included in leader-based reports.
Can I reuse the same comparison for future surveys?
You’ll need to repeat the submission process for each new survey and request a new template. This is because question and demographic codes change for each survey, requiring an updated file format each time.
Are external comparisons compatible with leader-based reports?
No, this feature is not supported for external comparisons.
Can I import eNPS data?
eNPS data cannot be imported specifically. The external import process supports the import of favorable and unfavorable scores only, at an overall or demographic level.
💬 Need help? Just reply with "Ask a Person" in a Support Conversation to speak with a Product Support Specialist.