What is happening?
The Shopping insights bestseller report fails to initialize because the underlying Google Data Transfer Service has never been activated for the connected account.
Error: Failed to find valid credential. Account not set up to use Google merchant center transfer service.
Why did this happen?
This error typically occurs when Alvie attempts to use Google’s BigData infrastructure to move large product datasets, but the service hasn't been "warmed up." Common causes include:
First-time Usage: The Merchant Center account has never utilized the native Google Data Transfer service.
Authentication Barrier: Google requires a manual login and a single successful configuration within their own console before allowing third-party tools like Alvie to access the transfer API.
You only need to create one test configuration and then delete it.
Make sure that your test transfer points to a dataset located in the EU, not the US!
Follow these steps to resolve the issue:
Navigate to External Platform: Log in to the Google Cloud Console and navigate to BigQuery > Data Transfers.
Locate the Source: Select Create Transfer and choose Google Merchant Center as the source.
Action: Create a "Test" transfer configuration.
Important: Ensure the destination dataset is located in the EU, not the US.
Once the test configuration is created, you may immediately delete it; the goal is simply to authorize the service.
External Steps: Complete the OAuth login prompt within the Google Cloud interface to validate your credentials for the transfer service.
Verify: Return to Alvie, navigate to Data & reporting → Reporting solutions, find the report, and select Run now from the "More" (three dots) menu.
Or watch this video:
Prevention & Tips To avoid seeing this error again:
One-time Setup: This process generally only needs to be performed once per Google Merchant Center account to "unlock" the transfer capabilities for Alvie.
Region Consistency: Always ensure your Google Cloud datasets and Alvie configurations share the same regional residency (e.g., EU) to avoid data transfer conflicts.
Still need help? If you encounter any further issues or need additional assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Alvie support team.
If you encounter any further issues or need additional assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Alvie support team.