What is happening?
The Budget Optimiser is stalled because it is missing the core "Platform Spend" data it needs to function. While it can see your manually uploaded custom spend (e.g., from a Google Sheet), it lacks the API-level data from your actual ad accounts (Google, Meta, etc.) required to build a performance model.
Error: The Budget Optimiser only has custom spend data available. Platform spend data from connected ad platforms is required to generate recommendations.
Why did this happen?
This error occurs when the "Custom Spend" side of the equation is working, but the "Platform" side is empty. Common causes include:
Missing Connections: No primary ad platforms (Google Ads, Meta, LinkedIn, etc.) have been connected to this specific Budget Optimiser configuration.
Disconnected APIs: The ad platforms are linked, but their connectors are failing due to expired credentials or permission changes.
No Spend in Period: The connected ad platforms had $0 spend during the selected lookback period, leaving only the custom data points.
Follow these steps to resolve the issue:
Navigate to Settings: Open the Detailed Status view for your Budget Optimiser.
Locate the Source: Review the "Platform Connectors" section to see which ad accounts are feeding into the tool.
Action: * Connect Missing Platforms: If you haven't linked your main ad accounts yet, go to Setup → Data sources to add them.
Fix Broken Connectors: If connectors are listed but show a red error, re-authenticate them to restore the data flow. See here for solutions for Connectors.
External Steps: Verify in the native ad platforms (e.g., Google Ads UI) that there was active spend during the timeframe Alvie is analyzing.
Verify: Once platform spend is confirmed and flowing, either request a re-run or wait for the daily refresh. The status should turn Healthy (Green) once both custom and platform data are present.
Prevention & Tips To avoid seeing this error again:
Balance Your Data: Remember that the Budget Optimiser is designed to compare and optimize between platforms; it cannot generate recommendations if it only has one-sided (custom) data.
Sync Health Alerts: Periodically check your "Data Sources" page for any "Attention Required" flags to catch disconnected platforms early.
Still need help? If your platform connectors show as healthy and have active spend but the error persists, 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.