GA4 Migration FAQs
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After nearly two (2) decades, Google is sunsetting the Universal Analytics (UA) version of Google Analytics (GA) and has replaced it with Google Analytics 4 (GA4). With UA’s final end-date set for 1 July 2024, we are actively in process of moving VA.gov’s tracking into GA4.
Why is this happening?
Since GA became available to the public in 2006, the internet landscape has changed to include things like smartphones, tablets, apps, streaming media, digital marketing, HTML5, privacy laws, PII, PHI, internet of things, etc. UA’s measurement protocols can no longer keep pace with all these changes so Google rebuilt the tool from the ground up with GA4. This is why there are new Properties and we have to transition the tracking implementation.
Why is it called GA4?
GA4 is the fourth version of Google’s Analytics tools. You most commonly hear GA UA, but the current version of GA is also called GA3 because it’s the third version of UA.
What are the new VA.gov GA4 Properties? New
The VA.gov website has two (2) GA4 Properties that separates traffic based on development environment:
[GA4] VA.gov - Production - traffic from the production, or live, environment
[GA4] VA.gov - Non-Production - traffic from staging, dev and other non-production environments
Note: GA UA had a number of Product specific Views but those are not available in GA4. Everyone will be using the same Properties for their reporting.
What will happen to the GA UA Properties I have been using?
Google has communicated that all UA Properties and associated Views will be permanently deleted on or soon after the 1 July 2024 end-date. Expect to no longer be able to access GA UA by any means – GUI (Google User Interface), API, Looker connector – after this date.
What happens to the all the data from GA UA? New
GA data for the 'All VA.gov Website Data [Production]' View is exported on a daily basis to Google BigQuery, a process that will continue until Google deletes the the parent Property. This data is used for creating Domo reports and is otherwise restricted due to querying costs.
If you are regularly reporting on data that is pulled directly from GA UA (think weekly, monthly, quarterly reports) and your team hasn’t been maintaining an external file(s) with historic values for these important metrics (e.g. Excel), it would be a good idea to create them. You may also consider transitioning your product’s GA KPI reporting to a Domo dashboard.
Analytics Product KPI Dashboard - Example - Request form
Analytics Edge Case Dashboard - Example - Request form
Event Tracking
Is anything tracked automatically?
By default, GA tracks pages, visits, referrals, users, devices, and other basic information right out of the box.
Also, if you use the Design System’s components (and you should), most components have an attached tracking event so those interactions are automatically collected in GA as well.
What are custom events?
For the VFS Teams, a custom event is a recordEvent that lives in your codebase.
Why do we need to provide an audit of our Team’s/Product’s custom events? Updated
While there is a lot of overlap in the custom events used across the VFS Products, there’s also a lot of differences as well Product specific custom events that the only way to be sure we don’t miss any events is to ask the Teams to audit their codebase and share them using the Analytics - VFS Custom Event Audit Form.
Note: Implementation of custom events for GA4 is still in progress as of 14 May 2024.
Reporting
Will the migration to GA4 effect my reports?
Yes. The GA4 Properties are a new data source and does not connect to the UA data in any way. There’s also changes to the data like page views are now an event and there is no more unique events metric. Don’t worry, we’ll help you realign your metrics when the time comes.
What about my dashboards and reports in GA?
The GA4 GUI has new and different reporting options from those in UA so we will all be creating new reports in GA4. We are still figuring this part out but the current plan to start sharing information and resources/trainings around late April/early May.
What about my reports in Domo?
We have already started the process to update the Domo GA data tables and associated reports for GA4. Ideally, this update will have minimal impact for users of these Platform Analytics & Insights Team managed reports once complete though all changes will be communicated.
If you or your team maintain your own data tables and reports with GA data, please reach out using our Slack channels – #vfs-analytics or #platform-analytics – so we may be able to assist you as you make updates for GA4.
Why don’t I see my event(s) in GA4? New
As noted under Tracking above, implementation of custom events is still being worked on and your team will be notified as those are completed. If you still don’t see your event by Memorial Day, reach out to the Platform Analytics & Insights Team on Slack – #vfs-analytics or #platform-analytics.
Why don’t the events in GA4 match what I see in GA UA? New
When comparing, keep in mind that GA UA and GA4 are essentially different versions of the same tool with some significant differences in how they work. Not only does GA4 have a new user interface that you can see but there’s also a new measurement protocol that you can’t and there’s less opportunities for changing the data with filters. This means that you may want to look for numbers that are close instead of matching if comparing.
If there’s a big difference, check when your event was added and reach out to the Platform Analytics & Insights Team if there seems to be a problem with the events tracking.
Will the be any GA4 trainings? New
Training and resources will be shared in the upcoming weeks as they become available.
Miscellaneous
Where can I find updates on the GA4 migration?
The Platform Analytics & Insights Team will update the VFS Teams of further changes, updates or impacts surrounding the GA4 migration through Team-of-Teams or via Slack – #vfs-all-teams and #vfs-analytics.
Where do I go for help?
The Platform Analytics & Insights Team has two (2) regular office hours each week – 3:30-4:00 pm ET pm Tuesdays and Thursdays – and have added a third GA4 specific office hours on Fridays from 1:30-2:00 pm ET starting 17 May 2024. Links are posted to #vfs-analytics 15 mins before start time.
You can also reach out to the Platform Analytics & Insights Team on Slack – #vfs-analytics or #platform-analytics.
Have a question that wasn’t found on this document? Please either reach out to the #vfs-analytics channel, or use the footer to suggest content changes to this page.
Help and feedback
Get help from the Platform Support Team in Slack.
Submit a feature idea to the Platform.