What Is Google Analytics 4 - Collect?

Google Analytics 4, commonly referred to as GA4, is the latest iteration of Google's web analytics platform, designed to provide deeper insights into user behavior across websites and apps. It offers a more holistic approach to analytics by integrating data from various touchpoints, including websites, mobile apps, and other digital platforms. GA4 focuses on user-centric measurement, emphasizing the importance of understanding individual user journeys and interactions.

MetaRouter has two integrations for GA4. The GA4 - Collect integration uses the collect endpoint for data and measurement, and it is the recommended integration for GA4. For more information about Google Analytics 4- Measurement, please see here.

Google Analytics 4 - Collect Endpoint vs Measurement Protocol

Collect Endpoint:

More data accuracy in
- Age demographic
- Page count
- Session start events
Cannot collect screen resolution data

Measurement Protocol:

Can collect screen resolution data
More data on device category

Important Notes & Limitations

Enable Google Ads auto-tagging for Google Ads reporting.
- Auto-tagging automatically imports Google Ads data into Analytics. Combining Google Ads data with the rich post-click information provided by Analytics allows you to see what happened on your site after people clicked on your ads. When you enable auto-tagging, a parameter called gclid is added to your landing page URL when a user clicks over to your site from an ad.
No user engagement reporting.
Cross network reporting may not be present in user and traffic acquisition reports.

Getting Started - From Your Google Analytics Account

Obtain your Measurement ID

Log in to your Google Analytics account.
Navigate to the Admin section.
In the “Property settings” column, expand “Data collection and modification”, click on "Data Streams."
Here, you'll find a list of data streams associated with the property.
Click on the data stream for which you want to find the measurement ID.
The measurement ID is displayed at the top of the page. Ex, “G-XXXXX00000”.

Getting Started - From Your MetaRouter Account

Adding a Google Analytics - Collect integration.

From the integration library, add a Google Analytics 4 (Collect) integration. Then, fill out the Connection Parameters:

Connection Parameter	Description
`MEASUREMENT_ID`	The GA4 measurement ID is a unique identifier assigned to each Google Analytics 4 property, allowing data to be collected and associated with that specific property.

Adding a Google Gtag Sync

To gather the cid, gclid (Google click ID) value, dclid (Display click ID) value, session ID, and session count, you must add a Google Gtag sync.

From the Pipelines page, find the pipeline associated with the web property you’d like to add a sync to. Hover over the three dot dropdown and select “Build AJS File.”
In the Identity Syncs section, select the Google Gtag sync.
Fill out the following fields:
1. GTAG.js Tag ID - The Tag ID in GA4, also known as the Measurement ID, can be found in Data Streams. Alternatively, you can find it in your GTAG settings. Examples of Tag IDs include GT-XXXXXXXXX, G-XXXXXXXXX, and AW-XXXXXXXXX. For more information on locating the GTAG.js Tag ID, please refer to this guide
2. Destination IDs - Allows the sync to connect and direct events to the correct Google product. For Google Ads, the destination ID is the same as the conversion tracking ID, for example AW-98765.
3. Floodlight Advertiser ID Object - The Floodlight Advertiser ID. This is not required for the Google Ads integration, but it is used for other Google integrations such as Campaign Manager.
4. Cookie Lifetime (in days) - 45 days default
5. Fire on Re-sync - Re-syncs for an updated identifier when an Identify call is made.
6. Send MetaRouterSync to GA4 - Sends a MetaRouterSync event to GA4 when the sync is loaded on the page.
7. Enable Google Consent Mode - If enabled, consent categories 'ad _storage, 'ad_user_data', 'ad _personalization', 'analytics_storage' will be sent to Google when user is opt-in or opt -out
8. Advanced Consent Mode Type (when consent mode is enabled) - If consent mode is enabled, the consent mode will be set to advanced' when this is on, and 'basic' when this is off
Scroll down and click the Save and Build File button.
Deploy your AJS file to propagate changes to your web property.

Event Mappings

MetaRouter provides all of the event mappings that Google integrations typically require. You may add custom events, parameters or mappings in accordance with Google Analytics 4 - Collect’s API documentation.

Global

Global mappings will be applied to all events. If your parameter names do not match the Expected Inputs provided, you will need to overwrite the Inputs provided with your own.

Output Key	Description	Expected Input
`gclid`	Type: String Specifies the Google Ad Id.	`context.providers.googleGtag.data.gclid`
`dclid`	Type: String Specifies the Google Display Ads Id.	`context.providers.googleGtag.data.dclid`
`cid` Required	Type: String Client ID.	N/A - Expression
`dl`	Type: String Page URL.	`context.page.url`
`dt`	Type: String Page title.	`context.page.title`
`dr`	Type: String Page referrer.	`context.page.referrer`
`ua` Highly Recommended	Type: String User agent, required if platform data is needed.	`context.userAgent`
`_uip` Highly Recommended	Type: String User IP address, required if geolocation data is needed.	`context.ip`
`ci`	Type: String Campaign ID.	`context.campaign.id`
`cs`	Type: String Campaign source.	`context.campaign.source`
`cm`	Type: String Campaign medium.	`context.campaign.medium`
`cn`	Type: String Campaign name.	`context.campaign.name`
`cc`	Type: String Campaign conent.	`context.campaign.content`
`ck`	Type: String Campaign term.	`context.campaign.term`
`sid` Highly Recommended	Type: String Session ID, required if session data is needed.	`context.providers.googleGtag.data.sessionID`
`sct` Highly Recommended	Type: Integer Session count, required if session data is needed.	`context.providers.googleGtag.data.sessionCount`
`_et` Required	Type: Integer Engagement time in milliseconds: currently hardcoded to 1	N/A - Expression
`tid` Required	Type: String Tracking ID, otherwise known as Measurement ID in GA4.	Enrichment - `MEASUREMENT_ID`
`v` Required	Type: Integer Must equal 2.	Enrichment - `2`
`isDebugMode`	Type: Boolean Must be true.	Enrichment - `true`
	Type: String Empty expression field used to send a user parameter to GA4*. Default setting is to send the anonymous ID as a user parameter.	N/A - Expression

*Note: You must set up user parameters in GA4 as a custom dimension to avoid errors with this function. To do this:

Navigate to Admin > Data Display > Custom Definitions in GA4.
Click Create Custom Dimension.
Name your dimension, set the Scope to User, and set the User Property to metarouter_anonymousid.

Event Specific

page

Output Key	Description	Expected Input
`en` Required	Type: String Event name.	Enrichment - `page_view`
`isConversion`	Type: Boolean Mark true if event is a conversion.	Enrichment - `true`

cart_viewed

Output Key	Description	Expected Input
`cu`	Type: String Currency of the purchase or items associated with the event, in 3-letter ISO_4217 format.	`properties.currency`
`epn-value`	Type: Number Monetary value of the event that occurred.	N/A - Expression
`en` Required	Type: String Event name.	Enrichment - `view_cart`

product_added

Output Key	Description	Expected Input
`cu`	Type: String Currency of the purchase or items associated with the event, in 3-letter ISO_4217 format.	`properties.currency`
`epn-value`	Type: Number Monetary value of the event that occurred.	N/A - Expression
`pr1`	Type: String Product information.	N/A - Expression
`isConversion`	Type: Boolean Mark true if event is a conversion.	Enrichment - `true`
`en` Required	Type: String Event name.	Enrichment - `add_to_cart`

order_refunded

Output Key	Description	Expected Input
`cu`	Type: String Currency of the purchase or items associated with the event, in 3-letter ISO_4217 format.	`properties.currency`
`ep-transaction_id`	Type: String The unique identifier of a transaction.	`properties.order_id`
`ep-coupon`	Type: String The coupon name or code associated with an event.	`properties.coupon`
`epn-value`	Type: Number Monetary value of the event that occurred.	N/A - Expression
`epn-tax`	Type: Number The tax cost associated with a transaction.	`properties.tax`
`epn-shipping`	Type: Number The shipping cost associated with a transaction.	`properties.shipping`
`en` Required	Type: String Event name.	Enrichment - ``

product_viewed

Output Key	Description	Expected Input
`cu`	Type: String Currency of the purchase or items associated with the event, in 3-letter ISO_4217 format.	`properties.currency`
`epn-value`	Type: Number Monetary value of the event that occurred.	N/A - Expression
`pr1`	Type: String Product information.	N/A - Expression
`isConversion`	Type: Boolean Mark true if event is a conversion.	Enrichment - `true`
`en` Required	Type: String Event name.	Enrichment - `view_item`

order_completed

Output Key	Description	Expected Input
`cu`	Type: String Currency of the purchase or items associated with the event, in 3-letter ISO_4217 format.	`properties.currency`
`ep-transaction_id`	Type: String The unique identifier of a transaction.	`properties.order_id`
`ep-coupon`	Type: String The coupon name or code associated with an event.	`properties.coupon`
`epn-value`	Type: Number Monetary value of the event that occurred.	N/A - Expression
`epn-tax`	Type: Number The tax cost associated with a transaction.	`properties.tax`
`epn-shipping`	Type: Number The shipping cost associated with a transaction.	`properties.shipping`
`isConversion`	Type: Boolean Mark true if event is a conversion.	Enrichment - `true`
`en` Required	Type: String Event name.	Enrichment - `purchase`

product_clicked

Output Key	Description	Expected Input
`pr1`	Type: String Product information.	N/A - Expression
`en` Required	Type: String Event name.	Enrichment - `select_item`

product_removed

Output Key	Description	Expected Input
`cu`	Type: String Currency of the purchase or items associated with the event, in 3-letter ISO_4217 format.	`properties.currency`
`epn-value`	Type: Number Monetary value of the event that occurred.	N/A - Expression
`pr1`	Type: String Product information.	N/A - Expression
`en` Required	Type: String Event name.	Enrichment - `remove_from_cart`

checkout_started

Output Key	Description	Expected Input
`cu`	Type: String Currency of the purchase or items associated with the event, in 3-letter ISO_4217 format.	`properties.currency`
`ep-transaction_id`	Type: String The unique identifier of a transaction.	`properties.order_id`
`ep-coupon`	Type: String The coupon name or code associated with an event.	`properties.coupon`
`epn-value`	Type: Number Monetary value of the event that occurred.	N/A - Expression
`epn-tax`	Type: Number The tax cost associated with a transaction.	`properties.tax`
`epn-shipping`	Type: Number The shipping cost associated with a transaction.	`properties.shipping`
`en` Required	Type: String Event name.	Enrichment - `begin_checkout`

promotion_viewed

Output Key	Description	Expected Input
`ep-creative_name`	Type: String The name of a creative used in a promotion.	`properties.creative`
`ep-creative_slot`	Type: String The name of the promotional creative slot associated with an event.	`properties.position`
`ep-promotion_id`	Type: String The ID of the promotion associated with an event.	`properties.promotion_id`
`ep-promotion_name`	Type: String The name of the promotion associated with an event.	`properties.name`
`en` Required	Type: String Event name.	Enrichment - `view_promotion`

products_searched

Output Key	Description	Expected Input
`ep-search_term`	Type: String The term that was searched for.	`properties.query`
`en` Required	Type: String Event name.	Enrichment - `search`

promotion_clicked

Output Key	Description	Expected Input
`ep-creative_name`	Type: String The name of a creative used in a promotion.	`properties.creative`
`ep-creative_slot`	Type: String The name of the promotional creative slot associated with an event.	`properties.position`
`ep-promotion_id`	Type: String The ID of the promotion associated with an event.	`properties.promotion_id`
`ep-promotion_name`	Type: String The name of the promotion associated with an event.	`properties.name`
`en` Required	Type: String Event name.	Enrichment - `select_promotion`

product_list_viewed

Output Key	Description	Expected Input
`ep-item_list_id`	Type: String The ID of the list in which the item was presented to the user.	`properties.list_id`
`ep-item_list_name`	Type: String The name of the list in which the item was presented to the user.	`properties.category`
`en` Required	Type: String Event name.	Enrichment - `view_item_list`

payment_info_entered

Output Key	Description	Expected Input
`cu`	Type: String Currency of the purchase or items associated with the event, in 3-letter ISO_4217 format.	`properties.currency`
`ep-coupon`	Type: String The coupon name or code associated with an event.	`properties.coupon`
`ep-payment_type`	Type: String The chosen method of payment.	`properties.payment_method`
`epn-value`	Type: Number Monetary value of the event that occurred.	N/A - Expression
`en` Required	Type: String Event name.	Enrichment - `add_payment_info`

product_added_to_wishlist

Output Key	Description	Expected Input
`cu`	Type: String Currency of the purchase or items associated with the event, in 3-letter ISO_4217 format.	`properties.currency`
`epn-value`	Type: Number Monetary value of the event that occurred.	N/A - Expression
`pr1`	Type: String Product information.	N/A - Expression
`en` Required	Type: String Event name.	Enrichment - `add_to_wishlist`

Required & Recommended Identifiers

These identifiers must be mapped to Google Analytics 4 - Collect in order for successful user matching to occur. Without these IDs, any events sent to Google Analytics 4 - Collect will not appear in your dashboard. For your convenience, required and recommended IDs are mapped as Global parameters to ensure they are added to every event.

Attribute	Example	Sync Injector Required?
`cid` Required	35009a79-1a05-49d7-b876-2b884d0f825b	Yes
`ua` Highly Recommended	Opera/9.80 (Windows NT 6.0) Presto/2.12.388 Version/12.14	No
`uip` Highly Recommended	1.2.3.4	No
`sid` Highly Recommended	AJKDLSJFKLJ2390SKDFJLKJ23KJF9	Yes
`sct` Highly Recommended	620	Yes

Additional Identifiers

These identifiers should be mapped to Google Analytics 4 - Collect whenever possible to ensure the highest user match rates possible. If using these identifiers, they must be added as Global or Event Specific mappings.

Attribute	Description	Example
`gclid`	A Google Click Identifier generated by Google Ads or Search Ads 360.	&gclid=CjwKCAjwt-OwBhBnEiwAgwzrUkyNMRwtorgWNStUyWMG50WbzKNMWAFeWOHtq5q0cEbAHYKX7a4hNBoCwugQAvD_BwE
`dclid`	Conversions can be attributed to ad clicks through the use of Display Click IDs (DCLIDs), typically used for DV360 conversions.	&dclid=CKDdz-fE_IUDFYtTCQkdbyMOPg

Additional Google Analytics 4 - Collect Documentation