On July 1, 2023, Universal Analytics properties will stop processing new hits and 360 Universal Analytics properties will stop processing new hits on October 1, 2023. Due to this, reporting will be forced to switch so the more historical data gathered with GA4 the better. Beyond this, GA4’s benefits include new features, native app integration, privacy considerations, better reporting, and more.

As soon as possible. The sooner GA4 starts tracking data, the more data will be available in GA4 for historical comparisons. Google recommends running GA4 and the previous version (GA3/UA) simultaneously until Google ends the previous version in 2023.

Yes. Some metrics and dimensions have changed or have been removed. Some examples of these are bounce rate, exit pages, and time on page.

If you’re using Google Tag Manager (GTM), installation is relatively simple. However, setting up GA4 can increase in complexity.

It depends on the complexity of what needs to be tracked.

If everything that needs to be tracked is something that GA4 natively tracks, then anyone with access to
Google Tag Manager (GTM) can install and set up GA4.

If the actions to be tracked require custom coding, then someone with coding skills (like a developer)
should set up GA4.

To do it yourself, follow these steps from Google Support.

• Audit your existing analytics setup and create a GA4 configuration plan.
• Setting up GA4 before July 2022 is mission-critical.
• Start building historical data so that you can do a year-over-year analysis next year.
• Once GA4 events are collected, get your team up to speed and update your processes.
• Start planning team training sessions.
• Extract historical data in Universal Analytics before July 2023