Google Analytics 4 • An update guide
- David Simpson
What’s happening?
We released a new version of Google Analytics in Jira on March 29, 2023, which supports both Universal Analytics (UA) and Google Analytics 4 (GA4).
Why?
After July 1, 2023, Universal Analytics (UA) will no longer collect any further data, so to continue collecting data, you must configure Google Analytics 4 (GA4).
Between now and then, we recommend that you collect data using both UA and GA4
During the changeover period, you may collect data and view report reports using either (UA or GA4) or both (UA and GA4). Admins can swap the visibility of reporting (between UA and GA4) on the reporting tab.
What will I need to do?
The app should automatically upgrade itself and retain any configuration for UA data collection and reporting permissions, but we recommend that you check both the data collection & reporting permissions tabs in the app configuration just in case.
Upon upgrade, the Configure screen should have 3 tabs:
Data Collection GA4 new
Data Collection UA legacy
Reporting
Setup data collection with GA4
You are already collecting Google Analytics data with UA, but it is important to start collecting data with GA4 as soon as possible.
The steps for configuring this are detailed in Configuration Overview.
Setup Reporting
Having configured data collection with GA4, you can turn on reporting using GA4 by moving to the Reporting tab and select reports to use Google Analytics 4.
At this moment in time, GA4 reporting is normally delayed by 24 hours, so there may not be much to see in the initial few days. You can also select reports to use Universal Analytics, while you build a GA4 data history.
Reporting Permissions
You should check the groups (and group members) which have access to reporting within Confluence because things have changed slightly regarding the need for a Google Analytics account.
Universal Analytics reports
To access Universal Analytics reports within jira, the user will still require their own Google Analytics user.
Google Analytics 4 reports
Any user in the permitted groups will have access Google Analytics Reports within Confluence without the need for a Google Analytics account. This is a change from previous behaviour with Universal Analytics.
What else has changed?
With GA4, we’ve revamped the reports substantially with several new features, such as tracking for attachments, search & anonymous users.
Take an in-depth look at the new look and new feature here…
All Universal Analytics reports will however continue to work as before. All new reporting features that we roll out in the coming weeks and months will be for GA4 only.
Future enhancements
We’re also bringing more detail into reporting with the following enhancements slated for release soon:
Real time reporting forthcoming
Overview report with demographics, locations etc. forthcoming
We’re always on the lookout to bring greater value to our customers, so would love to hear of any feature requests or enhancements that you’d like to see in the product:
Contact us
We’re here for you. If you have any questions about these changes, please get in touch: