Google Analytics 4 (GA4), launched at the end of 2022, introduces flexibility and features such as device ID identification that Google Analytics 3 (GA3) lacked. Additionally, Google has announced that as of July 2024, Universal Analytics data will be completely cleared. This signifies the end of GA3 and marks the beginning of embracing the more powerful data analytics tools of GA4. However, this does not mean we should immediately transition to GA4 and disregard past data from GA3. This article will guide you on how to navigate such a transition effectively.
Why do we need to back up GA3 data?
According to official Google documentation, it was announced that as of July 1, 2023, Universal Analytics ceased data collection, and on July 1, 2024, all data from Universal Analytics will be completely cleared. Additionally, due to Google’s data retention settings, some GA3 data will be regularly deleted each month. Therefore, if businesses wish to back up GA3 data, they need to act quickly.
Therefore, for businesses with a need to back up GA3 data, it is imperative to complete this task before July 2024!
