Google Analytics 4 or GA4 is Google’s next-generation tracking and website traffic measurement solution, and yes, it’s going to replace the current Universal Analytics or GA3. As announced by the company itself, the standard Universal Analytics properties will stop processing data from July 1, 2023. The change is inevitable and the only logical way to survive is to make the switch to Google Analytics 4 as soon as possible. However, one question remains, what happens to UA after July 1 2023? It is explained in this article, let’s get started.
The Supposed Changes
As mentioned above, Universal Analytics properties will stop processing new data from the 1st of July, 2023. Until this date, you can continue to use and collect new data in your Universal Analytics properties. Starting from March 2023, digital marketers and advertisers are instructed to switch to Google Analytics 4 and create a property. If it isn’t created, Google will automatically create one with basic data. The new GA4 property will be based on your Universal Analytics property settings. If a GA4 property is already created and is connected to a UA property, Google will copy over any configurations from it to the new one.
Digital Marketers can access the previously processed Universal Analytics property for at least six months after July 1, 2023. Also, another interesting thing is that the 360 Universal Analytics properties will stop processing new hits from October 1st, 2023. Google has confirmed to provide a future date in the coming months for the existing Universal Analytics properties. After this future date, the data will no longer be available to access in the Analytics interface or access the UA data via the API. Therefore, to avoid such mishaps, Google has strongly recommended all marketers export their historical reports before the deadline.
How to know if the property created is UA or GA4?
If the property has been created before October 14, 2020, your business is most likely using a Universal Analytics property. However, if the property has been created after October 14, 2020, it’ll be most likely a GA4 property already. Alternatively, you can check the property type by taking a look at your property ID in the account. UA property IDs usually start with UA and end with a number whereas GA4 properties only have numbers.
Winding Up
UA3 is coming to an end and will be replaced by GA4, nothing is going to change that. Therefore, the best way is to embrace the change by upgrading to the latest technologies before the specified date. Even Google encourages marketers, and businesses to make the switch to Google Analytics 4 as soon as possible and back up important data to avoid any sort of migration problems.
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Need more information? Check out more resources:
Switch to GA4, or Google will make it for you
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) Problems Associated with Migration and How Google Addresses Them
What to Expect as GA4 Becomes Your Primary Measurement Platform?
The Biggest Misconceptions About GA4
Google Analytics 4 Vs Universal Analytics: What’s The Difference
Google Analytics 4: Where can you find the Demographic and Tech details reports