Tracking Orders and Sales in Google Analytics 4
NOTE: Google has announced that Universal Analytics would be discontinued after July 1, 2023 and will be proceeded by Google Analytics 4 (GA4). ProductCart can integrate with GA4 through Google Tag Manager (GTM).
Once you configure GA4 through Google Tag Manager, you not only can track visitors and actions on your website, you can also collect order information through completed sales at checkout. To do this, you’ll need to capture these actions by creating a tag and trigger in GTM for completed orders.
Tracking ProductCart Purchases Using Google Tag Manager
This article assumes you have already created both a GA4 Property and Google Tag Manager (GTM) container. Additionally, you saved the GTM container ID on your ProductCart control panel under Settings->Store Settings->Store & Display Settings and under the Miscellaneous tab in the Google Analytics section. If you have not done this, please read the article Using Google Analytics with your ProductCart-powered store and follow those instructions before proceeding. You will also need ADMIN level access to GTM and at least EDITOR access to GA4 to make the necessary changes.
SET UP TAG
Step 1: Log into your GTM Account and then open the container setup under your website’s name.
Step 2: Click the “New Tag” link on the “Overview” page or click on “Tags” in the left-hand navigation, then click the "New” button. If you don’t’ see this as an option, then you may not have ADMIN permissions set for your email address associated with this GTM account. Request permission from the Administrator of the account if this is the problem.
Step 3: When opening a new tag, give the name of the tag something like “GA4 Purchase Event” then:
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Under “Tag Type,” select “Google Analytics: GA4 Event”
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Under “Configuration Tag,” select your GA4 Configuration Tag you made to track GA4 pageviews.
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Under “Event Name,” type “purchase”
This much should pass Order IDs, Revenue, and item names into GA4 ecommerce reporting.
CREATE TRIGGER FOR TAG
Next click on the “Triggering” box or on the icon in the center. Click the “plus sign” button at the top right. Then click “Custom Event” which is under “Other” for trigger types. Type lowercase “purchase” in the “Event Name” box. Click “Save.”
SAVE TAG AND PUBLISH
After saving the trigger, you’ll return to the screen with all the tag options. On this screen, click “Save” for the Tag. After that you’ll see the list of tags you’ve created including your GA4 Purchase tag. Before you leave GTM, you must activate your changes by clicking the “Submit” button at the top right. Just add a brief Version Name and Description making note of adding a GA4 Purchase Event Tag and Trigger. After that, click the “Publish” button and your new tag will track successful orders moving forward. Know that it can take up-to 48 hours to see transactions show up in GA4 reporting. You’ll know it’s working once you log into your GA4 dashboard, click on “Reports” then click on “Monetization” then Monetization Overview” or “Ecommerce Purchases” and your products and revenue should show there.