Moving to Google Analytics 4. How we’re preparing nsw.gov.au

Did you know that Google is replacing its analytics tool with Google Analytics 4 (GA4)? You may have seen the news that from 1 July 2023, Google will stop collecting data in the current version of Google Analytics.

So, what does this mean for your content on nsw.gov.au?

What’s happening?

Google Analytics 4 is Google’s “next generation” analytics product that enables you to measure traffic and engagement across websites and apps. Google announced that GA4will replace their current analytics product, Universal Analytics, and data will stop collecting in all Universal Analytics properties.

As nsw.gov.au uses the premium Google Analytics service, GA360, our website will have an extended transition date of 1 July 2024.

Who will be impacted?

The change to GA4 will have a significant impact on everyone that uses Google Analytics for website reporting. This is a totally new version of Google Analytics, rather than a data migration.

GA4 will offer a new interface and new ways of working. There will be changes in all aspects of data collection, metrics, and presentation, so any custom reporting, dashboards and other reports will need to be rebuilt in the lead up to the 2024 data cut-off.

GA4 offers the opportunity to implement an effective, efficient, and intuitive tracking schema. This will define the structure of our data and align with best practice and evolving privacy standards.

What does this mean for nsw.gov.au

The Digital Channels team is currently focused on technical configuration for our GA4 account and external access to GA4 data is not yet available for agency reporting. We will provide further updates as data and technical work progresses.

Agencies with content on nsw.gov.au should continue to use their existing GA360 data views for content reporting. This data will continue to collect in GA360 until 1 July 2024.

How the Digital Channels team is preparing for the move to GA4

We're working with analytics specialists to support us through the transition process to GA4 in line with best practices. We have already started collecting nsw.gov.au into GA4 to build up historical data. Due to the scale and scope of tracking nsw.gov.au, the team is focused on technical configuration, tracking schema, foundational data design and testing.

We are taking a phased approach to the transition:

1. Discovery and audit
2. Documentation
3. Solution design (we are here)
4. Implementation
5. Testing and Quality Assurance
6. User training and guides
7. Reporting tools and templates

How agencies with content on nsw.gov.au will be supported

The Digital Channels team will provide agencies with training resources to support the set-up of key reports and learn key features of GA4.

Stay tuned for further updates or reach out to the team if you have any questions.