Our group has recognized a vital concern occurring with Looker Studio reviews that use GA4 information (previously referred to as Google Information Studio). This was attributable to a latest change Google made with out prior discover. It impacts any group that visualizes GA4 information in a Looker Studio report utilizing a direct connector to GA4 (which is the most typical technique). Right now, it doesn’t seem that this impacts reviews if the info is related by way of a knowledge warehouse like BigQuery.
What Occurred
This previous week, Google launched updates to Looker Studio as a part of their common ongoing enhancements to the device.
Nonetheless, considered one of their modifications launched a vital concern that makes Looker Studio reviews practically unusable to visualise GA4 information with no new information structure being put into place (if the report is utilizing a direct connection to GA4). This can be a complicated concern, however we now have supplied a abstract of the knowledge right here – please attain out to your consumer strategist when you’ve got any questions.
Of their launch notes in regards to the newest updates, Google included a word below a piece titled “In different information” (not even inside the primary launch notes) that:
- “Looker Studio reviews that visualize Google Analytics 4 information are topic to Analytics Information API (GA4) quotas. Stories that exceed the quotas could show error messages. The quotas ought to solely have an effect on extremely trafficked reviews.”
Most Looker Studio reviews that visualize GA4 information are related on to the GA4 property containing the info. This has been one of the best apply structure for many organizations with out complicated wants requiring a knowledge warehouse.
Earlier than this alteration by Google, the direct connection between Looker Studio and GA4 didn’t pose any main limits in your utilization of the report.
Nonetheless, now, Google has imposed limits in your utilization of GA4 information in a Looker Studio report when they’re immediately related. Particularly, they’re now making use of limits (quotas) on the GA4 API utilization to Looker Studio Stories. These limits are extraordinarily restrictive for traditional properties and considerably restrictive for 360 clients.
In our testing, GA4 information turn out to be unusable with as little as 11 charts, 1 consumer, and 1 filter (instance beneath). Once you attain the restricted quota, you will note errors like these proven beneath with the wrench and “See particulars” hyperlink.
What Must be Completed
At this level, there has not been any official recognition by Google that it is a vital concern. They’ve supplied steps to assist mitigate the difficulty, however the steps supplied usually are not cheap (resembling together with much less information or sharing the report with fewer folks).
The very best path ahead round this concern (except Google course corrects and reverts to their prior state or will increase the quotas) is most probably to leverage BigQuery as a knowledge warehouse and join Looker Studio to that supply. Nonetheless, please word that it is a far more complicated answer that comes with added time necessities & effort (for information structure and configuration) and price (as storing in and utilizing information from BigQuery may end up in fees).
If you need help with overcoming this problem, please attain out to us at data@morevisibility.com
