AI Commerce supports Google Analytics' Measurement Protocol interface, which acts as an alternative to the traditional tracking pixel (GA4). This provides a comprehensive ability to track events in a server-side environment and collect data even when JavaScript is blocked or ad blockers are in use.

Benefits of Measurement Protocol

Does not require browser approval
Data can be collected without the user's browser allowing JavaScript to run, which improves data coverage.

Fast and efficient
Avoids slowing down page loading speeds as events are sent directly between servers.

Information security
More secure data transfer because the data is sent via an encrypted connection.

Compatibility with blocking
Allows data collection even when the browser blocks tracking scripts or ad blocking is enabled.

For more information, see Google's article https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/collection/protocol/ga4

Enabling server-side monitoring

AI Commerce leverages the Measurement Protocol API to ensure that lead events are recorded in Google Analytics 4 (GA4) even when JavaScript tracking is not working. Events are sent directly between AI Commerce and Google servers, without browser involvement.

GDPR compliance
Events are only sent if the customer has given consent, thus meeting GDPR requirements.

Special case: generate_lead events
generate_lead event, which consists of clicks on email addresses and phone numbers, is only sent through JavaScript tracking. transaction_id field or value is not associated with the event, and the system ensures that the event is only transmitted once in the same session, even if the user clicks on the email or phone number multiple times.

Integration with AI Commerce

Implementing Measurement Protocol in AI Commerce requires the following steps. There is a separate article for more details on the integration.

Registration
Register with the Google Analytics API and obtain the necessary encryption key from the Measurement Protocol API.

Configuration
In the AI Commerce platform dashboard settings, configure Google Analytics integration for Measurement Protocol on the Local & Taxes > Domains > Google API Pixel page.

Benefits of the Measurement Protocol API

Uniform user identifiers (client ID)
Ensures that both the JavaScript tracker and the Measurement Protocol API use the same user ID to automatically deduplicate transactions.

Consistent user events
All events related to a user session are recorded comprehensively in the analytics system. The JavaScript tracker and the Measurement Protocol API use the same user identifiers even in exceptional situations.

Page URL information
URL data is sent to the Measurement Protocol API from the same source that the JavaScript tracker uses. All events sent through the API include page_location and page_title fields, which improves page-specific analytics. This improves the URL data for the pages reported to Google

Traffic source identification
Improved attribution identifies traffic sources more accurately (even in complex traffic flows), making marketing analytics more reliable.

These improvements help your online store collect more accurate and reliable transaction data, supporting more effective decision-making and optimization.

In summary
AI Commerce 's Measurement Protocol integration expands server-side tracking capabilities, improves data accuracy, and reduces errors. The implementation required careful configuration, but the end result is more reliable analytics that support more efficient optimization and decision-making.