Configuration: Google Analytics 4
- Sarah Holst
Setup Checklist
GOOGLE ANALYTICS TASKS |
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| detailed status |
Detailed Setup Guide
NOTE: Aspenware Commerce has added the ability to load Adobe Analytics credentials for resort customers who use both reporting platforms. Including these credentials will enable Adobe Analytics to connect and pull data from the same tags that GA4 will leverage. In essence, users of both platforms will have access to two reporting interfaces.
1. Set Up Google Analytics
If you are currently using Universal Analytics, and have not created a GA4 Property, you must create a new GA4 Property. See Add Google Analytics 4 property.
If you are a brand new user of Google Analytics, you must create an account and a new GA4 property. See Set up Analytics for a website and/or app.
2. Set Up Google Tag Manager
Current UA (Universal Analytics) users do not need to create a new GTM Container, as you will use your existing one. See Add a Google Analytics 4 property to a site that already has analytics.
Users new to Google Tag Manager will create a GTM Container. See Setup and install Tag Manager.
IMPORTANT: Aspenware recommends individual tags rather than using the “Send Ecommerce data” checkbox.
We don’t recommend using the "Send Ecommerce data" option for a couple of reasons:
Limited Customization – The checkbox sends only the standard eCommerce data, which doesn’t meet the needs of our complex ski resort business. Custom event parameters or additional data points may be left out. Our data layer has several of those, and more are coming.
Potential Data Inconsistencies—If the data layer contains inconsistencies or follows a non-standard format, enabling this checkbox might result in missing or incomplete ecommerce events. Our data layer has some known inconsistencies, most of which will be resolved in the next release.
Setting up the tags manually will enable you to obtain all the standard and custom events and dimensions, and it will allow for better accuracy, flexibility, and customization in the long run.
3. Hardcode Currency in Google Tag Manager
Google Analytics 4 requires a defined currency to report revenue accurately. Currency can be defined in multiple places, but hardcoding the currency in the GTM container is the best way to ensure that your revenue is reported correctly.
IMPORTANT: This task must be completed by an admin or user with publish permissions in Google Tag Manager, and should take less than 2 minutes to complete. Be sure to complete this for every container (every site) you monitor, in both test and production.
The requirement references how currency is defined and reported in your site, and requires a 3-digit code to be entered. The most common codes for Aspenware resorts are:
US Dollar: USD
Canadian Dollar: CAD
Australian Dollar: AUD
New Zealand Dollar: NZD
Please make a note of the currency for your site(s), and follow the instruction below to configure:
Log in to the Google Tag Manager Account
In the sidebar, select Tags
Locate the Purchase Event in the tag list, and select.
Identify the variable you are using for the currency parameter and make a note of it (e.g. {{GA4-Ecommerce Currency}} in the example below).
Close the tag and select Variables in the sidebar. Select the ecommerce variable you identified in the previous step.
Change the Variable Type from Data Layer Variable to Constant.
Enter your currency code in the Value field. Currency code entries are 3 characters:
USD (US Dollar)
CAD (Canadian Dollar)
AUD (Australian Dollar)
NZD (New Zealand Dollar)
If your Variable is already defined as Constant, simply update the Value from 000 to the correct currency code.
Save your changes and click Submit in the upper right.
Publish the container. We suggest including “Hardcode Currency…” or some other identifier in the version name field.
4. Import Triggers/Tags
Import the GA4 Setup Container, which contains tags, triggers and variables. See Container export and import.
In the article (above), scroll down to and follow the “Import” instructions using the Aspenware GA4 Import Tags File.json below.
File Date | JSON File |
|---|---|
2/4/25 | Coming Soon! |
Edit Variables
After the import is complete, go to Variables (left nav).
Select GA4 Measurement ID from the list.
Edit Value. Replace with your GA4 Measurement ID.
Preview and Publish your container.
For Preview instructions, see Preview and debug containers - Tag Manager Help
For Publish instructions, see Publishing, versions, and approvals - Tag Manager Help
The tags are now reporting to your GA4 dashboard.