Google Analytics 4 (GA4) has introduced new parameters in its BigQuery export schema, enhancing data analysis capabilities for users. These additions cover attribution insights and improve event sequencing capabilities.
New Traffic Sources
- manual_source_platform: The manual campaign source platform (utm_source_platform) that was collected with the event.
- manual_creative_format: The manual campaign source platform (utm_source_platform) that was collected with the event.
- manual_marketing_tactic: The manual campaign marketing tactic (utm_marketing_tactic) that was collected with the event.
These parameters may provide more detailed information for attribution analysis, allowing for better understanding of marketing efforts.
Event Sequencing Parameters
- batch_event_index: A number indicating the sequential order of each event within a batch based on their order of occurrence on the device.
- batch_page_id: A sequential number assigned to a page that increases for each subsequent page within an engagement.
- batch_ordering_id: A monotonically increasing number that is incremented each time a network request is sent from a given page.
Key updates for event sequencing:
- A new "batch_event_index" field has been added to the export schema.
- "batch_page_id" and "batch_ordering_id" have been moved out of the event_params field, making them more accessible.
- These parameters are useful for identifying the order in which events are sent when transmitted in clusters or batches.
- These changes suggest that users might now be able to determine the sequence number of GA4 events within a batch.
The new parameters added to BigQuery are not retroactive. They will only have values from the date of their inclusion in the schema. This means historical data will not include these new fields. The relocation of "batch_page_id" and "batch_ordering_id" out of the event_params field may require updates to existing queries that reference these fields.
