Why do DXA session metrics sometimes differ to session metrics in other analytics platforms?
A session (a "visit" in Adobe Analytics) is broadly defined the same way across analytics platforms. However, because each analytics platform has its own method for collecting and processing data, there are discrepancies between some metrics when compared with each other. This page outlines some of the key differences and provides clarity for why results may not always match between DXA and other analytics platforms, specifically Google Analytics and Adobe Analytics.
Ending an existing session and starting a new session
| End point of existing session | Google Analytics | Adobe Analytics | DXA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes of inactivity | By default, a session ends after 30 minutes of inactivity. | By default, a session ends after 30 minutes of inactivity. | By default, a session ends after 30 minutes of inactivity. Note: To change how long a session must remain inactive before ending, contact your Technical Account Manager. |
| End of the day | A session ends at 11:59:59 PM. If a visitor is still active on the property past this moment, a new session starts at 12:00 AM. | A session does not end at 11:59:59 PM. If a visitor is still active on the property at 12:00 AM, the same session continues. | A session does not end at 11:59:59 PM. If a visitor is still active on the property at 12:00 AM, the same session continues. |
| New campaign | A session expires when a visitor's campaign source changes. | A session does not end when a visitor's campaign source changes. | A session does not end when a visitor's campaign source changes. |
| Manual override | You can use | You can not manually start or end a session. | You can use |
Bounce and bounce rate
Bounce is used across analytics platforms to indicate when a visitor lands on a website or app and leaves without interacting or continuing the journey.
Bounce rate is a key performance indicator used by analytics platforms to measure the effectiveness of landing pages. A high bounce rate often indicates a large number of visitors leaving the journey prematurely without performing the intended outcome, such as purchasing an item. However, in some cases, such as when you want a visitor to read an article, a high bounce rate may be desirable.
The following points outline the different ways bounce rate is calculated in DXA, Google Analytics, and Adobe Analytics:
DXA and Google Analytics — Bounce rate is calculated using the formula "Single-page sessions divided by sessions".
- Adobe Analytics — Bounce rate contains exactly one hit compared to the number of visits on the page.Note: In Adobe Analytics, a hit is when any beacon call occurs during a single page-view.
