Server-Side Tracking vs. Pixel Tracking - Which is Better?
A variety of e-commerce organizations are turning to server-side tracking as a method to boost their data collection processes. While it needs extra technical knowledge than regular GTM and might present additional costs, it can cause better accuracy and more trusted data


Pixel tracking utilizes a piece of code to register conversions on your site. It's simple to set up and less prone to ad blockers.

1. More accurate data
The traditional approach of tracking conversions on an internet site, making use of pixels, is having trouble with transforming internet browser personal privacy plans. This indicates that the data being sent to Google Ads, Facebook Business Manager and various other systems is much less precise than it ought to be.

Server-side tracking is a more secure alternative that aids to bypass these constraints, as it's packed from your own domain and dealt with as first-party code, suggesting it's much less likely to be affected by ad blockers or various other protection procedures. This supplies much more accurate information and an extra total picture of user trips throughout channels.

In addition, this sort of monitoring enables companies to track conversions outside of the internet site, such as telephone call and in-store check outs, which can be difficult for pixel-based monitoring. This adaptability provides online marketers more possession over the information they send, and makes it easier to follow different data regulations. It's likewise a lot much less vulnerable to fraud, as it's harder for deceptive actors to control the system by altering the postback link.

2. Better control over data.
Server-side monitoring allows organizations to gather and enrich information before sending it to third-party analytics/advertising systems. This enhances information completeness and accuracy, which can assist online marketers make even more educated advertising and marketing choices.

Traditional pixel monitoring depends on JavaScript tracking codes that are positioned in site site visitors' web browsers. These tracking codes are often obstructed by advertisement blockers, which can lead to information collection disruptions and inaccurate results. Server-side monitoring allows organizations to bypass these restrictions and give precise, regular data that is much less susceptible to disturbance.

This sort of tracking additionally allows services to track conversions that take place beyond the website, like phone calls and in-store acquisitions. This is essential considering that new privacy plans such as Apple's Intelligent Tracking Avoidance (ITP) restrict the shelf life of cookie-based monitoring pixels to 7 days. This is a vital reason S2S is extra reputable for organizations seeking to adapt to these adjustments.

3. Less susceptible to fraudulence
Server-side tracking allows services to manipulate data hauls prior to it reaches third party endpoints, boosting protection and privacy. This is particularly vital as different web browsers and systems significantly transform just how they handle cookies. For instance, in iOS 14, Safari will just provide first-party cookie information and will certainly not permit pixel-based tracking. Using server-side tracking, you can bypass these restrictions and continue to track conversions that occurred beyond your internet site.

On top of that, server-side tracking enables you to capture user data directly on your own servers. This gets rid of reliance on third parties, which can be susceptible to violations and personal privacy infractions.

A server-side radar is a collection of directions that informs your web site's web server what occasions to tape. This information is after that sent out to analytics devices like Google Analytics and Facebook Service. It's likewise utilized to activate event-based advertisements, such AI-powered ad optimization as retargeting. On the other hand, pixel monitoring is an alternate technique that utilizes a little piece of code on your website to collect data from users.

4. Simpler to execute
Server-side tracking is a data collection procedure that takes place on the internet site's very own web server, bypassing web browser limitations. This means that data collected by the website/app is first sent out to the web server where it's refined and after that forwarded to analytics tools like Google Analytics or Facebook Pixel.

The advantage of this strategy is that it minimizes the range of data management and gives companies extra control over transmission, making it normally a lot more reliable. Consequently, it's less vulnerable to information difficulties triggered by things like a busted link or an active ad blocker being mounted.

With OWOX BI's Server-Side Monitoring, your service can collect real-time conversion data similarly that you would with pixels or a cookie, but this is then passed straight to your marketing and advertising tools on the web server. This enables you to have more accurate information and assists ensure conformity with personal privacy policies such as GDPR. Moreover, it additionally prevents the tracking constraints imposed by browsers and advertisement blockers.