Server-Side Monitoring vs. Pixel Tracking - Which is Better?
A variety of ecommerce organizations are turning to server-side tracking as a means to enhance their information collection processes. While it needs more technical knowledge than routine GTM and might introduce extra prices, it can result in better accuracy and more reliable information


Pixel tracking utilizes an item of code to register conversions on your site. It's simple to establish and much less vulnerable to ad blockers.

1. Much more precise information
The typical approach of tracking conversions on a website, utilizing pixels, is having problem with transforming browser privacy plans. This suggests that the information being sent out to Google Ads, Facebook Business Manager and other platforms is less precise than it must be.

Server-side monitoring is an extra safe and secure option that helps to bypass these restrictions, as it's packed from your own domain and treated as first-party code, implying it's much less most likely to be impacted by advertisement blockers or various other safety actions. This gives extra exact information and an extra full image of customer trips throughout networks.

On top of that, this type of monitoring permits organizations to track conversions beyond the internet site, such as call and in-store brows through, which can be hard for pixel-based monitoring. This adaptability provides marketing experts extra possession over the information they send, and makes it simpler to adhere to various data regulations. It's additionally a lot less vulnerable to scams, as it's more difficult for deceptive actors to manipulate the system by modifying the postback link.

2. Better control over data.
Server-side tracking permits organizations to accumulate and enhance data before sending it to third-party analytics/advertising systems. This enhances data completeness and precision, which can assist online marketers make more informed advertising and marketing choices.

Conventional pixel tracking relies upon JavaScript tracking codes that are put in site visitors' browsers. These tracking codes are usually obstructed by ad blockers, which can cause information collection interruptions and inaccurate outcomes. Server-side tracking makes it possible for services to bypass these restrictions and provide exact, consistent information that is much less susceptible to disturbance.

This kind of monitoring additionally enables companies conversion tracking tools to track conversions that happen outside of the site, like call and in-store purchases. This is necessary considering that new privacy policies such as Apple's Intelligent Monitoring Avoidance (ITP) limit the service life of cookie-based monitoring pixels to 7 days. This is a crucial reason why S2S is much more dependable for businesses looking for to adapt to these changes.

3. Much less vulnerable to scams
Server-side tracking makes it possible for services to control data hauls before it gets to third party endpoints, improving safety and privacy. This is particularly important as various web browsers and systems increasingly transform how they take care of cookies. For instance, in iOS 14, Safari will just provide first-party cookie information and will not permit pixel-based tracking. Making use of server-side tracking, you can bypass these limitations and remain to track conversions that occurred outside of your web site.

Additionally, server-side tracking allows you to capture individual data directly by yourself servers. This removes reliance on third parties, which can be vulnerable to breaches and personal privacy infractions.

A server-side tracking system is a collection of directions that informs your internet site's server what occasions to tape. This data is after that sent out to analytics tools like Google Analytics and Facebook Business. It's likewise used to activate event-based advertisements, such as retargeting. In contrast, pixel monitoring is a different technique that makes use of a small piece of code on your page to collect information from customers.

4. Simpler to carry out
Server-side monitoring is a data collection procedure that happens on the site's very own server, bypassing web internet browser constraints. This means that data gathered by the website/app is first sent out to the server where it's processed and after that sent to analytics devices like Google Analytics or Facebook Pixel.

The advantage of this approach is that it decreases the range of information monitoring and gives organizations a lot more control over transmission, making it usually extra dependable. Consequently, it's much less vulnerable to information challenges caused by things like a damaged connection or an energetic advertisement blocker being mounted.

With OWOX BI's Server-Side Monitoring, your organization can collect real-time conversion data in the same way that you would with pixels or a cookie, but this is then passed directly to your advertising and marketing devices on the web server. This permits you to have even more exact information and aids make certain conformity with personal privacy laws such as GDPR. Moreover, it also avoids the tracking limitations imposed by browsers and ad blockers.