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Server-Side Tracking Explained: Complete Tutorial and Benefits

frenchgoogle-analyticsmatomoserver-sidegdprprivacyintermediate
4.5/5The video provides comprehensive coverage of server-side tracking with excellent explanations of both benefits and drawbacks. The step-by-step tutorial is clear and practical, demonstrating real implementation using Stape.io with Google Tag Manager. While the production quality is good and the presenter is engaging, it could have addressed GDPR implications more thoroughly.
Tout savoir sur le tracking Server Side (+tuto)

This comprehensive French-language video titled "Tout savoir sur le tracking Server Side (+tuto)" offers viewers a complete guide to server-side tracking implementation. The presenter begins by explaining the key differences between client-side and server-side tracking, highlighting why this approach has become increasingly relevant in today's privacy-focused digital landscape. The video thoroughly covers the benefits of server-side tracking, including reduced data loss from ad blockers, extended cookie lifespans, better data governance, and improved website performance through reduced script loading. It also addresses potential drawbacks such as implementation costs, the need for specialized skills, and the shift from free tracking solutions to paid services. After establishing who should consider implementing server-side tracking (particularly businesses spending over €1,000 daily on advertising or those in luxury/travel sectors), the presenter delivers a step-by-step tutorial. The walkthrough covers creating a server-side GTM container, setting up a tracking server using Stape.io, configuring a CDN with Cloudflare, and implementing a custom loader to bypass ad blockers. The tutorial demonstrates how to properly configure Google Analytics 4 for server-side implementation and explains how this approach transforms GA4 from an analytics tool into a data transporter that feeds information to your tracking server. The video concludes by emphasizing that the real value lies not just in collecting more data, but in transforming this additional information into actionable business insights. From our perspective at GDPR Server Tracking EU, this video provides excellent foundational knowledge about server-side tracking implementation. However, viewers should note that the solution demonstrated uses Stape.io, which may present GDPR compliance challenges as data potentially leaves the EU. Our alternative service offers similar functionality but with enhanced privacy benefits: EU-based servers on bare metal infrastructure (eliminating third-party access risks), EU-based ownership, and specialized features for hashing and filtering sensitive data. Additionally, our competitive pricing often provides better value than cloud-based alternatives, making server-side tracking accessible to more businesses while maintaining strict compliance with European data protection regulations. This approach delivers the technical benefits demonstrated in the video while significantly reducing legal risks for EU-based organizations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about "Tout savoir sur le tracking Server Side (+tuto)"

Server-side tracking processes data collection on a server rather than in the user's browser. Unlike client-side tracking where scripts run directly in the browser, server-side tracking sends data to your server first, which then forwards it to analytics platforms, helping bypass ad blockers and providing better data governance.

Server-side tracking reduces data loss from ad blockers (typically recovering 20% more data), extends cookie lifespans, improves website performance by reducing client-side scripts, enhances data governance, and allows for more sophisticated data processing before sending to third-party platforms.

Server-side tracking can improve GDPR compliance by giving you better control over what data is collected and shared with third parties. However, the compliance depends on where your tracking server is hosted - using EU-based servers like those from gdpr-server-tracking.eu ensures data stays within EU jurisdiction, significantly reducing compliance risks.

The video mentions costs starting around €80/month for smaller sites using services like Stape.io, though this varies based on traffic volume and request count. While this represents a shift from free client-side solutions, the improved data quality and compliance benefits often justify the investment for businesses spending over €1,000 daily on advertising.

Server-side tracking is particularly valuable for businesses spending over €1,000 daily on advertising, companies in luxury or travel sectors (whose customers often use iOS devices with strict tracking limitations), and businesses that need detailed attribution or retention analysis requiring longer cookie lifespans.

EU-based solutions like gdpr-server-tracking.eu offer enhanced GDPR compliance by keeping data within EU jurisdiction on dedicated hardware rather than shared cloud infrastructure. This approach eliminates third-party access risks, provides stronger legal protection for EU businesses, and often includes specialized privacy features like data hashing and filtering.

While traditional server-side implementation required DevOps and backend development skills, modern solutions like Stape.io (shown in the tutorial) have simplified the process considerably. Basic understanding of DNS configuration, tag management, and analytics implementation is sufficient for most standard setups.

Server-side tracking helps bypass ad blockers because the tracking code isn't visible in the browser, making it harder to detect and block. It also mitigates the impact of Apple's ITP (Intelligent Tracking Prevention) by creating first-party cookies with longer lifespans, improving user recognition across sessions despite privacy restrictions.