Google Analytics Sessions Syncing Issues

[zskolnik]

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to pull in information from Google Analytics to PBI. Specifically, I'd like the number of sessions from google/organic source/mediums.

I've tried a few different ways of pulling the sessions data in PBI, but it never seems to match exactly, only close. I'd like to view the data month by month to see number of sessions.

In the photo below, I've segmented by returning vs new, but still can't remedy the issue. For this date, both match on the new visitors amount (50), but mismatch on sessions for returning visitor (91 vs 95). Looking at other dates, neither match. Any ideas? 

[v-juanli-msft]

Hi @zskolnik 

From your screenshot, which is the visual of the left one? matrix?

It's better to share some data and expected result according to this data for analysis.

Best Regards

Maggie

[zskolnik]

@v-juanli-msft 

Hi Maggie, 

The left one is from Google Analytics, the right PBI's data view.

Basically, on the left it says my Sessions for Google / Organic are 50 and 91 (new vs returning). Pulling with PBI, it says my sessions are 50 and 95 (new vs returning) for November 15.

I'm pulling what I believe is the exact same data, and am not sure why they aren't lining up.

Thanks,

Zev

[v-juanli-msft]

Hi @zskolnik 

It seems the left one from Google Analytics is a visual instead of original dataset.

Please check if any other filter apply to it.

Best Regards
Maggie

[zskolnik · Accepted solution]

@v-juanli-msft 

Ended up figuring this one out! Finally got it after reading some PBI forums of something completely unrelated.

I realized I was pulling Sessions alongside a bunch of other fields (source, users, hits, etc), which was causing me to lose out on rows that didn't have associated values. For example, if a session had no hits and I was pulling both, then it wouldn't show up as a session.

By pulling only sessions and the date, or users and the date, etc. I was able to link up GA and PBI. I suppose that's a beginner's mistake but very happy to have found the solution!

Zev