You can use Google Analytics to track any website, although there are some issues to consider if you want to track Intranet sites.
We’ve worked with Google Analytics since it was first released in 2005. The below list is based on our observations and client feedback.
Intranets Don’t Have an AdWords Budget
Google Analytics is a marketing analytics tool. Its primary purpose is to help you track the effectiveness of your AdWords budget.
Some of the reports in Google Analytics are useful, but the product isn’t a good fit for Intranet web analytics reporting.
Tracking Can Be Blocked
With Google Analytics, if a User blocks the request for the tracking code or the tracking beacon, the User isn’t seen in the reports.
This presents a problem for internal corporate tasks like compliance & file access audits.
This isn’t just a Google Analytics problem. It applies to any product that relies on JavaScript-based tracking: tracking can be easily blocked.
Tracking can be blocked with browser extensions, dev console rules, firewall & network policies, and a variety of other options.
It’s safe to say that some of your internal Users currently block Google Analytics Tracking.
Data Privacy Regulations
Each year brings more regulations, and their reach keeps expanding: GDPR, LGPD, CCPA, PIPA, PIPEDA, CDPA, et al.
Google Analytics isn’t GDPR compliant as of 2023. It’s not clear if GA customers are penalized, but we suspect Google will not be allowed to collect as much data in the future.
One of the best ways to avoid data privacy laws is to store your data in your network.
Details Are Missing
Google Analytics is great for trend analysis but you can’t drill down into details about individual visitors. Plus, the smallest date range you can choose is one day.
Usernames are present in most Intranet environments, but you can’t store or see them in Google Analytics.
A good Intranet web analytics tool is able to show details. For example: a list of Usernames who accessed a specific document last Thursday between 7-9 AM, and the ability to drill down into the list to expose more details.
Intranet Web Analytics: Is There A Better Solution?
Yes. Self-hosted / on-premises web analytics software is a better match for Intranet web analytics.
Angelfish Software is a self-hosted web analytics tool that was designed for Intranets, and provides a solution for all the issues listed above.
Learn More: Angelfish Software