Virtual Report Suite (VRS) and funnel discrepancies in Adobe Analytics
Learn how to resolve funnel discrepancies in Adobe Analytics’ Virtual Report Suite (VRS) by comparing it to parent suite data and applying correct segments.
Description description
Environment
Adobe Analytics (AA)
Issue
When creating a funnel in Adobe Analytics using a Virtual Report Suite (VRS), discrepancies may be observed between the data table for a single dimension and the first step of the funnel.
Specifically:
- The top of the funnel doesn’t match with corresponding data tables.
- No segments are applied, yet there is an inconsistency.
- When switching from VRS to rollup profile, the data matches correctly.
- Applying the segment used by VRS directly on the funnel resolves this discrepancy.
Cause
This issue happens because Fall Out and Flow reports force a visit-based segment, even if a hit-based segment is defined within VRS.
This behavior leads to differences in how visits are calculated and reported.
Resolution resolution
To resolve this issue, follow these steps:
- Understand that Fall Out and Flow reports inherently apply visit-based segmentation regardless of whether your VRS uses hit-based segments.
- To ensure consistency, apply any necessary segments explicitly when configuring funnels within your report suite or visualization tools.
- If you encounter mismatched data, verify if applying the same segment manually aligns results as expected.
For further clarity on why these discrepancies occur:
- In VRS, hits are removed before running fallout calculations (“Hits removed, then Fallout run”).
- In contrast, for parent suites, all hits are included initially during fallout calculation followed by segmentation out of specific hits (“Fallout run with all hits in visits”).
By understanding these operational differences between hit-based versus visit-based scopes across different reporting contexts, users can better manage their analytics configurations to avoid such inconsistencies.
If issues persist or additional clarification is needed regarding specific use cases or advanced troubleshooting steps, consider reaching out to Adobe Support for detailed assistance tailored to your setup requirements.