Integrate with Firebase
With Firebase, Cost Center can provide Google Ads campaign attribution.
With Firebase, Cost Center can provide insights about time spent on apps, as well as session count at the campaign / ad group / creative level (depending on MMP).
Firebase is also able to give Cost Center revenue from IAPs and Subscriptions.
Data from Firebase must be exported to BigQuery before it can be imported by Cost Center.
It is also necessary for Cost Center to have access to BigQuery data so that it can set up data pipelines to Firebase in order to create custom events for CPA and ROAS campaigns
Setting up Firebase
1. Go to your Firebase Console
2. Click on "Add Project"
3. Give your project a name
4. Continue to link Google Analytics to your Firebase project.
5. Wait patiently while your project is being created.
6. Upgrade your plan to "BLAZE" for Firebase to prevent disruption of the data pipelines, which could lead to campaigns not working.
7. Get ready to export data from Firebase to BigQuery following instructions here
Linking BigQuery
8. In Firebase, click on Project Overview > Project settings
9. Go to "Integration", and click on BigQuery > Link
10. Follow the guided steps and enable Google Analytics. Ensure that you tick all checkboxes for Daily, Streaming export and include advertising identifiers.
11. Next, go to Cost Center > Data Connectors > Add New Connector > Analytics Service to add "BigQuery". Copy the "Google Service Account" email address.
12. Now, go to Google Console IAM, select the respective project from the dropdown list and click on "GRANT ACCESS"
13. Paste the copied "Google Service Account" email address into "New principals" and assign the following 3 roles to this user.
BigQuery Data Viewer
BigQuery Job User
BigQuery Read Session User
14. Once saved on Google's IAM, you can save the BigQuery connector on Cost Center.
15. When saved, a new connector for BigQuery will be listed. Click on the refresh icon to check that your linked project is showing within.
16. Lastly, link your app to the BigQuery connector once you have added the app on Cost Center.
Note
Datasets creation can take up to 24hrs upon configuration. If the datasets are not created after 24hrs, you will need to unlink and relink the Firebase project again to initiate the creation. Refer to Unlink Firebase Project. Once completed, you will need to finish the BigQuery setup.
In case you have maximised the 1M event export limit, please retain 'session_start' and 'user_engagement' events. Cost Center uses these events to calculate Play Time, Sessions and Retention.
Next Steps
Grant access rights to Google Service Account here
Link Google Play Store to Firebase following instructions here
For iOS apps, IAP and Subscriptions revenue need to be posted to Firebase as an event.
Link Google Ads to Firebase following instructions here
When creating a Campaign in Google Ads, select Firebase First Open event in Bidding > "How do you want to track install volume?"