02Our Server-Side Tracking Process
From Architecture Review to Accurate Server Side Tracking for Shopify
You see the tracking map and hosting plan before we configure anything.
05Projects We've Built
Ecommerce Projects We Have Built
A selection of Shopify and ecommerce builds shipped for clients, the kind of stores that depend on accurate ad and revenue tracking.
Ready for tracking your ad spend can rely on? ⚡ Get a free quote!
LET'S DISCUSS
We had a different kind of problem. People were visiting the store, adding products to their carts, and then disappearing before they finished the order. We had tried a few apps and made changes here and there, but nothing really seemed to solve the bigger issue. The team went through the shopping experience with us and pointed out things we hadn't really noticed ourselves. They cleaned up the cart and checkout flow, made the mobile experience much smoother, and helped us make the store feel easier to shop. I’m not going to pretend we fixed everything overnight, but it finally feels like the store is helping the sale instead of getting in the way of it.
Ethan Parker
Founder of Elite Academy
The mobile experience is probably my favourite part of the new site. We had spent a lot of time making sure the desktop version looked right, and the team kept pushing us to think about how everything would actually feel on a phone too. They were right. The navigation is clean, the interactions feel natural, and everything we’ve tested so far works exactly as it should. They also went through the links, forms, integrations, and other details more than once before launch, which I really appreciated. And even after going live, we could still reach out when something came up. The whole process felt friendly, organised, and surprisingly straightforward.
James Whitmore
Head of Marketing of Lumen Outdoor
We had a pretty specific idea of what we wanted our website to become, but I wasn’t sure how easily we could explain all of it to a development team. There were quite a few moving parts, and we were working toward a deadline, so I expected a few things to get lost along the way. That never really happened. They understood what we were trying to achieve, kept us updated throughout the process, and got everything ready within the agreed timeline. The final site feels much easier to navigate, works beautifully on mobile, and is noticeably smoother for our customers. It was a huge relief seeing the original idea actually turn into the website we had in mind.
Michael Bennett
Founder & CEO of Northbridge Consulting
07Work Culture
Why Brands Trust Us With Their Tracking
Bad tracking quietly wastes ad spend, so we treat data accuracy as the goal. These are the habits we bring to every project.
Data you can trust
We reconcile tracking against real Shopify orders before signing off.
One layer, many platforms
GA4, Meta and others share one clean setup instead of scattered tags.
Ad blocker resistant
Server-side collection recovers events that browsers block.
Consent respected
We honor customer consent choices in every setup.
Clear about hosting costs
You know what the server costs to run before you commit.
Documented for handover
Your team gets a clear map of what fires and where.
08Overview
What is server-side tracking and how does it work with Shopify?
DeveloperLook builds a GTM server container routing GA4, Meta, TikTok and other platform tags through one layer on your own infrastructure. This resists ad blockers, cookie deletions and browser restrictions better than client-side tags alone, and adds precise consent control. Hosting typically runs $20 to $150 a month depending on traffic. Setup starts from $999.
- Service
- Server-side tracking setup
- Starting price
- From $999 USD, fixed scope after a tracking architecture review
- Typical timeline
- 1 to 3 weeks depending on how many platforms route through it
- Platform
- Shopify, with a GTM server container routing to GA4, Meta, TikTok and others
- Built with
- Google Tag Manager server container, Cloud Run, Stape or self-hosted infrastructure
- Experience
- 10+ years and 150+ shipped projects
- Post-launch support
- 30 days included, then optional monitoring retainer
- Communication
- Calls in US, UK, and AU business hours
Who it's for
Businesses running ads on multiple platforms wanting one shared server-side layer
You want GA4, Meta and TikTok all benefiting from server-side resilience, not just one platform.
Businesses losing data to ad blockers, cookie restrictions or iOS privacy changes
Your client-side tracking numbers keep shrinking and you want a more resilient layer.
Businesses that already set up Meta Conversions API
You want the same server-side approach extended to GA4 and other platforms.
Businesses wanting more granular consent control over what data goes where
You need precise control over which data reaches which platform based on consent.
Businesses deciding between Cloud Run, Stape or self-hosting
You're not sure which hosting approach fits your traffic and budget.
Not a fit for
You only need Meta's Conversions API specifically, not a broader multi-platform server container. Our Conversions API Setup Services is scoped to just that.
You haven't set up GA4 or the Meta pixel yet. Our GA4 Setup and Audit Services and Meta Pixel Setup for Shopify services cover those first.
09Pricing
Transparent Starting Prices for Server-Side Tracking
These are starting points in USD. Your final price depends on how many platforms route through your server container, and you get a fixed proposal after a tracking architecture review.
11The Right Technology for Your Project
Technology Stack
We build a server side tagging setup with Google Tag Manager server side that feeds GA4, Meta and other ad platforms from one clean data layer.
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Pick a 30-minute slot that works for you. We meet on Google Meet to align on goals, scope, and the right next step.
What is server side tracking?
It's tracking that runs on a server you control rather than in the visitor's browser, so data collection isn't limited to what a browser or ad blocker allows a client-side script to send.
What are the benefits of server side tracking?
It's more resistant to ad blockers, cookie deletions and browser restrictions, gives more complete and consistent data, and adds precise consent control over what gets sent where.
Server side tagging vs client side tagging: which is better?
They work together rather than replacing each other. Server-side adds a resilient layer for data client-side tags lose to ad blockers or privacy changes, but some client-side tags remain useful.
How much does server-side tracking setup cost?
Setup typically starts from $999, scaling with how many platforms need to route through the server container.
How does server-side tracking work with Shopify?
Shopify's checkout and site events route through your server container instead of going directly to each platform's client-side script, then the container forwards them to GA4, Meta, TikTok and others.
How does it affect ad blockers, iOS and cookie loss?
Since data collection happens on your own server rather than in the browser, it's less affected by ad blockers, iOS tracking restrictions, and cookie deletions than client-side tags alone.
Does server-side tracking help with privacy and GDPR?
Yes. It gives you precise control over exactly which data gets sent to which platform based on a visitor's consent choices, supporting data minimization requirements.
How long does a GTM server container setup take?
A single-platform setup can take about a week. Routing multiple platforms like GA4, Meta and TikTok through one container typically takes 1 to 3 weeks.
What hosting costs should I expect?
For most ecommerce sites under 500,000 monthly sessions, expect roughly $20 to $60 a month on Cloud Run, or a similar range with a managed provider like Stape, scaling up to $80 to $150 a month at higher traffic.