Datadog UX Monitoring + Shopify integration

What Datadog UX Monitoring is

Datadog Real User Monitoring (RUM) records what real visitors experience on the store: page load times, errors, clicks and, if enabled, session replays.

How we would approach Datadog UX Monitoring with Shopify

Datadog documents two paths for Shopify: a Liquid snippet in the theme for the storefront, and a custom pixel for checkout, since checkout no longer runs theme code. We set up both, name the pages and actions so reports are readable, and connect what RUM shows to the conversion work it should inform.

What the work involves

• RUM in the theme for storefront pages
• A custom pixel for checkout, as Datadog recommends
• Named views and actions for product, cart and checkout steps
• A first review of errors and slow pages, ranked by how many visitors hit them

Ways to connect Datadog UX Monitoring and Shopify

• Built in

  Theme snippet (storefront)

  The Datadog RUM browser SDK added through a Liquid snippet. Needs a RUM application ID, client token and your Datadog site.

• Built in

  Custom pixel (checkout)

  Datadog's Shopify docs add a Web Pixel for checkout because checkout.liquid was deprecated. The pixel runs in a sandbox, so it sees less than the storefront snippet.

Where these projects go wrong

• Only the storefront is instrumented, so checkout problems never show.
• The snippet uses the default Datadog site when your organisation is on a different one.
• Session replay is switched on without checking consent requirements.
• Data is collected but nobody reviews it against the buying funnel.

Questions

Can Datadog RUM see Shopify checkout?

Partly. Datadog recommends a custom pixel for checkout. It runs in a sandboxed iframe, so it reports less detail than the storefront snippet.

Should RUM run before consent?

Check this with your consent setup and legal advice. RUM can be started only after the visitor allows analytics.

Is this the same as Datadog for our custom apps?

No. RUM watches visitors' browsers. Custom apps and integrations are monitored with Datadog's service agents. See our Datadog page.

Before we scope the work

• Which data or customer journey needs to connect, and which system owns it?
• What access, plan features or API permissions are available?
• Does an existing connector cover the requirement, including failures and updates?
• Who will maintain the connection, and how will you know it is working?

Send your current setup and one real example of the flow you need. We'll tell you whether it can be done and what it would take.