More Accurate User Journeys: The Power of Configurable Session Timeouts

When tracking the user journey, one of the most fundamental (and most debated) questions is: "When does a 'session' actually end?"

Is it 30 minutes of inactivity? 15? What if the user is on a "10-foot" device like a Connected TV, where they might pause a movie and walk away for an hour?

A one-size-fits-all session definition doesn't work. Using a 30-minute timeout for a mobile app (designed for quick, frequent interactions) might be fine, but applying that same logic to a CTV app (designed for passive, long-form viewing) will spoil your data. You'll end up with artificially inflated session counts, broken user journeys, and skewed metrics.

That's why we’re excited to highlight a key data governance feature: Configurable App Session Timeouts.

What It Is and Why It Matters

Datazoom now gives you the power to define what a "session" means for each of your platforms.

Within your collector configuration, you can set a custom "Inactivity Interval" that defines exactly when a user's session ends due to inactivity.

This simple setting is a powerful tool for improving data hygiene and accurately tracking the cross-platform user journey.

• For Mobile Apps: You might set a shorter timeout (e.g., 15 minutes) to accurately reflect frequent, short-burst interactions.

• For Desktop/Web: A standard 30-minute timeout might be perfect.

• For CTV / "10-foot" Devices: You can set a much longer timeout (e.g., 60+ minutes) to ensure that a user pausing a movie to make dinner doesn't incorrectly trigger a "new session" when they return.

By tailoring the session timeout to match true user engagement on each platform, you ensure your session data is a precise reflection of reality. This means:

• More accurate user journey tracking

• Correct Lifetime Value (LTV) and conversion path calculations

• Reliable "minutes watched" and other engagement metrics

This is a core part of Datazoom’s "best practices" for data governance—giving you the control to standardize your data your way, right from the point of collection.

Visit the Datazoom help site to learn more.