Understanding Time Zone Differences in Campaign Reporting in Adnami
When reviewing data for creatives, it’s important to understand how time zones impact the timestamps shown in reporting tools. This article explains how tracking is handled in our system, particularly in relation to UTC vs local time zones.
Time Zone Used for Tracking in Adnami
All data in our system is tracked using UTC (Coordinated Universal Time).
This means:
- Regardless of the campaign’s local time zone (e.g., CET for Europe), the server logs impressions based on UTC.
- This can result in impressions appearing to be recorded earlier than expected, or later depending on the time zones.
Example ScenarioCampaign Details:
- Platform: DV360
- Time Zone: Europe/Copenhagen (CET/CEST)
Observation:
- The creative was scheduled to start on 29/10 at midnight CET.
- However, the system shows impressions starting on 28/10, with 10K impressions already registered.
Explanation:
- Since the server operates on UTC, midnight CET on 29/10 is 11 PM UTC on 28/10.
- Therefore, impressions recorded during that first hour appear under 28/10 in the system.
Time Zone - Best Practices
- Always interpret impression timestamps in UTC when reviewing reports.
- For campaigns targeting specific local time zones, adjust expectations accordingly.
- Use time zone conversion tools if needed to align reporting with local delivery times.
Timezone - FAQ Q: Can we change the reporting time zone to match the campaign’s local time? A: Currently, all data is tracked and reported in UTC to maintain consistency across platforms. It is not possible to change in the platform.Q: Why do impressions appear before the scheduled start time? A: This is due to the UTC offset. Midnight CET is logged as 11 PM UTC, so impressions appear under the previous day.