Understanding Data Updates After Pausing an A/B Test
When managing A/B tests in Because, you might notice data updates continuing after a test has been paused. This guide explains why this happens and how to interpret your test results accurately.
What Happens When a Test is Paused?
Once an A/B test is paused:
The campaign immediately stops displaying to visitors on your site.
No new impressions are recorded after the pause.
This ensures that pausing a test halts all further activity for that campaign.
Why Does Data Continue to Update?
The data updates you see after pausing are not due to new impressions but rather delays caused by Shopify API limitations.
1. Shopify API Credits:
Each action—such as add-to-carts, orders, or other events—requires an API credit to pull data from Shopify.
During busy seasons or with high-order volumes, these credits can become limited, delaying real-time updates.
2. Delayed Data Queue:
Actions like add-to-carts and orders may not appear immediately in your test results.
In most cases, these delays range from 24 hours to a few days. In rare instances, it may take up to a week for all data to finalize.
How to Ensure Accurate Results
To get the most accurate results from your A/B tests:
Wait Before Making Decisions: Allow a few days to a week after pausing a test for all data to load, especially during busy times.
Consider Delays in Analysis: Be aware that some results may appear later due to the API queue.
What We’re Doing to Improve
We’re actively working on solutions to make data updates faster and more reliable, even during high-traffic periods. This includes optimizing platform performance and addressing Shopify API limitations.
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