Getting started with Firebase

Getting started with Firebase

Firebase is Google’s Analytics and Messaging platform for mobile apps, allowing you to track real-time metrics and boost User Engagement via Push- and In-App Messaging. 

In this article, you’ll find information: 
  1. About Firebase & JMango360
  2. Scope
  3. Requirements and implementation
  4. Firebase configuration
  5. Usage of Firebase & Firebase related articles 
Related JMango360 support articles: 
  1. Firebase Analytics
  2. Firebase In-App & Cloud messaging 

1. About Firebase and JMango360 

What Google Analytics is for your website, is what Firebase does for your app. In addition to analytics, it offers a multitude of tools and services for managing your app and building up your customer experience. With features like a real-time database, cloud messaging and personalization of in-app communications, Firebase offers you everything you need to enhance user engagement and grow your revenue. 

Firebase is a mobile and web development platform by Google. Look no further than Firebase, the ultimate game-changer for merchants like you. With its robust and user-friendly features, Firebase is the key to unlocking incredible benefits for your mobile app and driving your business forward. With its comprehensive suite of tools and services, Firebase offers the perfect optimize your store for increased sales, enhanced user engagement & maximized app performance. 

JMango360 uses various elements of Firebase to develop our Apps from a technical perspective. 

We configured the Firebase SDK in our apps supporting multiple functionalities like Google Analytics, Push, and In-app Messaging; see also the scope overview below. Depending on the subscription with JMango360, the merchant has access to these functionalities. 

2. Scope 

2.1 Firebase Products 

Firebase offers various products to support the app development lifecycle, which is also reflected in the Firebase Console; 
  1. Build
  2. Release & Monitor
  3. Engage


As JMango360 is responsible for the successful development and maintenance of your app, we’re looking after all the features related to the Build and Release of your app. 

Once the app is released it’s up to our clients to monitor the app performance and engage with their users. For these objectives the following features are available: 

Supported Firebase features for Monitoring and Engagement: 
  1. Crashlytics
  2. Google Analytics 
  3. In-App Messaging (New from Q3 2023)
  4. A/B Testing
  5. Cloud Messaging (Push messaging)
  6. Remote config

2.2 SDK Versions

In Q3 of 2023, we upgraded the Firebase SDK to allow for additional features. New in the 2023 Release are the following:

Firebase Analytics with GA4 property
  1. Link Google Analytics 4 to Firebase to obtain one integrated overview of your online web and app performance. 
  2. The new configuration by JMango360 includes a new set of (conversion) events to monitor the user journey better. 
  3. Gain insights into user demographics, app usage patterns, retention rates, and conversion funnels, and even analyze the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns. With this valuable information, you can make data-driven decisions to improve your app's features, personalize user experiences, and drive user engagement.
  4. For more information, read our support article about Firebase Analytics.

In-App Messaging
  1. Send visually engaging, interactive, personalized messages that capture users' attention and drive desired actions. Whether you want to promote a new feature or notify users of special offers, Firebase in-app notifications allow you to send the right message to the right people at the right time.
  2. For more information, read our support article about Firebase In-App Messaging. 


Cloud Messaging (Push messaging) 
  1. In addition to the push messaging possibilities via the JMango360 portal, you can also send segmented messages via the Firebase Console. 
  2. Additional functionality includes A/B Testing, Triggered messages based on events, client segmentation based on user behavior, and sending messages to multiple apps (in the same language). 
  3. For more information, read our support article about Firebase Cloud messaging.

3. Requirements and implementation 

3.1 Version until Q2 2023 

  1. App version: Available on Magento 2, BigCommerce, Shopify, Salesforce, Lightspeed, and Prestashop from the app version 3.x and above.
  2. Subscription Firebase: Free 
  3. Subscription JMango360: Included from Advanced and above. Available as an add-on for Essential subscriptions. Contact our Customer Success team for more information.  

3.2 Version from Q2 2023 

  1. App version: 
    1. Magento 2: from version 4.4.3 and above
    2. BigCommerce: from version 4.2.3 and above
    3. Shopify, Salesforce, Lightspeed and Prestashop: expected Q3 2023
  2. Subscription Firebase: Spark (Free) or Blaze plan 
  3. Subscription JMango360: Included from Advanced and above. Available as an add-on for Essential subscriptions. Contact our Customer Success team for more information.  

4. Firebase configuration

To configure Firebase in your app, the following steps need to be completed. 
  1. Create a Firebase project 
  2. Share Firebase project and Analytics account with JMango360 
  3. Install Firebase SDKs in your app by JMango360
  4. Optional: Configure custom events by JMango360

Step 1: Create a Firebase Project

To start tracking your app with the Firebase SDKs, you must create a Firebase project to connect to your app. Note that only one project needs to be created for the App; this covers the iOS and Android versions plus any language supported in the app. 
  1. Go to the Firebase console and sign in to Firebase using your Google account, then click Add project
  2. Fill in the project's name (recommended to fill in your app name) in the blank, then click Continue 
  3. Enable Google Analytics and click Continue


4. Choose your Google Analytics account 
This step here will depend on whether you have set up Google Analytics for your account. The dropdown list will show the Google Analytics accounts you created with the Google account logged into this Firebase project. 

Google recommends using the GA4 property: “On July 1, 2023, standard Universal Analytics properties will no longer process data. New data will only flow into Google Analytics 4 properties.”

So if:
  1. Google Analytics has already been set up: 
  1. If you want to use Google Analytics 4, ensure your account has the Google Analytics 4 property enabled. Then select the Google Analytics account you want to connect to the Firebase project. 
  1. If there isn't one yet, you can create a new one with this instruction or go through the steps below to create a GA4 account by default.
  1. Google Analytics still needs to be set up: Choose to Create a new account, fill in the Google Analytics account name, and click Save. Now your Google Analytics 4 account will be created by default.
Continue to set up Analytics location (by country), enable Use the default settings for sharing Google Analytics data, accept the Google Analytics Terms, and click Create project. 
​
You have to wait a minute, and when the message “Your new project is ready”, click Continue to access the overview page for your project in the Firebase console. 

Step 2: Share your Firebase project and Analytics account with JMango360 

Firebase project
After you have a Firebase project, the next step is to share it with our account. We will configure Firebase for your app and release a new app version.
  1. Navigate to the setting icon > Users and Permissions > Add Member. 
  2. Enter test@jmango360.com and select permission Owner. Finally, click Add users. 
Analytics account
To add JMango360 as one of your Analytics users, please follow the steps mentioned below:
  1. In Admin, under Account or Property, click Access Management.
  2. In the Account/Properties permissions list, click +, then click Add users.
  3. Enter test@jmango360.com. 
  4. Select Notify new users by email to send a message to the user.
  5. Select the permission Administrator, then click Add.

Step 3: Install Firebase SDKs in your app by JMango360

The last step to make Firebase ready to use - add your iOS or Android apps to the project. This step is part of the JMango360 onboarding process. 

If your app is already available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store and you want to add Firebase to your app or implement the upgrade of 2023, we will need to submit an app update to the App Stores. You can send your request by contacting us via customer.sucess@jmango360.com. 

Step 4: Configure custom events by JMango360

See also the support article about Firebase Analytics. As an add-on, it’s also possible to configure custom events to align your website and app analytics further. 

5. Usage of Firebase & Firebase related articles 

Firebase has extensive information on the usage of its products. We made a shortlist of the most relevant articles. 

Getting Started with Firebase: On this page, you can learn about
  1. Learn Firebase fundamentals
  2. How to set up a Firebase project
  3. Explore key concepts and best practices for managing your project and user privacy
Understand Firebase projects: On this page, you can learn about
  1. Relationship between Firebase projects, apps, and products
  2. Setting up a Firebase project and registering apps
  3. Using Firebase to improve your customer experience and app's performance
Firebase In-app Messages: In this series, you can learn about:
  1. Firebase In-App Messaging Overview
  2. What can you do with Firebase In-App Messaging?
  3. Compose a campaign
  4. Best practices
Firebase Analytics: In this series, you can learn about: 
  1. Firebase Analytics Overview
  2. Log events
  3. Set user properties
  4. Best practices
Firebase Cloud Messaging: In this series, you can learn about: 
  1. Firebase Cloud messages Overview
  2. Creating visual notifications
  3. Targeting Audiences
  4. Best practices

    • Related Articles

    • Firebase Cloud Messaging

      Firebase messages are powerful features that allow you to engage and communicate with your app users directly within your app's interface. In this article, we will explore the scope and prerequisites for using Firebase cloud messages and provide ...

    • Firebase In-App messaging

      Firebase in-app and cloud messages are powerful features that allow you to engage and communicate with your app users directly within your app's interface. In this article, we will explore the scope and prerequisites for using Firebase In-App and ...

    • Firebase Analytics with Google Analytics 4

      Build > Measure > Learn > Grow Having an app is step one, step two is to promote and measure. App analytics are the key to getting the necessary insights to learn about your app performance, your app users, and their behavior in order to make changes ...

    • Firebase Analytics and Google Ads

      1. Prerequisites Linking Firebase with Google Ads can provide valuable insights into user behavior and conversions, enabling you to optimize your advertising campaigns effectively. You'll need to ensure that you meet certain prerequisites: To link a ...

    • Beginner's guide to Firebase Analytics

      Firebase Analytics is a great tool to better understand your customer behavior and app performance. In this article the beginner's guide to collecting and analyzing usage and behavior data of your app with Firebase Analytics.  Want to use Firebase ...