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Migrating from Segment to Amplitude

Looking to consolidate on Amplitude for both your Analytics and CDP needs?

This document covers the necessary steps to:

  1. Migrate your Source and Destination configuration
  2. Update SDK implementation to send data to Amplitude
  3. Validate the migration is successful

Table of Contents

  1. Add a Source
  2. Update SDK implementation
  3. Validate events
  4. Add a Destination
  5. Migration checklist
  6. Frequently asked questions

Quickly review the offerings that are available for Segment and how that stacks up to Amplitude.

Segment Amplitude
Connections Sources & Destinations
Profiles Audiences
Protocols Data Management

Recommended Best Practice

Follow a strict release process and configure multiple environments. Validate changes within each environment before deploying.

Add a Source

You can add a new source in just a few clicks.

  1. From Data, click Sources in the Connections section.
  2. Click Add Source.
  3. Browse or search for the source you want to add.
  4. Follow the on-screen prompts.

For detailed instructions, see the documentation for the source you want to add.

Update SDK implementation

Both Segment and Amplitude SDKs are meant to capture first party data by tracking user interactions. For the most part both work pretty similarly except some nuances around syntax. Here is high level mapping of concepts between Segment & Amplitude.

Segment Amplitude Notes
write_key api_key Unique key to validate source of the data.
Workspace Project Projects allow you to organize your data.
User User User who is performing action.
Identify Identify Identify updates properties/attributes of the user.
Track Event Event in Amplitude tracks the action user is performing.
Screen Event Create an Event to track Screen views.
Page Event Create an Event to track Page views.
Group Group Group is a collection of users. In Amplitude one user could belong to multiple groups. Each group can have properties/attributes that will be available to query/forward on actions performed by any user in the group.
Plugins Plugins Plugins les you extend Amplitude by running a sequence of custom code on every event.

Documentation for Browser Typescript SDK.

Segment Amplitude
Identify 
analytics.identify('12091906-01011992', {
  name: 'Grace Hopper',
  email: 'grace@usnavy.gov'
});

setUserId('12091906-01011992');
identify(
  Identify()
    .set('name', 'Grace Hopper')
    .set('email', 'grace@usnavy.gov')
);
Track 
analytics.track('Article Completed', {
  title: 'How to Create a Tracking Plan',
  course: 'Intro to Analytics',
});

track('Article Completed', {
  title: 'How to Create a Tracking Plan',
  course: 'Intro to Analytics',
});
Group 
analytics.group('UNIVAC Working Group', {
  principles: ['Eckert', 'Mauchly'],
  site: 'Eckert–Mauchly Computer Corporation',
  statedGoals: 'Develop the first commercial computer',
  industry: 'Technology'
});
Assign user to a group: 
amplitude.setGroup('Working Group', 'UNIVAC')
Update properties of a group: 
groupIdentify(
  'Working Group',
  'UNIVAC' ,
  new Identify()
    .set('principles', ['Eckert', 'Mauchly']);
    .set('site', 'Eckert–Mauchly Computer Corporation');
    .set('statedGoals', 'Develop the first commercial computer');
    .set('industry', 'Technology')
);

Documentation for iOS SDK.

Segment Amplitude
Identify 
Analytics.shared().identify("abc", traits: ["email": "abc@domain.com"])

Amplitude.instance().setUserId("abc")
Amplitude.instance().identify(
  AMPIdentify()
    .set("email", value: "female")
    .set("age",value: NSNumber(value: 20))
)
Track 
Analytics.shared().track("Button Clicked", properties: ["Hover Time": "100ms"])

Amplitude.instance().logEvent("Button Clicked", withEventProperties: ["Hover Time": "100ms"] )
Group 
Analytics.shared().group("OrgName-xyz", traits: ["plan": "enterprise"])
Assign user to a group: 
Amplitude.instance().setGroup("orgName", groupName:NSString(string:"xyz"))
Update properties of a group: 
Amplitude.instance().groupIdentifyWithGroupType(
  "orgName",
  groupName:NSString(string:"xyz"),
  groupIdentify:AMPIdentify().set("plan", value: "enterprise")
)

Documentation for Android Kotlin SDK.

Segment Amplitude
Identify 
Analytics.with(context).identify("abc", Traits().putEmail("abc@domain.com"), null)

amplitude.setUserId("abc")
amplitude.identify(Identify().set("email", "abc@domain.com"))
Track 
Analytics.with(context).track("Product Viewed", Properties().putValue("name", "Moto 360"))

amplitude.track(
  "Product Viewed",
  mutableMapOf<String, Any?>("name" to "Moto 360")
)
Group 
Analytics.with(context).group("abc", "orgName-xyz", Traits().putplan("enterprise"))
Assign user to a group: 
amplitude.setGroup("orgName", "xyz");
Update properties of a group: 
amplitude.groupIdentify("orgName", "xyz", Identify().set("plan", "enterprise"))

For all other SDKs view the Quickstart Guide and take a look at the SDK documentation.

Validate events

Data validation is a critical step in the instrumentation process. Amplitude lets validate your event data via Amplitude's debugging tools.

Add a destination

You can add a new destination in just a few clicks.

  1. From Data, click Destinations in the Connections section.
  2. Click Add Destination.
  3. Browse or search for the destination you want to add.
  4. Follow the on-screen prompts.

For detailed instructions, see the documentation for the destination you want to add.

Migration checklist

It's important to validate the migration to make sure there is minimal impact on downstream data consumers.

  • Added all sources to Amplitude
  • Migrated existing tracking code to Amplitude SDKs
  • Validated events are flowing in to Amplitude correctly
  • Added all destinations to Amplitude
  • Validated data is flowing into destinations correctly
  • Validated downstream consumers are not impacted (e.g. BI, Mktg, ML, Ops)
  • Celebrate! 🎉

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to migrate?

This depends on how you implemented your CDP. For most teams we'd recommend that you plan a few months to be able to complete your migration. If you're looking to update your taxonomy and tracking plan than this could require more upfront planning.

What if I don't see an integration that I need?

We're constantly adding new integrations so either add a request in product or communicate with your CSM and we'll provide a timeline.

How much does Amplitude CDP Cost?

This depends on what you're using your existing CDP for today and what you're looking to get out of Amplitude — we have comparable offerings that are built into our Digital Analytics Platform that are a fraction of what you'd be paying another CDP provider.

What if I have an existing CDP contract?

Contact your CSM or AE to discuss what options are available.

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