Why a codeless implementation will let you down

Mixpanel initially introduced Autotrack, a codeless and automatic event collection tool, to streamline data gathering for analytics by capturing user interactions on web and mobile apps without requiring additional code or developer resources. However, the approach proved problematic due to its fundamental flaws, leading to inaccurate and incomplete data, increased reliance on developers to fix inconsistencies, and significant security and privacy risks. These issues arise because the tool often misses important interactions, cannot adapt to changes in application elements, and presents challenges in exporting and interpreting collected data. Moreover, ensuring the security of automatically collected data is fraught with difficulties, as preventing the inadvertent capture of sensitive information relies on imperfect heuristics. Consequently, Mixpanel advises against using codeless and automatic event collection for those who prioritize data accuracy, detailed analysis, and user privacy, as it ultimately trades one set of problems for a larger, riskier one.