Silent Push Notifications

Silent push notifications are a mechanism for checking the push token validity. They contain an empty message sent to the user's device via the Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) server for Android devices or Apple Push Notification service (APNs) for iOS devices.

Netcore sends silent push notifications daily to all devices to track uninstalls for Android and iOS applications. We raise an uninstall event for a given device based on a specific error response from FCM and APNS. It is "unregistered" in the case of APNS and "Not Registered" in the case of FCM.

Note that there can be other error reasons that FCM / APNS sends in return, such as bad device tokens or invalid tokens. These reasons are not used to mark the device as uninstalled, and we continue to target such devices in subsequent silent push notifications and campaigns.

Push Notification Campaign

When a push notification is targeted to devices and FCM/APNS returns an uninstalled error response, the device will also be marked as uninstalled.

Note: The timestamp associated with the uninstall event for a given user is when we received the Unregistered/Not registered response from FCM or APNS. It is not the time that the user uninstalled the application. Currently, there is no way to determine the actual timestamp when the app was uninstalled.

Real-time Uninstall Tracking for Android

Real-Time Uninstall Tracking for Android allows you to instantly detect when users uninstall your app, providing actionable insights to analyze trends, reduce churn, and engage users. Leveraging Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) and Netcore's advanced SDK, this feature enables precise tracking, source attribution, and real-time responses to user behavior.

Prerequisites

To activate and use this feature, the following conditions must be met:

1. You must have an active paid Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) subscription.
2. Ensure the latest version of the Netcore SDK is integrated.
3. Integrate the Real-Time Uninstall Tracking feature with the help of Netcore’s Integration Team. Refer here to integrate real-time uninstall tracking.

How It Works?

1. Uninstall Event Detection: When users uninstall an app integrated with the latest Netcore SDK, FCM triggers a callback to Netcore servers. This event is identified as an App Uninstall Event.
2. Source Marking: The uninstall event is labeled with the source Netcore in real-time. This distinguishes it from other uninstall detection methods.
3. The event data can be used to:
   • Build user segments or cohorts of those who uninstalled the app.
   • Analyze trends in uninstalls using the Behavior Dashboard.

Use Case: Post-Uninstall Engagement

Reconnect with users immediately after they uninstall the app, gather feedback on their reasons for uninstalling, and potentially encourage reinstallation through targeted communication.

Follow the below workflow for this use case.

1. Detect Uninstall Event: When a user uninstalls the app, the event is captured in real-time and marked with the source Netcore real time in the Netcore CE dashboard.

2. Create a User Segment: Segment users based on the uninstall source to identify those who uninstalled the app.

3. Automate Post-Uninstall Communication: Set up an automated Journey triggered by the uninstall event.
   For example:

   • SMS: “We noticed you uninstalled [App Name]. Could you share your feedback to help us improve?”
   • Email: Provide a quick survey link or offer incentives to reinstall (e.g., a discount or free trial).

4. Analyze Feedback and Reactions: Use responses to gather insights into user behavior and app pain points. Measure the success rate of re-engagement campaigns. For example, reinstallations or completed surveys.

Timely communication at the uninstall moment improves re-engagement chances and provides actionable feedback for product improvements.