Tableau – making better sense of data

Slow and rigid systems are now a passé. Quick

and easy response to data is what drives today’s

dynamic business environment. How does one

get the most out of data?

From barcodes at stores to information on the

Web, spreadsheets and databases on mobile

devices, everything is data driven these days.

With data analytics and Business Information

(BI) software gaining utmost importance,

vendors like Tableau are leading the way.

Data enthusiasts are keen on BI and analytics tools that address today’s concerns and tomorrow’s

challenges. It is here that Tableau software is generating a lot of buzz. It is viewed as one of the

main software vendors by many organizations seeking BI and analytics tools.

What makes Tableau stand apart?

A picture is certainly worth a thousand words as it is easier and faster for people to grasp an

information when it is visually presented. From a simple chart to the most complex map, visual

data leads to better insight and effective business decisions. Keeping pace with the evolving

technology, Tableau transforms data into visually appealing and interactive dashboards. With

industry experts at Gartner viewing it as the BI platform of choice, Tableau has been consistently

a leader in the Magic Quadrant.

Incorporating Tableau as your BI tool

Basically designed to process and analyze data in an easy to comprehend manner, Tableau can

connect any data source. It was founded on the idea that data analysis and subsequent reports

should be integrated into a single visual application. A user friendly drag-and-drop interface

eliminates unnecessary complications and combines multiple databases together without any

hassles. The ability to offer appealing yet functional data is what gives Tableau an edge over its

competitors. Besides, installation is as easy as a click as there is no requirement of wizards or

complex scripting. Yet another interesting feature is that the software accepts formats with Excel,

Access and text. In addition, you can access common databases like Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL

and Oracle.

The road ahead

With a strong partnership growth, Tableau plans to invest more on Research and Development over the next two years. Tableau software’s focus is to combine databases and computer graphics and make it easier for the average user.

With huge data accessible to many people, security becomes a grave concern. Tableau server provides security solutions with easy implementations. Following their successful investments in

the mobile apps, the latest release, Tableau 9.1 app is an effort to put your content ahead and stay on top of your data. Some of the upcoming launches include an app for data driven notifications and alerts, Vizable app that uses touch-gestures to work with data. Tableau software is also planning to invest in optimized support for phones among other future investments.

Research indicates that by 2020 the world will generate 50 times the amount of data as in the

year 2011. Massive data means wider opportunities. And the challenge for Tableau lies in

processing and analyzing data in a logical way that is not only easy to follow but also ensure

subsequent action.

Data continues to impact the daily work life to an extent that everyone needs to be familiar with

data analysis. To accelerate your business growth, it is essential to employ the best BI tools that

enhance business productivity. With over 15,000 organizations relying on Tableau, it is turning

out to be the standard for quality data visualization. Organizations that make a better sense of

data march ahead and those who fail are left behind.

Source: Bodhtree Tableau Consulting Services