Data Visualization tools for Enterprises
The process of data visualization is complex, and the tools to create it are equally nuanced: There is such a huge variety available, it’s hard to make sense of them all. Data visualization designers should consider things like ease of use and whether the tool provides the features they need.
Selecting one with too high a learning curve can be an impediment in itself: Asking someone who doesn’t know the software how to meet deadlines can waste valuable time they might not have. And it can be difficult to assess what each tool is capable of if features are unclear. For example, whether a tool can publish interactive graphics online may not be clearly stated.
Data visualization at its core should be about communication: The point of data visualization is to make it easier for viewers to discern patterns and draw conclusions from the data they present. If the format doesn’t do that, it must be changed.
The following are some of the tools available to data visualizers:
- Tableau
Tableau Public is free software and web-based tool that’s simple to use and allows both users and non-users to share visualizations. In addition, Tableau Public can produce interactive graphics, which can be linked to a blog post, website, or printed as an infographic. The downside is there are limits on what can be visualized, though those who need more options typically have access to the paid version of the software. - Microstrategy
Microstrategy is a software tool that helps companies collect data from sources such as social media, internal systems, and third-party databases. What makes Microstrategy attractive to data visualization designers is it lets them combine data from various sources and set up the visualizations they create with relative ease. MicroStrategy provides templates for visualizations such as charts and graphs, which are useful for those who only need to represent a few variables. But the sheer number of different visualization types it offers can be off-putting for those who want more control.
- Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program that has gained fame through its widespread use in the business world. It’s used to create many more things than spreadsheets: Charts, graphs, pivot tables, and much more are possible using Excel’s built-in features. It has industrial-strength mathematics capabilities, which can be intimidating for those who don’t know the tool well. - Looker
Looker is a relatively new tool that supports visualization via a browser-based GUI. What makes Looker stand out is it has a drag and drop interface, which makes designing data visualizations with relative ease. Data visualization designers can easily compare different visualizations against one another, which is useful when deciding on the best one for the job. - PowerBI
PowerBI is a business intelligence software that provides a lot of features for data visualization designers: It has access to a wide range of data sources, it can manage large amounts of data and it includes the ability to create visualizations. The downside is PowerBI’s interface may be confusing for those who are new to data visualizations. - Qlik
Qlik has visualization capabilities that work on top of an application called Qlik Sense, which provides a GUI for data visualizations. Qlik offers a wide variety of prebuilt visualizations that make it easier for those who don’t have much experience to create something quickly — but they tend to be generic.
Most of these tools are designed for the enterprise, not for the mid-market and startups!
Next-Gen BI Tools for Startups!
Most BI tools available in the market are either too complex for a regular Business User to gather insights or don’t suit to IT processes, data management, and tools. The NextGen BI tools are those that have simplified business intelligence process, data management, and visualization, having in mind the need for on-demand insights from a business perspective.
Startups like Conbi are developing innovative natural language query technology that allows a business user to ask questions in plain English, and get answers in a similar natural language.
Examples of a few innovative BI tools are Google Analytics, Duda Mobile, Oktopost, and Spotfire.
In particular, Conbi is observed to be an attractive solution to startups. The reason is that startups usually have an aim to grow rapidly. In order to grow rapidly, the organization collectively needs to make quick decisions. The problem faced today by many startup founders is that most of the time, they struggle to have quick access to data-driven insights because of the complexity of tools present in the market today.
One of the founders of a high-growth software startup mentioned- ” I usually find time to work on challenging problems during the night with a cup of coffee. Now, I often face the need to support my potential solutions with some data. By the time my analyst responds back it’s already morning and the problem gets carried forward to the next day. We need something quick and easy to use for getting insights”. Conbi can be useful to such a scenario.
Due to Conbi’s natural language ability- all you need to do is ask! Whether it’s late at night and you have your AHA! moment or you are in your car on the way to meeting a client- Conbi is available to get you your insights within seconds. You don’t need to wait for an analyst or a data scientist! The founders of a mobile technology startup, “We wish we had a tool like Conbi with us when we started our company. Our aim was to build the best product for our customers and we didn’t have time for complicated BI tools”.
In addition to the above feature, Conbi is also developing a free API which could be quite handy for the startups as well.
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