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it_user879756 - PeerSpot reviewer
Director, Data-Driven Innovation with 201-500 employees
Real User
May 31, 2018
Quickest learning time among similar tools due to its ease of use and interactivity
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is being delivered to our customer, who appreciates the insights generated from the reports. It is easy for them to drill into the details and use interactive charts."
  • "We found Tableau has the quickest learning time out of the few other BI reporting tools that we have used."

    What is our primary use case?

    Sales dashboards for management, which were implemented initially in v.10.2, then upgraded systematically with new releases to v.10.5.

    How has it helped my organization?

    The solution is being delivered to our customer, who appreciates the insights generated from the reports. It is easy for them to drill into the details and use interactive charts. This provides a great value-added once stepped out from the Excel tables era. 

    What is most valuable?

    Definitely ease of use and interactivity. We found Tableau has the quickest learning time out of the few other BI reporting tools that we have used. 

    What needs improvement?

    We would much appreciate an option for copying/moving objects between different pages and a possibility for teamwork when working on the same dashboards.

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    For how long have I used the solution?

    One to three years.
    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    it_user851796 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Assistant Vice President - BICC - Development at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
    Real User
    May 3, 2018
    As a self-service tool it decreases the burden on IT and enables faster production
    Pros and Cons
    • "It's the ease of use, the quick deployment from developing it and then moving it on to our servers, and it is also a self-service tool so it decreases the burden on having centralized IT-type teams or developers."
    • "It needs a little bit more advanced modeling. I would like to see functionality like Cognos has in the Framework Manager."

    What is our primary use case?

    We use it for different groups within the bank. They produce the visualizations they need based on their requirements. It's just rolling out. It's mostly for reports or visualizations - different financial applications. There are also HR applications as well.

    For the groups that are advanced, they are pretty happy with the results, and the ones that are just starting the process, the journey, our group is ready to help. There are a lot of learning materials out there to get them trained and try different things out.

    How has it helped my organization?

    In the long run, things should be faster to deployment, to production, than they used to be before.

    It's the speed of getting results, based on what the user actually requires. Before it was a very strict, follow the FDLC process. There was a lot of documenting and control that you had to follow before it went to production. We have decreased those a little bit so that they can move to production a lot more quickly than they used to. So time to market, or time to production is a lot faster than it used to be, because of self-service.

    What is most valuable?

    It's the ease of use, the quick deployment from developing it and then moving it on to our servers. It's much faster than our Cognos deployment.

    It is also a self-service tool so it decreases the burden on having centralized IT-type teams or developers. It has now gone out to the different groups within the bank, and we just have to make sure that they follow certain governance rules so that they don't create crazy queries. It's easier for them. Hopefully, in the long run, they will get their visualization much more quickly. They are closer to the team members that are giving the requirements so they get feedback right away.

    What needs improvement?

    I think they have just come out with a tool called Prep, which we just heard about today. It was something that was missing, a little data preparation type of tool. I believe it is an ETL tool but it's not, as far as I know, a robust type tool.

    The other thing is a data modeling tool, a little bit more advanced modeling. I would like to see functionality like Cognos has in the Framework Manager.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    Less than one year.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    We are somewhat new at it, so as more and more people onboard to the server, we'll see how that is being managed. Of course, if the performance is slow, we have to find out the reasons, the causes. If it has to do with how they are building certain things, we have to send that information back to them and then they have to correct their models.

    We are in the early stages right now. I wouldn't consider ourselves in the middle or advanced stage yet. We're onboarding a number of customers now to our servers.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    This is one of the things that we're going to have to address as people start onboarding. It's going to be the challenge, where we have to choose which BI tool to use. Thre is scalability in term of the number of users and in terms of the volume of data. We don't know the volumes of data that we're dealing with. If they're extracting data and putting it onto our server, that all will take up space. Those are things that we're going to discover over time.

    Tableau is also improving its product. We're not using the latest version which has some performance improvements. That's because we don't have the hardware to support it. That is something that Tableau will, I'm sure, improve over time as well and catch up with some of the bigger players.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    I haven't personally used support but when there is an issue, an internal ticket gets placed and if we can't resolve it ourselves, then we have a platform team. There is a member there who will submit it to Tableau. There have been a few of those.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    The switch was driven by the end-user level. We discovered that people were actually getting the self-service tool without us really being aware of it. Once we found out that they were using it, we did some research and looked at the market, saw how popular this tool is and how easy it is to use compared to our existing tool. We said, "Okay, let's not fight the end-users. Let's help the end-users, let's adopt it and help them grow." 

    That is how we've moved to this level where we've actually built out of a center practice. We're now a group, not so much of developers, but of people that will help the individual businesses build their own projects.

    The most important criteria when selecting a vendor are support, for sure, and their ability to advance in the technology. We have found with Tableau that there is such a community out there. They have a lot of information that is freely available. Those are the main things, support and that they advance their products, that they don't get stale.

    How was the initial setup?

    I wasn't the one that did the server setup. Definitely, on the desktop, it's very easy to use. And I suspect that the server is also fairly easy. It's pretty straightforward in terms of deploying projects onto the server and promoting it on to production. I haven't heard of any real hiccups yet.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    In our case, people were already using Tableau. There are other groups within our company that are using other types of tools like MicroStrategy, and we already had BusinessObjects and Cognos here. But because of the ease of use and the self-service nature of the product we decided, for products in that category, that Tableau was the best.

    What other advice do I have?

    My advice would be that you should consider Tableau. Certainly, for visualization-type projects, it would definitely be one of the products to look at, and I would recommend it at this time.

    Because we are just starting the process, I would definitely give it an eight out of 10. We are getting a lot of good support from the groups using it, but that can only get better as we get more and more groups adopting it, and they are happy. It's really going to be a matter of how happy our users are in building their projects. As that grows, and if their feedback is good, then that will only increase the product's rating.

    Tablo has a good community base and we're trying to recreate that community within the bank as well so that different groups of individuals can help each other. That's what we're promoting, and it's working. We have our own intranet site that people can go onto and ask questions and get answers. We also have training and all sorts of different information that's Tableau related.

    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
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    it_user851040 - PeerSpot reviewer
    BI Operations Support Leader at General Electric
    Real User
    Apr 24, 2018
    Self-service; users can build their own reports based on their needs
    Pros and Cons
    • "It provides business users with a tool, so they are not dependent on IT."
    • "Analysis is now more visual than in the past."
    • "Bursting email is needed to deliver the reports to many people in their inboxes and this functionality is not provided by Tableau."

    What is our primary use case?

    • Create dashboards for different functions in the organization.
    • Used to report out information from the corporate data repository.

    How has it helped my organization?

    It provides business users with a tool, so they are not dependent on IT.

    What is most valuable?

    • Visual analytical reporting
    • Ad hoc reporting
    • Self-service; users can build their own reports based on their needs.
    • Drag and drop to create analytical dashboards.
    • Multiple data sources connectors

    What needs improvement?

    Needs bursting email and export to Excel. Many users still need to download the information (to Excel) and export to an Excel macro to merge the info with some other info. 

    Bursting email is also needed to deliver the reports to many people in their inboxes and this functionality is not provided by Tableau.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    One to three years.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    Analysis is now more visual than in the past, which was only long operational support reports with bunches of info.

    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    it_user845916 - PeerSpot reviewer
    MEA Sales Director at DR at ComNavy
    User
    Apr 16, 2018
    Makes the reporting stage simple to use
    Pros and Cons
    • "It has made the reporting stage simple and enabled us to focus mainly on the ETL part"
    • "The most important feature is the tool is very easy to use, which makes it simple to introduce it to CxOs, and after a rapid demo they are usually impressed by the results shown because it has such a rare simplicity."
    • "It needs more ETL capabilities, to be able to address the end-to-end BI need."
    • "The ability to use it on MAC machines. As far as I know, this is not possible."

    What is our primary use case?

    As a BI system integrator. we design performance solutions for different industries. We do use different tools in our solutions, and Tableau software is one of the our partners. One of the solutions we developed for a telecom client was a performance management tool. The solution used reporting dashboards based on network performance KPIs.

    How has it helped my organization?

    Using Tableau, it has made the reporting stage simple and enabled us to focus mainly on the ETL part.

    What is most valuable?

    The most important feature is the tool is very easy to use. This makes it simple to introduce it to CxOs. After a rapid demo, they are usual impressed by the results shown, because it has such a rare simplicity. 

    What needs improvement?

    • Needs more ETL capabilities, to be able to address the end-to-end BI need. 
    • The ability to use it on MAC machines. As far as I know, this is not possible.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    One to three years.
    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. We are a BI system integrator. Tableau Software is one of our partners.
    PeerSpot user
    it_user844137 - PeerSpot reviewer
    IT Manager at California Department of Corrections
    Real User
    Apr 15, 2018
    Allows insights into business performance issues, but dashboard deployment to viewers can be prohibitively expensive
    Pros and Cons
    • "It provides supporting data for critical policy and operational changes"
    • "It is easy to adapt visualizers to have interactive conversations among decision-makers."
    • "Excellent product: Great visualizers and it is easy to use, allowing insights into business performance issues and providing supporting data for critical policy and operational changes."
    • "Deployment of dashboards to viewers and unit supervisors can be prohibitively expensive."

    What is our primary use case?

    Business Intelligence for operational and executive dashboards. It is used to create real-time operational insights which start at the line-level staff person who manages their own productivity and performance indicators. This gets rolled up to middle and upper management and provides a full sense of operations and targeted goal achievement.

    How has it helped my organization?

    Excellent product: Great visualizers and it is easy to use. 

    Allows insights into business performance issues, providing supporting data for critical policy and operational changes.

    What is most valuable?

    It is easy to adapt visualizers to have interactive conversations among decision-makers. Powerful aggregating and drill-downs are critical for effective insight discovery.

    What needs improvement?

    Deployment of dashboards to viewers and unit supervisors can be prohibitively expensive.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    One to three years.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    The cost is high.

    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    it_user823482 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Analysis Manager at a educational organization with 51-200 employees
    Real User
    Feb 28, 2018
    It gives us a new dimension to the way that we analyse our data
    Pros and Cons
    • "It gives us a new dimension to the way that we analyse our data."
    • "The use of a storyboard helps the flow of the data visualisation."
    • "Our clients are so happy with the new visualisation tools."
    • "If they could add global filters in the stories, more chart types, and default colours, it would help."

    What is our primary use case?

    I use Tableau Desktop and Server 10.4 for data visualization to measure business targets and performance, it helps the business identify strategies and solutions to meet objectives.

    How has it helped my organization?

    Our clients are so happy with the new visualisation tools. It has answered most of their questions on how to measure and improve their business performance. 

    It gives us a new dimension to the way that we analyse our data.

    What is most valuable?

    • Parameters
    • Calculations
    • Dynamic filters
    • LOD
    • The ability to use multiple data sources. 

    The use of a storyboard helps the flow of the data visualisation.

    What needs improvement?

    If they could add global filters in the stories, more chart types, and default colours, it would help.    

    For how long have I used the solution?

    One to three years.
    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    PeerSpot user
    Manager at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
    Real User
    Feb 25, 2018
    Better interaction and less time spent with end users
    Pros and Cons
    • "Gradual scalability from simple to complex situations"
    • "Enhanced application development Less time spent with end users Better interaction with end users Better application quality"
    • "Provide additional enhancements in any business process: Operations, Marketing and Sales, Finance, Human Resources, Logistics, etc."

    What is our primary use case?

    As a consultant and solutions developer for an integrator company, I use Tableau for the construction of Control Dashboards and BI applications.  

    How has it helped my organization?

    • Enhanced application development
    • Less time spent with end users
    • Better interaction with end users
    • Better application quality

    What is most valuable?

    • Easy of use
    • Easy to learn
    • Gradual scalability from simple to complex situations
    • Wide integration with BI industry

    What needs improvement?

    Provide additional enhancements in any business process: Operations, Marketing and Sales, Finance, Human Resources, Logistics, etc.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    Three to five years.
    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    reviewer802428 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Senior BI Developer at a tech vendor with 11-50 employees
    Real User
    Jan 17, 2018
    The product has comprehensive, insightful charts, which allow you to build stunning dashboards
    Pros and Cons
    • "Tableau has comprehensive, insightful charts, which allow you to build stunning dashboards and enrich your support decision-making."
    • "Include forecasting on table calculation fields."

    What is our primary use case?

    Tableau works for a diverse range of industries and use cases. I have work with Tableau for big organizations and big governmental entities as well.

    How has it helped my organization?

    Tableau has comprehensive, insightful charts, which allow you to build stunning dashboards and enrich your support decision-making.

    What is most valuable?

    • Ease of use
    • Maps
    • Filters
    • Drag and drop functionality
    • Dates
    • Undo button
    • Wide-range of data connectors

    What needs improvement?

    • Scripting just as loops would be great. 
    • Forecasting on table calculation fields.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    Less than one year.
    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    it_user521664 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Project Manager
    Vendor
    Nov 22, 2017
    Easy to use, very stable
    Pros and Cons
    • "Tableau's very stable."
    • "We only use it for the financial side of the company; we don't use it on other projects, for example, the production side or the IT of the company, so we have a lack of users and we don't have a whole view of the business."

    What is most valuable?

    • Easier to use

    What needs improvement?

    • Consultant engagement
    • Margin analysis 
    • Project break-even point (analysis of the project)
    • SLE of projects

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    Tableau's very stable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    So far, so good.

    How is customer service and technical support?

    There are two faces of Tableau. One face is Tableau partners. They are very few, and Tableau was only a subsidiary with no support and no representative in Brazil. Now they are represented. 

    Really, there aren't many problems with Tableau.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    ClickView. ClickView seemed easy to use, very simple, but it could not support the whole company. It couldn't be scaled.

    We looked at Oracle BI. It seems that it's very easy to use, very competitive against Tableau, and it's a little bit cheaper. It seems that we have a competitive advantage going with Oracle. 

    Oracle in the past had OBIEE that was hard to use, very expensive, and modeling was hard. Changing the modeling was difficult. We decided not to go with Oracle at that time. Now it's cloud-based, the TCO is very cheap. But we had already gone with Tableau.

    What other advice do I have?

    We only it for the financial side of the company. We don't use it on other projects, for example, the production side, the IT of the company. Only for financial. I would say that the result is we have a lack of users, it's only part of company; we don't have a whole view of the business.

    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    reviewer601230 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Business Intelligence Manager at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
    Real User
    Aug 30, 2017
    Combines and visualizes data from many entry points and provides users with a single source of consistent and reliable information
    Pros and Cons
    • "Tableau has allowed us to combine and visualize data from many entry points and provide users with a single source of consistent and reliable information."
    • "While noted that the product is specifically designed for visualization, it would be the perfect tool if it had more ETL features."

    What is most valuable?

    The most valuable features are:

    • Ease of setup
    • Ability to create visualizations
    • Level of interaction.

    The users required no training after visualizations have been presented to them.

    How has it helped my organization?

    There are some areas where finding answers required asking specific individuals and searching through many emails. Tableau has allowed us to combine and visualize data from many entry points and provide users with a single source of consistent and reliable information.

    What needs improvement?

    While noted that the product is specifically designed for visualization, it would be the perfect tool if it had more ETL features.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    My company has been researching a BI tool for the past year. We came across Tableau and have been using the public version for approximately six months.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    There have not been any areas of instability, thus far. The identified areas were a result of a lack of knowledge.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Based on the analysis currently being done, the public version is sufficiently meeting our needs.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    Technical support has been awesome. We met a partner based in Trinidad and they have been providing us with assistance as we need it.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    This is our first visualization solution being used. Attempts were made on another platform, but setup and use of tool were a huge challenge for the team.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup was very straightforward. The team was able to follow the videos posted on the Tableau website and required no technical assistance from the Tableau team.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    I am quite pleased that Tableau has now revised their pricing and licensing. The initial model was quite expensive but the current model allows you to scale up as you need to and it is far more attractive. The ability to license on a per user per month basis is now very affordable.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    The team looked at Pentaho, Microsoft Power BI, and IBM Cognos. The members of the team who were exposed to aspects of the evaluation were far more receptive to Tableau than the others.

    What other advice do I have?

    It is very important to do an evaluation of your users who will be interacting with the tool. Their technical abilities will determine if a cumbersome tool is suitable for them. Secondly, if you do not have the technical expertise to administer a product, then it may not be the solution for you. Some of the other tools require a high dependence on the vendor for administrative purposes.

    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
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