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What is Tableau?

Tableau is the fastest-growing platform for visual analytics on the market. It allows users to simplify raw data into a format that’s easy to access and understand by those working at any level of an organization. Even non-technical Tableau users can create customized dashboards and worksheets with the help of this versatile tool. It’s relied on by teachers, students, Data Scientists, Analysts, executives, and business owners for their end-to-end analytics needs. This is why Tableau is considered to be the leading analytics platform for business intelligence.

Since its founding in 2003, Tableau has evolved from a computer science project of students at Stanford into one of the most widely used data visualization tools in existence. Tableau was created as a way to improve analysis flow and use visualizations to make data more accessible. This value continues to inform Tableau’s evolution. Currently, Tableau offers a complete and integrated platform for data analytics. It provides its customers with the necessary resources to help them thrive in a data-driven culture.

Some of Tableau’s most remarkable features include its capacity for data blending, real-time analysis, and data collaboration. Because Tableau does not require programming skills or technical expertise to operate, users of all backgrounds can easily work with this software. It can be installed directly onto one’s hardware from a web download and be operational in just twenty minutes.

Tableau Products

There are currently eight kinds of Tableau available with different features, capabilities, and price points:

  1. Tableau Server: A paid business intelligence application designed for Windows or Linux servers that is commonly used in the world of enterprise. It helps users to edit, organize, and share Tableau dashboards with others. One of the main benefits of working with Tableau Server is that users can store data on their on-premises server or on a specified cloud. Tableau Server streamlines the collaboration process within an organization; once workbooks, dashboards, or stories are edited, the Data Analyst can then decide who should have access to them, and grant it. Some of the main benefits of working with Tableau Server are:
    1. For organizations that value customization options, Tableau Server offers APIs that enable users to tailor their dashboards to their own needs.
    2. Setting up a notification system in Tableau Server that activates when a metric has achieved a specified goal allows users to better monitor expenses and budgeting.
    3. Tableau Server is a great tool for creating custom views. Even when working with the same monthly performance dashboard, users can change the way it is displayed when it is shared with various departments.
    4. With the help of natural language processing, Tableau Server’s “Ask Data” function makes it possible to ask questions pertaining to published data and receive an answer.
    5. Because Tableau Server can be hosted on one’s own server, users retain complete control over the server on which Tableau will run, which increases data security.
  1. Tableau Online: A paid analytics platform that is hosted in the cloud. Tableau Online users can publish dashboards and share them with anyone they choose. For organizations that value launching quickly and at scale without having to manage infrastructure or hardware, Tableau Online provides a good option. Some of the perks of working with Tableau Online are:
    1. Tableau Online makes it easy to set up, use, and manage content on a variety of mobile devices.
    2. Tableau maintains the system and hardware outside of the user’s firewall.
    3. Company logos can be uploaded into Tableau Online for custom branding.
    4. When working with Tableau Online, live data connections are supported to Google BigQuery, Amazon Redshift, and SQL-based sources that are hosted on cloud platforms.
  1. Tableau Public Server: A free server onto which visualizations and ideas can be posted. Those who use Tableau Public Server have access to the world’s largest store of data visualizations and can create their own online work portfolios. Tableau Public Server users have the necessary tools to simplify data into a format that’s accessible and understandable. Data collaboration is streamlined when using Tableau Public Server because it provides cloud-supported capabilities and real-time analytics. Tableau Public Server users cite many benefits to working with this tool, such as:
    1. Its mobile app is available on Android and iOS platforms, which helps users stay connected with their data even when they are traveling.
    2. Tableau Public Server’s community forum is comprised of Tableau users and partners who share their knowledge on how to use the software. This forum also provides a valuable source of training programs and guides to help new users.
    3. Its interface is considered to be user-friendly and intuitive. The drag-and-drop feature helps users execute complicated data visualizations without extensive knowledge of coding.
  1. Tableau Desktop: A paid desktop application that enables developers to make dashboards, charts, and formulas. Tableau Desktop users are able to connect to data in order to create their own stories, dashboards, and workbooks, then publish and share them to their Tableau site. Tableau Desktop offers many benefits, like:
    1. Its “show me” menu allows users to create graphs with the click of a button.
    2. Tableau Desktop’s interactive parameters facilitate real-time interactions with users.
    3. By right-clicking on a feature, users can easily discover items that can help create data visualizations.
  1. Tableau Public Desktop: A free desktop application that provides only a cloud-save option rather than a live or database connection. Tableau Public Desktop is commonly utilized by various media outlets, writers, journalists, and bloggers. The following are the main perks of working with Tableau Public Desktop:
    1. This application is intended for those who wish to share their data findings with others in the world.
    2. Tableau Public Desktop makes it possible for anyone to access and understand visualizations pertaining to public data.
    3. Because this app makes it easy for users to understand data, Tableau Public Desktop helps to make data a part of the life of users from all backgrounds.
  1. Tableau Reader: A desktop application that can open and interact with extracted sources of data and packaged workbooks that were made in Tableau Desktop. Tableau Reader is able to open dashboards and facilitate interaction with them, but does not allow users to edit formulas or charts. Those working with Tableau Reader can read the various Tableau file types. The following are several benefits of working with Tableau Reader:
    1. Users don’t need to uninstall their prior version of Tableau Reader when upgrading.
    2. It is free.
    3. Tableau Reader is able to open dashboards and perform actions such as tooltip and filtering.
  1. Tableau Mobile: A mobile application for Android and iOS users that can connect to Tableau Online and Tableau Server. Tableau Mobile allows users to interact with your site’s content and data, even when the creator of the site is offline. This app provides access to one’s mobile site when they are away from their desktop device. Some of the perks of using Tableau Mobile are:
    1. Tableau Mobile provides instantaneous access to recent history, even when working on a phone.
    2. Its interactive previews allow users to perform tasks such as scrolling, zooming, and highlighting.
    3. Even when being used on a small device, dashboards are readable via Tableau Mobile.
  1. Tableau Prep: One of Tableau’s newest products. It is most commonly used to clean, blend, and wrangle raw data. In addition, it can be automated so that redundant manual data manipulation is avoided. Tableau Prep is transforming the manner in which traditional data preparation was performed at the organizational level. It offers a straightforward visual way to clean, combine, and manipulate data, which ultimately leads to easier, faster analytic capabilities. The following are several benefits of using Tableau Prep:
    1. Data-related communications within an organization are streamlined with Tableau Prep.
    2. Its workflow automation feature incorporates rule-based logic so that manual tasks can be automated.
    3. Tableau Prep improves workload management and continuous process management.

As the above list indicates, there are several Tableau products available to help Data Analysts and Data Scientists with analytics and visualization. Choosing the right one depends on your organization’s collaboration needs, storage preferences, and budget.

Hands-On Tableau Classes

For those who want to learn how to create stunning and engaging data visualizations, maps, charts, and graphs, Noble Desktop’s Tableau classes provide a great option. These small group classes are available in-person in NYC, as well as in the live online format. Tableau-focused courses teach students skills like how to spot the most optimal datasets to connect to, as well as how to analyze, filter, structure, and visually represent data.

In addition, a variety of live online Tableau courses are also currently available from top training providers. These interactive classes are taught in real-time and provide all learners with access to an instructor who is live and ready to provide feedback and answer questions. Courses are offered for novice Tableau users, as well as those with more advanced data visualization skills. Classes range from seven hours to five days in duration and cost $299- $2,199.

Those who are interested in finding nearby Tableau classes can use Noble’s Tableau Classes Near Me tool. This handy tool provides an easy way to locate and browse more than three dozen of the best Tableau classes currently offered in the in-person and live online formats so that all interested learners can find the course that works best for them.