Looker vs. Domo for Data Analytics
What is Business Intelligence?
Business intelligence, or BI, is a field devoted to optimizing services and software to help find actionable information within data. The insights gleaned from the data can then be used to help a company or business make important decisions about operations or future endeavors. Those working in BI optimize tools that allow them to transform the results of data analyses into reports, dashboards, graphs, charts, maps, or summaries that are designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of affairs at the company.
Many organizations use BI tools hand-in-hand with data analytic tools. This allows them not just to have a clear picture of what happened in the past at their company, but to see the current state of affairs, as well as to devise a game plan for how to approach the upcoming years.
Using Business Intelligence in Data Analytics
Here are some of the ways companies leverage BI software, technologies, and tools to help with their data analytic needs:
- Predictions: Forecast engines enable those within a business to locate insights that will help them make predictions about future scenarios. These engines are a powerful tool that help an organization get the most out of its currently used strategies to yield the most helpful results.
- Streamlined data access: When all individuals in a company have access to the same data, this reduces the time spent waiting on the IT department to provide reports. By using self-service data analytics, those within an organization can cut down on the time spent on exchanging reports and devote their efforts to more important tasks.
- Automation: BI tools no longer rely on spreadsheets or static presentations. By introducing automation capabilities, those working with data don’t have to work with copious numbers of columns and rows. Automation eliminates manual tasks, which can help save valuable time, resources, and money for an organization.
- Cost reduction: When a company uses BI tools, they are able to perform many tasks much faster than they would without these tools. BI tools make it possible to execute faster analysis, planning, and reporting, all of which lead to a more efficient, profitable outcome.
This article will explore two of the leading business intelligence platforms, Looker and Domo, to see which one comes out ahead for data analysis and data visualization.
What is Looker?
Lookeris a browser-based business intelligence platform that operates completely in-database. This tool simplifies the process of choosing, designing, and customizing interactive visualizations, and offers users a variety of charts and graphs to select from for data visualizations. This platform is commonly used by teams operating in organizations that prioritize having a user-friendly tool that is powerful enough to offer valuable insights and to present them visually.
Looker allows users to make their own custom apps that are unique to their business needs. This browser makes it possible to create real-time dashboards so that users can analyze new information. In addition to its other features, those working with Looker can design custom parameters to receive reports, and elect to schedule and automate report distribution.
Many companies around the world use Looked for their data analytic needs, such as Moderna, Avant, and Twilio.
Pros & Cons to Using Looker for Data Analytics
Those working with Looker for data analytics and visualization find many benefits to using this platform, as well as a few challenges:
Pros
- Creating dashboards is easy with Looker.
- Users can create their own dimensions and measurements in data visualizations.
- The customer service team is responsive and supportive, especially the chat support.
- Looker offers an array of stunning visuals.
- It’s easy to share reports in Looker; users simply need to forward a link.
- Looker can create and update the data cache within the database.
Cons
- Writing data in the cloud can be slow when using Looker.
- Its API is considered by some to be difficult to use.
- The initial setup of Looker can be time-consuming and challenging.
- More customization for graphs and charts could be provided.
- It can take a long time to load data into Looker.
- Some users feel that the mobile version is not as effective as the full version.
What is Domo?
Domo is a modern business management suite. It can integrate with a variety of data sources, such as social media, databases, and spreadsheets. Domo’s data visualization software provides a user-friendly platform that helps an organization see data from all areas in one central location. In addition, Domo can form a direct connection with data and provide it with vital metrics and real-time updates so that users can act quickly with the best information available. Domo also allows users to automate data pipelines, create their own custom apps, and publish content for both internal and external use, and even integrate data from customers and partners.
Many businesses and companies around the world use Domo for their data analytic needs, such as ESPN, The New York Times, Zillow, and National Geographic, among others.
Pros & Cons to Using Domo for Data Analytics
The following are some of the benefits of working with Domo for data analytics and data visualization, as well as several drawbacks:
Pros
- Domo is considered to be very user-friendly; it provides a variety of modules that help with learning.
- Users can select data points for each axis when creating bar graphs.
- There are a variety of options available for visuals when creating pie charts.
- Domo can connect with many apps, software, and data sources.
- In addition to its other uses, Domo can also provide valuable insights into customer behavior.
Cons
- Some users do not feel that Domo is as user-friendly as other platforms and learn by experimenting with Domo’s capabilities on their own.
- Domo’s processing tends to be slow when working with large datasets.
- The cost of Domo is higher than other software.
- Creating custom reports is time-consuming with Domo.
Which Comes out Ahead?
Domo and Looker are both powerful data analytic tools but offer slightly different capabilities. Domo tends to be stronger at dashboarding, as it can connect to many data sources and generate reports. However, for users who wish to make customizations, Looker provides more options. For companies that wish to make data available for multiple people within their organization, Looker lends itself well to collaborative endeavors. Although Looker is easier than Domo to set up, in terms of overall usability, Domo comes out ahead of Looker. For business needs, reviewers tended to favor Looker.
The good news is both Domo and Looker provide powerful BI solutions, relevant data analytic tools, and visualization capabilities.
Hands-On Business Intelligence & Data Analytics Classes
For those who want to learn more about how to process and analyze big data, Noble Desktop’s data analytics classes are a great starting point. Courses are offered in New York City, as well as in the live online format in topics like Excel, Python, data science, and data analytics technologies, among others.
In addition, more than 130 live online data analytics courses are also available in data analytics and visualization from top providers. Topics offered include FinTech, Excel for Business, and Tableau, among others. Courses range from three hours to six months and cost from $219 to $60,229.
Additionally, Noble’s Data Analytics Classes Near Me tool provides an easy way to locate and browse approximately 400 data analytics classes currently offered in in-person and live online formats. Course lengths vary from three hours to 36 weeks and cost $119-$60,229. Noble also has a Business Classes Near Me tool, which allows users to select from over 200 business courses available as well.