What is Tableau?

Tableau is the leading visual analytics platform that helps people around the world analyze, visualize, and report on data. Not only does Tableau make it easier for professionals to explore and organize data, but it also provides a way for them to quickly and efficiently extract and share data-driven insights to drive change within their organization. Since it was first introduced in 2003, Tableau has grown to become the most-used modern business intelligence and data analytics platform available. 

In this overview, you’ll learn more about what Tableau is, what it can do, who uses it, and how to learn it so you can decide if you want to add this skill to your professional toolbox. 

What Can You Do with Tableau?

Tableau has a variety of professional uses. Ultimately, the more you know about Tableau, the more data-driven insights you can bring to your organization. Tableau can bring together various data sources into a single point of truth. For example, suppose you’re working with data in Microsoft Access and Excel, as well as in SQL databases and cloud-based applications such as Salesforce. In that case, Tableau can help you bring these data together with just a few mouse clicks. This provides one central source that can be used for all types of business reporting and doesn’t require you to have any coding knowledge to set up. 

Tableau also provides a way to efficiently perform ETL operations (extract, transform and load). With the help of Tableau’s automated data reshaper tool, you can transform any data you want to use into the necessary format by splitting fields, eliminating header and white space, and changing data formats. Instead of spending a whole day extracting, transforming, and loading data using apps such as Excel, you can do it in just seconds in Tableau. In addition, Tableau’s automated reporting feature allows you to easily create a report, then set it to focus on a specific dataset so that the data will automatically refresh without requiring any coding know-how or additional time commitment.

One of Tableau’s most remarkable features is its visualization capabilities. Even for those new to visually presenting data insights, Tableau comes with built-in best practices to help you present information clearly, effectively, and engagingly. This helps ensure that data is delivered to internal and external stakeholders through eye-catching and informative reports.

How Do You Download Tableau? How Much Does it Cost?

Tableau Desktop and Tableau Public, a free product, can both be downloaded from Tableau’s official site. Once the window to download Tableau opens, you simply enter your email and select “Download the App.” You can monitor the file downloading process from the tab in the bottom-left corner. After the file has been fully downloaded, you will be asked to accept the terms and conditions before clicking on “Install.”

In terms of cost, the price of Tableau depends on which version you use. Tableau Public and Tableau Reader are both free products. Tableau Public allows any user to use the internet to connect with a spreadsheet or file or to design their own interactive data visualization. A free trial is offered for Tableau Server and Tableau Desktop. Those interested in using Tableau Creator can do so for $70/user/month. In addition, Tableau Explorer is currently available for $42/user/month, and Tableau Viewer is offered for $15/user/month.

What Are the Benefits of Learning Tableau?

Learning to use Tableau has many professional benefits. The following are just a few reasons why you should consider studying this powerful data visualization tool:

• Tableau is considered to be easy to use. Those with Tableau knowledge can quickly create complex graphs and charts that depict data findings.
• Many career paths rely on Tableau, such as software engineering, business intelligence, data analytics, and business analytics.
• The average salary in the U.S. for Tableau professionals is over $100,000 a year.
• Many top companies actively seek out those with Tableau training, such as Dell, Meta, General Motors, and Bank of America.
• Tableau makes data manipulation and integration much easier to perform. The Tableau Reporting Tool can manipulate or integrate any programming language or type of software.
• Because so many organizations currently handle large volumes of data, those who know how to use Tableau can help their employer process, analyze, and visualize this information. The insights in the data help their organization grow by making data-driven decisions.

Read more about why you should learn Tableau. 

Tableau Careers

Tableau is the most widely used modern business intelligence tool available today. Many organizations that rely on data to drive their decision-making process rely on Tableau to help them make sense of the data, making Tableau a staple across industries and professions. It has a range of applications that extends beyond traditional data analytics and business analytics. For example, those working in communication and media analytics use Tableau to maximize audience engagement. Individuals in sports management analytics rely on Tableau to collect player statistics, merchandise and ticket sales information, fan engagement, and build more balanced teams.

In the financial sector, Tableau is used in banking analytics to manage risk and improve customer experience. The manufacturing industry works with Tableau to blend and link similar data to gather immediate results that can improve the efficiency of processes and overall customer satisfaction. In the educational sector, Tableau provides a way for educators and administrators to gain insight into how lesson planning affects student performance or how to make the enrollment process more efficient. It is also used in the classroom to help teachers and students explore and understand data. Even the government leverages Tableau’s features to perform tasks like querying national databases, publishing transparent and interactive dashboards that can communicate data findings, and analyzing data from cities, counties, and boroughs to better manage public services and spaces.

How to Learn Tableau

There is a wealth of resources available for those interested in studying this powerful data visualization tool. In-person and live online Tableau courses are currently available from top educational providers. Those who are new to Tableau can enroll in beginner-level data visualization classes, and those who already have a background working with Tableau can choose more advanced courses, such as bootcamps or certificate study in data analytics. 

For those interested exclusively in in-person study options, Tableau classes near home can be compared using Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool. One of the main benefits of studying in a live online or in-person environment is that students can ask questions in real-time and receive individualized instruction and support. Whereas in-person study requires students to commute to and from class for each meeting, you can complete live online Tableau courses from the comfort of your home.

If you are a self-motivated learner interested in exploring Tableau basics on your own, on-demand Tableau classes are a great learning option. Unlike live online study, you can complete these courses at your own pace since they don’t meet at a regularly scheduled time. Udacity’s Data Visualization in Tableau is a free learning option that provides students with three weeks of instruction on the basics of visual design and data visualization. Other on-demand Tableau courses, such as Skillsoft’s Tableau Desktop and LinkedIn Learning’s Tableau Essential Training, are available with a platform subscription. 

In addition to in-person, live online, and on-demand Tableau study, other free resources are available for those interested in exploring topics related to Tableau and data visualization. 

Noble Desktop offers a variety of free Tableau resources that provide instruction on core data visualization procedures and skills, such as creating maps and dual-axis charts in Tableau, as well as working with the new Relationships feature in this program. You can also read about Using Table Calculations in Tableau, which discusses what table calculations are, the different types of table calculations, and how the table calculation is performed. Additionally, a free tutorial is also provided on Using Parameters in Tableau, which provides an overview of what parameters are, how to use them, and working with parameter actions and parameter control.

Read the full guide on how to learn Tableau. 

A Brief History of Tableau

In the past two decades, Tableau has transformed from a project at Stanford University to one of the world’s most-used business intelligence and data analytics platforms. The following timeline presents some of the most important events in the history of Tableau:

• 2003: Chris Stolte, a Ph.D. candidate at Stanford University, along with Professor Pat Hanrahan and Christian Chabot, co-founded Tableau. 

• 2004: Tableau received an initial series A of venture funding and its initial OEM contract with the database company Hyperion. 

• 2005: This year brought rapid growth to Tableau’s company, which nearly doubled inside. The program maintained this same growth rate for the subsequent decade. 

• 2008: The first customer conference for Tableau took place.

• 2013: The New York Stock Exchange awarded Tableau its IPO. 

• 2016: Adam Selopsky took over as the CEO and president of Tableau.

• 2018: Tableau acquired the AI-startup Empirical Systems. In addition, Tableau worked to integrate the technology of Empirical Systems into the platform.

• 2019: Salesforce acquired Tableau for more than $15 billion, making it Salesforce’s largest acquisition up to that point.

• 2021: Mark Nelson became CEO and president of Tableau. In December, Tableau 2021.4 debuted, which included new analytics and visualization features like connected apps, accelerators, enhanced data management capabilities, and Slack compatibility, among others.

Comparable Applications

Some Tableau users may want to explore other data analytics and business intelligence solutions to help with their professional needs. Qlik Sense is one of Tableau’s main competitors. This cloud-based analytics platform can perform various tasks, such as embedded and conversational analytics, app development, enterprise reporting, and automation. However, unlike Tableau, it only operates on Windows OS and mobile Android and iOS devices. Qlik Sense can combine or connect data from hundreds of sources and provide AI-generated suggestions and insights. Like Tableau, Qlik Sense offers a free version and a free trial. For those interested in the paid version, it is currently available for $30/user/month.

Microsoft Power BI is a good alternative if you’re seeking a business intelligence solution instead of Tableau. This tool collects, manages, analyzes, and shares business information. Like Tableau, Power BI has robust visualization capabilities. When deciding between Tableau and Power BI, one crucial consideration is the size of the data it will handle. Power BI performs better with limited data volumes; large datasets can make it perform much slower. Tableau can perform quickly, even when handling large datasets. In addition, Tableau doesn’t limit how many data points can be incorporated into a visualization. However, in terms of usability, Power BI is considered by most users to be easier to learn than Tableau. This is because its interface is based on Microsoft Office 365, and most users already have experience working with Microsoft products.

Learn Tableau with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop provides several great Tableau learning opportunities. For those new to Tableau, Noble’s Tableau Level 1 covers core Tableau tools and skills, such as creating various charts and data visualizations. Students receive an introduction to Tableau Public, a free version of Tableau, and learn how to create and edit graphs and charts.

In addition, Noble’s Tableau Bootcamp is a program that teaches students the fundamental components of data visualization. Those enrolled explore Tableau Public’s different tools to connect to datasets, analyze, filter, and structure the data to make visualizations. By course completion, students will know how to customize, manipulate, and publish various data visualizations. This class comes with the option of a free retake for students who wish to revisit course material.

For those seeking a more rigorous learning environment for learning Tableau, Noble Desktop’s Data Analytics Certificate is a great option. In addition to providing hands-on training with Tableau in the small classroom environment, those enrolled in this certificate study also gain industry-relevant training with other data analytic skills, languages, and programs, such as SQL, Excel, and Python. Expert instructors ensure that those enrolled receive training to become Data Analysts or Business Analysts. One-on-one mentoring is provided for all students.

In addition, for those interested in learning more about Tableau, Noble’s Tableau Resources page has more than 50 articles to help you learn more about this powerful data visualization tool.

Key Insights

• Tableau is a visual analytics platform designed to help users explore, analyze, visualize, and report on data.
• Since its founding in 2003, Tableau has become a worldwide leader in data analytics and business intelligence. 
• If you are interested in an alternative to Tableau, you may consider using Qlik Sense or Microsoft Power BI for data analysis and visualization.
• If you’re interested in learning more about Tableau, comprehensive training is available through Noble Desktop’s in-person and live online courses.