Alright, let’s regroup!
Part 1 was all about the dashboard design. The phrase, “form follows function” (coined by American architect Louis Sullivan) is very appropriate here. We have figured out the function of our dashboard and how that informs the design, or the form, of the deliverable.
However, we still have to actually build it. And as every maker of any kind will tell you, to develop or create something, you need the tools to do it!
Enter: data visualization software.
Wait, hold on a second, what? :o
Data visualization software is any software solution that enables end-users to bring in different types of data (i.e., numerical and textual) and to display that data through visual representations such as charts, graphs, and tables.
You may have already come across some data viz software and not realized it. For example, one of the most widely used (and some would say iconic) is......drum roll, please......Excel!
Excel is better known as spreadsheet technology. However, it is also software that can visualize data. There are many different kinds of data viz software and even different versions of the same type. Some software solutions can do many things well, while others may be highly specific and only do a few things really, really well.
Let me give you some other examples. Here is a list of some well-known data visualization software:
Tableau
Qlik
Google Sheets
Alteryx
Pentaho
Fusion Charts
Highcharts
Plotly
Looker
Wait, there are so many! Which one should I choose?! o_O
The software solution that is best for your project deliverable depends on what you need this tool to do, as well as a few other factors.
Let’s review a few of the main factors to consider.
Factors to Consider
Available/Required In-House Tools
The best place to start is to review what data viz software is provided (or even required) by your organization. You may be limited to what is readily available.
Budget
Perhaps you are not constrained by the available software. Maybe your team has a budget that you can tap into, or you are working solo on a project and have your own budget. Either way, the best place to start is with your budget.
Some data viz software companies provide free versions of their tools. They usually offer the basics, but do not include advanced or specific features that are available in the paid versions. If you do not need the paid features, consider solutions that offer free versions.
Many of the best data visualization software in the industry comes with a shiny price tag. :D Hey, you get what you pay for. You have to consider license fees that may be charged on a user/monthly basis or even a user/year/product basis. However, if your project requires a paid feature, and you have the budget to acquire the solution, then this factor may determine what tool you should select.
Stage of the Analytical Workflow
Another factor you may want to consider is whether or not you need this tool to do many things (think a Swiss Army Knife) or just specifically the data visualization part of your projects. In other words, you may need a tool that can clean and prep your data as well as visualize it. If this is the case, then you should only consider tools that provide all the functionality you need for the various stages.
Or, you may only need the tool specifically for the data visualization stage of your project. If this is the case, then you should only consider tools that are mainly designed for visualizing data, thus providing specific features or functionality you need (or even a certain level of quality).
Specific Project Requirements
Do you need to create a dashboard that can integrate with another software program required in a project? Or do you need to create one that is able to connect to a remote data source, such as a database server in the cloud? These project requirements will limit the pool of software solutions to those that can fulfill them.
Learning Curves and Time Investment
Another important consideration when selecting which data viz software to use is who will be using the tool. There is always a learning curve, some steeper than others. To be able to use data viz software effectively, users must invest the time to learn how to use the tool.
If you are the only person using the software solution, then you only need to consider your own learning curve and familiarity with specific tools. If you are on a team in which everyone uses it, then you have more learning curves and comfort levels to take into account.
Summary
Data visualization software (or data viz software) allows its end-users to display different types of data (numerical and textual) through visual representations such as charts, graphs, and tables.
Excel is an example of a data viz software solution.
There are many factors to consider when selecting which data viz tool to use:
Available (or required) in-house tools
Budget
Stage of the analytical workflow
Specific project requirements
Learning curves and time investment
In the next few chapters, you will see why Tableau is a great software solution for creating dashboards and then learn the basics of Tableau Public Desktop (version 2019.x or later).
