We often get questions about better analytical insight and dashboard performance. We design dashboards that adhere to IPA (Insight, Performance, Appearance) but that’s often not possible if the underlying data structures are deficient and not properly organized.
Tableau connects natively to many different SOR (System of Record) data sets found in an organization. They can be from transactional databases, CRM, financial systems, Excel files, and so on. While connecting directly to visualize data in Tableau may seem more efficient, the results are often not optimal. The diagrams below illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of connecting directly to the SOR versus bringing those data sets into an OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) database, such as a Data Mart or Data Warehouse that is specifically designed for reporting and data visualization.
Tableau connected directly to data sources:
Advantages
Disadvantages
Tableau connected to a Data Mart which has been created from various data sources:
Advantages
Disadvantages
Whether you connect directly to a data source or to a Data Mart depends on the data sources you want to use, your dashboard requirements, and available resources. If you’re not sure whether your data needs to be restructured to achieve optimal dashboard performance, a Tableau Data Specialists would be happy to answer any questions and provide a recommendation. Contact a Tableau Data Specialist
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