Tableau vs. Power BI: A Comparison of Two Powerful Programs

Posted on 02/01/2024 by Niko Venev

If you're interested in visualizing, interpreting, and applying data for your business's benefit, you'll likely have to decide between two important data analytics and business intelligence tools: Tableau and Microsoft Power BI. The program that you choose to manage your data can depend on several factors, including who handles your data, why, and how.


       

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Where Do You Keep Your Data?

A good Tableau vs. Power BI comparison should consider how you want to pull in your data. One of the most compelling advantages of using Power BI is its ability to integrate with other Microsoft products. This can be convenient for businesses that rely on Microsoft products, like Excel, to gather data. In contrast, if your data is located in the cloud and you use non-Microsoft products to access it, Tableau may be the choice for you. If you appreciate drag-and-drop functionality, Tableau also may be the better option.

 

What Are Your Employees' Skill Sets Like?

Any debate between Tableau and Power BI should weigh users' skill sets. Tableau's intricacies and separated tools can make it challenging for beginners to learn. Some users find that a computer science or data analytics background is helpful when working with the program, and most people will need to take a Tableau training course before they feel confident using the software. Power BI offers an even wider range of advanced functions for those who have experience with managing data, including data modeling. Though Power BI classes are still recommended, teams with users of varying skill sets may find it easier to communicate and collaborate with Power BI.

 

Tableau vs. Power BI Cost Considerations

No Tableau and Power BI comparison is complete without a discussion about cost. Power BI's software is typically cost effective; it may even come bundled with a suite of Microsoft products that you already have. Tableau is generally associated with a larger price tag, and the overall costs of using Tableau can increase as a team expands or more advanced tools are used. As such, Tableau is often chosen by corporate entities that have generous budgets.

 

Why Tableau Is Better Than Power BI for Some Businesses: The Big Picture

Both pieces of software can perform some measure of data analysis and data visualization, and both can help you work with data to gain business insights and take your company to the next level. But Tableau is considered to be more of a business analytics tool, while Power BI is often referred to as a business intelligence tool. Business intelligence tools help owners understand the current state of their businesses, while analytics tools identify future trends. This means that whether you should choose Tableau or Power BI depends in part on how you want to use your data. For business owners who are looking toward the future and are interested in meeting upcoming goals, Tableau can be an indispensable tool. But if, like most business owners, you're concerned about streamlining the day-to-day operations of your business, Power BI may be the better choice for you. It should be noted, however, that the features and functions of these tools often overlap, and industry professionals still debate the nuances of business intelligence vs. business analytics.

 

Sharing Your Visualizations

It's great to be able to explore your data with Tableau but to get the most out of what you find, you'll need to be able to share what you see in Tableau to guide others to take action. To do this, you can create a story. In the top menu, choose Story and then New Story. Then, you can drag sheets or dashboards from the data pane and manipulate them to create a full presentation. You can also share your full workbook with others by publishing it to the Tableau Server. Just choose Server in the top menu and then click Publish Workbook to be able to upload a custom view of your data that you can share with coworkers in other locations.

 

Why Pick Tableau Over Power BI From an Employee's Perspective?

While there are philosophical, big-picture reasons why you should choose Tableau over Power BI, there are also more practical differences to consider from a user's perspective. For instance, while Tableau can be more challenging to learn overall, its interface is often more easily understood by beginners than Power BI's. Tableau also has more customization options than Power BI and is capable of creating more impressive-looking visualizations. And Tableau has more features than those provided in Power BI's basic version. You should also consider users' potential need for support: Since Tableau is extremely popular, it can be easier to find community-based resources, tutorials, tips, and tricks.

 

Learn Tableau or Power BI With Certstaffix Training

At Certstaffix Training, we understand that data tools can be complex and confusing to beginners. Whether you're trying to figure out why Tableau is better than Power BI for business analytics or how Power BI can help you streamline operations, our courses can help you learn to manage and interpret your data in new ways. Sign up for one of our live, instructor-led courses today to fully understand how these tools can help you mine data for your business's current and future success!

 



 


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