Posted on 04/10/2024 by Niko Venev
Although Tableau and Excel are different pieces of software with specific functions, some business owners and employees find enough overlap between the two to want to choose one or the other when working with data. But for those who have a need for business intelligence insights, data analysis, and visual representations, Tableau can be the appropriate solution for their professional needs. Tableau sets itself apart from Excel in a few different ways.
Live Tableau Instructor-led Courses |
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Course Title | Length | Price (USD) |
Tableau Desktop: Basic | 2 days | $1,300 |
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Tableau Desktop: Business Intelligence | 2 days | $1,300 |
Tableau Desktop - Combo (Basic, Advanced & BI) | 6 days | $3,570 |
Self-Paced Tableau eLearning |
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Course Title | Length | Price (USD) |
Tableau eLearning Bundle | 7 courses | $475 |
If your business needs to interpret incredibly large data sets, Tableau's features make it easy to both access and analyze them. While Excel has traditionally been relied upon to manage small to mid-sized data sets, using Tableau is practically necessary to comb through massive swaths of data. Additionally, Tableau can instantly incorporate data from third-party sources and platforms.
Since Tableau can provide crystal-clear visual representations of data, using the software can make analyzing and understanding data easier for both employees and business owners. This can be especially true for those individuals who are not necessarily mathematically or technically inclined, as the software is also fairly accessible to use. Employees won't need an information technology degree to use the software, though some training is a good idea for beginners.
In the battle of Tableau vs. Excel, Tableau wins at providing easily understandable and actionable insights. It can almost instantly make sense of what seems to be incongruous or unrelated data, point out trends, and inspire a company's next steps. In many ways, it can take unnecessary steps out of the analysis equation and meet the challenge of time-sensitive matters, especially if tools like Tableau Prep are used for basic data pre-work. Those who operate within a fast-paced or ever-changing industry may appreciate its ability to provide immediate clarity on pressing or complex matters.
When it comes to creating visual representations of data, Tableau is the clear winner. Numerous types of graphs, charts, maps and other visualizations can be easily populated using this software. Excel, in contrast, may be more cumbersome to work with to produce these representations and can require more time to process data. After all, at its core, Excel is at its best when providing basic calculations.
Another factor in the Tableau vs. Excel comparison should be the size of your team. If collaboration and remote work are mainstays of your business, using Tableau can be the smarter choice. Tableau offers online collaboration tools that make it simple for employees to communicate and share their work.
Tableau is also much more flexible than Excel when it comes to sourcing data. The platform can pull data from multiple sources, whether found locally, online, or on other platforms. In contrast, Excel is limited to working with data already manually inputted or copied into the program. Tableau has been designed with various sources in mind, and this can be an important feature to those who work in a corporate environment.
Another reason to use Tableau over Excel is that Tableau's interface can be more intuitive than Excel's. Users working with data have the option to use convenient drag-and-drop functions. This can be incredibly helpful for employees who do not have advanced technical training or previous knowledge of Excel's formulas and functions.
For those who are already very comfortable using Excel and appreciate its current functions within their companies, combining the use of both programs can offer more insight into a company's data. Users who are curious about cross-functionality may choose Excel as a data source when working with Tableau.
To fully understand how Tableau is better than Excel, you should get some hands-on experience with the software, which you can do in our live Tableau training classes. These courses offer a comprehensive breakdown of the program and all of its features and a professionally designed curriculum that accelerates the learning process. At Certstaffix Training, we offer training that is guided by a live instructor so that students can learn precisely what makes Tableau standout business intelligence software in countless industries. Sign up today.