Tableau Explorer

Introduction

Tableau Explorer is a role-based license offered by Tableau, a popular data visualization software. It's designed for users who need to explore curated content, interact with dashboards, and gain insights from data without creating or editing content themselves. Essentially, it allows individuals to access and interact with Tableau dashboards and visualizations created by others within an organization. Explorer users can filter data, drill down into specific details, and perform analyses within the boundaries set by the creators of the dashboards. It's a great way for non-technical users to explore and derive insights from data-driven visualizations.

What is mean by Tableau Explorer?

A particular licensing tier offered by the well-known data visualization software Tableau is called Tableau Explorer. This license is intended for users who do not need to create or edit the visualizations themselves, but rather primarily interact with and explore dashboards and data visualizations made by others in their organization.

License holders for Tableau Explorer are able to:

  • Engage with Dashboards: Examine and engage with current dashboards and visualizations, applying filters, delving into particulars, and drawing conclusions from the information displayed.
  • Conduct Analysis: Within the constraints and permissions established by the dashboard creators, conduct fundamental analyses and research data.
  • Work together and Exchange Insights: Using the data and insights they extract from the visualisations, they should exchange insights and work together with other members of their organization.

Business professionals, analysts, and decision-makers who require access to and interpretation of data but might not be involved in producing the initial visualizations or carrying out sophisticated data manipulation are ideal candidates for the Explorer license.

What is the tableau explorer used for?

Tableau Explorer is useful for users in an organization for the following reasons:

  • Access to Insights: Through it, users can see carefully chosen dashboards and visualizations made by data analysts or other team members. This access offers insightful information gleaned from data analysis.
  • Interaction and Exploration: Users are able to engage with these visualizations, investigate various aspects of the data, apply filters, delve into particulars, and examine data sets to obtain insightful knowledge.
  • Data-Driven Decision Making: With Tableau Explorer, people can use the data insights displayed in the visualizations to inform their decisions. This gives stakeholders from different departments the ability to base their plans and decisions on evidence supported by data.
  • Collaboration: By enabling users to discuss conclusions drawn from data visualizations, work together with colleagues, and exchange insights, a collaborative environment for data-driven decision-making is fostered.
  • Self-Service Analytics: It advocates for a self-service analytics model that makes data accessible and explorable to non-technical users without requiring them to have extensive technical knowledge or the ability to build their own visualizations.

All things considered, Tableau Explorer makes it easier for users to explore data, improves their ability to make decisions, promotes teamwork, and lets them effectively use data-driven insights inside an organization.

Advantages

Tableau Explorer provides users inside an organization with a number of benefits, including:

  • Access to Insights: Developed by data specialists or analysts, users can view carefully chosen, informative dashboards and visualizations. Making well-informed decisions based on thorough data representations is made possible by this access.
  • Interactivity and Exploration: By interacting with the visualizations, users can explore various data dimensions, apply filters to specific information, and carry out simple analyses. They can now obtain particular insights that are pertinent to their needs as a result.
  • Data-Driven Decision Making: By utilizing these insights, personnel from various departments can minimize risks and maximize results by formulating well-informed decisions, creating strategies, and acting on data-supported evidence.
  • Ease of Use: Tableau Explorer's user-friendly design makes it possible for non-technical users to navigate and interact with data visualizations without the need for sophisticated technical knowledge or familiarity with data visualization software.
  • Cooperation and Communication: Users are able to exchange results, work together with peers, and have conversations about the insights gleaned from the data. This encourages teamwork and makes it easier for everyone in the company to comprehend data-driven insights.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: The Explorer license may be less expensive than licenses with full creation capabilities for users who mainly need to explore and interact with pre-existing visualizations rather than creating new ones.

Disadvantages

Tableau Explorer has many advantages, but it also has certain restrictions and possible downsides.

  • Limited Customization and Creativity: Explorer license holders are limited in their ability to create or modify dashboards, but they are still able to interact with the visualizations that are already available. This restriction may pose a challenge for those who need greater autonomy in the planning and production of their visualizations.
  • Dependency on Creators: Explorer users are dependent on creators for any updates or new visualizations because they are unable to create or edit dashboards. Delays or reliance on third parties for customized or updated insights could result from this.
  • Limited Data Manipulation: The ability to manipulate data or perform intricate analyses is restricted for Explorer users. They might not be able to do complex calculations, blending of data, or transformations.
  • Cost considerations: Explorer licenses are an ongoing expense even though they are usually less expensive than creator licenses. It may be necessary for organizations to strike a balance between the quantity of Explorer licenses and the demand for higher-tier licenses' more sophisticated features.
  • Challenges with Training and Adoption: Users used to more extensive Tableau functionalities may need training when using Tableau Explorer. The initial adjustment to a limited set of capabilities may present difficulties.
  • Possibility of Data Overload: Those who are unfamiliar with interpreting data may become overwhelmed by the abundance of visualizations available to them, which could result in incorrect interpretation or misuse of insights.
  • Governance and Security: Because Explorer users interact with data that has been created by others, strong governance is required to guarantee appropriate data access, security, and adherence to corporate guidelines.

Conclusion

You can access pre-made data visualizations, engage with the data to gain insights, and make defensible decisions, but you aren't able to build custom dashboards or perform intricate analyses. Excellent for users who want to explore data without having to create their own graphics.