Data Analytics Tools Comparison
Consumers produce a vast amount of information about their preferences, experiences and activities that businesses can analyze to improve their products and services to meet customer demands. The appropriate analytics tool is vital to reaching business goals like more engagement, increased sales and more efficient operations.
To select a tool, start by determining what types of data you want to incorporate and how you intend to accomplish it. Some tools are more targeted towards traditional enterprise reporting, while others are designed to assist you conduct more sophisticated mathematical analysis or monitor sensitive information such as healthcare data. It is also important to consider how the analytics tools you’re looking at will fit into your current workflow systems and data architecture.
Some tools provide an iterative experience for data scientists and sophisticated users, whereas others are primarily made to permit non-technical and people who are not experts in data to perform point-and click analysis. Be aware of the capabilities and features of each tool, specifically those that relate to visualization of data. Certain tools are designed to create visual charts, while others require SQL or third-party applications to create models of the data before it can be analyzed.
After narrowing your options down, consider the cost as well as whether the platform relies on software licenses or subscription fees. Some tools are free, whereas others require a significant upfront investment in order to start and ongoing maintenance costs. Be sure to evaluate these costs against the potential return on investment from information and efficiency gained using an analytics tool.