Looker

What differentiates Looker from other similar products?

Looker connects directly to a company's data warehouse (e.g., BigQuery, Redshift, Snowflake) rather than storing data in its own platform. This approach ensures that businesses are always working with the most up-to-date data, eliminating the need for data replication. Looker promotes collaboration with features like comments on dashboards and reports, making it easier for teams to share insights and make data-driven decisions collectively. This sets it apart from many tools that are more siloed.

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

My favorite aspect of Looker is its LookML modeling layer. It allows teams to define data models centrally, ensuring consistency in metrics, calculations, and reporting across the entire organization. This not only reduces the risk of errors but also empowers teams to create reusable, scalable data structures that can be easily modified or expanded as business needs evolve.

What do you dislike most about this product?

One common critique of Looker is its steep learning curve, especially when it comes to LookML. For users who are not familiar with coding or data modeling, it can be challenging to set up and customize the data models. This often requires a solid understanding of SQL and LookML syntax, which can be a barrier for non-technical users or teams without a dedicated data engineering resource.

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

Looker relies heavily on LookML, a modeling language that requires some technical knowledge, especially in SQL. Make sure you have or can hire a team member (or work with a consultant) who is comfortable with LookML and data modeling. This will be crucial for getting the most out of the platform. Begin with a pilot project or a small team to test out Looker’s capabilities. Start by connecting to one data source and building a few simple dashboards. As you get more comfortable, you can gradually scale up to more complex data integrations and reports.

What differentiates Looker from other similar products?

Looker doesn’t move or store your data

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

My favorite aspect of Looker is its powerful data modeling layer, LookML

What do you dislike most about this product?

Compared to tools like Power BI, some third-party integrations still need workarounds or added configuration.

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

Use the Community & Support Resources

What differentiates Looker from other similar products?

Looker differentiates itself from other similar products through its LookML modeling language, which allows for centralized and reusable data models, ensuring consistency across an organization. Unlike traditional BI tools, Looker enables deep customization and flexibility in building interactive dashboards and reports while keeping the data governance intact. Additionally, Looker offers a strong data integration capability, seamlessly connecting with various databases and cloud data sources, and supports real-time analytics. Its collaboration features, allowing teams to share insights and collaborate directly within the platform, further set

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

My favorite aspect of Looker is its LookML modeling language. It enables users to define and organize data in a centralized way, making it easier to manage and scale complex datasets across teams. This approach ensures data consistency and reduces manual errors. The ability to create reusable models also saves time and provides flexibility in creating interactive and customized reports and dashboards without compromising data integrity.

What do you dislike most about this product?

One aspect I dislike about Looker is its steep learning curve, particularly when it comes to LookML. While LookML offers powerful customization, it can be challenging for new users or those without a strong technical background to master. Additionally, the need for specialized knowledge to build models and manage data can make initial adoption slower compared to more user-friendly BI tools.

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

Leverage Collaboration Features: Make the most of Looker's collaboration tools to share insights, reports, and dashboards across teams. It can enhance decision-making and make data more accessible throughout the organization. Start with a Pilot: Consider running a pilot program with Looker to assess its fit with your organization's needs. This will allow you to evaluate its usability, data modeling process, and overall effectiveness before full deployment. By focusing on these areas, you can maximize the value of Looker and ensure it aligns with your business and technical requirements.