Tableau Software
Overview
Tableau is a data visualization software company based in Seattle, Washington. The company was founded in 2003 by Christian Chabot, Patrick Hanrahan, and Chris Stolte, and it was acquired by Salesforce in 2019. Tableau's products are used by individuals and organizations worldwide to visualize and understand their data.
History
Tableau was founded in 2003 by Christian Chabot, Patrick Hanrahan, and Chris Stolte. The company was born out of a project at Stanford University's Department of Computer Science. The project, called Polaris, was aimed at increasing the ease and speed of data visualization. The founders saw the potential of the project and decided to commercialize the technology, leading to the creation of Tableau.
In 2013, Tableau went public on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "DATA". The company's initial public offering (IPO) was a success, with shares priced at $31 and closing at $50.75 on the first day of trading.
In 2019, Tableau was acquired by Salesforce, a global leader in CRM software, for $15.7 billion. The acquisition was part of Salesforce's strategy to enhance its analytics capabilities.
Products
Tableau offers a range of products that cater to different data visualization needs. These include Tableau Desktop, Tableau Server, Tableau Online, and Tableau Public.
Tableau Desktop
Tableau Desktop is a data visualization application that allows users to create interactive dashboards and reports. The application supports data connectivity to a wide range of sources, including databases, spreadsheets, and cloud services. Tableau Desktop uses a drag-and-drop interface, making it easy for users to create visualizations without the need for programming skills.
Tableau Server
Tableau Server is a business intelligence platform that allows organizations to share and collaborate on data visualizations created in Tableau Desktop. The platform provides robust data security features, ensuring that sensitive data is protected. Tableau Server also supports automated data refreshes and alerts, enabling organizations to stay up-to-date with their data.
Tableau Online
Tableau Online is a hosted version of Tableau Server. It provides the same functionality as Tableau Server but without the need for hardware maintenance and setup. Tableau Online is ideal for organizations that prefer a cloud-based solution for their data visualization needs.
Tableau Public
Tableau Public is a free service that allows anyone to publish interactive data visualizations to the web. Visualizations created in Tableau Public can be embedded in websites and blogs, and they can be shared through social media. Tableau Public is used by journalists, researchers, and data enthusiasts to share and explore data on a wide range of topics.
Technology
Tableau's technology is built on a number of key innovations that make it a powerful tool for data visualization. These include VizQL, Data Engine, and Hyper.
VizQL
VizQL, or Visual Query Language, is a patented technology developed by Tableau. It is a visual language for data that allows users to create and manipulate data visualizations by dragging and dropping fields onto a canvas. VizQL translates these actions into data queries and returns the results in a visual format.
Data Engine
The Tableau Data Engine is a high-performance database designed to handle large volumes of data. It uses columnar storage and parallel query execution to deliver fast query responses. The Data Engine also supports in-memory computing, which allows it to process data at high speeds.
Hyper
Hyper is Tableau's in-memory data engine technology. It is designed to deliver fast data ingestion and analytical query processing for large and complex data sets. Hyper's ability to handle big data workloads makes it a key component of Tableau's high-performance analytics capabilities.
Impact
Tableau has had a significant impact on the field of data visualization. Its user-friendly interface and powerful technology have democratized data analysis, making it accessible to a wide range of users. Tableau's products are used in a variety of industries, including healthcare, finance, education, and government.
Tableau's impact extends beyond business. The company's Tableau Public platform has been used to shed light on social issues and promote transparency. For example, journalists and activists have used Tableau Public to visualize data on topics such as climate change, income inequality, and police violence.