Power BI vs Tableau: A

Comparison of Two Popular

Business Intelligence Tools
Blog | September 15, 2023 | By Karishma Vadher

Introduction to Power BI and

Tableau
The Importance of Business Intelligence Tools

Business intelligence (BI) tools are essential for organizations that want to
leverage data to gain insights, make better decisions, and improve
business performance. However, given that there are several options –
including some really competent ones – in the market, choosing the right
BI tool can sometimes be easier said than done.

At present, Power BI and Tableau are two compelling BI offerings that

users can choose from. Both offer excellent data visualization, data
analysis, and data integration capabilities, but they also have some key
differences, advantages and dare I say, disadvantages.

In this article, I will compare Power BI and Tableau based on various

criteria, such as integration, ease of use, cost, data transformation, data
modeling, cross-platform compatibility, community and resources, and
disadvantages. By the end of this article, I hope you will have a better
understanding of which tool might be more suitable for your specific
needs and preferences.

Comparing Power BI and Tableau

Here’s a comparison to help you decide which tool might be better for
you:

Integration with Existing Systems

Power BI
Integration with Existing Systems

Power BI is tightly integrated with the Microsoft ecosystem, making it an

excellent choice for organizations that already use Microsoft tools like
Excel, SharePoint, and Azure.

Ease of Use and User Interface

Power BI is generally considered to have a user-friendly interface,

especially for users familiar with Microsoft products. The drag-and-drop
interface allows users to create visuals and reports with relative ease.

Cost Structure and Pricing Options

Power BI offers a range of pricing options, including a free version with

limited capabilities. The paid versions offer more features and storage
capacity. The cost structure can be favorable for smaller businesses or
those already invested in Microsoft products. The professional version of
Power BI costs less than $10 per month per user.

Data Transformation Capabilities

Power BI provides robust data transformation capabilities using Power

Query, which allows you to clean, transform, and shape your data before
visualization with no additional tool requirement, that helps to do a lot of
things easier.

Data Modeling and Analysis

Power BI offers a data modeling feature that allows users to create

relationships between different data sources and perform complex
calculations using DAX (Data Analysis Expressions).
Tableau
Data Visualization Flexibility

Tableau is often praised for its versatility in creating highly customized

and complex visualizations. It offers more control over visual design and
interactivity.

Data Blending and Cross-Platform Compatibility

Tableau’s data blending capabilities are well-regarded, allowing you to

combine data from multiple sources easily.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

Tableau works on both Windows and macOS, which can be advantageous

for organizations with mixed operating systems.

Community Support and Resources

Tableau has a strong and active user community, which means you can
find a wealth of tutorials, forums, and resources online.

Cost
:

Tableau can be more expensive than Power BI, particularly for larger
deployments. However, pricing can vary based on factors such as the
number of users and features required. The pro version of Tableau costs
more than $35 per month per user.

Limitations and Disadvantages

Disadvantages of Power BI
  It does not accept file sizes greater than 1GB.
 It becomes challenging to process bigger datasets with complex
elements. Power BI may crash in these situations.
 The Power BI desktop version is not compatible with iOS.

Disadvantages of Tableau
 Once the reports and dashboards are published, there is no option
to get back to the previous level of data which hinders version
control capability of Tableau.
 In Tableau you can only select a single value in parameter at a time.
Also, if data changes parameter would not automatically update,
these parameters will require manual updates.
 Tableau has a limit of 16 column table displays, sometimes it
becomes difficult for users to display large tables.

Choosing Between Power BI and

Tableau
Factors to Consider When
Choosing Between Power BI and
Tableau
User Skillset and Technical Expertise

Consider the technical expertise of your team. Power BI might be better

for those who are more familiar with Microsoft tools, while Tableau could
be suitable for organizations with users who have a stronger background
in data analysis and visualization.

Budget and Cost Considerations

:
If cost is a significant factor, Power BI might be more budget-friendly,
especially for smaller businesses. Tableau’s licensing costs can be higher.

Data Complexity and Analysis Needs

If you require more advanced data visualization and complex analysis,

Tableau’s flexibility might be more suitable.

Integration Requirements with Existing Technology Stack

Consider your organization’s existing technology stack. If you rely heavily

on Microsoft products, Power BI might be a smoother fit. If not, Tableau
offers a broader range of data source connections.

Community Support and Guidance

Tableau’s strong community and extensive resources might be beneficial

for users seeking guidance and best practices.

Conclusion and Decision-Making

Power BI and Tableau are both excellent BI tools that can help you
transform your data into insights. However, they also have some trade-
offs and limitations that you should consider before making a final
decision. The choice between them depends on your organization’s
specific requirements, existing infrastructure, user skill levels, and the
type of data analysis and visualization you need to perform. In the end,
the best way to decide which tool is better for you is to try them out
yourself and see which one meets your expectations and goals. You can
download free trials of both Power BI and Tableau from their official
websites and explore their features and functionalities.

Making the Informed Choice

Explore and Compare with Free Trials
I hope this blog has helped you compare Power BI and Tableau and make
an informed choice.

How to Plan and Execute a

Successful Snowflake Migration:
A Process Guide
Blog | September 15, 2023 | By Karishma Vadher
Introduction to Snowflake Data Cloud

Snowflake is a modern cloud-based data warehouse that offers many

advantages over traditional data storage and processing platforms. In
today’s business world, where data is so crucial, platforms like Snowflake
Data Cloud are often key determinants of business success and growth.
But what if you’re not ON Snowflake? What if you’re on a traditional, on-
prem data warehouse that just won’t cut it anymore? How do you migrate
from that to Snowflake? It’s not easy. Migrating from a legacy data-
warehouse to Snowflake requires careful planning, preparation, and
execution to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.

The Importance of Data Warehouse Migration

In this blog post, I will walk you through the steps involved in migrating to
Snowflake; from defining your objectives and goals to performing post-
migration monitoring and optimization. Whether you are planning to lift-
and-shift your existing data infrastructure, partially migrate some of your
data sources, or fully redesign your data architecture, this guide should
help you achieve your desired outcomes.

The Step-by-Step Snowflake

Migration Process
Step 1. Define Objectives and Goals.
  Clearly outline the reasons for migrating to Snowflake. Identify the
specific benefits you expect to achieve, such as improved
performance, scalability, or cost savings.

Step 2. Assessment and Analysis.

 Conduct a thorough assessment of your existing data infrastructure,

including data sources, volumes, formats, and integration points.
 Analyze the complexity of your data transformations, ETL processes,
and any custom scripts that need to be migrated.

Step 3. Data Profiling and Cleansing.

 Profile your data to understand its quality, consistency, and

potential issues that may arise during migration.
 Cleanse and transform data as needed to ensure it meets the
requirements of Snowflake’s schema and structure.

Step 4. Choose Migration Approach.

 Decide on the migration strategy: Lift-and-shift, partial migration, or

full redesign of data architecture.
 Select appropriate tools for data extraction, transformation, and
loading based on your strategy.

Step 5. Select Migration Team

 Form a dedicated team responsible for the migration process,

including database administrators, data engineers, developers, and
business analysts.

Step 6. Schema Design and Modeling

 Design the schema in Snowflake that aligns with your business

needs and takes advantage of Snowflake’s capabilities.
 Define tables, views, and other database objects required to support
your data and reporting requirements.

Step 7. Data Migration and ETL/ELT

  Extract data from the source systems using appropriate tools or
scripts.
 Transform the data to match the Snowflake schema and optimize it
for performance.
 Load the transformed data into Snowflake using Snowflake’s data
loading tools or third-party ETL tools.

Step 8. Test and Validate

 Develop a testing strategy that includes testing data integrity,

accuracy, and performance.
 Create test cases and scenarios that cover a range of queries and
workloads.
 Perform end-to-end testing of data migration, ETL processes, and
reporting tools.

Step 9. Security and Access Control

 Configure security settings in Snowflake, including user roles,

permissions, and encryption settings.
 Implement proper access controls to ensure data security and
compliance.

Step 10. Training and Documentation

 Provide training to users, analysts, and developers on Snowflake’s

features, querying, and best practices.
 Create documentation outlining the new architecture, data flows,
and data definitions.

Step 11. Pilot Testing

 Conduct a pilot phase with a subset of users or data to validate the

migration and gather feedback before the full migration.

Step 12. Data Cutover

 Schedule a maintenance window for the actual data migration and

cutover.
  Execute the final data migration, transform any incremental data,
and update connection strings in applications and reporting tools.

Step 13. Post-Migration Monitoring and Optimization

 Monitor query performance, system utilization, and data loads.

 Continuously optimize queries and resource usage for better
performance.

Step 14. Backup and Rollback Plan

 Prepare a backup plan in case of unexpected issues during or after

migration.
 Ensure you can roll back to the previous state if needed.

Step 15. Communication and Change Management

 Communicate the migration plan and timeline to all stakeholders,

including end-users and management.
 Provide support channels for addressing issues and concerns during
and after the migration.

Step 16. Post-Migration Review

 Conduct a review after the migration to evaluate its success against

the defined objectives.
 Gather feedback from users and teams to identify any areas for
improvement.

Step 17. Continuous Improvement

 Iterate and refine your Snowflake environment based on user

feedback and changing business requirements.

Conclusion and Assistance

Migrating to Snowflake Data Cloud can be a rewarding and transformative
experience for your business. By following this step-by-step process guide,
you can ensure a successful migration that leverages Snowflake’s features
and capabilities to the fullest.
If you need any assistance or guidance along the way, feel free to contact
us. USEReady is here to help you make the most of your data with
Snowflake.

Streamlining Data Visualization –

A Guide for Hyperion to Tableau
Migration with Migrator IQ
Blog | August 2, 2023 | By Jaspreet Kaur, Abhishek Ranjan

Unveiling the Potential of Tableau

for Enhanced Data Visualization
Reasons to Migrate from Hyperion to Tableau

Data is the lifeblood of modern businesses, and advanced analytics and

visualizations are essential tools used to extract valuable insights from it.
For years, organizations have relied on Hyperion, a popular business
intelligence platform to meet their analytics needs. However, with the
growing demand for enhanced data visualization, self-service analytics,
and broader data connectivity, businesses are increasingly looking for
superior alternatives. Tableau is one such alternative that offers many
advantages over Hyperion.

Transitioning from Hyperion to

Tableau – A Stepwise Guide with
Migrator IQ
Streamlined Hyperion Report Analysis with Migrator IQ
Manual Hyperion Report Analysis – A Comprehensive Approach

Harnessing Migrator IQ’s Power

for Effortless Hyperion Report
Analysis
Hyperion Accelerator Components: List Maker and Hyperion
Extractor
Precise Effort Estimation and Report Sizing with Migrator IQ

Navigating the Migration Process

from Hyperion to Tableau
Manual Data Migration Steps for a Smooth Transition
Leveraging SQL Queries for Seamless Tableau Integration
Building Data Models in Tableau with Migrator IQ Insights

Advantages of Migrator IQ
(Hyperion Accelerator) for
Streamlined Migration
Efficient Handling of Multiple Reports Simultaneously
Comprehensive Hyperion Report Metadata Export for Informed
Decision-Making
Automated Processes and Resource Optimization
Cost-Effective Hyperion to Tableau Migration

Unleashing the Power of Tableau

through Migrator IQ
Seamless Transition to Advanced Data Visualization
Self-Service Analytics Empowerment and Wider Data Connectivity
Enhancing Insights with Reduced Time and Effort through Migrator
IQ

Achieve Data Visualization

Excellence – Migrate from
Hyperion to Tableau with
Confidence
A Successful Transition with Migrator IQ’s Guided Approach

Some of the key reasons why organizations choose to migrate from

Hyperion to Tableau are:

Modernization: Hyperion is a legacy system that may not have the

advanced analytics capabilities that Tableau offers. By migrating to
Tableau, organizations can leverage the latest analytics trends and
technologies and stay ahead of the curve.

User Empowerment: Tableau’s user-friendly interface and self-service

analytics capabilities enable business users to analyse and visualize data
on their own, without relying on IT or analysts. This speeds up the
decision-making process and fosters a data-driven culture.

Enhanced Visualization: Tableau provides a wider range of visualization

options and advanced features that allow organizations to present data in
more engaging and meaningful ways, facilitating better insights and
understanding.

This blog is an attempt to offer a stepwise guide for migrating from

Hyperion to Tableau in a seamless and efficient manner with the help of
USEReady’s Migrator IQ (semi-automated) tool.

Step – 1 Hyperion Report Analysis:

Analyze Hyperion Report Manually Analyze Hyperion Report

(Hyperion Accelerator)

1. Use the Hyperion link and log in with your user 1. Migrator IQ Hyperion acc
account/credentials. offers two components List
and Hyperion Extractor that
2. Click on “Explore” to access the folders and select the process.
respective folders to redirect to the respective report to
be converted.

3. Once we select the report, we will be redirected to

the new window (Fig 1), where we will have the
sections, data model, the result of the report, and the
pivot of that report.

4. Data model of the report: The data model has

tables and joins (ex – Fig 1). The filters above the data Fi
model are the filters that needed to be provided in the
report. Right-click on the line connecting two tables to 2. By using these Migrator I
know the join type.
components, we can get the
required information about
report like SQL Query, Join,
etc. in few easy steps.

Fig 3

3. Consolidated view of data

stored in an Excel file with a
amount of weightage applie
different components for an

4. Avoids duplication of effo

identifying similar Data sou
Fig 1
logic. We can delete duplica
sources avoiding report dup
5. To check the Database and physical name of the .
table, double-click on the table name and a pop-up
come up like the given picture below: 5. Precise effort estimation
sizing of the reports based o
detailed information of SQL
joins, sections, and tables.

Fig 5
Fig 4

6. To check the SQL query in the Hyperion report. Click

on View and select Query log and run the query by
clicking on Process à Process Current
Fig 6

7. Then you will see SQL in the query log.

Fig 7

8. Computed columns are appearing in blue color as

shown below. Fig 8

Fig 8

9. Right-click on the column header, and then select the

Modify column, and a pop-up comes up where you can
find the calculation for the computed field which needs
to be replicated in the tableau report.
 Fig 9

Hyperion Formula Syntax Difference:

Field Name Hyperion Formula SQL Query Tableau Formula

Aggregated Sum(Salary, SUM(Salary) OVER (PARTITION {FIXED [Department

Salary Department_Id) BY Department_Id) SUM([Salary])}

Qty if(Flag == “Y”) {0- CASE WHEN Flag=’Y’ THEN (0- IF [Flag] = ‘Y’ TH
Quantity*1} else Quantity*1) ELSE (Quantity*1) ([Quantity]*1) ELSE
{Quantity*1} END END

Step – 2 Migration to Tableau (Manual):

1. Open the Tableau desktop and give the correct server’s name,
username, and password to connect to the respective
database.
 Fig 10

2. Now, you can take the SQL queries from Migrator IQ and use them as
custom SQL query in Tableau.

OR

Check the details of the table and joining condition from the Migrator IQ
output and select the same table in Tableau to build the data model.

3. Go to sheet and prepare your viz. Below is the sample dashboard which
is migrated from Hyperion to Tableau.
Advantages of Migrator IQ (Hyperion Accelerator):

 Multiple report analyses at a time.

 Hyperion report metadata information (tables, filters, joins, SQL
query) exported in Excel.
 Complexity of the report definition and T-shirt sizing.
 Automated the processes and efforts saving.
 Resource optimization and cost reduction.

Migrating from Hyperion to Tableau with the assistance of Migrator IQ

offers businesses a number of advantages in terms of advanced data
visualization, self-service analytics, and wider data connectivity. Besides,
Migrator IQ helps to reduce time and manual effort and is cost-effective
too.

By leveraging the capabilities of Migrator IQ, organizations can ensure a

successful and seamless transition, unlocking the full potential of Tableau
for their data visualization and an

Introduction of Custom SQL for

Tableau
Blog | July 17, 2023 | By Wenwen Zheng

If you are a data analyst, there’s a good chance that you’ve heard of SQL.
Short for Structured Query Language, SQL is a powerful language that
allows you to manipulate and analyze data from different databases. It is
also one of the most widely used languages in the field of data analytics
as it can handle complex queries and calculations with ease.

But what if you want to use SQL in Tableau? Tableau has many built-in
data connectors that let you connect to different data sources and explore
your data visually. But sometimes you may need more flexibility and
control over how you access and prepare your data for analysis. That’s
where Custom SQL comes in handy. It is a feature that lets you write your
own SQL statements to query data from multiple sources within Tableau.
With Custom SQL, you can extract, filter, join, union and alias data
according to your needs.

Let me show you how.

Section 1: “SELECT … FROM …” Statement

“SELECT … FROM” is the main statement of any SQL query. It allows you
to specify which columns you want to retrieve from a table when you have
a large number of columns in a table. For example:

In the above example, we retrieve CustomerName field, OrderAmount

field and OrderDate field from the Orders table.

Section 2: “WHERE” Clause

The “WHERE” clause allows you to filter data based on specific conditions.
It enables you to extract subsets of data that meet certain criteria. For
example:
In this example, we retrieve the same columns from the same Orders
table as example in last section, but only for the rows where order amount
is greater than 50 and the customer name is either Mike, lily or Peter.

Section 3: “JOIN” Clause

The “JOIN” clause allows you to combine data from two or more tables
based on a related column between them. Let’s look at an example:

In this example, we join the “Orders” and “Customers” tables based on

the CustomerID column, allowing us to retrieve the OrderID and
CustomerName fields from both tables.

Section 4: “UNION ALL” Clause

The “UNION ALL” clause in SQL is used to combine the result of sets of
two or more SELECT statements into a single result set. It includes all rows
from each SELECT statement, including duplicates. It requires the tables
to be combined have same number of columns and have same column
names. Here is an example:
If any column is missing in one of the tables. For example, when
Employees_ B table doesn’t have Department column, but we still want to
union Employees_A and Employees_B. Then we can insert NULL value as a
placeholder to make the union happen. Below is the sample code:

Section 5: Aliases

Aliases enable you to provide alternative names for fields in your query
results. This is very useful for renaming columns or making them more
descriptive. In the last section, we alias NULL as “Department” is one of
example, aliases are used quite often when implementing UNION which
requires column have exact same names. We can also use aliases in
SELECT statement:

In the five sections above, we have seen some commonly used SQL
statements, clauses to access, filter, and combine data in diverse sources.
Understanding those fundamentals of SQL allows for greater flexibility in
data integration and analysis within Tableau.

Hope this blog helps you to quickly master custom SQL.

Domain Expertise – Why It

Matters and How to Build It for
Customer Success?
Blog | July 18, 2023 | By Sarayu Rakshith B R

We’ve all heard of the phrase domain expertise and encounter it almost
every day. It’s a curious coinage, seemingly familiar yet somehow exotic.
Lending a sense of instant credence to the subject it is used for. But
beyond the general meaning of the phrase, do we really know what it is?
Do we know why it matters and how can someone acquire it?

Domain expertise is the knowledge that enables you to excel in a specific

field or industry. It isn’t just about knowing the technical aspects of your
job, but also understanding the goals, problems, and challenges of your
customers. With domain expertise, you can help your customers achieve
their desired outcomes. In this blog, I will show you how domain expertise
can help you excel in the technology space.

Image courtesy: Importance of domain knowledge in testing |

Testingbits.com
Understanding Domain Expertise
and Its Impact on Customer
Success
What is Domain Expertise?
Tech industry has multiple domains in which a professional can specialize.
Domain expertise is the understanding of a specific discipline or industry
such as healthcare, finance, retail, or banking beyond the ordinary. This
means that a domain expert will have deep knowledge and skills that
he/she can apply to solve problems, create solutions, or innovate new
products or services.

Although sometimes it may not seem quite as obvious, domain experts

are often crucial to customer success. Their insights, guidance, and
leadership in their respective domains make them incredibly valuable
assets for the organizations they support.

The Significance of Domain

Expertise in the Tech Industry
How It Matters for Customer
Success?
To ensure customer success, a domain expert must be able to speak the
language of their industry. He/she should be able to comprehend their
problems in ways that can be explained using their unique business
language. Specificity and understanding this uniqueness is key to
resolving problems in a better manner.

Again, domain expertise is more than basic competency and it is

important for us to be truly knowledgeable about a given domain so that
customers view us as valuable resources and trusted advisors.
Once they know they can trust us, they’re sure to come back to us for
future advice and guidance. The better we can connect with our
customers and understand their pain points, the more they will look
forward to growing with us and our products and solutions.

Building Domain Expertise:

Practical Steps for Success
How to Build Domain Expertise?
 Read: Reading is key. Start reading and researching as much as
possible about your customers. Browse their website, blogs, and
case studies. Gather information about the industry trends most
relevant to them. Basically, become a walking encyclopedia about
the customer, the industry, and subject matter.
 Take Training Courses & Subscribe to Newsletters: Consider
signing up for training courses relevant to your customer’s industry.
Look for thought leadership that matters most for your customer
and the industry in which it operates. Stay updated on who’s saying
what online, subscribe to industry newsletters, and build a
vocabulary that resonates with your customer.
 Engage with Subject Matter Experts: Engage with subject
matter experts belonging to the domain you’re interested in. They
can be a vital source of practical information which may not always
be available elsewhere. Take notes, record these conversations so
that you may deep dive later and ask more questions.
 Know Your Product: It is of paramount importance to know our
product inside and out. Having a complete understanding of how
your product works helps you better solve your customers’ problems
and build trust.

Becoming a domain expert is not an easy task. It requires dedication,

curiosity, and a willingness to learn. And frankly it can sometimes be a
little overwhelming, especially when starting out. But try not to let it get
to you. No one expects you to be an expert overnight. You can start slowly
and gradually build your way with knowledge and confidence.

Remember, the key is to strive for continuous excellence through constant

learning!

STORM: PLANthe first essential step for successful

Tableau migration

Blog | July 22, 2022 | By Atul Verma

STORM, a Practitioner’s Guide to Migration from Tableau Server

to Tableau Cloud provides an overview of multiple Tableau server
migration scenarios, approaches, best practices, and step-by-step
instructions on the migration process.

About STORM:

 USEReady developed a framework called “Plan → Migrate

→ Validate” for a repeatable migration process
 #STORM establishes a process of Planning, Migration and
Validation adhering to the framework
 USEReady’s platform called STORM automates steps in
the framework which makes the migration process fast, consistent,
and seamless
 A POD of migration experts is offered for execution
 Customers can choose private or public cloud hosting
 The migration is Regulatory compliant
“Plan”, is the essential first step of the “Plan → Migrate → Validate”
framework which ensures a successful and effective Tableau migration to
the Cloud.

The “Plan” phase of #STORM helps in the development of a migration

plan, defining the most efficient way to migrate the Tableau assets and
the best way to prioritize them. The complexity of migration varies
according to the variety of data sources, security, and governance
considerations.

“Plan” phase has four engagement stages which setup a solid foundation
for the next “Migrate” phase. It prepares team in assessment of current
environment, mitigates risk, and defines success criteria for the
migration.
 1. Kick Off, team alignment, onboarding, project plan review
2. Current Tableau Implementation Discovery
3. Tableau Cloud Pre-Requisites Implementation
4. Tableau Cloud Implementation Definition and Prep
 Security and Authentication
 Data Connectivity
 Administrative Responsibilities
 Tableau Licensing

USEReady’ framework brings prebuilt questionnaire, templates and

automated scripts which help in faster execution of “Plan” phase
compared to traditional process.

Key areas which are covered in “Plan” phase are:

 Topology Planning, includes Site, Project, Folder Mappings

 Data Source planning (Live connections, extract connections,
embedded passwords)
 Security Planning
 Governance Planning (Data/BI stewards, certified data sources,
catalog)
 Add-on planning (Server management and data management)
 Third-party Extensions
 Optimization opportunities

For the execution of objectives of the “Plan” phase, USEReady defined a

POD which comprises of different expertise like Technical Project
Manager, Team Lead, Tableau Architect, BI Analyst, Product Analyst and
QA Lead.

Supporting team of Solution Principal, Cloud Architect and Data Architect

will be available to provide recommendations, support on environment
setup and optimization of the migration process.
It’s important to define “Plan” phase deliverables which provide a
complete overview of the current state, implement the pre-requisites, and
set up the required environment for the next phase of Tableau migration.

Key deliverables of “Plan” phase

 Kick-off Deck
 Current State Findings & Discovery Assessment
 Tableau Online Prerequisites
 Security and Authentication defined/implemented
 Admin Insights Enabled
 Data Connectivity Implemented
 Tableau License Monitoring Implemented

Below is a sample project plan of the “Plan” phase, which shares a deep
dive overview of the activities involved and re-establishes the importance
of this phase.

AI: Transforming the Modern

Enterprise
Blog | June 5, 2023 | By Amit Phatak

In the ever-evolving enterprise technology landscape, Artificial

Intelligence (AI) is leading to a seismic shift. With a remarkable ability to
enhance customer experiences through intelligent interactions and
contextual responses, it is remaking the way businesses engage with their
clients. Beyond customer service, AI is revolutionizing search, automating
mundane tasks, improving decision-making, enabling personalized
experiences, streamlining functions like HR, and fortifying cybersecurity
measures and much more. Thanks to AI, businesses today stand to
achieve heightened efficiency, profitability, and a competitive edge they
couldn’t even dream of until recently.
In this article, let’s explore how AI has become increasingly important for
businesses and the various ways in which it is reconfiguring different
aspects of business operations.

AI’s Relevance for Enterprise

AI’s relevance for the modern enterprise is undeniable and its impact
already acutely visible, especially the manner in which it is fuelling
innovation and productivity. Let’s look at five ways AI has found
application in forward-looking enterprises.

 Enhanced Customer Experience:

One of the most significant benefits of AI in the enterprise

landscape is its ability to enhance customer experience. With the
advent of AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, businesses can now
provide more intelligent and human-like responses to customer
queries. This is made possible through natural language processing
(NLP) and semantic search capabilities, which enable AI models to
understand and respond to customer queries in a more meaningful
and contextual manner.

 Improved Search Capabilities:

Traditional keyword-based search methods have long been the
norm for businesses, but they often fall short in delivering accurate
and relevant results. AI has revolutionized search capabilities by
introducing a hybrid approach that combines semantic and lexical
search. This means that AI-powered search engines can now
understand the meaning behind user queries and deliver more
accurate and relevant results. This not only improves the overall
search experience but also helps businesses make better data-
driven decisions.

 Automation of Mundane Tasks:

AI has the potential to automate various mundane and repetitive
tasks, freeing up valuable time and resources for businesses. For
example, AI-powered chatbots can handle routine customer service
inquiries, allowing human agents to focus on more complex issues.
 Similarly, AI can be used to automate data entry, document
processing, and other time-consuming tasks, leading to increased
efficiency and productivity.

 Enhanced Decision-Making:
AI-powered tools can analyze vast amounts of data and provide
valuable insights that can help businesses make better decisions.
For instance, AI can be used to analyze customer behavior, market
trends, and other relevant data to identify patterns and predict
future outcomes. This enables businesses to make more informed
decisions and stay ahead of the competition.

 Cost Savings:
By automating various tasks and improving overall efficiency, AI
can help businesses save on operational costs. For example, AI-
powered chatbots can reduce the need for human customer service
agents, leading to significant cost savings. Additionally, AI can help
businesses optimize their processes and resources, resulting in
reduced waste and increased profitability.

Revolutionizing Enterprise
Landscape
AI is reshaping the enterprise landscape. From customer service chatbots
to analytics to personalization, HR, and cybersecurity, today AI
applications are catalyzing a profound change across the enterprise.
Sample this.

 AI-Powered Chatbots:

As mentioned earlier, AI-powered chatbots are transforming

customer service by providing more intelligent and human-like
responses. These chatbots can understand natural language queries
and engage in longer, more meaningful conversations with
customers. This not only improves customer satisfaction but also
helps businesses gather valuable insights into customer preferences
and behavior.
 Advanced Analytics:
AI-powered analytics tools can process and analyze vast amounts of
data, providing businesses with valuable insights and predictions.
These tools can help businesses identify trends, patterns, and
anomalies in their data, enabling them to make more informed
decisions and optimize their operations. For example, AI-powered
analytics can help businesses identify potential bottlenecks in their
supply chain, allowing them to take corrective action and improve
efficiency.

 AI-Driven Personalization:
AI can be used to deliver personalized experiences to customers,
which can significantly improve customer satisfaction and loyalty.
By analyzing customer data, AI-powered tools can identify individual
preferences and tailor marketing messages, product
recommendations, and other content accordingly. This level of
personalization can help businesses stand out in a crowded market
and foster long-term customer relationships.

 AI in Human Resources:
AI is also making its mark in the field of human resources, where it
can be used to streamline various processes such as recruitment,
onboarding, and employee engagement. For example, AI-powered
tools can analyze job applications and identify the most suitable
candidates, saving time and resources for HR professionals.
Additionally, AI can be used to monitor employee performance and
provide personalized feedback and training, leading to a more
engaged and productive workforce.

 AI in Cybersecurity:
With the increasing number of cyber threats, businesses need to
invest in robust security measures to protect their data and
systems. AI can play a crucial role in enhancing cybersecurity by
detecting and responding to threats in real-time. AI-powered
security tools can analyze vast amounts of data to identify patterns
and anomalies, enabling businesses to detect potential threats and
take preventive action.
AI is no longer a futuristic concept; it is a reality that is transforming the
enterprise landscape TODAY. A transformative force, AI is revolutionizing
customer experiences, decision-making and nearly all key aspects of
enterprise operations. With proliferation of AI-powered tools like ChatGPT
that deliver “human responses”, improved search, automation of
repetitive tasks, and advanced analytics, businesses today can put AI to
work to gain valuable insights, streamline processes, and optimize
resources which in turn can help them stay ahead of the competition,
improve efficiencies, and drive growth.

The potential of AI in the enterprise is immense, and it is up to businesses

to harness its power and unlock new opportunities for success.

Okta Tableau Integration:

Automatic User Provisioning and
Group Synchronization Guide
Blog | September 22, 2023 | By Arun Prasad Kumar, Abhishek Ranjan

In today’s highly interconnected, digital business landscape, ensuring

secure and efficient user authentication has become paramount. Without
it, organizations not only risk offering poor access experience to users but
also stand to make available sensitive information to unauthorized
parties. This could be especially true of large organizations with complex
security needs.

Streamlining User Authentication

for Enhanced Security
Introduction

How to Integrate Okta with

Tableau
Given this, it is no surprise that many organizations today implement
Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions like Okta to manage user
access and ensure security. Okta is a leading IAM provider that offers a
range of features and integrations to cater to different business needs.
One of these integrations is with Tableau. In this blog, we’ll explore how
you can integrate Okta and Tableau to achieve secure and seamless user
authentication.

Configuring SAML for Tableau Cloud Using Okta as an IDP

1. Sign into your Tableau Cloud site as a site administrator and

select Setting >Authentication, and in the Authentication tab,
select Enable an additional authentication method. Post this,
select SAML and then Edit Connection.
2. Open a new browser tab, and sign into your OKTA Administrator
console.

3. In the Applications tab, click on the Add Application button. Search

for Tableau, and then add the Tableau Cloud application. This opens
the General Settings tab. Here, add the name of your site.

4. Click Done to open the Assignments tab.

5. Click Assign > Assign to Groups and click the Assign button beside
each group you want to approve for single sign-on access to Tableau
Cloud.

6. Select the Sign On tab and click Edit.

7. Switch to the tab where you opened the Tableau Cloud SAML
configuration settings, and in Step 1 of those settings, select and copy
the Tableau Cloud entity ID and ACS URL.
8. Return to the Okta administrator console general settings and paste the
URL into the corresponding fields and click Save.
9. Copy the metadata URL and open new tab and save it as an XML file.

10. Switch to Tableau Cloud tab and import the same metadata file into
Tableau Cloud and Click Apply.
Setting Up SCIM for User Management

Okta can be used for user management, provision groups, and

assigning Tableau Cloud site roles.

1. After adding Tableau Cloud to the OKTA application, remain signed into
both the Okta console and Tableau Cloud, by following the below steps:

 In Tableau Cloud, the Settings > Authentication page.

 In the Okta Developer Console, Applications > Tableau

Cloud > Provisioning.

2. On the Authentication page in Tableau Cloud, under Automatic

Provisioning and Group Synchronization (SCIM), select the Enable
SCIM check box and Generate New Secret.
3. Copy the secret token value, and then on the Provisioning page in
your Okta administrator console, select API Integration in
the Settings column.

4. Select Edit, and then do the following:

 Select the Enable API integration check box.

 For API Token, paste the Tableau Cloud SCIM secret token you
copied in the previous step.
 For Base URL, copy and paste the Base URL shown in the Tableau
Cloud SCIM settings.
5. Select To App from the left pane setting option and click Edit, after
that select Create Users, Update User Attributes and Deactivate
Users check box.

User provisioning and Group

synchronization
Simplifying User Management with Okta and Tableau

User provisioning from Okta to Tableau involves setting up a connection

between your Okta identity management system and Tableau for
seamless user management and access control. This integration
streamlines the process of creating, updating, and deactivating user
accounts in Tableau based on changes made in Okta. Here’s how you can
achieve this:

1. Create one Active Directory (AD) group for each site role (e.g. Creator,
Explorer, Viewer, Unlicensed etc.).
2. Sync these Okta groups with Tableau for automatic user flow. (note:
make sure that the push group memberships immediately option is
selected.)
3. After this assign each site-based AD group to the Tableau cloud with
corresponding site role.
4. As per requirement, new users will be added to the site-based AD
groups.

5. Now to change the site role of a particular user we can move that user
(remove from the existing group and add it into the requested site-based
group) from one group to another and the corresponding site role will
reflect in Tableau cloud.

6. If a user is part of two or more AD groups, the most permissive site

roles will be reflected in Tableau. That said, it is not advisable to keep any
user in more than one role-based AD group.

Adding the custom attribute “Unlicensed” site role

By default, Okta does not provide an Unlicensed site role and therefore we
have to add it as a custom attribute.
If the User is pushed with an unlicensed site role, then to change their site
role, then remove the user from the Unlicensed Group, remove the same
user from the Tableau cloud, and then add it to the requested site-based
group.

As the user will be deactivated from the OKTA then automatically site role
will be changed to “Unlicensed” and once that user is reactivated the
previous site role will get reinstated.

Advantages of Integrating Okta with Tableau

Integrating Okta with Tableau is a smart move that offers a number of

advantages including:

 Multi-factor authentication with secure data transmission

 Seamless user provisioning and de-provisioning
 Implementing role-based access control (RBAC) in Tableau
  Monitoring user activities in Tableau
 Auditing and compliance with Okta’s reporting capabilities
 Efficient handling of increased user loads
 Potential enhancements such as automated user onboarding

Conclusion: A Secure and

Streamlined User Experience
Elevate Your Security with Okta Tableau Integration
By leveraging Okta’s powerful IAM capabilities, organizations can ensure
that Tableau users have the timely and right access to the data they
need. By integrating Okta, security admins can say goodbye to password
headaches and in its place have a more secure and efficient mechanism
for managing user access to Tableau