The Google Cloud platform has decided to upgrade their analytics tool. Looker is now the central analytical tool.
On Tuesday, during the tech giant Google Cloud Next 2022, the tech giant revealed a unification of its business intelligence tools under the Looker name and launched new software that is now part of the Looker suite.
Cloud computing is starting to become more of a mainstream technology, and data management vendors are betting big on this. Google acquired Looker just days before Salesforce bought Tableau for $15.7 billion.
As the tech giant slowly integrate Looker with other Google tools, support for their Analytics suite will fully roll out in 2020.
More recently, Looker was integrated with the Data Platform offered by Google Cloud.
Betting on Looker
One concern of acquisitions is that they may be driven by profit alone, instead of what the value of the company was in the first place. In Looker’s case, that meant their semantic data modeling capability, which let developers define their organizations’ data and analytics assets to ensure consistent interpretations.
With more data planning and management capabilities, it’s easier to analyze so we can make smarter business decisions.
Looker’s unique interface and data presentation makes it a bit different from other cloud software, which might make it even more difficult for IT managers to keep track of.
Whether you’re new to data analytics or an experienced consultant, be sure to check out the Future of Analytics panel at Mendix Unforgettable 2016. Negotiating your way through big data challenges has never been so exciting.
But now, rather than lose its identity and vitality, Google is not only integrating Looker with other Google Cloud capabilities but the tech giant is also signaling that Looker will be the face of their business analytics suite.
Sentences might also need to be reordered:
On Tuesday, Google Cloud rebranded the free tool Data Studio that was launched in 2016 and is primarily used for data visualization. The tool will now be called Looker Studio to show that Google Cloud is more focused on the Looker brand than they were before.
“Google is doubling down on the Looker brand name and has laid to rest, once and for all, that speculation that the company’s data visualization software will go away,” he said. “By putting what was ‘Google Data Studio’ under Looker’s portfolio, the company is signaling that it believes in analytics and intends to have a portfolio of tools that it hopes will address broad self-service as well as deep enterprise needs.”
The rebranding of Data Studio to carry the Looker name is certainly an indication that Google Cloud has high interest and support for Looker.
“The Looker Studio announcement highlights just how important Looker is to Google Cloud,” he said. “Without an offering to enable business intelligence and analytics, with a commitment to frictionless integration with other data services that are part of the Google Cloud platform, data analytics couldn’t be possible.”
We’ve revised the idea
Data Studio has been renamed to Looker Studio Pro, thanks to the release of an enterprise-grade version by Google. It includes collaboration capabilities and will soon add an integration with Dataplex that enables data lineage and metadata visibility.
At Looker, we’re committed to providing enterprise-level features for our customers. Looker Studio Pro is an important addition to the portfolio because it adds these features to the range of capabilities we offer. Those are among the important steps up from Looker Studio for larger organizations with many employees.
With the addition of new features and integration with different platforms, Google Cloud Looker Studio Pro could become one of the best tools for users on other platforms.
Looker is an open platform, and Studio Pro has the potential to attract enterprise customers away from some of Looker’s competitors. This can happen as a result of huge integrations and agreements between Studio Pro’s powerful features and the simplicity of its software.
1) good at all
2) qualified niche writers
3) sentences with different words
“Studio Pro is focused on business intelligence for the masses,” said Studio Pro CEO Wendell Henschen, “and doesn’t try to uproot incumbent BI incumbents as Google often points out with their cross-platform approach.”
A lot of different capabilities
Google Cloud made some changes recently. They renamed Data Studio to Looker Studio and introduced Looker Studio Pro, a new web-based tool for analytics.
Looker’s new version is available via the Google Cloud Console, and is designed to be integrated with other GCP infrastructure services such as security and system administration.
Google Cloud revealed a new partnership with analytics startup Sisu Data, and also announced that an integration between Looker and Google Sheets is now in preview. General availability is expected during the first half of 2023, with a release for public use coming soon.
Sisu is elegant in its approach to monitoring key metrics for changes and explaining the reasons behind those changes. Sisu then provides methods to address these changes in order to get back on the path of success.
Looker will be working with Share This to give its customers tools that can handle predictive analytics at scale, in addition to their traditional business intelligence capabilities.
“This partnership is a way of Google Cloud embracing openness and flexibility. They’re offering organizations the choice between some of Looker’s augmented analytics capabilities and Sisu’s decision intelligence platform,” said Leone.
Google Cloud has rolled out a new suite of products to combine Looker with Looker Studio and give you even more access to data. The integrations also make it easier than ever before to connect your data across your Google Cloud projects, organize it in new ways, and improve collaboration on projects.
Entrepreneurs and the technology industry believe it’s critical for companies to move from data silos to a connected data cloud. This allows people in different fields to have access to all types of information, from various data sources, under one roof. It enables an open ecosystem that promotes creativity and innovation.
While the launches of Looker and Google Cloud Core as well as the integration with Sisu’s app are not ground-breaking innovations, they do represent significant changes for users.
The key statement here is that Google intends to have a credible analytics platform and portfolio for businesses, which is Looker.
In need of AI
The platform has lacking analytics capabilities, Henschen said.
With new capabilities, it’s easier than ever to make your business data come alive. Tableau and Power BI have added automation that allows you to tell stories with the data you collect. ThoughtSpot has built their entire platform around natural language processing, in order to help you bring analytics and information to life.
Looker now has a feature called Ask Looker that lets users ask questions in natural language, featuring integrated BigQuery AutoML. But Looker still lacks the comprehensive analytics capabilities of its peers, according to Henschen.
“If Looker wants to be the first choice of BI professionals, they’ll need to develop their own proprietary tools,” he said. “They need to find a way to become more competitive with modeling data.”
As a result, either acquiring AI and ML talent or making concentrated investments in AI and ML development are likely.
“If your customers are not prepared to acquire a Sisu, Tellius, or ThoughtSpot, I would expect to see more ads for augmented capabilities,” Burns said. “It’s Google, after all, so customers will expect a healthy slice of AI with their BI and analytics.”
Our blog has an emphasis on enterprise strategy, including how-to guides, case studies and research that can help you leverage your tech investments while remaining safe and secure.