Tag Archives: Excel

8 Best Data Visualization Tools that Every Data Scientist Should Know

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Data scientists have to analyze, interpret, and visualize large datasets on a daily basis. This is why it is important for them to have the right data visualization tools at their disposal.
It can be difficult for people who don’t work closely with data every day (such as managers or executives) to grasp what they are trying to say if all they give them is words on paper or an Excel spreadsheet full of numbers without any context.
Data visualization tools allow data scientists to communicate their findings more effectively, which is important because it allows them to share their insights with other people who may not be familiar with data science concepts.

Best Data Visualization Tools for Every Data Scientist

In this article, we shall take a look at some of the best data visualization tools for data scientists and how they can effectively increase the efficiency of data scientists. Here are eight important data visualization tools to help data scientists make better-informed decisions.

1. Tableau

Tableau is a data visualization tool that can be used to create interactive graphs, charts, and maps. It allows you to connect to different data sources and create visualizations in minutes.

2. QlikView

QlikView is not just another data visualization tool, It is a data discovery platform that empowers the users to make faster, more informed decisions by accelerating analytics, revealing new business insights, and increasing the accuracy of results.

3. Microsoft Power BI

The Microsoft Power BI is the data visualization tool that is used for business intelligence type of data. It is and can be used for reporting, self-service analytics, and predictive analytics.

4. Datawrapper

Datawrapper is an online data visualization tool that can be used in various contexts. It is very easy to use, and it has a clean and intuitive user interface.

5. Plotly

Plotly is a data visualization tool that is used to create interactive graphs, charts, and maps. You can also use Plotly to create a visualization of a dataset, then share the link of that visualization with your readers on social media or on your blog.

6. Sisense

Sisense is a data visualization tool that allows you to easily create interactive visualizations from your data. With Sisense, you can quickly and easily create extensive, informative dashboards that will help you understand your data better.

7. Excel

Microsoft Excel is a data visualization tool that has an easy interface, so it doesn’t have to be difficult to work with.

8. Zoho analytics

Zoho Analytics is a data visualization and reporting tool that can help you to easily create custom reports and dashboards.

Conclusion

In the modern world, data is everywhere and it’s important for brands to be able to decode and communicate their message in an effective manner.
And for data scientists, learning and keeping up with all the latest data visualization tools is paramount, and only after they master this art, they can keep up with the pace of big data, and the fast-moving realms of AI and ML.

INFO GRAPHICS WITH EXCEL

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I’m not always the biggest fan of info graphics. Many of the posters-sized info graphics released these days have issues. But lately I’ve also received several requests on how to do info graphics with Excel. Many people don’t know where to start.

How Info Graphics are Different
Info graphics differ somewhat from your usual dashboard-style reporting. When we report with business tools, we use the data points–charts, tables, etc–to investigate a problem or monitor a system. That is, we use data to find results. Info graphics are used when we already know the results and we want to present it in an interesting, sometimes even artistic, way. Info graphics, then, are more about style and appearance–they wouldn’t necessarily find a good home on a dashboard. But they do work well in magazines, newspapers, and some student projects.

Info Graphics and Excel
Many info graphics are made with graphic editing programs like Adobe Illustrator. As far as I know, these illustrations are static. So each change in the underlying data won’t be automatically updated in the graphic. You would just have to redraw the graphic. Excel provides a benefit here: if we use Excel’s charts to make our info graphics, we can update the underlying data and the result appears automatically.

Read more at INFO GRAPHICS WITH EXCEL

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2015 New Year’s Resolutions for the Supply Chain Industry

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2015 New Year’s Resolutions for the Supply Chain Industry

Resolution #1 – Stop using the term VISIBILITY

People say that information is power. I beg to differ. I say, an informed decision is power. The visibility term has been over used. I’ve even heard some say that getting visibility to your supply chain is 80% of the challenge. They must not have run a supply chain. I see many supply chain leaders that have visibility, some in excel and some in automated tools. The ones that don’t have visibility can easily call the supplier and get it. Getting visibility isn’t the challenge. The real 80% challenge is “what are you doing with the visibility?”

Resolution #2 – Read only ONE “Cool Theme” report

In 2015, I resolve to read only one Cool Theme report. I’m tired of research analysts peddling these themes as a means to gain an edge on readership. Yet, I watch the audience during some of these Cool Theme presentations. And, half the people are on their smartphone working core issues back home, while the Analyst is talking about how supply chains should save the Panamanian golden frog, reduce the ozone layer, produce products with plastic wire from 3D printers and generate forecasts from Facebook posts!

Resolution #3 – Stop moaning about Bad Data

Let’s face it, everyone has some form of bad data. And, when you include all your tiered suppliers, they have bad data. The one constant is that you will never fix all the internal and external bad data. Yet, I still hear supply chain leaders say they need to focus first on fixing the data. I’ve seen many presentations from “Top 25” supply chains and how they’ve cleaned data, and why they should be considered a top tier supply chain story.

Resolution #4 – Fix the Disruption you can influence, not the Disruption you are concerned with

There are two types of disruptions. That which you are concerned with, and that which you can influence.

Volatility, regulation, geopolitics, economics, energy, and the list goes on. These are in your Circle of Concern. They happen, and you should be concerned. Yet, many supply chain leaders face fail to focus on the Circle of Influence, the area where you can make a difference.

Resolution #5 – Scrap the Talent Research, Make Planners more Productive

After reading all the Talent Research done in 2014, the topics of attrition, retiring professionals, and university-business alignment, I notice a big gap. The one thing missing in all this Supply Chain Talent research is the concept of being more productive with the talent you already have.

How can every supply chain improve productivity? In every supply chain I’ve seen in my past 25 years, there’s one constant – they all use some form of Excel – mostly to search for exceptions. Planners spend half their day dumping ERP and BI data into Excel, and then search for exceptions.

What are your resolutions? Share with us by leaving comments or contact us for a discussion.

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