Big Company Blues - BI Adoption Rates

I’ve met a number of people who work in large organizations.  These companies have big sums invested in data warehouse and business information software tools.

Given the results of the recent BARC study regarding the poor level (8%) of adoption of mainstream business intelligence tools, one could logically conclude that CIO’s at large companies would be looking for ways to improve user adoption. 

I’ve identified a few common themes which may explain why the process of identifying and implementing new tools like Tableau Software is sometimes delayed in spite of the obvious benefit that rapid-fire visual analytics can offer.

 IT Executives

First, when your IT executive first becomes aware of Tableau’s capability and low cost, they may be skeptical.

I’ve literally had clients tell me:

“We have been quoted $100,000 software tools which sound exactly like what you’re quoting. What’s missing from your $1,800 product?  Something has to be wrong with it.”

This is a fair question.  I have a couple of responses:

Tableau should not be considered a replacement for BI/DW tools at large companies with billion-row data stores.  Tableau compliments those data stores and data cubes with a much more flexible and user-friendly interface.  Tableau’s ad hoc visualization capability is really unique and most people need to see the tool in action to understand its value.  Demonstrations are necessary.

Number two, if you want to roll out Tableau server to a very large number of users, the cost is higher, but the main point is that testing and experimentation with the tool is risk free.  During the trial period performance issues can be identified and resolved.  The scale-up can also be done incrementally. 

There is not big risk required with a Tableau implementation.  Server installations can start at $10,000 (for 10 users) and increment up as low as $200 per named user.  The server software downloads in minutes and can be installed in an hour.  Security setup is also easy and fast.

I’m confident that after investigating Tableau most CIO’s would find that implementing Tableau Software would increase adoption of their existing data warehouse and business information investments.

The Non-Technical Folks

Business managers (sales, operations, procurement, accounting, human resources) typically have a different initial response.  I’ve been on flights working on a Tableau visualization and had people ask, “What is that?”

When they see it in action they are impressed and want to investigate how they can use Tableau to get better information faster.  I’ve made the mistake of telling them about Tableau’s free trial and down load site.

After downloading the free trial they try to get their IT management to look at Tableau and that’s where the process stalls for the same reasons I mentioned above, healthy skepticism.

With larger business entities, I don’t do that anymore.  I get their contact information and tell them I can arrange for a free trial.  In this way I can help them introduce Tableau to their IT manager in a way that is less “sneaky” from the IT Manager’s prospective.

I’ve also talked to people from large organizations who have purchased Tableau Desktop and want to keep it hidden from “IT.” 

Why?  Because they are afraid that when the IT Group figures out that they have this “unauthorized” software tool, it will be taken away.  Because the initial purchase wasn’t approved through established channels from the IT Manager’s perspective, it is a “rogue” piece of software.

I have friends working for large entities who have run into that issue because they didn’t follow established procedure when they down loaded and installed a free trial copy of Tableau.   IT people have good reason for controlling unauthorized software that’s been introduced into their networks.  They have been burned in the past.

If you want IT management to embrace Tableau, it would be wise to help them understand why you’re so enthusiastic about it, help your IT guy understand Tableau’s value.  Offer suggestions about ways Tableau could be used inside the IT group to solve data analysis issues. 

Here are some thoughts on how you can get your IT Manager interested in Tableau:

Tableau is a great way to rapidly prototype new reports which could then be turned into more static data analysis cubes that will scale better on extremely large data sets.

Tableau can also read existing data cubes more flexibility and with a more user-friendly interface.

Another way to drive interest would be to find a VP-level executive who is “data-oriented” and show them some of the cool data visualizations on Tableau’s web site.

If you want help with any of these problems contact InterWorks Inc.  We can build for you a specific example using your own data and return it to you as a packaged workbook. 

Using the free Tableau Reader desktop tool, you can clearly demonstrate Tableau’s value with something that would be of specific interest to your VP-level executive.

Flickr Creative Commons image by: What What, Cut Throat Business