Using Tableau as a Sales Tool - The TED Video Viewer

The TED Video Viewer

In enjoy watching TED talks and decided to build a Tableau workbook to organize and find videos on specific topics.  A web-embedded version of this workbook was featured on Tableau Software’s blog. 

That embedded dashboard can be used to find themes and topics of interest.  Clicking on a topic launches the video in a separate browser window. But, more immersive environments can be created by embedding URL actions  in the dashboard. 

You can find download links for this dashboard and source spreadsheet at the bottom of this post. If you don’t have a licensed copy of Tableau Desktop you can view the workbook by downloading a free copy of Tableau Reader. 

Tableau as Sales Tool

This more immersive viewing experience got me thinking about ways that Tableau could be used to create compelling sales tools.

Imagine arming your sales or service manager with granular customer purchase history along with accessory and maintenance information, pricing, operating instructions, embedded video's, images and audio to promote your product or service.

An interactive dashboard similar to the TED Video viewer could be a powerful way to keep your companies’ products and services in front of your customers – a sort of interactive commercial for your company that could be left with a customer who has downloaded Tableau Reader.

You may be concerned about providing this level of detail to your customers.  It's time to get over that kind of concern.  Chances are the data you are worried about is already out in the wild.  Focus on providing value to your customers and how the combination of data visualization, audio and video would benefit both your customers and your field staff.

Download a copy of the TED Talk Viewer along with the source Excel spreadsheet below.  If you use a version of Excel older than 2007 you may need to download Microsoft's connectivity component. 

Are you using URL links in your Tableau Dashboards?   Have you thought of ways to use Tableau as a sales tool? 

Downloads:

File Attachment: TEDTalkViewerDGM885.twbx (412 KB)

File Attachment: TEDTalkSourceData_02272010.xlsx (272 KB)