Some of the fastest-growing analytics resources in recent years are related to data visualization techniques and tools. This represents an extremely important and innovative step compared to reports, tables, and graphs produced by Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) management systems, spreadsheets, and even systems based on more traditional business intelligence (BI) platform approaches.
When used effectively, data visualization tools have direct implications for increasing the productivity of analysts and executives involved in decision-making processes, as well as improving the assertiveness of decisions made as a result of data analysis. These benefits are even more pronounced in a big data scenario.
Increased productivity is not only related to the speed of content production (analysis models, dashboards) but especially to the efficiency with which data can be analyzed and explored using this type of tool. The main solutions currently available on the market incorporate several years of research and important discoveries in cognitive science. The results of this research guide the development of visualization software, indicating, for example, how information should be formatted and presented. This guidance takes into account scientific advancements in understanding how humans perceive (through their visual sensors) information, often represented by volumes of data impossible to process using conventional BI methods.
In addition to quickly and intuitively perceiving the message expressed in visual analysis models, the main market solutions implement important data discovery functions. These functions allow analysts and users, in general, to interactively perform the activities that comprise the two most basic levels of analysis, according to the Gartner Group framework: description and diagnosis. These actions, incorporated into a single analysis platform, provide the user with a unique and creative experience in obtaining answers to fundamental questions for their business management.
Visual analysis tools have systematically evolved to become important corporate management and data discovery instruments in various areas of human knowledge. This evolution includes the incorporation of innovations in the area of storytelling, integration with data mining solutions, and big data platforms. Details of these new functions will be presented in future articles to be published soon in this space.