Looker - Detailed Review
Website Tools
Looker - Product Overview
Introduction to Looker
Looker is an enterprise platform that specializes in business intelligence, data applications, and embedded analytics. It is part of the Google Cloud ecosystem, leveraging Google’s innovative AI and cloud infrastructure to provide a comprehensive data analytics solution.
Primary Function
Looker’s primary function is to help organizations explore, share, and visualize their data to make better business decisions. It acts as a user interface for accessing, analyzing, and activating data insights in real-time. This includes building custom segments from first-party data, creating interactive dashboards, and integrating with various data sources like Google Analytics and BigQuery.
Target Audience
Looker’s target audience includes businesses of all sizes across diverse industries such as retail, healthcare, finance, and technology. It caters to both small organizations and large enterprises, offering scalable solutions that can grow with the business. The platform is designed to be user-friendly, making it accessible to both technical and non-technical users.
Key Features
Semantic Modeling Layer
Looker provides a trusted modeling layer that curates and governs key business metrics, ensuring consistent results across all tools and applications.
AI Integration
Looker incorporates generative AI (gen AI) through features like Duet AI, an AI assistant that automates and streamlines analytical workflows, such as creating visualizations, formulas, and reports. This integration also includes Vertex AI for custom AI workflows and advanced analytics.
Embedded Analytics
The platform allows for the seamless integration of fully interactive dashboards into existing applications, transforming data into value-driving experiences. It also offers extensive API coverage for customizing data experiences beyond traditional dashboards.
Real-Time Insights
Looker provides real-time data insights, enabling users to access up-to-date information and make informed decisions quickly. This is particularly useful in fast-paced industries where timely decisions are crucial.
Scalability and Customization
The platform is highly scalable and customizable, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes. It includes various editions (Standard, Enterprise, and Embed) to meet different business needs and can handle large volumes of data.
Collaboration and Sharing
Looker facilitates collaboration among team members by enabling the easy sharing of data insights and reports. Users can work together in real-time, share dashboards, and collaborate on data analysis projects.
Integration with Google Cloud
Looker integrates seamlessly with Google Cloud services such as BigQuery, Google Workspace, and Google Analytics, providing a unified and secure data analytics environment.
By combining these features, Looker empowers organizations to make data-driven decisions, drive innovation, and improve operational efficiency.
Looker - User Interface and Experience
User Interface of Google Looker
The user interface of Google Looker is crafted with a strong focus on ease of use and a seamless user experience, making it an invaluable tool for data exploration and business intelligence.
Customizable and Intuitive Interface
Looker offers a highly customizable interface that allows users to create and interact with data reports and dashboards in a user-friendly manner. The platform is designed with simplicity in mind, avoiding clutter and ensuring that the data presented is easy to comprehend. This is achieved through a consistent design language throughout the dashboards, which helps maintain a uniform and clear visual presentation.
Interactive Data Exploration
Users can engage with data through a simple point-and-click interface, enabling them to create custom queries, apply filters, and drill down into datasets without requiring extensive technical expertise. This interactive approach allows for real-time data access, making it easier to spot trends, monitor KPIs, and make strategic decisions.
Streamlined Onboarding and Navigation
Recent updates to Looker have introduced a redesigned homepage with an intuitive design, a dedicated Create menu option, and a workspace-inspired user interface. These changes streamline the onboarding process and enhance navigation capabilities, making it more accessible for new users to get started with the platform.
BigQuery Integration and Model Creation
Looker integrates seamlessly with BigQuery, offering features like BigQuery Quick Connect, which simplifies the connection process for administrators. The Model Creation Wizard provides a guided setup for new users, simplifying the model development process and enhancing the overall onboarding experience for data teams.
Drag-and-Drop Interface
The platform features a drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to design custom reports and dashboards. Users can include a variety of visualizations such as charts, graphs, maps, and tables, helping to communicate complex data in an easily digestible format. These dashboards are interactive, allowing users to drill down into specific data points to gain deeper insights.
Feedback and Continuous Improvement
Looker encourages user feedback through built-in mechanisms, ensuring continuous improvement of the user experience. This feedback loop helps in refining the interface and adding new features that align with user needs and objectives.
AI-Driven Insights and Personalization
Google Looker is continuously updated with new features, including AI-driven insights and personalization. These updates aim to make the user experience even more intuitive and personalized, ensuring that each user’s experience is tailored to their specific needs and preferences.
Conclusion
Overall, the user interface of Google Looker is designed to be intuitive, interactive, and highly customizable, making it an effective tool for businesses to explore, visualize, and derive actionable insights from their data.
Looker - Key Features and Functionality
Key Features of Looker
Data Exploration
Looker allows users to seamlessly connect to various data sources, including structured and unstructured data. This feature enables users to explore complex datasets with ease, using a unified interface to analyze information effectively.Customizable Dashboards
Looker’s customizable dashboards are a standout feature, enabling users to create visualizations and reports that align with their specific business objectives. Users can create simple charts, interactive graphs, and other visualizations to transform raw data into actionable insights.Augmented Analytics with AI
The integration of Duet AI with Looker enhances its analytics capabilities by providing real-time insights and recommendations based on natural language queries. Duet AI helps in identifying trends, spotting anomalies, and predicting outcomes, enabling users to make data-driven decisions with confidence.Efficient Collaboration
Looker facilitates seamless collaboration by allowing users to share insights, collaborate on analysis, and annotate data using both visualizations and natural language queries. This collaborative approach promotes knowledge sharing and decision-making across teams, driving greater alignment and consensus within the organization.Advanced Data Visualization
Looker AI offers advanced data visualization capabilities, including interactive dashboards and customizable charts. These tools help present data in a more engaging and comprehensible manner, making it easier for stakeholders to grasp insights and make data-driven decisions.Improved Data Accessibility
Looker AI promotes data democratization by making data more accessible to users across different levels of the organization. Its intuitive interface and user-friendly design allow even non-technical users to interact with and analyze data effectively, breaking down data silos and fostering a data-driven culture.Integration with Existing Tools
Looker AI integrates seamlessly with existing analytics stacks, connecting to various data sources such as databases, data warehouses, and other BI tools. This integration minimizes disruption and allows organizations to build on their existing infrastructure.Real-Time Data Insights
Looker AI provides real-time data processing capabilities, offering up-to-date information and enabling real-time analysis. This feature is crucial for making quick decisions and staying ahead of the competition.Generative AI Capabilities
The integration of generative AI, such as Google Cloud’s Gemini and state-of-the-art foundational models, automates and streamlines complex analytical tasks. This integration enables users to auto-create explore queries based on natural language queries, summarize dashboard results, and provide analysis and guidance, enhancing the value of data-driven decision-making.Vertex AI Integration
The integration of Vertex AI with Looker further enhances the platform’s capabilities, offering users enhanced custom AI experiences. This integration facilitates the development of custom data experiences and applications, leveraging advanced machine learning capabilities to unlock new insights and opportunities from data.Embedded Analytics
Looker allows organizations to embed analytics directly into their products or customer-facing portals. This feature enhances the user experience and provides real-time insights to customers and partners, enabling businesses to offer data-driven services or make data readily available to external stakeholders.Conclusion
These features, particularly those enhanced by AI, make Looker a powerful tool for data exploration, visualization, and decision-making, ensuring that organizations can derive actionable insights from their data efficiently and effectively. Looker - Performance and Accuracy
Performance Issues
Looker Studio often faces performance issues, particularly when handling large datasets or complex queries. Here are some specific challenges:Slow Loading Speed
The platform has a 6-minute limit on handling queries, which can lead to slow loading times or timeouts for reports, especially when processing large amounts of data.Limited Real-Time Updates
Looker Studio does not provide automated real-time dashboard updates. Data is often cached, and users need to manually refresh and update the data, which can be time-consuming and inefficient.UI Responsiveness
Users have reported UI bugs and hiccups, especially when running extensive projects, leading to slow progress and impeding workflow.Accuracy and Data Handling
Accuracy and reliable data handling are also areas where Looker Studio falls short:Data Blending Limitations
The platform has limitations in blending data from different sources, particularly with large datasets. For example, there are row limits when exporting data in PDF and PNG formats, which can lead to inaccurate data analysis.Data Refresh and Updates
The lack of automated real-time updates means that data may not always reflect the current state, requiring manual intervention to ensure data accuracy.Connector Issues
Looker Studio’s connectors can be unreliable, and setting up tools like the Extract Data connector can be time-consuming. Additionally, third-party connectors may have their own set of issues.User Experience and Support
The user experience and support aspects of Looker Studio also have some drawbacks:Customer Support
Free users often complain about limited access to customer support, and even pro customers may experience sluggish response times from the development team.Learning Curve
The platform lacks adequate learning resources and online guides, making the learning curve steeper for new users.Customization and Visual Limitations
While Looker Studio offers some customization options, it falls short for users needing advanced formatting and dashboard preferences. The visual limitations can be frustrating for those aiming for more complex data visualizations.Areas for Improvement
Several areas have been identified where Looker Studio could improve:Filtering and Query Management
Users have suggested improvements such as better handling of long-running queries, alerts for errors, and more dynamic filtering options, especially for fields that update monthly.Integration and Collaboration
Enhanced integration with other tools, such as Microsoft Teams, and better tools for tracking user adoption within organizations could improve collaboration and user engagement.Data Loading and Accuracy
Improvements in data loading times and ensuring data accuracy, particularly with large datasets, are crucial for maintaining user trust and efficiency. In summary, while Looker Studio remains a capable tool for data visualization, its performance and accuracy are hindered by slow loading times, limited real-time updates, and various data handling limitations. Addressing these issues could significantly enhance the user experience and the overall effectiveness of the platform. Looker - Pricing and Plans
Pricing Tiers
Looker offers three main pricing tiers: Standard, Enterprise, and Embed.Standard Edition
- This tier is suitable for small teams or organizations with fewer than 50 users.
- The cost is approximately $5,000 per month.
- Features include:
- 1 production instance
- 10 Standard Users and 2 Developer Users
- Up to 1,000 query-based API calls and 1,000 administrative API calls per month
- Access to all platform updates and improvements.
Enterprise Edition
- This tier is best for larger organizations needing advanced security and extensive analytics capabilities.
- Pricing is customized and requires a direct quote from Looker’s sales team.
- Features include:
- 1 production instance
- 10 Standard Users and 2 Developer Users (with the option to add more)
- Up to 100,000 query-based API calls and 10,000 administrative API calls per month
- Enhanced security features
- Customization and integration options.
Embed Edition
- This tier is designed for businesses looking to integrate Looker dashboards into external applications at scale.
- The cost often starts at $50,000 per year, but exact pricing is also customized.
- Features include:
- 1 production instance
- 10 Standard Users and 2 Developer Users (with the option to add more)
- Up to 500,000 query-based API calls and 100,000 administrative API calls per month
- Advanced integration capabilities.
User Licensing
In addition to the platform costs, Looker charges based on user roles:Developer User
- Full access to all Looker features, including administration, development mode, and LookML models.
- Costs $125 per user per month.
Standard User
- Access to dashboards, reports, and data exploration tools.
- Costs $60 per user per month.
Viewer User
- Basic access to view dashboards and reports.
- Costs $30 per user per month.
Free Options
There is no free version of the full Looker platform, but there is a related product called Looker Studio (formerly Google Data Studio), which offers a free tier with limited capabilities. This free version allows you to pull data from a range of Google-provided sources, such as Google Analytics, Google Ads, and Google Sheets. However, it does not include the full features of the Looker platform and has limitations on data sources and connectors. Looker - Integration and Compatibility
Integrations with Other Tools
Looker integrates with a wide range of external data sources and applications, including marketing automation platforms, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, social media platforms, and more. Some notable integrations include:- Google Analytics: Allows businesses to gain insights into website traffic and user behavior by creating custom reports and dashboards.
- Salesforce: Enables the import and analysis of CRM data within Looker.
- Github: Facilitates the integration of development data into Looker for comprehensive analysis.
- Zendesk: Integrates customer support data for a holistic view of customer interactions.
- Snowflake: Supports data warehousing and analysis directly within Looker.
Configuration and Setup
To set up an integration in Looker, you typically follow these steps:- Connect Data Sources: Link your data sources to Looker, which supports a wide range of databases, cloud storage, and web services.
- Select Integration: Go to the Looker Admin panel, select “Integrations,” and choose the desired integration.
- Configure Settings: Customize the integration to meet your specific needs, including data mapping, scheduling, and notifications.
- Test Integration: Use Looker’s testing tools to ensure the integration is working correctly.
Compatibility Across Platforms
Looker’s compatibility varies depending on the instance type and network configuration:Instance Types
- Looker (Original) vs. Looker (Google Cloud core): The Google Cloud core instances have different administrative functions and database dialects compared to the original Looker instances. For example, administrative settings for Looker (Google Cloud core) are managed both in the Looker Admin section and the Google Cloud console.
Network Configurations
- Public, Private, and Public & Private IP: Looker (Google Cloud core) instances can use different network configurations. For instance, public IP instances have different feature availability compared to private IP instances, which may require additional configuration to connect to external resources.
Device Compatibility
- Mobile Access: While Looker itself does not have a dedicated mobile app, users can access Looker Studio through the Looker Studio mobile app, which is available for interactive and collaborative reports.
Additional Features and Considerations
- Data Modeling and Visualization: Looker allows users to create a unified view of their data, explore and analyze it, and visualize insights through interactive dashboards and reports.
- Security and Authentication: Looker supports SAML and OpenID Connect authentication, ensuring secure access to data. However, LDAP and email/password authentication are not available for Google Cloud core instances.
- Integration with Google Cloud Services: Looker seamlessly integrates with Google Cloud services such as BigQuery, providing a unified and secure environment for data analysis.
Looker - Customer Support and Resources
Looker Support
For the Looker business intelligence platform, there are third-party services that offer expert technical and analytical support. These services, like the one provided by My Looker Support, ensure you have access to real human experts who can help with technical or functional challenges. This support includes:
- Prompt and responsive assistance, with the option for real-time collaboration via Slack or Teams.
- In-depth knowledge of Looker’s architecture, feature set, and LookML best practices.
However, direct support from Google for Looker itself is not extensively detailed in the provided resources.
Looker Studio Support
Looker Studio, formerly known as Google Data Studio, has limited direct customer support from Google. Here are the available options:
- Email Support: You can contact the Looker Studio developers via email, but there is no guarantee of a response. Many users have reported not receiving replies.
- Community Support Forum: The Looker Studio community support forum is available where users can ask questions and find solutions provided by other users. However, only about every 10th question is typically answered.
- Google Issue Tracker: You can also report issues through the Google Issue Tracker, although this is more geared towards reporting bugs rather than receiving immediate support.
Additional Resources
- Documentation and Guides: Google provides extensive documentation on Looker and Looker Studio, which includes setup guides, feature explanations, and troubleshooting tips. This can be found on the Google Cloud Looker documentation page.
- Looker Studio Pro: For enhanced enterprise capabilities and access to technical help and support, users can opt for a Looker Studio Pro subscription. This subscription includes additional support resources not available in the free version.
In summary, while Looker itself may have third-party support options, Looker Studio relies heavily on community forums and limited direct support from Google. For more comprehensive support, a Looker Studio Pro subscription may be necessary.
Looker - Pros and Cons
Advantages of Looker
Looker, now part of the Google Cloud Platform, offers several significant advantages that make it a powerful tool for business intelligence and data analytics.
User-Friendly Interface
Looker boasts a clean and simple user interface that makes it easy for users, even those without extensive technical skills, to build dashboards and reports.
Data Modeling and Integration
Looker’s data modeling capabilities are highly praised. It allows users to create and manage data models easily and integrate data from various sources, eliminating the need for third-party connectors. This ensures data consistency and accuracy across the organization.
Cloud-Based Nature
Being a cloud-based tool, Looker provides remote access and eliminates the need for local installation, making it highly accessible and convenient.
LookML Option
Looker offers LookML, a proprietary modeling language that gives users the flexibility to create their own metrics and calculations, providing significant control over data analysis.
Real-Time Analytics and Embedded Analytics
Looker enables real-time analytics and allows for the integration of fully interactive dashboards into applications, transforming data into value-driving experiences. It also integrates seamlessly with Google Cloud services like BigQuery and Vertex AI.
Data Governance and Security
Looker emphasizes strong data governance with features like centralized access control, data permissions, and auditing capabilities, ensuring sensitive information remains secure and compliant with regulatory standards.
Disadvantages of Looker
Despite its many advantages, Looker also has some notable disadvantages.
Limited Offline Access
Looker requires an internet connection to access data, which can be a significant drawback for users who need to work remotely without stable internet access.
Performance Issues
The software can experience performance issues, such as slow loading times when running larger queries, which may require users to divide views multiple times for proper functioning.
Declining Customer Support
Some users have reported that the customer support team is often unfamiliar with the tool and may not provide satisfactory assistance.
Complex Integration
Integrating Looker with other system software can be somewhat complex and challenging, which may require additional technical expertise.
Limited Interface Customization
The new interface for switching between read-only and developer modes is not as user-friendly as the older version, and there are limitations in customizing the interface.
Learning Curve and Cost
While Looker’s interface is user-friendly, fully leveraging its advanced features often requires a solid understanding of data modeling and SQL. Additionally, Looker is a premium BI tool with a pricing model that may not be suitable for small businesses or startups with limited budgets.
These points highlight the key benefits and drawbacks of using Looker, helping you make an informed decision about whether it is the right tool for your business intelligence needs.
Looker - Comparison with Competitors
When Comparing Looker to Other BI Tools
When comparing Looker, a business intelligence (BI) platform, to other products in its category, it’s important to note that Looker is not a website builder but a tool for data analysis and visualization. Here’s how Looker stands out and how it compares to similar BI tools:
Unique Features of Looker
- Data Modeling and Governance: Looker uses LookML, a SQL-based modeling language, to centrally define and manage business rules and definitions. This ensures a consistent and governed real-time view of data across the organization.
- Integration with Other Tools: Looker integrates seamlessly with other Google products, such as Google Analytics, and can also connect to Looker Studio for advanced data visualization and reporting.
- Enterprise-Class BI: Looker simplifies the creation of reports and dashboards, avoids stale data, and eliminates siloed approaches to business logic. It provides proactive alerts and deep integrations to support better business decisions.
- Scalability and Flexibility: Looker can handle large-scale data operations and is available as a Google Cloud service, integrating well within the existing Google Cloud portfolio.
Comparison with Similar BI Tools
Looker Studio (formerly Google Data Studio)
- While Looker is a comprehensive BI platform, Looker Studio is a simpler, free tool focused on data visualization and reporting. It uses connectors to access data from various sources, including Google Analytics, and can utilize Looker Models for more advanced analytics.
- Looker Studio is ideal for users who need to create interactive dashboards and reports without the full governance and modeling capabilities of Looker.
Tableau
- Tableau is another popular BI tool known for its strong data visualization capabilities. Unlike Looker, Tableau does not have a built-in data modeling language like LookML but offers extensive integration with various data sources.
- Tableau is often preferred for its ease of use and powerful visualization tools, but it may lack the governance and modeling features that Looker provides.
Power BI
- Power BI, from Microsoft, is a strong competitor in the BI market. It offers advanced data visualization and reporting capabilities, similar to Looker Studio.
- Power BI integrates well with Microsoft products and has a user-friendly interface, but it may not match Looker’s level of data governance and modeling through LookML.
Potential Alternatives
If you are looking for alternatives that offer a mix of data governance, modeling, and visualization, here are some options:
- Tableau: For strong data visualization and ease of use, though it lacks the governance features of Looker.
- Power BI: For integration with Microsoft products and a user-friendly interface, but with less emphasis on data governance compared to Looker.
- Looker Studio: For a simpler, free solution focused on data visualization and reporting, which can still leverage Looker Models for more complex analytics.
In summary, Looker stands out for its advanced data modeling, governance, and integration capabilities, making it a powerful tool for organizations needing a comprehensive BI solution. However, for simpler data visualization needs or integration with specific ecosystems (like Microsoft), other tools might be more suitable.
Looker - Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about Looker
What is Looker and how does it work?
Looker is a business intelligence platform that makes your organization’s data accessible and useful. It acts as a user interface for data exploration and dashboards, allowing you to build custom segments from first-party data and activate those segments in tools like Google Analytics. Looker integrates with Google Cloud, leveraging AI-led innovation, cloud-first infrastructure, and industry-leading APIs to provide a trusted and consistent data modeling layer.
What are the key features of Looker?
Key features of Looker include a trusted modeling layer for consistent metrics, an AI assistant to accelerate analytical workflows, embedded analytics for integrating dashboards into applications, and integration with Vertex AI for custom AI workflows. It also offers real-time enterprise dashboards, self-service capabilities through Looker and Looker Studio, and seamless integration with BigQuery for enhanced data analytics.
How does Looker handle data security and governance?
Looker emphasizes data security and governance through its semantic modeling layer, which provides a single source of truth and ensures consistent results across the organization. It also integrates with Google Cloud IAM for single sign-on (SSO), private networking, and a unified Terms of Service, ensuring that data remains secure and governed.
What is the difference between Looker and Looker Studio?
Looker is focused on enterprise dashboards built on governed data, offering repeatable analysis and in-depth understanding of data. Looker Studio, on the other hand, provides interactive, collaborative, and ad hoc reports and dashboards with access to over 800 data sources and connectors. Looker Studio is free, fast, and easy to start, and it allows ad hoc analysis on both governed and unmodeled data.
How much does Looker cost?
Looker pricing is based on several factors, including the number of users, database connections, and the scale of deployment. The average annual cost for Looker software is around $150,000, or approximately $12,500 monthly. There are various pricing tiers, such as Standard, Advanced, and Elite, with additional costs for different types of users (viewers, standard users, and developer/admin users).
Can I integrate Looker with other Google Cloud services?
Yes, Looker integrates seamlessly with other Google Cloud services, such as BigQuery and Vertex AI. This integration allows for enhanced data analytics, custom AI workflows, and advanced machine learning capabilities. It also supports SSO with Google Cloud IAM and private networking, ensuring a secure and unified experience within the Google Cloud ecosystem.
What role does generative AI play in Looker?
Generative AI (gen AI) is integrated into Looker to transform data interaction and lower technical barriers. Features like Duet AI, an AI assistant within Looker, automate and streamline complex analytical tasks, enabling both technical and business users to perform more complex analyses with less effort. This integration also includes Vertex AI for enhanced custom AI experiences and advanced machine learning capabilities.
How does Looker support data monetization?
Looker is ideal for data monetization as it allows organizations to create tailored data products, embed analytics seamlessly, scale with the business, and maintain data security. It enables the creation of new revenue streams or business value by leveraging the data the organization already collects.
What kind of support and resources does Looker offer?
Looker provides 24/7 live support, out-of-the-box analytics, and pre-modeled schemas for various applications like Google Workspace. It also offers packaged activation paths and integration with other tools to ensure users can effectively utilize the platform. Additionally, Looker has a flexible API coverage that allows for extensive customization through UI and API interactions.
Can I use Looker for real-time analytics and reporting?
Yes, Looker supports real-time analytics and reporting. It offers enterprise dashboards that are built on governed data, providing real-time insights and allowing users to explore existing data, ask new questions, expand filters, and drill down to row-level detail.
How does Looker facilitate collaboration and self-service analytics?
Looker facilitates collaboration through its interactive and collaborative dashboards, as well as its self-service capabilities. Users can create and customize their own reports and dashboards using Looker Studio, and the platform’s AI assistant helps in creating visualizations, formulas, and data models, making it accessible to both technical and non-technical users.