If you aren’t the most technologically savvy person, you may assume that the closest you’ll ever get to data analytics is the dashboards your analysts send you. Up until fairly recently, that was a correct assumption.

But with the advent of no-code and low-code analytics platforms, you can have a front-row seat in the creation of your analytics dashboards. More than a front-row seat, actually.

What Are No-Code vs. Low-Code BI Tools?

Low-code and no-code BI tools are similar in many ways but aren’t interchangeable. Instead, they each make building analytics platforms and dashboards an option for non-experts. Since you don’t need a data specialist or tech guru involved, these tools are a huge step in democratizing analytics.

No-code dashboards are precisely what they sound like; they don’t require any coding or SQL to set them up. Low-code dashboards, on the other hand, call for some minimal coding. Therefore, a low-code dashboard user needs at least a basic knowledge of coding language.

Both of these BI tools are part of rapid application development (RAD); they use automated code. Their drag-and-drop approach with pull-down menus means a nearly entirely visual interface for users. These formats are becoming popular in many organizations. More than 65% of app development will involve low- or no-code technology by 2024.

Yet, there are differences between these two approaches. Each has different users, different ways of being used, and different build speeds.

Pros of No-Code Dashboards

If you have zero programming experience but are interested in putting analytics dashboards together, you can put away your copy of Coding for Dummies. You won’t need it if you use a no-code dashboard.

Non-technical Maintenance

No-code dashboards are attractive for many reasons. The obvious draw for them is that you don’t need to rely on IT to set them up for you or adjust them every time something changes. Instead, almost anybody in the department can handle the dashboard maintenance. This way, more people can pitch in and be part of the process.

Easy to Learn

They require a minimal learning curve. There will be a bit of an onboarding process, but it’s simple and explanatory. Most people can just jump in and get started relatively quickly.

Fewer Mistakes

There is less room for error, too. Because the interface is all visual and you are only dragging and dropping items, these dashboards are pretty difficult to mess up. If only your kid’s birthday cake was as fool-proof!

Faster Time-to-Build

Don’t be surprised to discover that you are building your dashboards at a rapid rate. The no-code approach allows you to create your platforms up to ten times faster than the traditional, full-code way.

Cons of No-Code Dashboards

Sadly, just because you do away with coding, it doesn’t mean all your problems are solved. There are still a few shortcomings that you should be aware of if you go this route.

Limited Scalability

On the downside, no-code dashboards offer limited scalability. Their possibilities are somewhat limited; you have the options provided to you, and that’s it. There’s little room for customization.

Potential Security Risk

Another possible issue could be security. Without the guardrails of an IT expert in place, there may be a security risk in giving Bob from accounting the job of sharing potentially sensitive data.

Pros of Low-Code Dashboards

Low-code programming is pretty hot right now. And it’s easy to understand why. Low-code software is so popular that 77% of organizations currently employ it in some form, according to Mendix.

More Dashboards and Metric Customization

You get more dashboard and metric customization opportunities with low-code than with no-code dashboards. Your scalability is still limited compared to traditional methods, but you have more room to play with than you do with the very structured world of no-code dashboards.

Better Security

Low-code analytics platforms generally have better security. Because a person with at least slight technical knowledge is usually involved, they know which guardrails are best for protecting data.

Cons of Low-Code Dashboards

Of course, there are also drawbacks to low-code analytics. 

Less User-Friendly

As stated earlier, they may not be the most user-friendly option for completely non-technical users. A basic understanding of coding language is helpful. These systems aren’t designed for your average Joe but for developers. 

More Training

Low-code dashboards also require a bit more onboarding than no-code ones. Because they aren’t as straightforward, they do call for a little extra training before you can get running.

Slower Time-to-Build 

They are also slower to build than no-code platforms. There are more steps involved, so naturally, it’s bound to take a bit longer to go to market.

No-Code Dashboards from Canvas

Datateer is proud to partner with Canvas for their no-code dashboards. They offer pre-designed templates you can plug your metrics into, with the result that you get a better picture of your overall revenue data. 

Canvas knows the pain data analysts feel when trying to keep up with all the “small” changes needed to dashboards here and there; it all really adds up! So they took matters into their own hands; they said, “you do it, instead!” Canvas allows you to skip the coding class and connect to your data at high-speed.

Your metrics should be accessible to all, not guarded by the only people with tech knowledge. And it’s a trend that’s catching on. According to Gartner, there will be four times more untrained software developers by 2023 than professionals at large companies.

When Datateer partners with Canvas, you just pick your template and plug in your data. You can start making data-driven decisions from day one.

And Canvas takes security very seriously. Their servers are located only on US data centers which are SOC2 and ISO 27001 certified. So what’s that all mean? It means your information is secure.

Wrapping Up

The world of data analytics is coming closer and closer to your front door. It’s becoming practically essential practice for most companies to use their data to propel business forward. And the use of data visualization is a huge factor in helping companies understand their data. 

With technological advancements, more companies can have a more significant role in working directly with their data. The introduction of low- and no-code analytics platforms is an astonishing change, putting more data at more people’s fingertips. And when Datateer partners with Canvas, you get the best of all worlds.

The analytics game is constantly evolving. As a result, standard BI systems may only sometimes suit your analytics needs. Yet, the traditional method of data visualization can, at times, feel clunky and slow. Thankfully, there’s a faster solution that Datateer is excited to embrace and bring to you.

What Is Embedded Analytics?

Have you ever been working on a project and needed to step away from one application only to open another to find the information you need? If that happens once, it probably happens a zillion times, and it can be ridiculously frustrating! It slows down your pace and can introduce distractions.

That’s where embedded analytics comes in to save the day. It works analysis and visual forms of data into the places where they are most needed. Embedded analytics seamlessly combines your metrics and software into one application. It brings the data to you, so you don’t need to seek it out.

For example, you can put a dashboard with your data insights right onto a website, allowing the user to see the necessary information immediately, preventing them from having to pull them up separately. And when 83% of data users indicated they would much rather have their information all in one application instead of needing to toggle back and forth, that ability can be powerful for your business.

Your employees and customers can get the most up-to-date information right when they need it without having to hunt it down. And that efficiency means they can work at a faster pace, too. Embedded analytics is designed to be easy to understand. The visualizations are presented in a format that’s intentionally simple for non-technical users to understand and interpret.

How Is That Different from Traditional BI?

Embedded is a departure from the traditional approach of business intelligence. In the standard BI model, not all information is placed together in one place. The BI tools work independently from each other, pulling from many different sources. Therefore, the tools and the business applications have entirely different interfaces.

In short, it isn’t a smooth experience, especially for the average employee who isn’t trained in analytics.

An even greater frustration with traditional business intelligence tools is that not all employees or customers can access them. The analytics and results are gated off from the larger user community. The fallout is that employees must go through a few hurdles to gain the information they need. And that can bring productivity to a screeching halt. 

Cumul.io for Embedded Analytics

Datateer partners with Cumul.io for a flawless embedded analytics solution. Cumul.io provides interactive analytics dashboards. Whether your data visualizations are internal, only for employees, or customer-facing, they’re completely customizable, meaning you can direct the story your metrics tell.

Users don’t just see a chart that shares a piece of information but have a fully immersive experience with the interactive dashboards. They allow users to look at data from various angles or drill down and get a deeper understanding of what their metrics mean. In addition, their opportunity to filter your information means users can gain a new perspective on their information.

Only 10% of application users are comfortable using analytics, and Cumul.io recognizes that. That’s what makes them stand out from the pack. While most software developers overestimate their users’ understanding of analytics, Cumul.io makes their dashboards so simple that any non-data person can use them. Their drag-and-drop editor means there’s no coding needed; any layperson can manage and customize their dashboards.

With dashboard software you can manage, you are in total control of your data.

The number one business impact of Cumul.io dashboards is how fast you can move to market with their platform. You can deploy your data more quickly, getting more value for your customers and keeping them satisfied. And you win when they stay on your platform longer!

Explo for Embedded Analytics

Explo is another of Datateer’s favorite partners in embedded analytics. Their tagline is “engineered for simplicity,” and they aren’t kidding about that. 

Your databases and warehouses are all assured to plug into Explo’s dashboards since their software is designed to support them all. So, Explo helps you access your data with zero hassle, connecting you directly to your systems.

Explo’s data visualizations are some of the best in the industry because they are entirely customizable. You can build tables with columns, all types of charts, and set a visual marker of your KPIs. And when it’s all in place, you can share the insights you gain with a share button.

You shouldn’t have to wait to access your own data, so Explo breaks down the barriers between your company and your analytics platform. They eliminate the middleman, so you don’t need to wait around while your dashboard gets built. Instead, you can have quick, direct access to your metrics and insights.

Sigma for Embedded Analytics

Sigma Computing understands that your team isn’t the only party that can benefit from your analytics. Other company departments and customers benefit from the analytics you have access to, so Sigma’s goal is to make your data available to whomever you want to share it with. They don’t just make sure your data is accessible but understandable.

Sigma doesn’t put a cap on how much of your data you can visualize for your customers and partners; if your employees have access to it, you are welcome to also share it with your network. So they can always grab the data they need while it’s still piping fresh.

And here comes the super easy part: it doesn’t matter who you’re sharing your data with outside of your employees. If your company doesn’t have an app or a portal for them to access your data, no problem. The other party can get a Sigma guest user account, giving them the ability to interact with only the data you want them to see. With Sigma, you are in control.

How Datateer Uses Explo, Sigma, & Cumul.io

At Datateer, we partner with Explo, Sigma, and Cumul.io, so your analytics experience is streamlined. We are the go-between for you and the tool vendors, setting everything in place, so you don’t need to stress about implementation. (Although the tools are certainly stress-free, which our Data Crew LOVES. We probably shouldn’t admit how easy our partners make our jobs.)

We ensure the platform is operational and running smoothly. We even take care of updates and add new features as they come along. So we sweat the small stuff for you while you handle the critical job of running your business.

An added benefit for you is that you get one-stop shopping and only one payment. Think of it as bundling your home and auto insurance; you can bundle your analytics needs!