A tool for better decision-making
Today's companies are well aware of the true value of data. By exploiting it, they can now improve their understanding of consumer motivations and market conditions, as well as better control their online reputation. But the results are even more relevant with a Data Viz solution.
"A good sketch is better than a long speech" said Napoleon Bonaparte. Decision-makers should not forget this golden rule of this famous strategist. Applied to a development strategy, it implies using the right tools for the current context.
Everyone is familiar with traditional pie charts or histograms. Even if they are still widely used, they are less and less suited to the needs of teams working on different projects and obliged to make decisions quickly.
That's why it's a good idea to take a look at the techniques and benefits of "Data Viz" or "Data Visualization" tools. Analyst firm Gartner defines data visualization as "a way of representing information graphically, highlighting patterns and trends in the data to help employees and decision-makers quickly gain insight".
Also known as "interactive visual exploration", it enables data to be explored by manipulating graphic images, with the color, brightness, size, shape and movement of visual objects representing aspects of the data set being analyzed.
Gartner insists that "Data Viz" includes a range of visualization options that go beyond pie, bar and line charts, including heat maps, scatter diagrams and other special-purpose visuals.
The advantage of "Data Viz" software is that it integrates more original representations, better adapted to the type of information to be represented, and which bring real value to the interpretation of the data.
Data visualization allows you to (among other things) :
- Identify areas requiring attention or improvement;
- Specify the factors that influence customer behaviour;
- To help you understand which products are important to place where in a store, for example;
- Forecast sales volumes, etc.
There are different categories of data visualization:
DATA VIZ : Temporal
Data visualizations belong in this category if they meet two conditions: they must be linear and one-dimensional. Time-based visualizations normally feature lines that are either self-contained or overlapping, with a start and end time. These are familiar graphics. So anyone can easily understand them.
Temporal data visualization can help you walk through your data in a temporal sequence and observe patterns or trends emerging in your data over time.
DATA VIZ : Hierarchical
These data visualizations order groups within larger groups. Hierarchical visualizations are best suited to displaying groups of information, especially if they come from a single point of origin.
But these graphs tend to be more complex and difficult to read. That's why the tree diagram is most often used. It's the easiest to follow, thanks to its linear plot.
Data visualization: Network
Data sets are closely linked to other data sets. Network data visualizations show how they relate to each other within a network. In other words, they show the relationships between datasets without explanation. Examples include matrix graphs, word clouds, etc.
DATA VIZ : Multidimensional
As the name suggests, there are always two or more variables in the mix to create a 3D data visualization. Because of the large number of simultaneous layers and datasets, these types of visualizations tend to be the most dynamic or eye-catching.
Data visualization: Geospatial
Geospatial or spatial data visualizations relate to actual physical locations, overlaying familiar maps with different data points. These types of data visualization are commonly used to display sales or acquisitions over time.
In conclusion, graphical data visualization makes it possible to more quickly identify remarkable elements and the correlations that link them. In this sense, it helps users to exploit their data in an easy-to-understand graphical representation. It also helps employees save time and work more efficiently.
The "Data Viz" represents a tool for information and understanding that is destined to be increasingly exploratory and interactive with its users.
