Looker BI tool is a business intelligence and data analytics cloud based platform that allows organizations to explore, analyze, and visualize their data. It was founded in 2012 based in Santa Cruz, California, and then was acquired by Google Cloud in June 2019 with the aim to strengthen Google Cloud’s analytics and data warehouse capabilities including BigQuery. Looker is designed to make data more accessible and understandable for a wide range of users.

Looker BI Tool features such as improved decision making with intelligent and up-to-date date access, LookML (powerful SQL based modeling language), embedded analytics, integration with Looker Studio (earlier Google Studio), Looker Modeler (stand alone metrics layer), Looker Components (UI codes), Looker Alert, Looker Blocks and Actions (in built pieces of code) etc. make it different from others. Looker is available as Google Cloud Service and is integrated within existing Google Cloud Portfolio of services in the Cloud Console from where users can initiate and manage their own Looker instance.

In this article, I’ll put some light on the essential capabilities and key features of Looker BI tool which falls under category of business intelligence tools.

1. Exploration and Querying

Looker BI Tool provides a user-friendly interface for exploring and querying data. Users can interact with data through a point-and-click interface without needing extensive SQL knowledge.

2. Data Modeling

Looker uses a modeling layer to define relationships between different datasets. This abstraction simplifies the process of analyzing and visualizing complex data structures.

3. Data Visualization

Looker offers a variety of visualization options, including charts, graphs, and dashboards. Users can create and customize visualizations to convey insights effectively.

4. Collaboration

Looker BI Tool supports collaboration by allowing users to share reports and dashboards with team members. This fosters collaboration and facilitates data-driven decision-making.

5. Embedded Analytics

Looker allows organizations to embed data visualizations and dashboards directly into other applications, websites, or portals, extending the reach of analytics capabilities.

6. Scheduled Reports

Users can schedule reports to receive regular updates on key metrics. This feature ensures that stakeholders stay informed without actively monitoring the platform.

7. Data Source Connectivity

Looker BI Tool connects to various data sources, including databases, data warehouses, and cloud services. This flexibility enables users to analyze data from multiple platforms.

8. Access Control and Security

Looker provides robust access control features, allowing administrators to manage user permissions and restrict access to sensitive data. Security features include encryption and auditing.

9. SQL Support

Looker BI Tool uses SQL for data exploration and analysis. Users with SQL skills can leverage the language to write custom queries and perform advanced analyses. It offers more than 60 SQL dialects. It offers multi cloud support such as MS Azure, AWS (Amazon Web Service) and Google Cloud.

10. APIs and Extensibility

Looker BI Tool offers APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that enable developers to integrate Looker functionality into other applications through a secure RESTful API for calling data. The platform also supports customizations to tailor the user experience to specific business needs. These API can be used to create custom applications and data driven workflows. You can also write scripts to automate tasks such as new account’s provisioning, running specific queries, scheduling the reports, or embedding trusted data insights into other systems and applications.

11. Data Governance

Looker BI Tool includes tools for data governance, ensuring that organizations can manage metadata, track changes, and maintain data quality standards.

12. Version Control

Looker supports version control for data models, allowing organizations to manage changes, track history, and collaborate on model development.

Looker BI Tool is recognized for its focus on creating a collaborative and intuitive data exploration experience. It is used by organizations across industries to empower users with insights and drive data-driven decision-making due to its key features.

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