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Salesforce Analytics Solutions Overview: Tableau and CRM Analytics Explained

Who owns the data—owns the competition. With consumers expecting personalized experiences and tailored solutions, businesses must leverage data analytics tools to gain deep insights into customer interactions and market trends. Let’s delve into how Tableau and CRM Analytics revolutionize the way businesses understand their audience and make data-driven decisions.

What Is the Difference Between Tableau and CRM Analytics?

Tableau is one of the top analytics platforms, offering a comprehensive suite of tools for data analysis. In 2019, Tableau was acquired by Salesforce. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for data analysis, including fully integrated data management, governance, visual analytics, storytelling, and collaboration features. 

 On the other hand, previously known as Tableau CRM and Einstein Analytics, CRM Analytics is a popular part of the whole Tableau ecosystem that stands as an integrated analytics and reporting tool embedded within Salesforce. 

Let’s have a closer look at both Tableau and CRM Analytics. 

What is Tableau?

Tableau is a comprehensive data and analytics platform that covers everything from start to finish. It helps you use data responsibly and achieve better business results by offering integrated data management and governance, visual analytics, data storytelling, and collaboration features. Plus, it includes Salesforce’s top-notch AI, Einstein, right out of the box.

Tableau comes with a range of tools, such as Tableau Desktop, Tableau Prep Builder, Tableau Pulse, and Tableau Cloud, each serving different purposes to meet your needs.

According to 2024 Salesforce Success Metrics, data-driven teams increase business user productivity by 32% with Tableau.

Tableau Benefits

Salesforce Tableau Platform

Source: tableau.com

  • Data Exploration: Tableau was crafted to democratize data exploration for all users, spanning from data scientists to business leaders and those in between. It equips businesses with advanced data visualization tools and natural language processing capabilities, facilitating the discovery of answers to diverse data-related inquiries.
  • Data Visualization: Tableau’s data visualizations are not only informative but also multi-dimensional and visually captivating. They empower users to intuitively organize and present information, enabling the creation of visual narratives around data trends, outliers, and patterns.
  •  Data Prep: Companies can effortlessly prepare their data for analysis using Tableau’s data prep features. With visual prompts guiding the process, users can combine, shape, and clean data without the need for coding. Tableau simplifies data source connectivity and enables drag-and-drop transformations, streamlining the data preparation journey.
  • Einstein Copilot: For tasks such as answering questions or adjusting data visualizations, users can leverage Einstein, Tableau’s AI assistant. Through natural language interaction, users can execute tasks within Tableau or automate repetitive processes, enhancing workflow efficiency.
  • Tableau Accelerators: Embark on your analytics journey swiftly with Tableau Accelerators, offering a repository of over 100 pre-built business dashboards tailored to specific industry, department, or enterprise needs. Connecting to data sources initiates immediate usability.
  • Data Modeling: Tableau provides companies with a clear visual depiction of their data, coupled with automated processes that enrich analytics data with contextual meaning. This aids users in discovering and comprehending pertinent data more effectively.

What is Salesforce CRM Analytics?

Salesforce CRM Analytics (former Tableau CRM) is a business intelligence tool to visualize and analyze data. CRM Analytics empowers users to act swiftly with visual analytics, AI-driven predictions, and seamless integration directly within Salesforce. 

CRM Analytics Benefits

Salesforce CRM Analytics

Source: salesforce.com

  • Intelligent Apps: Users gain invaluable insights with prebuilt intelligent analytics experiences embedded in Salesforce Sales, Service, and Marketing Clouds. They benefit from ready-to-use visualizations and AI capabilities right out of the box.
  • Einstein Discovery: Businesses enhance their business intelligence with predictive and prescriptive insights powered by AI Einstein Discovery. Users predict potential outcomes and key drivers and receive recommendations for the next best action. They can streamline processes by automating Salesforce flows based on predictions.
  • Contextual Insights: Companies can create a holistic Customer 360 experience by integrating visual and predictive insights directly into Salesforce workflows, including record pages. Crucial insights remain front and center as users navigate through their CRM tasks.
  • Action Framework: Users can seamlessly take action within Salesforce as soon as insights emerge. With the built-in actions menu, they schedule meetings, add to campaigns, navigate to opportunity records, or perform bulk actions with Flow—all without leaving the CRM environment.
  • Data Platform: Companies will be able to connect, prepare, and query data from various sources using trusted data management tools like Data Prep Recipes. They enrich customer data by integrating external sources and updating CRM fields as needed.
  • Security and User Management: Users can maintain data governance, visibility, and user management with robust security features inherited from Salesforce. They leverage role hierarchy, permissions, and compliance standards to ensure data integrity and user accountability.

Check out our videos on “How to Visualize Data Like a Pro in CRM Analytics” and “How To Create a Dashboard from Scratch” to witness the tool’s capabilities in action.

Final Thoughts

Data ownership is key to gaining a competitive edge. Tableau and CRM Analytics offer integrated data management, visual analytics, and AI-driven insights. Tableau provides comprehensive data analysis tools, while CRM Analytics, embedded within Salesforce, delivers insights directly within the CRM workflow.

Not sure where to start the implementation of Salesforce analytics solutions? Read more about our implementation packages.