Alteryx and Excel both are data preparation and analysis software that have been introduced to make our life easy and work smoothly. However, once I started to learn and to use Alteryx, I just can’t go back to Excel. In this blog, I would like to share my thoughts of using these two tools with you.
For those ones haven’t heard of Alteryx, Alteryx is strong in data extraction, transformation, loading, processing, analysis, and predictions in a code-free visual way. Below are the things can easily be achieved by Alteryx but can be very tough in Excel.
Import many sheets at once
If you ever had to bring data from many sources, such as a series of CSVs, it can be a pain in Excel. Especially when this is not just one-off thing. However, Alteryx has you covered. With Batch Macro or Dynamic Input to automate the process, Alteryx can make you life much easier.
Vlookup limitations in Excel
The VLOOKUP function is one of the most popular functions in Excel. However, the problem is there are various limitations of VLOOKUP in Excel but can be resolved in Alteryx.
- VLOOKUP Only Looks to the Right
- VLOOKUP Only Finds the First Match
- VLOOKUP cannot lookup more than 1 column
All above limitations can easily be solved by using “find and replace” tool in Alteryx. For more details of this tool, please check out the Vlookups for Designer in Alteryx Academy under Interactive Lessons.
Automation and Repeatability
Another major benefit of using Alteryx is self-explanatory: develop workflow once, repeat at will. This benefit is crucial as data analysts often need to produce the same reports and tasks in a repetitive manner. You can even schedule the workflow in Alteryx Server, and you will also take care of the documentation along the way.
Complicated Data Analytics
When it comes to giving actionable and timely insights by analysing a combination of geospatial data, predictive models, as well as data visualizations, finding and using the appropriate functions in Excel can be a struggle. And very often, it requires a lot of knowledge and skills. With Alteryx, it is much easier to explore data, carry out in-depth data blending, as well as advanced analytics.
In short, Alteryx is a simple tool to learn and very friendly to beginners like me. If you ever wonder whether or not you need to learn Alteryx, I would say don’t hesitate, learn, and prepare yourself for the future!
Author: Zoe Lu
Zoe is a graduate of the University of Queensland, majoring in professional accounting and applied finance, she always strives to learn and enjoys applying her skills to manage any challenge. She moved from Brisbane to Melbourne three years ago and she believes that all change is good change. When Zoe is not creating dashboards, you will see her at Pilates or enjoying the good restaurants around Melbourne with her family and friends. If you ever get a chance to eat hot pot with her, she will share the recipe for her delicious secret dipping sauce.