The Ad Hoc Reporting Project (ARP)’s mission is to implement a modernized ad-hoc reporting software solution (Tableau) and support the migration from Brio to the new platform. Our number one guiding principle for this project is to advance HUIT’s vision of empowering the Harvard community through technology that enables effortless access to data, information and knowledge. Data Management Services (DMS) is happy to announce that the funding for the project has been released so that work can start in earnest in FY20.
Currently, DMS is actively working with Tableau to:
- Review and negotiate licensing options
- Identify consulting partners to assist Brio/IR users converting their queries to Tableau
- Identify training tracks for the Ad Hoc community
- Provide monthly informational sessions for the Brio / IR users called Tableau Days
- Complete a Vendor Risk Assessment to ensure proper security
Latest from the Project
At the end of June, Tableau notified DMS that our Tableau Online Trial site will no longer be accessible after 6/28/19. The trial site was always intended to be a "proof of concept" site that would not be available after a certain period. DMS is in the process of obtaining a full export of all content from the trial site, to preserve all reports/data source/etc that may have published there.
Users who have started the Brio report conversion process to Tableau can continue to use the Tableau Desktop trial to do so until license negotiations have been completed with Tableau. Users can share reports securely via email, using Kiteworks, or they can direct those validating Tableau report to download and use Tableau Reader, a free viewing tool, to do so.
Tableau Server
A decision has been made to implement Tableau Server in our AWS private Cloud, rather than Tableau Online/SaaS. The rationale behind this is Tableau Server will afford us a more robust platform in terms of data security; better ability to support uptime guarantees for our user community; and more control of the environment in terms of upgrades, performance tuning, and software extensions. We expect the overall user experience to be equivalent to or better than it would have been in the Tableau Online environment.
Salesforce Acquisition of Tableau
About a month ago, Salesforce announced it would be purchasing Tableau with the stated purpose of accelerating their customers digital transformations “by combining the #1 CRM system with the #1 analytics platform”. Salesforce and Tableau have stated that Tableau will continue to operate as an independent company and brand. While it’s hard to anticipate what may happen in the longer-term future, we expect that the market leadership of both Tableau and Salesforce will help ensure the continuance of Tableau as a top-shelf analytics solution for Harvard’s ad-hoc reporting needs.
The DMS Ad-Hoc Reporting Project Team is working on what the longer-term platform solution will look like, and when that will be available in pilot mode and in production mode.
In the meantime, the project team has contacted all schools/units using Tableau and is pulling together the list of Local Implementation Managers for the project. The team will also be creating additional governance bodies, including the project's Executive and Steering Committees, during this month.
June Tableau Days
Thanks to everyone who participated in our last June Tableau Day on Thursday, June 27th! Representatives from Tableau demonstrated how to use Dimensions and Measures as well as create Groupings in Tableau. Ryan Frazier from Harvard Business School Online (HBX) provided an overview of how HBX is using Tableau in their department.
The session has been recorded for those who could not attend, and the HBX presentation is also available for review. Visit the Ad Hoc Reporting wiki to view and download this information.
July Tableau Days
The next Tableau Day will take place on Thursday, July 25, 2019, starting at 11 a.m. in the Summit Room 416 at 784 Memorial Drive, Cambridge. The session will run until 1:30 .pm. Following the session, the Tableau Doctor session will begin and run until 3 pm.
- To register for the Tableau Days, please click HERE.
- To register for the Tableau Doctor Sessions, please click HERE.
If you have topics that you would like to see covered in future Tableau Days, simply email Patty Hatch or Raj Mariadoss.
Tableau Training Resource: Tableau Essentials Training on Lynda.com
While you are registering for the next Tableau Days section, take a look at the Tableau Essentials Training available via Lynda.com. This online course provides a comprehensive introduction to using Tableau. Topics include creating and pivoting crosstabs, creating basic charts, and sorting and filtering the data. The course can be taken at your own pace.
For more information about the Ad Hoc Reporting Project, please check out the ARP wiki page.