Learn Tableau with DataCamp

It's not an either-or situation: you should learn both as they have different primary functions.  Excel is a spreadsheet tool, whilst Tableau is all about data visualization.  Excel comes with many useful inbuilt functions along with the ability to create more, whilst Tableau's strength is the analysis of large, complex data sets via a visual interface.

Yes. Tableau is a valuable skill to possess because so many companies use this business intelligence software. If you learn how to use Tableau, you can look for work in data-related fields. 

DataCamp offers several Tableau courses, including Introduction to Tableau, which is suitable for newcomers, and Tableau Fundamentals, which teaches you everything needed to pass the Tableau Desktop Specialist examination.

Yes, but you might not gain a full understanding of the software’s functions, or its potential uses. 

Tableau was designed to be user-friendly, so people with little experience handling data or databases can comfortably use the program. But if you’re serious about business intelligence and data analytics, it’s best to seek Tableau training to ensure you really understand the advanced functions - including why and when you’ll use them.

At DataCamp, your first Tableau course can be completed in half a day, and you will already have gained useful Tableau skills.  More advanced skills can be obtained by completing DataCamp's Tableau Fundamentals, which has 5 courses with 24 hours of training.  Expect it to take 2 to 6 months to become adept at using Tableau, regardless of how fast you finished your training, as proficiency requires practice and experimentation.

Yes, Tableau comes with a connector for use with SQL Server to enable charting, creation of reports, and dashboards whilst connecting directly to a data source.

Yes, via TabPy, an analytics extension that enables the execution of Python scripts and functions within Tableau.  The TabPy extension enables Tableau to run Python scripts in real-time and display the results as a visualization. 

Yes, Tableau is not an R replacement. Rather, it enables easier creation of interactive charts than can be done in R.  If you already know Python, learning Tableau might be a better next step than learning R.

No, you don’t need any coding skills to use Tableau. However, if you have learned the basics of Python or R (both data science languages you can learn with DataCamp online), then you can perform additional functions with Tableau, such as enhanced data visualizations.

Tableau was designed to perform data analytics and business intelligence tasks;  if you’re using Tableau, you’re working with data. Learning how to code in a programming language that’s suitable for data science tasks is a worthy investment of your time - an investment that can make you a more valuable employee or candidate.

Yes, but only if you’re well prepared. The Tableau Desktop Specialist examination is an essential stepping stone if you’d like to become a Tableau consultant. Because Tableau is licensed software, the company has high standards and the passing grade for Desktop Specialist is 70%.

The best way to prepare for the exam is with a structured course, such as DataCamp’s Tableau Fundamentals, which teaches you everything you need to know to pass the Desktop Specialist exam.

Perform data analysis and visualization tasks, including generating business intelligence reports and graphics. People who might use Tableau in their day-to-day work include data scientists, business analysts, and anyone else who works with data. 

Learning how to use Tableau can make you a more valuable employee - the software is in high use worldwide and it can help you kickstart a new career in the overlapping data science and business intelligence fields.

Yes. Because Tableau is one of the world’s most popular business intelligence and data visualization programs, learning how to use Tableau properly can give you an edge in the competitive job market. 

Companies including Nissan, Pfizer, and Lenovo all rely on Tableau to make sense of their data, and they need professionals who know how to use it.

Yes. Tableau holds an impressive market share, and companies that use this software generally prefer to hire people who know how to use it properly. The importance of data in the modern business world cannot be understated, and there is a demand for professionals who know how to analyze data and create visualizations.

In 2017, for example, research from Forbes found that Tableau was the third most in-demand technical skill. This demand is not falling and nor is it expected to as the use of data in business intelligence is only increasing.