Google Data Studio, launched in 2016, and with general availability in 2018, is a web-free platform to help users create custom data visualisations and reports. Unlike paid options like Tableau and Power BI, Google Data Studio is 100 per cent free, so it’s attractive for users wanting to learn about and play with data-driven insights without the high cost. Data Studio provides an easy-to-use interface where a user can easily connect, analyse and share data from different sources to make the data reporting more efficient and understandable.
Users select visual elements such as time series charts to monitor trends with time or scorecards to track single-value metrics. Customizable charts as well as scorecards let users specify date ranges and compare times, e.g. view data of this month compared to the same month last year. This flexibility allows them to have a total view performance period.
The date picker tool in Data Studio allows setting default time ranges for dashboards which can help you see and interact with a set time frame. The entire dashboard or the date ranges can be set for the chart, or they can be customized for each chart individually. The roll-up between static and rolling date ranges will support ongoing tracking of metrics such as monthly performance or an annual comparison. Users can also choose date ranges for every chart offering a data experience tailored to a particular business need.
Data Studio’s filters and custom metrics allow you to drill down into your data even more. Within an individual chart, users can filter data, or use Google Analytics segments to target data. In Data Studio one can create filters directly that can include or exclude data based on specific rules. Custom metrics also allow users to add new dimensions to data insights by creating calculated fields within a data source. For example, users can create fields that group campaigns by keyword, thereby enabling targeted reporting based on a unique set of business goals.
Using Google Sheets, Data Studio can integrate with external data beyond their standard sources (Analytics, Google Ads, etc). Users can visualise Google Sheets data and build a comprehensive dashboard that includes Google and non-Google metrics.
There are some cases when users would also experience configuration and system errors with Data Studio. Incompatibility of the metric(s) and dimension(s) involved leaves room for configuration errors and system errors both may happen due to inaccessible data sources or connectivity issues. Errors generally resolve themselves, but if nothing fixes them, try refreshing the dashboard or filters and metrics. However, help resources including data studio help and community forums are present to troubleshoot.
Google Data Studio is a flexible and easy-to-use tool which allows users to turn the data into useful information. Data Studio has so many features and from connecting diverse data sources to the building of interactive dashboards, Data Studio boasts of what beginners and experienced users need when it comes to the use of such tools. But for users to get the most out of the platform’s visualization options, and to build impactful, data-driven reports that drive decision-making and show key performance metrics, they need to master the platform.