Article
Baker Tilly showcases Anvil X at Tableau Conference 2024
Taking dashboards to the next level with Tableau extensions
May 28, 2024 · Authored by Daniel Bolinson, Anthony Yoskovich
Data visualizations and dashboards are powerful tools to clearly communicate complex information and deduce insights. Tableau extensions allow teams to take the next step and take action directly in their dashboard, turning dashboards into powerful data products. Tableau extensions are changing the game for data analysts, data developers and business users. Dashboard builders can now build exactly what they need to integrate dashboards into business processes. Baker Tilly team members attended the Tableau Conference 2024 to showcase Anvil X, a platform that allows users to build Tableau extensions using only Python.
The recap: Tableau Conference 2024
Baker Tilly’s Daniel Bolinson, senior manager and Data Dev Ambassador, presented two sessions during the three-day conference in San Diego. Explore the session highlights.
1. Unlock your dashboards with Python and Tableau extensions: Dan highlighted the process of building Tableau extensions using just Python. Live, he built a demonstration extension to enable users to keep track of the reasons behind variances-from-plan, showcasing how simple and effective creating the extension was with Anvil X. Dan also discussed key features of Anvil X such as the drag-and-drop UI builder, one-click deployment, real-time logging, error handling and secure server-side environments. Need to kick off a business process when a user clicks a mark on the dashboard? Dan’s demo highlighted just how easy that is with Anvil X.
Key takeaways
- Anvil X simplifies extension building by allowing developers to create Tableau extensions using just Python, streamlining the process of creating interactive data products without requiring web development expertise.
- Get started by exploring the online trexjacket documentation, which includes tutorials, guides and other material to help you get started building. Our specialists are here to support you. From training to full development, we have got you covered.
2. Game on: Dashboards can do more with extensions and Python: This session emphasized extensions’ capability to improve business operations and decision-making. The session provided real-world examples, such as gathering insights within Tableau dashboards, writing back to source data instantaneously and integrating business processes fluidly into the analytical ecosystem.
Key takeaways
- Anvil X lowers the barrier to entry because users building Tableau extensions can interact with dashboards using just Python, eliminating the need for further upskilling or expertise.
- You can easily integrate dashboards into business processes. Anvil X allows for real time data persistence and enrichment, which can be leveraged to optimize business processes such as sales target management and variance explanations.
Dan also shared his journey of learning to build Tableau extensions, including initial setbacks, emphasizing that with Anvil X, everyone can build extensions and take control of their data visualization.
If you attended, did you catch the team at the Baker Tilly booth? All visitors could participate in a supply chain game built inside a Tableau dashboard, explore a dashboard that allowed users to upload and classify an image using machine learning and watch live demos of extensions being built with Anvil X. Instead of giving out swag at the booth, we donated $10 to Engineers Without Borders USA for every person who spent 10 minutes with us. We raised $2,340 for the cause!
"We are so appreciative of the donation. Baker Tilly’s gift will go a long way to ensuring communities around the world are supported by humanitarian engineering. Engineers Without Borders USA has close to 500 active projects around the world and in the US, most of which are focused on access to clean water and sanitation for underserved communities. In 2024, we expect to positively impact 800,000 people by leveraging the passion and expertise of 10,000 engineers." - Cait Shoutta, Director of Fundraising & Communication, Engineers Without Borders USA
Are you interested in building your own Tableau extensions or having custom extensions built for your needs? Do you want more information about or a preview of the examples we covered? Our specialists are ready to help you harness the power of Anvil X. Contact us today to get started.
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