Thinking About "Expensive vs. Cheap"
Before discussing the reasons that might answer this blog’s central question, it’s crucial to consider the relationship between “Expensive vs. Cheap.”
People have different views on what is expensive based on their life experiences, family backgrounds, financial situations, and education, among other things. Others might view what seems costly to some as an investment, especially when a higher price tag brings benefits that make a difference. On the flip side, cheaper solutions might not deliver the expected return.
To illustrate this comparison, let’s consider a fun example (don’t mind the car’s year; it’s just for comparison): which would you pick?
Car: Buick Century, 2000
Price: US$ 50,000
Car: Porsche Cayenne
Price: US$ 50,000
Now that we’ve contextualized the “Expensive or Cheap” theme, let’s jump into the tech world. When discussing technology, perceptions of cost can differ from person to person and company to company. In the software realm, it gets even trickier as we enter an even more abstract territory where cost perception becomes pretty subjective.
The term “expensive” refers to a price that seems disproportionate to the product’s offering. For example, paying $50k for a Buick seems way off, which doesn’t justify the investment. On the other hand, $50k for a Porsche might be seen as a high cost, but for someone seeking performance and prestige, it can feel “cheap.”
That’s where Alteryx Designer comes in. It’s a powerful data analysis tool that has changed how companies handle data analytics for years, even with its higher price.
The Value Proposition of Alteryx Designer
In a large company, or even in a smaller one, some numerous tasks and processes require a lot of manual effort, potentially impacting the reliability of the results and the time required to execute them. These tasks often go through several stages, similar to the ETL process (Extract, Transform, Load).
This means data has to be pulled from different sources (such as systems, databases, and spreadsheets), transformed (cleaned up and prepped for analysis), and then loaded back into its original spot or somewhere else when it’s done.
Since these activities are typically repetitive and executed multiple times, we can say that the time wasted in data manipulation, the potential errors during extraction, and the rework are hidden costs that directly impact the final result. Companies may not fully realize the negative impact this can have on their final analyses.
For situations like these, Alteryx Designer shines. It simplifies the whole process of extracting, prepping, and analyzing data. Users can work with data quickly and efficiently and even save their steps to run again later. This ease of use can reduce the time and effort needed for complex analyses, ultimately saving businesses time and resources. In other words, it’s a tangible benefit that adds up.
I need some examples!
Nothing better than a real case to illustrate how a Company can extract the value out of Alteryx, justifying the cost of it.
The phData analytics team developed a solution in Alteryx for a fast-casual restaurant chain, generating the necessary KPIs and reports for the compliance team. They aimed to reduce the lengthy development time typically required for an analytical tool to address new regulations. Instead of the expected months of development due to the agile process and extensive QA, the initial build was completed in just a few weeks, including documentation and immediate action items for compliance with local laws. Delivered in four weeks, the solution sends email reports to store managers about required actions.
If you want to see more about this use case, please check this link.
Leaving the food industry, let’s move into Telecom’s dynamic and regulated world. In this industry, staying on top of regulations is crucial, and a major US telecom provider needed a quicker way to ensure their license areas complied with FCC cell coverage regulations in the face of significant penalties for non-compliance. The complexity of their geospatial data analysis underscored the necessity for a scalable and efficient reporting solution, replacing a slow and risky manual process.
The phData analytics team leveraged Alteryx Workflows to streamline data consolidation from multiple sources into one, improving efficiency by 90% and automating daily updates. This led to the creation of a Tableau dashboard that helps users identify non-compliant licenses for timely resolution.
If you want more about this use case, please check this link.
Tackling Data Complexity
Alteryx stands out in various ways. It’s user-friendly enough for folks with different skill levels to jump in (you will see more in the next topics) and allows them to operate it in simple processes or even more complex automation. Alteryx Designer boasts numerous native connections to most databases commonly used by companies.
You can find a complete list here: Alteryx Data Sources.
And it doesn’t stop there! It can also read various formats locally or from anywhere on the network.
Check out the full list with details here: Supported File Formats.
All these connectivity options, along with its prep, cleaning, and transformation tools, let Alteryx work seamlessly with most existing systems and databases, opening up endless possibilities for analyses and process automation.
Ease of Use
Beyond its technological prowess, another factor that enhances Alteryx Designer’s value proposition is its ease of use. The motto “Analytics For All” captures its essence and has changed how we analyze data for years. Thanks to many features, it’s genuinely user-friendly, even for those without a tech background.
Users can drag and drop various tools for data manipulation, statistical analysis, and data prep, connecting everything visually. This makes the data analysis process much more accessible, allowing folks to tackle complex tasks without writing code—a big win for data analysts.
Community Engagement
Another fantastic aspect of the tool is the strong participation of its user community. A quick visit to the Alteryx Community reveals how engaged users are; this community is, in fact, one of Alteryx Designer’s greatest assets.
The community has active forums where users share experiences, ask questions, and solve problems together. This is super helpful for getting answers and learning from each other’s experiences.
Plus, many tutorials cover everything from beginner topics to advanced techniques. Webinars offer insights and tips on using the tool effectively, and there are also in-person and virtual events that help users connect, share ideas, and grow their networks.
Closing: Why is Alteryx so Expensive?
When we consider Alteryx Designer and its price tag, it’s essential to look beyond the initial cost and consider the value it brings. Effective data analysis tools can change the game for companies, helping them make faster and better-informed decisions. What might initially seem pricey could be a smart and strategic investment in the long run.
Do you have any questions or need any assistance? Do not hesitate to contact phData! We have a team of experienced Alteryx Rockstars ready to help your organization with any Alteryx project!
