Since the dawn of man, people have used visualization as a way to grasp information that they may have not discovered before.
According to Stephen Few, 70 percent of our sensory perception is visual. Essentially this means our brains have decided to use visual sensory more than all the other senses combined. Let’s take this thought a step further and think about your daily work life and the number of spreadsheets you may put together. Is it easier for you to digest this data visually compared to just rows of data?
Below are two (of the many) ways data can be represented. Which option makes it easier to pick out the highest and lowest number?[/fusion_text]
Transforming data into a visual form is not an entirely new phenomenon, especially when analyzing large amounts of data. When data is presented visually, it is easier to digest and find patterns. Business leaders need to be able to interpret data in real-time to effectively make highly informed decisions. One of the best forms of data visualization is utilizing a business intelligence (BI) solution. BI is a technology-driven process where users have the ability to analyze data and present actionable information.
Data visualization software within a BI solution, such as Microsoft’s Power BI, allows end users to design charts and infographics to present data in an easy-to-grasp manner. While solutions like Microsoft Excel have a variety of visual tools, pondering over spreadsheets can be time-consuming and ineffective. Because of the way our brains process information, using pictorial or graphical elements to visualize complex and difficult data will allow end- users to easily identify new patterns.
Data visualization is a powerful and important tool. Businesses who leverage visual data are able to gain a competitive advantage by being able to identify areas that need attention, spot potential business problems, drive new revenue and predict market trends.
