Chapter 1: Google Data Studio's Game-Changing Updates

Recently, I discussed how Google is taking on Power BI by adding innovative features to their Self-Service BI platform, Data Studio. This article garnered significant attention, indicating a keen interest among data aficionados.

Photo by Greg Bulla on Unsplash

In the past few months, Google has rolled out numerous updates to Data Studio, particularly introducing new connectors. One of the most exciting developments is the platform's ability to now handle up to 100 dimensions and metrics, a substantial increase from previous limitations. This enhancement significantly boosts the tool's potential. For further details, check out the latest updates.

Connect Data Studio to GCP, AWS, and various other platforms— Image by Author

Additionally, horizontal scrolling is now an option, allowing for the visualization of larger data sets within Data Studio. This feature could facilitate the migration of legacy reporting tools into the platform.

Horizontal Scrolling in Data Studio — Image by Author

Now, for the truly groundbreaking news: tables in reports can now accommodate up to 50,000 rows. Previously, the limit was only 5,000 rows. This enhancement addresses a common criticism of Google Data Studio among professionals in fields like internal audit, finance, and controlling, where extensive data is a standard. Many users rely heavily on large Excel spreadsheets, and this has often hindered the acceptance of digitalization initiatives or self-service BI tools among Excel enthusiasts.

With these new capabilities—greater row and column limits, enhanced connectors, and improved data source joins—Data Studio is emerging as a viable alternative to leading BI tools such as Microsoft Power BI, Qlik, and even Excel.

Google Data Analytics Tools — Source: ConceptDraw [2]

CIOs, CDOs, and CISOs will likely welcome these advancements, as they may lead to cost savings by streamlining product offerings and reducing administrative overhead. Companies can now replace outdated reporting tools with a comprehensive Google Stack, which often results in improved interfaces and data quality. Furthermore, the need to transfer data between platforms diminishes, reducing potential vulnerabilities. Legacy dashboards and reports, typically created in Excel, can now be efficiently transitioned to Data Studio.

Watch the video titled "What's new in Data & AI with Google Cloud? September 2024 Edition 🗓️" for insights into the latest features and updates.

Check out the video "AI in Google Sheets is Here | Get Sample Data and MORE!" to learn about new capabilities in Google Sheets.

Sources and Further Reading

[1] Google, Release Notes (2022)

[2] ConceptDraw, Design Elements — Big Data (2022)