What is SAS Visual Analytics?

SAS Visual Analytics is a powerful data visualization and reporting tool designed to enable organizations to discover, analyze, and share insights from their data. Built on the SAS Viya platform, it provides a comprehensive solution for data exploration, interactive reporting, and analytics. With its intuitive interface and advanced capabilities, SAS Visual Analytics empowers users—regardless of their technical expertise—to make data-driven decisions that inspire action.

The tool combines traditional data analysis with augmented analytics, machine learning, and natural language processing to help users uncover hidden stories within their data. It facilitates collaboration among team members and provides a seamless experience for accessing and sharing insights across various devices and platforms, including integration with Microsoft 365.

Features

SAS Visual Analytics offers a wide array of features that cater to different aspects of data analysis and reporting. Here are some of the key features:

1. Interactive Reporting

• Users can create stunning interactive reports and dashboards that allow for real-time data exploration.
• Reports can be easily shared via web and mobile devices, enabling collaboration among team members.

2. Visual Discovery

• The tool provides dynamic visuals that help users quickly identify important relationships and trends in their data.
• Users can leverage machine learning algorithms to automatically highlight key relationships, outliers, and clusters.

3. Self-Service Analytics

• SAS Visual Analytics is designed for users of all skill levels, enabling business analysts to perform predictive analytics without the need for programming knowledge.
• Features like automated forecasting, goal seeking, and scenario analysis are readily available.

4. Data Access, Preparation & Quality

• The tool offers an intuitive interface for accessing, profiling, cleansing, and transforming data.
• Embedded AI capabilities assist users in self-service data preparation.

5. Geographical Context

• Users can combine traditional data with location data to add a geographical dimension to their analyses.
• Location analytics help identify location-specific opportunities and trends.

6. Augmented Analytics

• The software automatically provides suggestions and identifies related measures to accelerate insight discovery.
• Advanced capabilities help users uncover stories hidden in their data within seconds.

7. Text Analytics

• Users can gain insights from social media and other text data, with sentiment analysis to determine whether the sentiment is positive or negative.

8. Embedded Insights

• Users can embed individual visual insights from SAS Visual Analytics reports into custom web applications or Microsoft 365 applications like Excel and Outlook.

9. Mobile Accessibility

• Native mobile apps for iOS and Android allow users to access and interact with reports and dashboards on the go.

10. Open Integration for Developers

• The tool supports third-party JavaScript libraries, enabling developers to add creative visualizations and interactivity.
• REST APIs allow access to SAS analytics, data, and services from any client language.

11. Cloud-Native Architecture

• SAS Viya's compact and cloud-native architecture ensures fast performance and scalability, making it suitable for various cloud environments.

12. Multi-Language Support

• SAS Visual Analytics supports multiple languages, including Japanese, Korean, German, Spanish, and many others, making it accessible to a global audience.

Use Cases

SAS Visual Analytics can be applied across various industries and business functions. Here are some notable use cases:

1. Public Health

• Emerging Disease Surveillance & Forecasting: Organizations can create automated surveillance programs to detect new disease activity and track seasonal diseases, enabling proactive health management.

2. Utilities

• Water Consumption & Quality Monitoring: Utilities can monitor water quality and consumption patterns to ensure resource management and compliance with regulations.

3. Retail & Consumer Goods

• Retail Insights: Retailers can analyze regional store performance and make data-driven decisions regarding inventory, marketing, and customer engagement.

4. Manufacturing

• Warranty Analysis: Manufacturers can analyze warranty claims to identify potential product issues and their underlying causes, improving product quality and customer satisfaction.

5. Banking

• Banking & Risk Insights: Financial institutions can gain a holistic view of risk and performance across regions, enabling better risk management and decision-making.

6. Marketing

• Customer Segmentation and Targeting: Marketers can analyze customer data to segment audiences and tailor marketing strategies based on insights derived from data.

7. Human Resources

• Employee Performance Analysis: HR departments can analyze employee performance metrics to identify training needs and improve workforce productivity.

Pricing

While specific pricing details for SAS Visual Analytics may vary based on factors such as deployment options, user licenses, and additional services, SAS typically offers a range of pricing plans to accommodate different organizational needs. Organizations interested in SAS Visual Analytics can request pricing information directly from SAS to receive tailored quotes based on their requirements.

Comparison with Other Tools

SAS Visual Analytics competes with various data visualization and analytics tools in the market. Here’s how it compares with some of the leading alternatives:

1. Tableau

• Strengths: Tableau is known for its user-friendly interface and strong visualization capabilities.
• Weaknesses: It may require more technical expertise for advanced analytics compared to SAS Visual Analytics, which offers self-service analytics for non-technical users.

2. Power BI

• Strengths: Power BI integrates seamlessly with Microsoft products, making it a popular choice for organizations already using the Microsoft ecosystem.
• Weaknesses: While Power BI offers robust visualization features, it may lack the advanced predictive analytics capabilities that SAS Visual Analytics provides.

3. Qlik Sense

• Strengths: Qlik Sense is known for its associative data model, allowing users to explore data in a more flexible manner.
• Weaknesses: SAS Visual Analytics generally offers more powerful augmented analytics and machine learning capabilities.

4. Looker

• Strengths: Looker excels in providing a data modeling layer that enables businesses to create custom metrics and KPIs.
• Weaknesses: SAS Visual Analytics offers a more comprehensive suite of self-service analytics features, making it easier for users to derive insights without extensive technical knowledge.

Overall, SAS Visual Analytics stands out for its combination of advanced analytics, user-friendly interface, and powerful data visualization capabilities, making it a suitable choice for organizations looking to leverage data for informed decision-making.

FAQ

1. What types of data can SAS Visual Analytics handle?

SAS Visual Analytics can handle a wide range of data types, including structured and unstructured data, as well as location data. It can integrate with various data sources, including databases, spreadsheets, and cloud services.

2. Is coding required to use SAS Visual Analytics?

No, SAS Visual Analytics is designed for users of all skill levels. Business analysts can perform predictive analytics and data exploration without any programming knowledge, thanks to its intuitive interface and self-service capabilities.

3. Can SAS Visual Analytics be used on mobile devices?

Yes, SAS Visual Analytics offers native mobile applications for iOS and Android, allowing users to access and interact with reports and dashboards on their smartphones and tablets.

4. How does SAS Visual Analytics ensure data security?

SAS Visual Analytics incorporates robust data governance and security measures, including user authentication, role-based access control, and data encryption, to protect sensitive information.

5. Can SAS Visual Analytics integrate with other software?

Yes, SAS Visual Analytics supports integration with various software applications, including Microsoft 365 tools, enabling users to embed insights and collaborate effectively across platforms.

6. Is there a free trial available for SAS Visual Analytics?

Yes, SAS offers a free trial of SAS Viya, which includes SAS Visual Analytics, allowing users to experience its capabilities firsthand before making a commitment.

In conclusion, SAS Visual Analytics is a versatile tool that empowers organizations to harness the power of their data through intuitive visualization, advanced analytics, and collaborative reporting. With its extensive features and use cases, it serves as a valuable asset for businesses seeking to make informed decisions based on data-driven insights.