The Top 6 Looker Consulting Partners in 2023
Let’s face it: Implementing Looker is not easy, especially if you’ve never done it before. While it’s not too hard to connect a new Looker instance to a data warehouse and run some ad-hoc queries to generate a few charts, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Because Looker has so many hosting, configuration, and administration options (and let’s not get started on LookML), it’s best to connect with a qualified Looker Consulting Partner to ensure your Looker implementation is ready to scale without future tech debt headaches.
The problem is that the Looker Consulting Partner program, which started in 2019, was dismantled upon Looker’s acquisition by Google in 2020.
If your Looker consultant prints out dashboards, it's time for a new one…
What happened to the Looker Advanced Consulting Partner program?
In 2022, when Google fully integrated Looker into its web ecosystem, Looker’s partner program was replaced with the Google Cloud Partner program. This means that the collection of dedicated consulting partners that had risen alongside the Looker ecosystem was subsumed by a broader set of consultants that offer… just about anything related to Google Cloud.
That’s not to say anything bad about the Google Cloud Partner program — there are plenty of excellent — consultancies within it, but it made it difficult to connect with partners who knew Looker’s platform inside and out based on extensive Looker deployment experience.
Who are the top Looker Consulting Partners today?
This list is curated to provide a short list of the best US-based Looker consultancies as of April 2023. I’ve included consultancies based on their depth of experience and specificity of services. In other words, this is a list of the most highly qualified Looker partners available.
1. Andrew Searson
Andrew Searson is probably the world’s most experienced Looker practitioner and consultant. Andrew joined Looker when the company was just three years old after stints at Seagate and eBay. Ultimately, he became Looker’s Head of Analytics, overseeing the entire internal analytics organization. After nearly four years in that role and the Google acquisition, he took on the part of Head of Looker Sales Analytics at Google Cloud.
During his time at Looker, Andrew’s had a front-row seat for nearly every new Looker feature release, and he’s seen dozens of implementations across a wide range of verticals and company sizes. His consulting practice focuses on SaaS businesses looking to create a scalable foundation for self-serve analytics across sales, marketing, and finance, whether it’s an initial deployment or a complete rethinking of data architecture.
2. 4Mile Analytics
4 Mile Beach is an unimaginatively named surf spot that is, you guessed it, four miles north of Santa Cruz, California (the birthplace of Looker). This agency grew parallel to Looker and shares much of the same DNA. In fact, the agency’s founder, Nick Fogler, was Looker’s Director of Engineering at Looker from 2014 to 2015. And, although the agency was acquired by mega-agency, Media.Monks in 2022 they still focus their services on and around the Looker ecosystem.
4 Mile Analytics describes itself as “a team of Data Scientists, Statisticians, Engineers, and Business Consultants specializing in delivering services on the Looker platform. We believe in the power of data to form compelling narratives that drive change. Our approach to technology is human-centric; we focus on people and relationships first and value diversity, empathy, and respect.”
3. Bytecode
Bytecode was founded in 2015, just two hours north of Looker’s Santa Cruz headquarters. Bytecode has been responsible for many of Silicon Valley’s Looker implementations over the better part of the last decade and claims to have successfully completed over 1000 Looker implementations. Unlike broad-focused cloud consultancies, Bytecode primarily focuses on deploying “scalable, reliable, and cost-effective data analysis and business intelligence solutions.”
Regarding Looker proficiencies, Bytecode offers deployment, a “data team-as-a-service” of Looker-certified professionals with the expertise to act as an internal BI team, ongoing performance optimization, and platform development to create custom solutions based on the Looker platform.
4. DAS42
DAS42 was founded in 2015 by ecommerce and BI veteran Nick Amabile to “bridge the gap between business and technology.” The firm recently acquired the Looker-focused consulting firm Elasticiti, led by seasoned Looker consultant Benjamin Reid.
Retail, Ecommerce, and DTC analytics are cornerstones of DAS42’s consulting practice. Alongside that proficiency, DAS42 follows a strategy-first approach, promising to “ devise a data-driven business strategy and then build analytics systems customized to meet your specific needs, leveraging the best data collection tools, data warehousing, and analytics platforms available today.”
5. DataClymer
Dataclymer might not have made this Looker-centric list if it hadn’t been founded by Aron Clymer, one of the nicest people in the data space. Dataclymer is an Advanced Looker Partner, but they also promise to choose the best technical solution for each client. They also offer various services, including data strategy, data engineering, data visualization, and data science. They also work with clients in various industries, including healthcare, finance, e-commerce, and advertising. Most interesting, though, is their proficiency in sports and entertainment. The firm has serviced multiple teams in the MLB and the NFL.
6. Vistelio
Vistelio is a data consultancy based in San Antonio, Texas, focusing primarily on Looker, including custom LookML modeling, the development of Looks and dashboards, model optimization, and data integration. Vistelio is a good choice if you are looking for long-term staff augmentation engagements that offer the benefit of an experienced resource without the commitment of a full-time employee.
Updated 9/13/23: Since I first wrote this post, I heard about another consultant who deserves to be on this list, so I’ve added a seventh member.
7. Levi Davis
Levi Davis is a well-versed Looker consultant specializing in Looker training. Levi is also a member of the early Looker team. He spent nearly three years there, ultimately becoming Looker’s Lead Instructor. In his work as an instructor, Levi led developer and user training at organizations, including data heavyweights such as Amazon, Lyft, and Autodesk. He then went on to work alongside Nick Fogler at 4Mile Analytics (above).
Levi offers online and offline training on various topics, from basic user training to advanced LookML and enterprise Looker administration. His website even says he will tailor training to the needs of the training subjects or organization.
What to consider in a Looker consulting partner?
Like any consulting engagement, it boils down to a few considerations:
- Expertise in Looker: Looker is a powerful tool requiring specific skills and knowledge to leverage its full potential. A good consulting partner should have a team of experts with in-depth knowledge of Looker’s capabilities and best practices.
- Experience with similar projects: Looker can be used in many industries and use cases. A consulting partner with experience in similar projects to yours can bring valuable insights and help you avoid common pitfalls.
- Communication and collaboration: Looker projects often involve multiple stakeholders from different departments. A consulting partner’s ability to communicate and understand their client can make or break a consulting engagement.
- Customization capabilities: Every organization has unique requirements and challenges. A consulting partner that can customize Looker to meet your specific needs can help you maximize the value of your investment.
How much does Looker consulting cost?
Estimating consulting service costs is complicated, but here are general rules of thumb that determine how much you pay for consulting:
- You pay for experience — It’s simple. The more proficiency a consultant has with a given technology, the better their work will be, and the more you’ll have to pay. If you start with a less proficient consultant, chances are, you’ll have to start over with a better one later.
- You pay for size — In other words, big agencies can potentially increase the overhead that client pays for. Smaller boutique agencies don’t need business development, account management, and office spaces. These are all expenses that get passed to the
- You get discounts for volume — most consultancies provide discounts for bigger engagements and retainers. Keep that in mind as you negotiate your pricing.
Generally, if you’re curious about the price of consulting, you should start a conversation with a few consultancies you’re considering.
Need recommendations? Want to add to the list? Let me know!
