Evolving the Tableau Analyst’s Role in the Age of AI

Published in

Bootcamp

5 min readAug 18, 2024

This is a continuation of my response to the question from the “The Future of Tableau” webinar.

Before you read, please note this is my opinion based on my industry observations and does not necessarily represent the view of Tableau, Salesforce, or my employer.

I’ve been reflecting a lot since speaking at “The Future of Tableau” event on August 15th. I had a Fireside 1-on-1 conversation with Ryan Aytay, Tableau’s President and CEO, during the event. When Ryan asked me my final question, it got me thinking about where we are headed as analysts in this rapidly evolving landscape. The question that keeps swirling in my mind is this: What does the role of an analyst look like as we continue to advance into the era of AI?

The answer would have been simple if I had asked myself this a few years ago. Many of us in the #DataFam community would have said that we love developing beautiful dashboards for our stakeholders and wish that could be our primary job function. To be honest, that’s all I wanted for years. But now, after years in this field, I see the landscape changing, and I find myself changing along with it.

Personal Transformation: A Journey with Tableau

I joined the Tableau community five years ago and can confidently say it transformed my career. And here’s the kicker — I was over 40 when it happened. I wasn’t new to Tableau; I had been using it in a work silo for many years before officially becoming part of the community in August 2019. I was a senior analyst and business automation specialist when I joined (which was a massive transformation from the Unemployment Insurance Adjudication Staff Development Coordinator role I held for years). At that point, I was comfortable with the tool and wasn’t looking for major overhauls. My wishlist was modest: a spell-check feature here, enhanced mapping there, and maybe some more straightforward functions than dashboard containers to work with.

Change? No, thank you. I wasn’t interested in significant changes. Like many others, I was resistant. But resistance, I’ve learned, is often a sign that something is necessary. Over time, I started to see the need for evolution in our tools. I’ve seen many BI products come and go — most cloud-based, some very user-friendly. And now, with the rise of Generative AI (GenAI), I realize how crucial it is for Tableau to incorporate these advancements to help us uncover new analytic insights and potentials.

Embracing AI: From Einstein Analytics to GenAI

My journey with AI didn’t start yesterday; it’s been a focused path for nearly two years. Initially, my AI exploration was centered around integrating Einstein Analytics with Tableau in 2021, which opened my eyes to the possibilities of combining predictive analytics with intuitive dashboards. The ability to merge these two worlds was fascinating, and it felt like the natural next step in making data more insightful and actionable.

However, my focus has shifted over the past year towards GenAI alongside Tableau. What started as a curiosity about how these two technologies could work together became a full-blown passion. I began building GenAI products that could automate mundane tasks like product assistance, mock data generation, and automated dashboard feedback. This frees up more time for my creative work while helping others skill up more efficiently and without friction.

GenAI, when used thoughtfully, can significantly augment our capabilities within Tableau. It lowers the learning curve and makes the tool a little less intimidating for newcomers. However, the real challenge has been enabling and engaging new users. Too often, those who could enrich the data remain passive consumers. More people must be actively involved to foster a sense of community and drive meaningful action from data.

Efficiency and Creativity: The New Frontier

Here’s where GenAI shines—it simplifies the use of Tableau for new users and allows experienced developers to focus on more enjoyable tasks. In the next couple of years, I see a future where GenAI can effortlessly create basic visuals and dashboards. This shift will allow us to focus on what truly matters: creating dashboards that make an impact.

We won't be bogged down with repetitive tasks anymore. Instead, we’ll be free to innovate and push the boundaries of what we can do with data. This shift won’t make our roles obsolete; it will refine and elevate them. We’ll move from being mere builders of dashboards to being the architects of data-driven narratives.

Important Note: Based on many conversations and observations, Tableau only looks to augment Legacy Tableau and not completely replace the Tableau experience. The augmentation is to modernize the products, improve user experience, and apply AI (with a focus on GenAI) in a non-evasive way to assist analysis and ease the learning requirements to build assets.

Adding Skills: The Plus-One Mindset

GenAI also presents an exciting opportunity to expand our skill sets. With less time spent on the nuts and bolts of Tableau—like writing calculations, organizing dashboard layouts, and making basic interactive visuals—we can turn our attention to developing complementary skills.

Think about it: data engineering + Tableau, project management + Tableau, enablement + Tableau. The possibilities are vast. By adding a “plus-one” skill to our repertoire, we can significantly elevate the potential of our careers. It’s not just about keeping up with the times; it’s about staying ahead of them.

Conclusion: The Future is Bright — and Different

As I look to the future, I see a world where analysts' roles will continue to evolve. Integrating AI into our workflows will not diminish the importance of our work; instead, it will enhance it. We’ll have more time to focus on creativity, strategy, and the things that truly drive impact.

So, if you find yourself resistant to change like I once was, consider this: change is not the enemy. It’s the catalyst for growth. And in this ever-evolving landscape, growth is not just desirable — it’s necessary.

Let’s embrace this new era with open arms, ready to learn, adapt, and thrive. After all, the future of analytics is not just in the dashboards we create but in the stories we tell with them.

I am here to help. Please join and check out our AI and Tableau User Group so we can learn and navigate this complex new landscape together. Our next event is on August 22nd. Please check it out here.

Adam Mico

Note: My book, “Tableau Desktop Specialist Certification,” is available for order here.