Looker

Power BI Compete Profile

October 2019
Summary
1. Products & Pricing
• Product features:
• Ready made data and viz functions (Data and Visualization Blocks)
• Modeling layer (Looker ML) allowing custom defined business logic
to be re-applied throughout the system
• Stores dashboards and ‘Looks’ in user ‘Folders’
• Governed transformation facilitated by LookML
• Purpose built analytics apps for sales, marketing and web analytics
• Embedding with RESTful API, SDKs
Pricing:
• Minimum spend ~$3,000 per month, with $50 / user / month over
the minimum
• ~$5,600/month on AWS and $8.30/hour on Azure for 10 users
each (annual contracts only)
4. Weaknesses
• Ease of use: code-based approach to authoring
limits range of deployment compared to GUI
approaches
• Gaps in its interactive visual exploration capability
• Lacks advanced features: No automated insight
generation, natural language interaction
• Limited by underlying databases: long data retrieval
times with some sources (e.g. OLAP)
• Inability to handle large amounts of data
2. Positioning & Messaging
• Audience
• Those that know SQL
• IT and BI specific roles
• Business users / Marketing and sales teams
• Positioning
• Purpose-built applications for sales, marketing
• Data everywhere: Bring data in everyday tools such as
Slack, Salesforce, JIRA
• In database option for those with BigQuery or RedShift
5. How to Win – Key Messages
• Emphasize the difference between a “code first”
approach and a GUI approach. Power BI offers a
GUI first approach, which makes the product easier
to use and more accessible for business analysts
• Counter Looker’s actionability by showing how
Power BI integrates into Microsoft Flow and
PowerApps, enabling a broader set of actions than
Looker does
• Stress that Looker was new to the Magic Quadrant
in 2018; Microsoft has been a Leader in the same
Magic Quadrant for 12 consecutive years
3. Strengths
• Native cloud database support – supports Redshift,
Athena, Big Query, Snowflake and others
• Data Modelling Language – LookML is built on SQL
• Multi cloud deployment options – AWS and GCP
from November; Azure in early 2020
• Extensible web architecture -- Every query and
visualization is addressable by URL
• Customer support – scores high marks in customer
surveys for support
6. Recent News
• Jan ‘16: Series C, $48M led by KPCB
• Oct ’16: Looker 4 released, including Blocks Directory and
12 data applications
• Sep. ‘17: Looker 5 released
• Nov. ‘17: New features for embedded analytics
• Oct. ‘18: Looker 6, featuring pre-built analytics applications
for Digital Marketing and Web Analytics
• Jun ‘19: Acquired by Google for $2.6bn in cash
• Sep ‘19: Announced that by November 2019, customers
will be able to host their instances on AWS and GCP
(Azure promised in 2020)
Looker was acquired by Google for $2.6bn in June 2019
 6/6: Google announced it had reached a definitive agreement to
acquire Looker for $2.6bn
 Looker had previously raised $280.5m (previous raise valued it at
$1.6bn):
 Alphabet’s private equity fund Capital G already made an investment
 1600 customers and $100m ARR reached 7 months ago
 350 customers in common today

 “The addition of Looker to Google Cloud will help us offer

customers a more complete analytics solution from ingesting data to
visualizing results and integrating data and insights into their daily
workflows. It will also help us deliver industry specific analytics
solutions in our key verticals.” - Thomas Kurian, CEO, Google
Cloud

 “Google Cloud and Looker have been very close partners for over
four years, and during that time we’ve continued to not only see
technology synergies, but also similarities in culture, approach to
customer problems, sales motions, and passion to solve large data
challenges…. Google Cloud and Looker are a natural fit together.” –
Looker blog post
 TIMELINE

Despite being owned by Google, Looker will allow customers to choose

which platform to host their data on from late 2019

$2M Seed Round
(First Round Capital,
PivotNorth Capital)
Mar ‘13 Oct ‘16
Release of Looker 4,
including Blocks Directory
that contains over 50 pre-
built, re-usable analytic
templates and 12 data
applications.
Release of Looker 5,
Looker 6.1: Released Sales
including workflow Ranked as a Strong Performer’ in The Roadmap:
Analytics for Looker in beta, and
simplification, Action Hub Forrester Wave: Enterprise BI Platforms • Beginning in November 2019,
new chart types, including waterfall,
Enhancement and Data/ Q3 2019 report. Looker will allow customers the
box plot, trellis and word cloud.
Viz Blocks choice to have their instances
hosted on Amazon Web Services
(AWS) or Google Cloud Platform
(GCP), with plans to offer Azure
hosting in early 2020 (significant
given that Looker is now owned
by GCP)
Sep ‘17 Oct ‘18 Apr ‘19 Jun ‘19 Jul ‘19 • Further development of LoB apps
(e.g. Sales Analytics app will move
into GA)
• Moving content across sections,
adding areas for descriptions,
notifications for access requests
Release of Looker 6, featuring
Google announced its and improved search are also
pre-built analytics applications
plans to acquire Looker for promised improvements
for Digital Marketing and Web
$2.6 billion in an all-cash
Analytics. New Encryption Key
deal.
Management architecture.

Source: https://looker.com/news/press/; https://medium.com/mark-rittman/thoughts-on-looker-join-2017-and-the-looker-product-roadmap-b67657486e08 ; https://looker.com/news/press/looker-unveils-looker-6; https://looker.com/news/press/looker-expands-the-power-of-its-data-platform;

https://looker.com/news/press/looker-receives-highest-scores-possible-in-enterprise-bi-platform-report;https://docs.looker.com/sharing-and-publishing/whats-new#dashboards,_visualizations,_and_explore_3 ; https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-buys-looker-for-2-6-bilion-aims-to-extend-its-analytics-reach-support-multiple-clouds/;
https://help.looker.com/hc/en-us/articles/360025911434-How-do-I-organize-content-for-my-team-or-initiative-within-Looker-; https://looker.com/blog/looker-supports-multi-cloud-solutions
PRODUCT

Looker automatically generates data models from user generated

schema
Key Features Description
• Supports 50+ SQL connectors including Amazon redshift, Google Big Query, Microsoft SQL
Data Connectors
Server, Oracle, Impala, Presto, Hive and more
• Analytics blocks contain design patterns to jumpstart data transformation
• Governed transformation facilitated by LookML Models, JDBC Connections, User
Data Management and Security, ETL transform at runtime
Transformation • Automatically generates data models from underlying schema
• Centrally-defined, version-controlled business logic
• Retains row-level detail while transforming the data on the fly
• LookML, Looker’s own data modelling language, integrates seamlessly with Git via GitHub or
in-house Git server, and provides data analysts with personalized, partitioned dev environments,
with Git version control and re-usable models
Data Modeling • Ready made data blocks combine data sources with data models/mappings
• Agile modelling layer provides custom business logic which can be defined and referenced
on reusable basis; complex join logic and other dimensions are centralized and replicated
• Breaks SQL down into bite-sized chunks to allow for convenient analysis and recombination
• Predefined visualizations called ‘blocks’ that can be customized for target use cases
• Easy to setup dashboards which business users can create, edit and explore
Visualization • Supports plug-ins for any custom visualizations that can be created in D3
• Purpose built applications for sales, marketing and web analytics
• Folders: Content is organized by folders which include home folder, recently viewed,
favourites, and popular
• JavaScript Embed SDK
Embedded • Embedded blocks allow for full embeddability into web platforms
• RESTful API set for data integrations, deployment as iFrame or JavaScript
• Limited data movement: read only connection
• Bottom up data governance: Access restricted by permissions for user/group
Security • Monitoring: Logs all interactions so administrators can set up scheduled reports and alerts
• Features include: 2 Factor Authentication, SAML SSO, AES Encryption, IP Whitelisting, TLS
• Encryption Key Management architecture

Source: https://looker.com/product/; https://looker.com/solutions/databases

 PRODUCT

Google has already stated its intent to integrate NLP capabilities into
Looker, addressing a key weakness called out by analysts
• Both Forrester and Gartner call out Looker’s lack of NLP as a weakness: Google Cloud NLP
• “Whereas most other vendors are working on bringing NLP and augmented analytics to all users,
Looker is closing basic visualization gaps, such as smart use of color in Looker 6 and custom themes.”
– Gartner Magic Quadrant, 2019

• However, Google has already stated its intent to integrate its NLP capabilities into Looker:
• “One point of integration will be between Looker and Google's natural language processing technology,
which could serve as a front-end interface to Looker's platform.” – Thomas Kurian, CEO, Google
Cloud, June 2019

• In addition to its underlying search infrastructure, Google Cloud’s currently available NLP capabilities include:
1. Natural Language API: pre-trained models of the Natural Language API let developers work with natural
language understanding features including sentiment analysis, entity analysis, entity sentiment analysis,
content classification, and syntax analysis
2. AutoML Natural Language (Beta): Enables users to train custom machine learning models to classify,
extract, and detect sentiment.
3. Google AI’s ALBERT: Researchers from Google AI and Toyota Technological Institute of Chicago have
created ALBERT, a new AI capability. ALBERT now claims first place on major NLP performance
leaderboards for benchmarks like GLUE and SQuAD 2.0.

Source: https://searchbusinessanalytics.techtarget.com/news/252464715/Google-acquisition-of-Looker-to-boost-Google-Cloud-analytics; https://cloud.google.com/natural-language/; https://medium.com/syncedreview/googles-albert-is-a-leaner-bert-achieves-sota-on-3-nlp-benchmarks-f64466dd583;

https://venturebeat.com/2019/09/26/google-ais-albert-claims-top-spot-in-multiple-nlp-performance-benchmarks/
 PRICING

Looker costs ~$55 / user / month on AWS, and claims feature

advantages over Power BI in its marketing

Looker Platform
Price/month,
SKU Description Price/year, $
$*

STANDARD - Looker Platform with 10

Standard - Platform $66,600 $5,550
Standard Users, 24/7 Live Support

Advanced - ADVANCED - Standard Looker + 100k

$132,000 $11,000
Platform Query API Calls & 2 Looker Servers

ELITE - Advanced + 100k Admin API

Elite - Platform $198,000 $16,500
Calls & 8 Looker Servers

Add On - View Platform add-on user: view, filter, and

$400 $33
User schedule pre-made reports

Add On - Standard Platform add-on user: query modeled data -

$799 $67
User drill down + content creation

Add On - Platform add-on user: build & administrate

$1,665 $139
Dev/Admin User the data model

*Annual contract
Source: https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/B07TRP9ND4?qid=1569212951816&sr=0-1&ref_=srh_res_product_title;https://azuremarketplace.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace/apps/looker.looker-analytics-platform-326?tab=PlansAndPrice
 POSITIONING AND GO TO MARKET

Looker targets those familiar with SQL, and has recently updated its
positioning with LoB apps and a multi-cloud approach
Those familiar with SQL: LookML is built on SQL; supports more than 50
SQL ‘dialects’

Dashboard creators and consumers:

• “I love using Looker to monitor our key business metrics across both
Target device and channel.” – Dominique Essig, Chief Experience Officer,
audience Bonobos

LoB teams (marketing, sales, web analytics):

• “The combination of Looker and Google BigQuery allows marketers to
finally get an end-to-end view of all of their channels and drive
incredible value to their businesses.” – Jen Grant, CMO, Looker
Purpose built applications:
• “Looker applications are specific data-driven experiences tailored to the
unique needs of critical business functions in the business. The plug-
and-play Looker for Sales Analytics application provides the entire
sales team with a single console to track and take action.” - Looker
press release, April 2019

Multi cloud:
Positioning • “With Looker, you’re able to build on cloud technologies regardless of
the cloud provider. You can consolidate into a single cloud, or leverage
the benefits of multi-cloud quickly, securely.” - Joel McKelvey, Director
of Product Marketing, Sep 12, 2019

Scalable deployments:
• “Because Powered by Looker leverages the same platform [as Looker
for enterprises], they can quickly extend insights to business partners
and external customers.” – Frank Bien, CEO, Looker
Source: https://looker.com/customers/ ; https://info.looker.com/customer-stories/werkspot-case-study; https://looker.com/news/press/looker-expands-the-power-of-its-data-platform; https://looker.com/product/applications’; https://looker.com/platform/overview; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-XIouP0yRM;
https://info.looker.com/looker-201/embedded-analytics-looker-platform-vs-alternatives?prevItm=0&prevCol=356397&ts=2514 ; https://looker.com/blog/looker-supports-multi-cloud-solutions; https://looker.com/blog/looker-supports-multi-cloud-solutions
 STRENGTHS

Native cloud database support and LookML (Looker’s data modelling

language) are key strengths
• “Looker’s key differentiator is native support for cloud-based analytic databases, particularly Amazon (Redshift, Athena), Google
Native cloud Big Query and Snowflake”. – Gartner Magic Quadrant, 2019
1 database
• “Looker’s sweet spot is an environment in which clients have already made the migration to the big data cloud databases (AWS
support
Redshift, Big Query etc.).” – Forrester, 2019

• “LookML is built on SQL so is easy for SQL developers to learn.” -- Gartner Magic Quadrant, 2019
2 Data modelling
• “The LookML metadata repository and language is a game changer.” -– Michael Schiff, Heroku
language

Multi-cloud • Beginning in November 2019, Looker will allow customers the choice to have their instances hosted on Amazon Web Services
3 (AWS) or Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
deployment
options • Looker plans to offer Azure hosting in early 2020

• “The agile modeling and in-database capabilities for new databases are key reasons why buyers choose Looker.” -- Gartner
4 Metadata • “Data lineage is supported so that the user can see the original source of the data in Looker. Users can search within the
management
metadata, which is version controlled via Git.” – Gartner, 2019

• “Reference customers’ scores place Looker among the highest vendors for satisfaction with operations, including quality of
5 Customer support, time to resolution, and ease of migration. Gartner Peer Insights reviewers similarly rate it the best for service and
support support.” – Magic Quadrant, 2019
• “Looker CS team and support are the best providers that I have worked with.” – User (G2Crowd)
Source: MagicQuadrant,TrustRadius,G2Crowd; GarnerPeerInsights
 WEAKNESSES

Lack of advanced features, the ability to handle large data and a narrow
product roadmap are key concerns for Looker
• “As Looker’s data modeling requires coding, business users find its product more difficult to use than point-and-click solutions.” –
1 Requires
Magic Quadrant
Coding
• “Validating the code can sometimes last forever and occasional errors cause it to fall temporarily for the entire company.” - User
• “Sometimes it is still difficult to customize the visualizations.” User
Interactive
2 • “It wasn't super intuitive, needing to click on a reach dimension to do so when the filter and pivot buttons were so obviously an option.”
Visuals
- User

Navigation • “It is difficult to navigate large volumes of data content within the looker system.” - User
3 of large • “The limit of 500 rows is frustrating at times.” - User
datasets

• “For certain geolocation analytics functions, like geosearch and spatial joins, Looker depends on the capabilities of the underlying
Limited by
4 underlying
DBMS .” – Forrester Wave, 2019
databases • “Cannot perform joins across physically distributed databases” – Gleb M, Autodesk

• “Whereas most other vendors are working on bringing NLP and augmented analytics to all users, Looker is closing basic visualization
5 NLP and
gaps, such as smart use of color in Looker 6 and custom themes.” – Gartner Magic Quadrant, 2019
Augmented
• “Looker still has quite a way to go to catch up to the formidable competition. The product needs to address gaps in augmented BI
Analytics
(AutoML and conversational UI), deliver native mobile platforms, and introduce NLQ/NLG UI capabilities.” – Forrester Wave, 2019

Source: MagicQuadrant, TrustRadius, G2Crowd;GarnerPeerInsights

 Click icon to add picture

How to Win
HIGHLIGHTING LOOKER’S WEAKNESSES

Looker’s weak ease of use presents an opportunity to highlight Power BI’s

superiority
Looker weakness Description Details
• “As Looker’s data modeling requires coding, business  Power BI offers a GUI based approach, meaning it can be used by anyone in the
users find its product more difficult to use than point- organization
Requires coding
and-click solutions.” – Magic Quadrant  Excel users will be able to learn Power BI far quicker than Looker, meaning faster
time to value with Power BI
• “Has some gaps in one of the most important critical • Power BI is a leader in interactive visual exploration
capabilities — interactive visual exploration.” – Magic
Visuals • Power BI provides a variety of functional solutions in Marketing, Sales and
Quadrant
Customer Service and custom visuals
Navigation of • “It is difficult to navigate large volumes of data content • Microsoft has the industry leading in-memory data analytics engine, which
large datasets within the Looker system.” - User powers Power BI, Power BI Desktop, Excel, SSAS and Azure Analysis Services
• “For certain geolocation analytics functions, like geo- • Power BI offers 70+ data sources, covering every type of data source
Limited by search and spatial joins, Looker depends on the capabilities
of the underlying DBMS .” – Forrester Wave, 2019 • 15+ on premises databases, including SQL Server, DB2, Oracle, SAP and MySQL
underlying
databases • 25+ SaaS sources, including Salesforce, Marketo and Zendesk
• ODBC or OLE DB drivers connect to further 3rd party data sources
• “Whereas most other vendors are working on bringing NLP • Power BI offers Natural language queries with Cortana
and augmented analytics to all users, Looker is closing
basic visualization gaps, such as smart use of color in • The Quick Insights feature in Power BI automatically discovers data and presents
NLP and
Looker 6 and custom themes.” – Gartner Magic Quadrant, appropriate visualizations
Augmented 2019
Analytics • Gartner ranks Microsoft furthest to the right (for Vision) of any player in the
Magic Quadrant
REFUTING LOOKER’S STRENGTHS

Looker’s pre-defined blocks can be countered by Power

BI’s solution templates and partner solutions
Looker strength Description How to refute
• “Looker’s key differentiator is native support for cloud-based analytic • Power BI offers 70+ data sources, covering every type of data
Native cloud databases, particularly Amazon (Redshift, Athena), Google Big Query and source, including Amazon Redshift, Snowflake, Amazon
database support Snowflake”. – Gartner Magic Quadrant, 2019 Athena (via ODBC), Big Query (via ODBC) and other cloud
databases .
• “LookML is built on SQL so is easy for SQL developers to learn.” -- Gartner • Regular Microsoft users will be familiar with DAX (Data
Data Modelling
Magic Quadrant, 2019 Analysis Expressions), which can be used to solve basic
Language
calculation and data analysis problems
• Beginning in November 2019, Looker will allow customers the choice to • Power BI is available on Azure, which has the most availability and
Multi cloud have their instances hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Google the highest number of regions of any cloud platform
deployment Cloud Platform (GCP). Looker plans to offer Azure hosting in early 2020 • Looker is promising multi cloud deployment options, but is
options owned by Google, so this creates tension

• “Data lineage is supported so that the user can see the original source of the • Data lineage is supported in Power BI
data in Looker. Users can search within the metadata, which is version • Microsoft provides extensive data management capabilities, via
Metadata
controlled via Git.” – Gartner, 2019 the Manage Data Portal in O365 and Power Query for Excel
management
• Power BI is also releasing new data protection capabilities in the
Fall 2019 release, further enhancing its data management
• “Looker CS team and support are the best providers that I have worked with.” • Microsoft has one of the broadest partner networks anywhere
Customer support – User (G2Crowd) in technology – partners can provide the level of support you
are looking for
OBJECTION HANDLING

The objections that a Looker buyer may share include their preference for
a code-based rather than GUI approach
Objection Perceived Weakness Suggested Approach
“We want a ‘code • LookML is built on SQL so is easy for SQL • Stress the benefits of extending BI to all users. If the customer agrees that is the
first’ approach developers to learn. goal, they must choose a GUI solution such as Power BI.
(rather than GUI)”
• Sending data to Amazon S3 storage • Highlight Microsoft’s broader tools: Power BI is designed to turn insight to action
“We like Looker’s • Sending an email through the SendGrid email through integrations with tools like Microsoft Flow and PowerApps
actionability” platform
• Demo the Solution Templates and the extensive collection of partner created
solutions.
“We like Looker’s • Customers can contact Looker support via email • Explain Power BI’s partner program and how that can help find the right level of
support model” or online chat, with no need to fill in forms. support for the customer.
“We like Looker’s • “Viz Blocks are predefined visualizations. Data • Show the Out of the Box visuals possible with Power BI, and the 100+ custom
pre defined data Blocks are data sources combined with data visuals available
models.”
and visualization • Show the Solution Templates and collection of partner created solutions.
blocks”
“We prefer Big • In database approach, particularly differentiating for • Highlight that Power BI can connect to 70+ data sources, including Big Query and
Query or Redshift as newer databases such as Google Big Query and Redshift
Amazon Redshift
databases, and want • Explain that Microsoft has the industry leading in-memory data analytics engine,
an in-database which powers Power BI, Power BI Desktop, Excel, SSAS and Azure Analysis Services
approach”
RESOURCES

Further Resources

• Compete resources in Infopedia: aka.ms/bi

• Demos: Demo Hub, Microsoft Office Demos

• Programs: Microsoft Business Intelligence QuickStart,

Customer Immersion Experience, Office On Ramp

• CATM: WW APP Plat Compete, How to escalate

• Yammer: Tableau and Qlik, Business Intelligence Champs

Spares
January 2019

A Niche Player in
Analytics & BI
Platforms*
 Ranked as a ‘Strong Performer’. Received the
highest scores possible for: Big Data, System of
Insights, Product Vision, Deployment Options,
Delivery Model, Execution Roadmap and Past
Performance.

Source: https://reprints.forrester.com/#/assets/2/211/RES151235/reports
CUSTOMERS

Customers

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-XIouP0yRM; https://looker.com/customers

MARKETING

Looker Platform for Embedded Analytics (vs. alternatives)

Source: https://info.looker.com/looker-201/embedded-analytics-looker-platform-vs-alternatives
Looker Platform Functionality (1)

Source: https://looker.com/platform/overview
Looker Platform Functionality (2)

Source: https://looker.com/platform/overview
 Looker Platform Functionality (3)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMpKjkEI0ig
 Architecture

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-XIouP0yRM
Looker + GCP
 Modeling layer – provides a “single source of
truth” via the ability to store / manage all
definitions in one location
 100% in database – simplifies DataOps
 Extensible web architecture –
 Real time streaming – real time analytics
 Scalable data warehouse, with the ability to create
“private marts” with a single copy of the data
 AI and ML tools:
 AutoML Tables for auto-classification of data
 ML Expressions to understand trends and predictions
 Run bespoke AI models
 PRODUCT

Looker supports ~20 chart types, offers templates called blocks and
supports D3 custom visualizations
Chart types and templates
• ~20 chart types including bar, pie, column,
funnels, maps, tables, waterfall, box plot, trellis,
word cloud and sunburst
• 8 pre-build templates called ‘blocks’ built by
Looker and community members
• Ability to build dashboards

Other visualization features

• Looks: User created reports that can be saved,
viewed and shared
• Boards allow users to organize existing
dashboards and Looks without having to change
where they reside in Looker
• Supports plug-ins for any custom visualizations
that can be created in D3

Source: https://looker.com/product/visualizations; https://looker.com/platform/blocks/directory#viz; https://docs.looker.com/exploring-data/visualizing-query-results/visualization-types; https://docs.looker.com/exploring-data/saving-and-editing-looks#saving_looks_from_an_explore;

https://info.looker.com/youtube-learning-looker-tutorials-and-product-features/look-learn-looks-overview; https://docs.looker.com/exploring-data/saving-and-editing-looks; https://docs.looker.com/exploring-data/saving-and-editing-looks; https://docs.looker.com/video-library/exploring-data#find_and_view_content
PRODUCT

Looker provides pre-built apps for sales, marketing and web analytics
Example: Looker for Digital Marketing:
• Purchase behaviour • Full funnel view
o Return on Ad Spend • Customer health metrics
o Cost per click • Customer 360º
• Multi-touch attribution
• Awareness analysis
• Suggested optimizations and
o Click through rate
actions
o Impressions

Connects to:

Source: https://info.looker.com/looker-101/digital-marketing-application-brief
PRODUCT

LookML is Looker’s own query language

• LookML is Looker developed
query language for describing
dimensions, aggregates,
calculations and data relationships
in a SQL database
• Looker uses a model written in
LookML to construct SQL queries
against particular databases
• For data analysts, LookML fosters
DRY style (“don’t repeat
yourself”), meaning you write SQL
expressions once, in one place, and
Looker uses the code repeatedly to
generate ad-hoc SQL queries on the
fly
• LookML allows you to define your
company’s business logic so it can
be used by the entire company
• Integrates seamlessly with Git via
GitHub or a Git server

Source: https://docs.looker.com/data-modeling/learning-lookml/what-is-lookml#overview_of_fundamental_lookml_elements; https://looker.com/platform/data-modeling

PRODUCT

Looker’s sharing, scheduling and alerting functions are not embedded

into the workflow of O365
Sharing:
1. Emailing of Looks and dashboards
2. Public sharing via public URLs
3. Public embedding with iframe Tags
4. Private embedding
Scheduling:
• Looker allows scheduling periodic delivery of a user-defined dashboard,
Look’s visualization, or a Look’s data
• Delivery destinations include email, an Amazon S3 bucket, an SFTP server, a
webhook, or an integrated service
Alerts
• Email Alerts (beta): Ability to create alerts directly from a dashboard tile by
setting up threshold-based conditions (greater than, less than, changes by,
increases, etc.) and receive notifications via email
Download and export
• Dashboards can be downloaded in .pdf or PNG formats
• Dashboard data can be exported to CSV, Excel, HTML, JASON,
MARKDOWN, TXT, and Google sheets

Source: https://docs.looker.com/sharing-and-publishing/scheduling-and-sharing/send-once#send_look; https://docs.looker.com/sharing-and-publishing/publishing-looks-with-public-urls ; https://docs.looker.com/sharing-and-publishing/downloading; https://docs.looker.com/sharing-and-publishing/embedding

PRODUCT

OEM and embedded (“Powered by Looker”) accounts for 30% of

Looker’s revenue
Looker API:
• RESTful API for managing the Looker instance, and fetching
data through the Looker data platform
• With the Looker API customers can write apps or automation
scripts to provision new Looker user accounts, run queries,
schedule reports, etc.

The Looker API offers two options to make use of SDKs:

• Ruby SDK: Looker offers an official Looker API client SDK for
Ruby
• Swagger Generated SDK: If the customer does not want to use
Ruby, they can generate a client SDK in the language of their
choice

Authentication:
• Looker authenticates API requests using an OAuth 2.0 bearer
access token in the HTTP authorization header of the request
• All Looker API endpoints require a secure HTTPS connection

Source: https://docs.looker.com/reference/api-and-integration/api-getting-started; https://looker.com/product/embedded-analytics; https://docs.looker.com/reference/api-and-integration/api-sdk; https://info.looker.com/looker-201/embedded-analytics-looker-platform-vs-alternatives

PRODUCT

Data Actions allow users to perform tasks across 3rd party apps, directly
from Looker
• Data Actions allow users to perform tasks in
other applications from Looker’s interface

• For example, a user can generate and update

JIRA tickets from Looker

• Looker hosts and provides a stateless server

called the Looker Action Hub, which
implements Looker’s Action API and exposes
popular actions

• Any data that users send using an action will be

processed temporarily on the Action Hub server
rather than in the Looker instance

Source: https://info.looker.com/looker-201/data-actions-take-action-on-what-you-learn-right-from-looker-2; https://looker.com/platform/actions