SIGMA

The project I worked on with Sigma  involved creating a migration assessment tracker. We fetch all the data from the Tableau server and the cloud through the metadata API or the REST API. Then our data engineering team puts that particular data through the Alteryx  workflow, refines all the components, and pushes the data into Snowflake . We then connect Snowflake  with Sigma . With that report, you can compute how much time it will take to migrate a particular site, how many workbooks exist, how many tabs are in Tableau, the duration required, and the complexity of the workbook based on the calculations.

The report also shows if any workbook is associated with upstream workflows or how many published data sources exist. We brought this information onto Sigma and created our report accordingly to estimate the migration time.

It serves the marketing team by ensuring that when receiving a project involving migration from Tableau to Sigma, they can estimate the time required. It estimates all efforts based on these complexities, the size of the Tableau server, and the number of users involved.

Compared to other BI tools, each tool has its own capabilities. Sigma has excellent features, such as lookup tables where you can easily bring data that are not interrelated or at different granularity. Because in Tableau, you can see various LODs. To create those same functionalities in Sigma, we generally use lookup tables and replicate that functionality there. It has multiple good controls such as segmented controls. It also provides tab options with the inbuilt feature in the interface itself. If you need to create a similar thing in Tableau, you need to create separate sheets or buttons. Sigma provides several cool features. You can create multiple visuals, and the maps functionality is very good in Sigma. We explored all the charts that Sigma has provided in its interface. Although Sigma is introducing some AI capabilities, that has yet to be explored from our side. We have explored the interface part, creating dashboards, and managing data sources with joins and relationships.

As we are exploring multiple features in Sigma, I think Sigma can add more functionality. As Power BI gives multiple modeling options in its interface with the query editor, those features can be added in Sigma for intuitiveness or for making the data very clean. From the dashboarding perspective, it performs well. However, from the modeling perspective, it requires more capabilities that can be added in Sigma.

The main improvement needed is in data modeling capabilities. If they add those features in the near future, it would be very helpful for us to implement the same or do the data cleansing part in the Sigma tool itself.

I have almost eight years of experience working with Tableau and Power BI. For Sigma, I have been working for the past two years.

I am not sure if my company purchased Sigma through the AWS Marketplace .

We did not face typical errors during our project with Sigma. In the near future, if we receive support from Sigma, that would be more helpful. There are multiple teams in my organization working on Sigma projects. We have not connected with Sigma support yet. In the future, I can provide more detailed reviews.

If data is substantial, in Sigma's case, the data is always live. It is not a kind of extract, whereas Tableau provides both live and extract functionality.

On the scale of 1 to 10, I rate Sigma an 8.5 because there are multiple tools whose setup needs to be done, and the servers are also on physical machines such as Tableau server for maintaining all those components. As Sigma is a cloud platform, you do not need to do all that maintenance work. Regarding visualization and data modeling, as mentioned earlier, they can improve on those aspects. The functionality and interface have improved significantly with their latest versions. Previously, all options were on the left-hand side, and now there are floating themes at the bottom where you can easily select all options and create a good dashboard.

Positive

In Tableau, you have filter actions where you can select any particular sheet, click on that particular button, and the data is filtered accordingly. You can do a similar thing with the help of actions in Sigma. You can even change the dynamic axis. If you want to change the X-axis and Y-axis, you can do it with the help of controls, the segmented controls, and with the help of actions.

Setting up Sigma is not complex. If you know all the components through their documentation, you can easily implement it as the documentation they created is comprehensive and contains all the necessary information.

As we are a hybrid team, operating from India as well as the US side, we do the development part and our US team connects with the clients and deploys all components in the environment. We are primarily developers, but we can also manage the publishing and other tasks.

Regarding the differences between Sigma and Tableau, for visualization, Tableau is the best tool I have worked with because you can change the visualization accordingly by creating different calculated fields. Sigma could add more visualizations. In Tableau, you can do forecasting with the help of the analytics tab. If Sigma also adds these features, it would be beneficial. In Tableau, there is a smoothing model you can select to do forecasting, create good trend lines, and add effective reference lines while creating trends.

I prefer to remain anonymous. Based on my experience with Sigma, I would rate it 8.5 out of 10.

Hybrid Cloud

Amazon Web Services  (AWS )

We use Sigma  for all of our data visualization and reporting. It works off of Snowflake , so it pulls in data from Salesforce , NetSuite, our website, and Google Analytics . Via Snowflake , we're able to have unified, single views. Sigma  serves as the visualization and reporting front end.

Sigma is widely adopted across our organization for creating dashboards and reports. The solution feels more modern than Tableau , and it's not as sales-oriented, offering a more generalized approach. The visual appeal of Sigma stands out, as the graphs and charts look visually nicer compared to Tableau . The use of Sigma in decision-making, presentations to customers, and reporting to investors showcases its value in handling data-related tasks.

I would love to be able to create my own reports in Sigma, as I can do in Salesforce . Either we are not using it properly, or the software is too complicated. It would be great if there was a way for me to create reports without relying on a data analyst. I'm interested in the upcoming AI co-pilot to enable natural language generation of visualizations and reports. Also, the marketing materials did not match what I feel we've received. Regarding pricing, Sigma's pricing doesn't allow more people to have the ability to create their own reports. We have very few admin or report creator licenses, while everyone else is on a view-only mode.

We have been using Sigma for around a year and a half.

We previously used Tableau. We found Tableau to be a less modern solution, and we hoped Sigma would be more self-serve. However, it's not more self-serve than Tableau.

I didn't perform the initial setup. The migration from Tableau took quite a bit of time, indicating that it could benefit from being more straightforward and easier.

While I don't have specific metrics, Sigma is integral to our business processes. We use it in decision-making and for customer and investor presentations. It's essential for everything data-related within our company.

The pricing of Sigma is a concern, as it restricts our ability to provide more users with report-creating capabilities due to the high cost of admin or report creator licenses. Most users have view-only access.

I did not participate in the evaluation process, but our data analysts considered other solutions besides Tableau and Sigma, though I can't recall which ones.

Determine your requirements carefully as there are many data visualization tools available. Each has pros and cons, so ensure Sigma fits your needs. Additionally, I rate Sigma an eight out of ten because it meets our needs, but there are some disappointments with the software.

Our primary use case for Sigma  is reporting.

The most valuable feature of Sigma  is the detailed reports. These reports offer a lot of details and have positively impacted our ability to generate better reports for the organization.

Sigma could have better reports.

I have been using Sigma for a year.

Other

I use Figma for UX wireframes. My UX team creates the actual UI and prototypes to demonstrate UI behavior. Afterward, we collaborate with the PO and PMs to refine further. Once finalized, the UI wireframes are used as a base for developing the actual UI, leveraging CSS provided by Figma for consistency. During testing, Figma serves as a reference for checking alignment, font sizing, color, and behaviors.

Figma offers the ability to extract CSS to ensure consistency between the design and the actual UI. Overall, Figma facilitates many collaborative uses along the project pipeline, enhancing teamwork efficiency. The top two features are collaboration and commenting. Multiple users can view and interact with designs simultaneously, much like Miro. The CSS extraction feature ensures that the rendered page matches the design, reducing discrepancies.

There is room for improvement in Figma's versioning capabilities. I feel there is a lack of change tracking, which affects clarity in collaborative environments. Implementing version history similar to code repositories would aid in tracking design evolution. Additionally, Figma lacks adequate structure for organizing designs. Implementing features for better grouping, labeling, and categorizing would enhance usability.

I have used Figma within the last few months.

Figma is a stable product without notable breakdowns or bugs.

Previously, I used InfinityForm or a similar tool, and I find Figma much better than that.

I was not involved in the initial setup as it was managed by a different team.

If I were to add a feature to Figma, it would be versioning to aid collaborative teams in tracking design changes over time. I rate Figma a six out of ten due to the need for better structuring and labeling of diagrams and the absence of versioning.

Public Cloud

Other

My primary task involves creating reports and dashboards by extracting data from Snowflake , which consolidates information from various sources like Salesforce , our website, and Google Analytics . The goal is to provide insights and generate reports, such as sales reports for our sales team. These reports cover crucial aspects like total revenue, individual sales performance, goal achievements, and commission calculations. I use Sigma  to perform calculations in the background, allowing end-users like sales managers and the finance team to access and analyze these reports effortlessly. It also offers a comprehensive overview for our CEO, enabling them to monitor various aspects of the company, including sales, finances, expenses, and product delivery. Each employee can access relevant information tailored to their role, facilitating better decision-making and job performance.

The most valuable aspect for me is having real-time data. I don't have to worry about deciding how much data to extract or when to perform extractions. All I need is to ensure the data is in Snowflake , and from there, it seamlessly flows into Sigma .

While Sigma excels in quick and straightforward visualizations, it currently lacks some of the intricate options that Tableau  offers. If Sigma were to incorporate these advanced visualization capabilities, it could be a game-changer. The ability to create complex visualizations in seconds, a strength already present in Sigma, coupled with the sophistication of Tableau , could reshape the landscape of data visualization tools.

I have been using it for three months.

Sigma has proven to be consistently reliable, ensuring uninterrupted access without facing server-related disruptions.

You have the flexibility to easily add or delete reports in Sigma, including incorporating new ones without any complications. In terms of users, the advantage lies in the fact that viewers are free and their allocation is unlimited. This has been particularly beneficial for us, as the majority of our users fall into the viewer category. This simplified the process, allowing anyone who simply requires viewing access to be added without any limitations. For users needing additional capabilities, such as making adjustments or creating content, a license purchase is required. However, these users with extended functionalities are limited, and we don't have a substantial number of users falling into this category. We have future plans to expand and continue our utilization of Sigma.

I am extremely satisfied with their technical support. During a challenging month when I had to transition everything to a new platform and was unfamiliar with creating basic features, their support was invaluable. In contrast to my previous experience with Tableau, where I would resort to online searches or contacting external companies, Sigma's support is exceptional. I could simply enter the live chat, ask my questions, and receive immediate answers. This significantly expedited the process, contributing to the month-long transition period. Their customer support was consistently reliable and responsive, making the overall experience highly positive.

Positive

Before adopting Sigma, our tool of choice was Tableau. Upon exploring Sigma, I found that it addressed everything I ever felt was missing in Tableau, especially in meeting the needs of our users. Sigma not only provided the features I had been looking for but also introduced convenient options like input tables, user-friendly visualizations, and the ability to view raw data instantly without the need to download it to Excel or any external platform. It seamlessly incorporated all these aspects within the Sigma platform.

The installation process was incredibly straightforward — simply logging into the router, and that was it. Setting up the connection with our Snowflake account was equally swift, taking around twenty seconds, or half a minute, to input the username and password.

Sigma is an official partner with Snowflake, streamlining the integration process. By adding Sigma as a partner within the Snowflake account, all the necessary features are automatically configured, making the setup in Sigma seamless and automatic. This entire process, including the partnership setup, took me less than a minute. Once the setup was complete, the main task was to recreate all the reports from Tableau in Sigma. Despite the volume, around fifty to sixty reports, this took me approximately a month. The initial challenge was recreating each report, but the efficient integration and setup made the transition smooth, allowing for a relatively quick adaptation of the reports in Sigma.

Ultimately, despite being more expensive than Tableau, Sigma is worth the investment based on the pricing plan we signed up for. In 2024, being the first year of using Sigma, I am confident that we will witness improvements. The value of Sigma lies in its ability to save time and provide instant insights, allowing us to focus on our tasks and deals. The return on investment (ROI) becomes evident when users can directly attribute efficiency gains to Sigma.

The viewer license is free, and the available licenses are for creators. The retail price is set at one thousand dollars per creator per year. Additionally, there is a platform fee of thirty thousand dollars per year, which is a fixed cost.

When we switched from Tableau to Sigma, we didn't consider other tools. It never crossed my mind to replace Tableau; I had been consistently using Tableau, even in my previous job. Sigma came into the picture when they reached out to me on LinkedIn, asking if I was familiar with it and interested in learning more.

Sigma is like an advanced version of Excel. If you have even a basic understanding of Excel, especially its fundamental functions, using Sigma becomes intuitive. Our revenue operations manager transitioned to Sigma almost immediately and, as one of the creators, hasn't used Excel much since. In just two months, Sigma has empowered her to handle tasks independently, eliminating the need for frequent requests on how to perform certain actions or make adjustments. As a data analyst, this shift has freed up a considerable amount of time, allowing for a more focused and confident approach to the actual job. Currently, I would give it a rating of nine out of ten. The only minor area for improvement lies in handling highly complex visualizations. However, overall, I am highly satisfied with the outcomes we've achieved so far.

Public Cloud