How to Use Google Spreadsheets for No-Cost Data Analytics

Most users are unaware that Google Spreadsheets, a part of Google Docs, the online productivity suite that's free for individuals, has a majority of the features users look for in Microsoft Excel. Google Spreadsheets' analytics capability can instantly enhance your use of business, organizational or personal information. Knowledge Center contributor Oudi Antebi explains how Google Spreadsheets can satisfy virtually all of your daily spreadsheet needs, including how to use Google Spreadsheets for no-cost data analytics.

In some ways Google Spreadsheets goes beyond Microsoft Excel and can actually extend the enterprise user's capabilities. Google Spreadsheets can help users in the enterprise with collaboration, visualization and analytics.

1. Collaboration
Google Spreadsheets allows multiple users to work together in real time on a single spreadsheet report. Even if you're not ready to replace Excel, you will benefit from uploading your existing spreadsheet to Google Spreadsheets, then inviting people to a collaborative session. When finished, you can simply save your spreadsheet back to Excel or keep it live on Google Docs.

2. Visualization
Google has built some interesting data visualization tools into its free Spreadsheets application. These tools, known as gadgets, can be added to a Google spreadsheet as needed. For example you can inset an animated "motion chart" into your spreadsheet to show how data has changed over time.

3. Data analytics
The analytical features in Google Spreadsheets are extremely powerful, enabling numbers to tell stories that might otherwise have never been found. By being able to "slice and dice" data, you can see your numbers in a new light and gain important insights.
Pivot tables are a great case in point for the power of analytics. By inserting a pivot table into your spreadsheet, you can instantly and dynamically compare classes or information such as expenses over time, sales by geography and so forth. Or you can quickly identify your top 10 (or bottom 10) products, vendors or salespeople.

Read full article and a step-by-step guide to using analytics in a Google spreadsheet: http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Enterprise-Applications/How-to-Use-Google-Spreadsheets-for-NoCost-Data-Analytics/

You Can Now Embed Analytics on Your Website

Adding interactive analytics of your data to your website was never easier. Whether you’re sharing financial data, weather forecast or product comparisons, an interactive tool to navigate through the data gives your blog and website visitors much more than simple static tables of data.

Panorama Analytics can be embedded in your web site or blog just like YouTube videos. First, create a Panorama Analytics gadget, connect and upload your data, and prepare the initial report or chart. Save it and use the “Embed” option under “Save” menu to get the embedding code.

Uploading Data From Your Excel or CSV File

1. Login to iGoogle

2. Click “Add Stuff” or “Insert Gadget” and search for Panorama or look in the “Tables” category. There are two Panorama gadgets available, use the “Panorama Analytics” one. Or you can click on this link and add the gadget to your iGoogle page.

3. Login inside the gadget with the same Google account you are using. That’s how we’ll authenticate and recognize you.

4. Choose the data source and upload some data. For example, it can be some Excel file with interesting data to analyze.

Uploading Data From Your Google Spreadsheet

1. Login to Google Spreadsheets and open / create a spreadsheet with the data you want to analyze.

2. Once your data is ready, click insert and chose Gadgets.

3. Select the “Tables” menu on the left.

4. Click “Add to spreadsheet” below the “Analytics for Google Spreadsheet” gadget and follow the wizard to create your first interactive report

Customizing and saving your report

5. Once there in the Panorama Analytics, interact and play with the data.

• Use the help system to learn the tool. Experiment.
• Use our tutorial to learn how to use the product: http://www.panorama.com/google/pivot-table-tutorial/
• Watch the video to learn more about the product: http://www.panorama.com/webcasts/saas-demo/

6. Once you have an interesting chart or view on your data, Save the view (from the main toolbar).

Generating the embedding code

7. From the same “Save” menu, use the embedding option to generate the embedding code. No need to understand HTML. Just set the size for the analytics component, give it a title and copy the HTML code to the right place in your website or blog post.

Security

Note the security mode. It’s your decision whether any anonymous visitor will be able to see the data or whether they are required to login with their Google account first.

Scobleizer: The story of 2009? Enterprise disruption?

Robert Scoble interviews Oudi Antebi of Panorama Software:

“In addition to the interview I did yesterday with socialtext, which explores some of the disruption coming to enterprises, there’s another trend I’m tracking: the coming fight between the collaborative web and Microsoft.Now some pundits in the industry think that the fight will be head on. Not me. I think it’ll be more parasitic. Like how mold takes over a strawberry. Slow, but in the end the strawberry dies.Is that what we’re seeing now? Well, here’s something that is a small piece of the bigger trend. You could call it a few cells of mold on the strawberry, if you’d like.What is it? Panorama Software for Google Apps. I shot two videos with Oudi Antebi, VP of marketing and strategy of Panorama Software. Never heard of them? Neither had I, but what they are doing is very disruptive to bigger companies:

Part I. Where we discover what is happening in the Business Intelligence space and learn what Panorama Software is doing. (This video is embedded above).

Part II. Demo of how the Panorama gadget is used to display real-time data.”

Read full blog post: http://scobleizer.com/2008/12/31/the-story-of-2009-enterprise-disruption/

Collaborating on sreadsheets

I just read this post talking about how nice it will be to be able to collaborate on spreadsheets when Office 14 is available. 

I am writing this post to ensure that those who need to collaborate on spreadsheets and even better - do some very powerful collaborative analysis don’t wait 2 years for Office 14 but start using Google Docs with Panorama’s online solution now.

All you need to do is upload your spreadsheet to Google docs, insert the Panorama pivot table gadget and share with others.

Here is a nice video showing how you do that:

http://panorama.com/webcasts/saas-demo/index.html

Support for SQL Server Analysis Services

Some time ago we announced a release of the first enterprise extension for Panorama Analytics for Google Docs in the form of SQL Server Analysis Services support. This solution offers enterprise users the ability to analyze data from their Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services platform through the use of local cube files.

If you still haven't tried it yet, here's a short video tutorial that will help you get started.

To learn more about this solution, please visit Corporate Data Analysis section at www.panorama.com.

Video Tutorial for Pivot Tables

We are excited to announce a new Video Tutorial for Pivot Tables in Google Spreadsheets! Check it out and please send us your questions, comments or suggestions. We'd love to hear from you!

Press Release - Panorama Software Unveils Major Upgrade To Its Data Analysis And Pivot Table Solution For Google Apps

New Release Gives Both Consumers and Enterprise Users the Most
Intuitive and Robust Data Analysis Tool Available in a Software as a Service model

TORONTO, ON – (September 17th, 2008) – Following its breakthrough announcement earlier this year regarding the adding of pivot table functionality to Google AppsTM, Panorama Software, a global leader in Proactive Business Intelligence solutions, today unveiled a major update to its data analysis solution. Focusing mainly on delivering a flash-enabled, rich user interface along with support for enterprise line-of-business data, the new release enables greater numbers of consumer and enterprise users to take advantage of the power of analytics.

“After our initial public release of pivot table functionality for Google Spreadsheets in March of this year, we were completely overwhelmed by the tremendously positive response that Google users gave us,” said Oudi Antebi, Vice President of Marketing and Strategy for Panorama Software. “Our new release has two goals: one, to make data analysis so simple so that any information worker or consumer can use it; and two, to enable our solution for Google Apps to analyze enterprise line-of-business data.”

Panorama’s new solution for Google Apps features a completely overhauled user interface which allows, for the first time, a truly user-friendly and powerful analytical experience. Built using Adobe’s flash technology, the UI is more closely aligned with Google’s traditional sleek look and feel; the inclusion of smooth animation and graphics also guides the user through each step of the data analysis operation.

Panorama’s latest solution can be found in the “featured list” of Google DocsTM Gadget List starting today. Or add to your iGoogle page directly from the following URL:

http://www.google.com/ig/adde?moduleurl=hosting.gmodules.com/ig/gadgets/file/107522617710775425917/Panorama_Analyzer_For_IGoogle.xml
“Panorama is making its analytics technology more appealing and easy to use for enterprises and consumers alike,” said Jonathan Rochelle, senior product manager Google. “Our goal with spreadsheet gadgets was to empower developers and companies with specific expertise and software to easily make their capabilities available to users of Google spreadsheets, so we are pleased to see that Panorama is doing exactly that in their area of expertise—Business Intelligence and data analysis.”

Beyond processing spreadsheet data, the new data analysis solution gives enterprise users the ability to examine corporate line-of-business data or OLAP sources right from within Panorama’s solution for Google Apps. Panorama offers a special application for download through a partnership with SDG Computing at (http://www.cubeslice.com/googledocs/cubeslicegdocinstall.exe ), enabling enterprise users to select the data required for analysis inside the firewall, then upload it to the cloud for analysis in just a few easy steps.

“We believe that Google Apps provides an extremely powerful platform for enterprise companies,” said Eynav Azarya, CEO for Panorama Software. “By integrating business intelligence capabilities with the leading Software as a Service based productivity suite, we provide a level of usability, collaboration and mobility not available before.”

In the months to come, Panorama plans to release more capabilities for its new Software as a Service (SaaS) offering and its solution for Google Apps. Some of the new functionality will include RSS support, advanced exception and alerting, new visualization capabilities, support for data from Salesforce, SAP and Microsoft Dynamics, as well as new social capabilities. The goal of these improvements will be to seamlessly bring together the worlds of business intelligence, SaaS, Google Apps and Web 2.0 in a highly relevant and business-focused way.

Customers using Panorama’s NovaView BI solution will also enjoy a new integration with this newly announced Google solution wherein every report created on-premise can be published and used through Google Apps, enabling new collaborative capabilities inside and outside the firewall, mobility and iPhone support, and enhanced usability.