For many data professionals, spreadsheets have long been the go-to tool for data preparation. A recent survey of 200 senior analytics and IT leaders reveals that nearly 25% of teams still rely on spreadsheets as their primary tool for data manipulation in 2024. Their flexibility and familiarity make them a staple in countless workflows.
However, as data volumes grow and the complexity of analyses increases, spreadsheet-based processes can become cumbersome and error-prone. Common challenges include managing large datasets, handling complex formulas, and ensuring data consistency across multiple sheets. Additionally, the lack of version control, difficult collaboration, and the lack of advanced data preparation features can limit productivity and lead to inefficiencies.
Enter Dataiku, the solution for a more scalable, efficient, and powerful approach to data preparation. While Dataiku is known as the Universal AI Platform, it also provides a suite of features specifically designed to address the pain points faced by spreadsheet users. These features not only replicate the familiar functionalities of spreadsheets but also enhance them with advanced capabilities that are particularly useful for handling larger datasets and more complex data preparation tasks.
Dataiku allows users to work with data in ways that are intuitive for those who are accustomed to spreadsheets, while also offering tools that take data preparation to the next level. In this post, we’ll explore a few of Dataiku’s newest features that users might not be aware of. Whether you’re new to Dataiku or looking to unlock more of its potential, these features can help you overcome the limitations of traditional spreadsheet tools and elevate your data preparation game.
Multi-Row Formulas
In spreadsheets, users sometimes rely on complex formulas that reference multiple rows to derive insights or clean data. Dataiku brings this familiar concept into a more advanced environment, allowing users to create multi-row formulas that can perform operations across rows of data. Whether you need to calculate running totals or perform other types of iterative calculations, multi-row formulas offer a powerful and efficient way to manipulate data.
Quickly create offset arguments for iterative calculations.
Conditional Logic
Another valuable feature is the If/Then/Else logic. This conditional logic is a staple in spreadsheet-based data preparation, used to categorize or filter data based on specific conditions. Dataiku enhances this capability by allowing users to build complex conditional workflows without needing to write code. This feature is especially useful for those who need to segment data, create custom categories, or apply filters dynamically based on changing conditions.
Easily apply conditional logic in Dataiku.
Automated Transformations With Generative AI
AI Prepare is one of Dataiku’s more advanced and lesser-known tools that can significantly simplify data preparation tasks. For users familiar with automated data preparation tools in other platforms, AI Prepare takes this concept to the next level by combining the power of the Dataiku prepare recipe with Generative AI.
With just a few simple instructions, Dataiku automatically recommends and maps out the necessary steps needed for your data transformation. This is particularly helpful if you have a general idea of what you need to do, but aren’t completely sure how to accomplish your task.
Simply write out what you want — Dataiku does the rest.
Preview Data Transformations
Finally, the ability to preview data before applying transformations is a game-changer for those who are used to working with data preparation tools that lack this feature. In Dataiku, users can see the immediate impact of their transformations before committing to them within the prepare recipe, reducing the risk of errors and making it easier to experiment with different approaches. This real-time feedback loop is invaluable for ensuring accurate data preparation on the first try, saving both time and effort in the long run.
Preview steps in the prepare recipe before applying them to data.
These are just a handful of features that help users make data preparation up to 10x faster. From easily connecting data sources with built-in connectors, to speeding up transformations with hundreds of visual recipes, Dataiku is designed to take data preparation to the next level. We’ll talk about some of our other great data preparation features you may not know about in upcoming blogs, so keep an eye out for more!