How to Become a Tableau Developer [A Comprehensive Guide]

Role of a Tableau Developer

Tableau Developer is a type of developer who will use the different types of data and represent it into visual form like pie chart, bar chart, etc. which is easily understandable by the end-user for decision making. This job is one of the most preferred jobs in the Business Intelligence Industry. The best part about operating Tableau as one of the top data science tools is that it doesn’t demand any programming or technical flair.

The tableau developer should be able to understand the need of the business from the perspective of the client. Their main job is to derive insight from the data and help the company to enhance its processes using data visualization.

An individual who wants to become a tableau developer should have an interest in problem-solving, being a team player, and finishing the work within the deadlines. The tableau developer has to understand the source of data and the format of data, clean the data, create it into a beautiful visualization with different parameters, actions, and filters. They also play the role of Tableau Admin for Server.

They will help the business processes to improve by providing solutions in the form of visualized data. The Tableau developers will display data solutions that will include different tasks like production of BI views and reports, generation of dashboard reports, coordinating with the designers, and taking the feedback for system improvement.

A tableau developer has to build some fantastic features in tableau tools like storytelling and forecasting, which can be used to predict and forecast using past information and data.

Pursuing a Career as a Tableau Developer

There are a huge demand and growth for a Tableau developer job in the Business Intelligence Industry, which is growing exponentially in the field of data visualization. Tableau developers are known to be Industry leaders in developing business intelligence tools for the ability and skills in executing the completeness of data as a visual.

The skill of the tableau developer is required in many kinds of jobs, and they are among the best-salaried professionals in the Business Intelligence Industry. 

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There is a high demand for this role in BI Industry, and the average salary of a tableau professional can be $106,000. The average salary of tableau developers is also increasing where the salary can go as high as $158,000, which is one of the best compensation in the industry.

In India, an average data analyst with tableau skills earns Rs. 5 Lakh per annum. With more experience, the average salary goes around Rs. 8 – 10 Lakh per annum.

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Many top companies like Dell, KPMG, Verizon, Facebook, Bank of America, Sony Electronics, General Motors, etc. are looking for Talented Tableau Developers.

To enhance their career as Tableau Developer, one can learn predictive modeling concepts, statistical models, python, R programming, cloud data stores, data extraction and loading, master data management concepts, database programming. An individual should be able to understand the analytics and BI very well for their remarkable growth in career.

Tableau, as an analytical and visualization tool, is an excellent BI tool that is very high in demand in the market for its fantastic visualization capabilities. It is one of the most preferred Data Visualization Tool as it is effortless to learn and fast to implement.

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A Tableau developer can be known by different names, such as Tableau Data Scientist, Tableau Data Artist, Tableau Discoverer, Tableau Data Analyst. Some other names for Tableau developer role can be Business Intelligence Manager, Business Intelligence Developer, Business Intelligence Analyst, Business Analyst, Information Analyst, Tableau Consultant, etc.

How to become a tableau developer? In order to become a tableau developer, there are some data science skills that you must have:

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Responsibilities of a Tableau Developer

The responsibilities of a tableau developer will mainly depend on the type of business organization he is working for. But the most common type of tableau developer responsibilities are as follows:

1) Understanding the needs of clients

A Tableau Developer should be able to think from the perspective of the client and what they exactly need. They should make some questions to themselves as to how the tableau dashboard will help clients in making their decisions. By adopting a client-focused approach, developers can ask pertinent questions to identify the specific requirements and challenges faced by clients.

This perspective enables them to design Tableau dashboards that provide actionable insights, enabling clients to make informed decisions based on the data presented. Ultimately, this empathetic understanding ensures that the Tableau solutions developed align precisely with the clients’ objectives and enhance their decision-making processes.

2) Providing Technical Solutions

The main goal of a tableau developer is to build a technical solution to solve the need for a business. An individual should be innovative in finding a solution and able to understand the requirement. Your creativity and problem-solving skills will be put to the test as you craft data visualizations that empower decision-making and drive business success. With your expertise in Tableau, you play a crucial role in transforming raw data into meaningful and impactful solutions for the organization’s growth and efficiency.

3) OLAP (Online Analytical Processing)

Tableau Developer should be able to preserve the Data within the business organization using online analytical processing tools. OLAP allows you to analyze large volumes of data from multiple perspectives, enabling deeper insights and informed decision-making. By utilizing Tableau’s OLAP capabilities, you can create dynamic and interactive data visualizations that empower stakeholders to explore data effortlessly.

4) Testing of Tool

Once the tool is built, a tableau developer is required to test the tool by conducting the unit tests and developing database queries to analyze the problems that may arise in the tool.

After building the Tableau tool, a Tableau Developer needs to conduct rigorous testing. This involves performing thorough unit tests to ensure the tool’s functionalities work as intended. Additionally, you’ll develop database queries to analyze potential problems that may arise. By meticulously testing the tool, you can identify and address any issues, ensuring its accuracy and reliability.

5) Enhancement of System

After the tool is built for a business organization, the improvement of the system should go on by evaluation. Based on the role of tableau developer, they are required to collaborate with all the teams in the organization to include new methods to design company workflow and process.

After implementation, your focus shifts to continuous improvement and system enhancement. You’ll actively evaluate the tool’s performance, collaborating with various teams across the organization to gather feedback and identify areas for enhancement. By incorporating new methodologies and refining company workflows and processes, you ensure that the Tableau system evolves to meet changing business needs.

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6) Documentation of Projects

A Tableau developer has to document all the updates of the project. Doing this is for reference purposes to the colleagues and staff of the organization. By documenting all updates and changes made to the Tableau projects, you provide valuable references for colleagues and staff within the organization. Clear and comprehensive documentation ensures team members can easily understand the project’s evolution, facilitating seamless collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

Additionally, well-documented projects enable smoother troubleshooting and maintenance, enhancing Tableau solutions’ overall efficiency and effectiveness in the organization’s data-driven decision-making process.

7) Tools Proficiency

A Tableau Developer should be proficient with these tools also:

• Data Analysis Tools – OLAP, ETL Frameworks,
• SQL Language – SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)
• Excel – Basic Function of MS Excel is must be known

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Skills Required to be a Tableau Developer

• Storytelling and Forecasting – One of the most critical skills as per the role of tableau developer is to be able to represent the data in such a way to predict and forecast the data using the historical and past data available for better decisions to be made by the clients.
• Creative & Innovative – A tableau developer must be innovative to find a solution to the problems that will help in improving the business processes.
• Sound Analytical Mind – A Tableau developer should be able to do the calculation over data partition because Tableau works on the principle of data-partition.
• Comfortable with Data – To become a pro at the role of tableau developer, one has to be comfortable with Data Blending, Data Partition, Data Set Theory, etc. to be a good tableau developer.
• Finding Best Way to Represent Data – A Tableau Developer should have a perfect sense of data visualization, which can be developed by a lot of training, errors, and trial. They should know which would be the best way to represent data to the client in the best possible manner to make them understand the data for easy decision making.

Job Opportunities of Tableau Developer

1. Data Analyst: Analyze and interpret data, create reports, and develop interactive dashboards using Tableau to aid data-driven decision-making.
2. Business Intelligence Specialist: Design and implement Tableau solutions to help businesses gain deeper insights into their operations, performance, and trends.
3. Data Visualization Expert: Utilize Tableau’s powerful visualization tools to transform complex data into compelling and intuitive visual representations.
4. Dashboard Designer: Create user-friendly and visually appealing dashboards allowing stakeholders to easily explore data and identify patterns.
5. Tableau Consultant: Offer expertise and guidance to businesses on using Tableau effectively, optimizing data workflows, and maximizing business value.
6. Data Scientist: Combine Tableau with data science techniques to extract meaningful insights and support predictive analytics initiatives.
7. Marketing Analyst: Employ Tableau to analyze marketing campaigns, customer behavior, and market trends, contributing to marketing strategy development.
8. Financial Analyst: Utilize Tableau to analyze financial data, create financial reports, and aid in budgeting and forecasting processes.

Future & Scope of Tableau

Tableau has been named as a leader in data visualization and business intelligence market consecutively for 7 Years by Gartner Research. If one is thinking about pursuing their career as Tableau Developer, then they need not worry as the future of Tableau is very secure and bright.

The main reason for the growth of Tableau is because of the amount of data being generated every year, and Tableau is the best tool to analyze the data and to derive actionable insights from it. In the last ten years, the world has generated 50 times of data than the previous decade. The salary for the Tableau developer is also quite high compared to its competitors.

Professionals with Tableau skills can expect numerous opportunities and career growth in various sectors, including finance, healthcare, marketing, and more.To stay ahead in this dynamic field, Tableau  Developers should continuously update their skills and stay abreast of the tool’s latest features and updates. Embracing new data visualization trends and integrating Tableau with emerging technologies like AI and machine learning will further enhance their marketability and career prospects in the ever-evolving world of data analytics.

Wrapping Up

The Tableau Developer’s career opportunities and jobs have increased multiple times in the last few years as it is the quickest evolving business intelligence tool used for knowledge in visual mode and makes it one of the most desirable technologies to learn.

Tableau is nowhere to go because it is used by all small, medium, and large business organizations and has a very active and thriving community behind this tool, which makes it the best evolving visual analytical tool ever.

If you wish to master Tableau, check out upGrad Data Science Certification Courseswhich covers various concepts like Data Visualization, Statistics, Predictive Analytics using Python, Machine Learning, Big Data Analytics and more.