In the vast landscape of data analytics and business intelligence tools, it can be challenging to navigate through the sea of options (see our previous post). At Composable, we have always been proud of offering a unique and powerful solution that sets us apart from the competition. Recently, we had the exciting opportunity to directly compare Composable DataOps Platform with Alteryx. The outcomes of our end-to-end demonstration, along with the exceedingly positive feedback received from our customers, have highlighted the exceptional and advanced capabilities inherent in our platform. In this blog post, we will delve deeper into the comparison between Composable DataOps Platform and Alteryx, highlighting the key differentiators and showcasing why our platform stands out in the ever-evolving world of data analytics and business intelligence.
A Global 2000 Company, one of the World’s 25 Biggest Insurance Companies, invited us in for a head to head showdown with Alteryx. The rules were simple: they wanted their own staff to walk through a single use case on both platforms and demonstrate to a team of roughly 30 sales and marketing analysts how to complete the task in both products. The selected use case is a common task encountered by analysts in Sales & Marketing departments across various organizations, and involved the intricate process of matching leads from a report with an internal marketing database. The specific requirements in this case made the problem a bit more challenging:
- Match must be a fuzzy match on a combination of fields (name, address, etc.)
- Fuzzy match algorithms should be flexible to user needs
- Match to a marketing database (Salesforce) containing 800,000+ records with low time latency
- Output a formatted xlsx report of the results
- (Optional) Output a quick visualization of the results
During this compelling demonstration, it became apparent that while Alteryx fell short in meeting all the requirements, Composable emerged as the clear frontrunner, showcasing its advanced data processing and analytical features, as well as exceptional qualities of user-friendliness, adaptability, outstanding performance, and remarkable extensibility.
- Composable’s user-friendly interface and intuitive design proved to be a significant advantage, allowing the participants to swiftly navigate through the platform and execute tasks with ease. The streamlined workflow and visually appealing components contributed to a seamless user experience, empowering analysts to efficiently accomplish their objectives.
- Flexibility was another key aspect where Composable outshined Alteryx. Composable’s extensive library of modules, connectors, and data integration capabilities provided unparalleled flexibility, enabling users to effortlessly integrate disparate data sources, transform data, and perform complex operations. This flexibility was a game-changer, allowing analysts to tailor their workflows precisely to their specific needs, enhancing productivity and enabling deeper insights.
- The demonstration also underscored Composable’s exceptional performance capabilities. Its robust execution engine and optimized data processing techniques delivered remarkable speed and efficiency, even when dealing with large and complex datasets.
Furthermore, Composable’s extensibility was a standout feature. Its support for custom modules and integrations provided immense flexibility to incorporate specialized algorithms, external libraries, or even proprietary tools seamlessly. This extensibility empowers organizations to leverage their existing investments and augment Composable’s capabilities according to their unique requirements, fostering innovation and expanding the realm of possibilities for data analytics and business intelligence.
Looking at just one example, with just a single Composable DataFlow, users were able to join an external file with an internat marketing database:
In the above DataFlow, moving from left to right, the top branch pulls an Excel file with the records of leads being matched, while the bottom branch reads the 800,000+ records from the source marketing database. These two data sets are brought into a single module where the fuzzy matches are computed, and were the output is then sent to both an Excel report (top right branch) or into a visualization (bottom right branch).
Some highlights to note:
- The entire process, including the fuzzy match computation, took just 35 seconds!
- The Fuzzy Match algorithm can be modified and extended. To do so, the user just needs to drill into the single Fuzzy Match module, and explore the DataFlow application it represents. Composability at its best!
- Within the same DataFlow, visualization can be immediately generated!
In addition to the points highlighted earlier, it is important to emphasize that Alteryx failed in two substantial ways:
- While the configuration of a visual workflow was similar to the Composable solution, Alteryx could not complete the computation. With Alteryx being a desktop application, Alteryx’s in-memory tables and computation are limited by the hardware of the user’s machine (in this case, a Dell Latitude laptop). In stark contrast, Composable, as a modern, cloud-native web application, swiftly executed the computation in a mere 35 seconds. This remarkable speed and efficiency demonstrated Composable’s ability to leverage cloud resources and overcome the constraints imposed by individual devices.
- The customization capabilities of Alteryx’s workflow fell short of expectations. Although a fuzzy match workflow was available, it lacked the extensibility required to adapt and tailor the process according to specific business needs. In contrast, Composable offered end-users complete flexibility to customize and extend any process, empowering them to incorporate specialized algorithms, external libraries, or proprietary tools seamlessly. This level of extensibility provided by Composable ensures that organizations can fully optimize their workflows and unleash the true potential of their data.
The comparison between Composable DataOps Platform and Alteryx highlights not only the standout features of Composable but also the significant drawbacks experienced with Alteryx. Composable’s clear advantages in terms of usability, extensibility, and performance firmly establish it as a disruptive force in the Data Analytics and Business Intelligence space. With its modern architecture, cloud-native design, and comprehensive feature set, Composable empowers organizations to harness the full potential of their data and drive transformative insights and decision-making processes.
