Enhance Your Data Exploration with Dely: A Looker Integration

Enhance Your Data Exploration with Dely: A Looker Integration

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Setting up Dely Web App
3. Connecting Looker to Dely
4. Using Dely as a Data Catalog
5. Building Charts with Dely
6. Integrating Dely with Slack
7. Handling Complex Queries with Dely
8. Exporting and Scheduling Queries with Dely
9. Training Dely with Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down
10. Searching Existing Dashboards with Dely
11. Conclusion

📚 Introduction

In this article, we will explore the features and functionalities of Dely, a web app designed to enhance the utilization of Looker, a popular data visualization tool. Dely acts as a bridge between users and their semantic layers, providing a simpler and more efficient way to interact with data. We will cover the setup process of Dely, its integration with Looker, and various ways to leverage its capabilities for data exploration and analysis. Let's dive in!

🔧 Setting up Dely Web App

To get started with Dely, you need to set up an account and connect your semantic layer. Dely supports multiple types of semantic layers, including Looker, Metabase, Light Dash, Cube, and DBT Cloud. For the purpose of this demo, we will focus on Looker. Setting up Looker with Dely is straightforward – all you need to do is enter your Looker instance's URL and create API credentials. These credentials will enable Dely to access your Looker data seamlessly.

Pros:

• Easy and quick setup process.
• Integration with various semantic layers provides flexibility.

Cons:

• Limited support for certain semantic layers.

🔗 Connecting Looker to Dely

Once you have connected Looker to Dely, you gain access to a wide range of options. One notable feature is the ability to use credential pass-through, which enables Dely to pass users' credentials from their Looker accounts. This ensures that users only have access to the necessary data and explorers. Additionally, you can choose which explorers Dely should connect to, allowing control over the data accessible through Dely.

Pros:

• Seamless integration with Looker for enhanced data exploration.
• Control over user access and available explorers.

Cons:

• Limited exploration options for non-supported explorers.

📊 Using Dely as a Data Catalog

One of the remarkable features of Dely is its ability to act as a data catalog using natural language queries. By asking questions like "What info do we have about discounts?" or "What are some questions I could ask about discounts in our data?", Dely provides insights into the available metrics and Dimensions related to discounts. This eliminates the need to manually search through LookML or explore Looker, making data discovery more efficient.

Pros:

• Simplified data discovery through natural language queries.
• Quick understanding of available metrics and dimensions.

Cons:

• Dependent on the quality and accuracy of the semantic layer's metadata.

📊 Building Charts with Dely

Dely enables users to build charts based on the data it pulls from Looker. By selecting the desired metrics and dimensions, users can create visual representations of their data. For example, users can easily build a chart showing the distribution of discounts by day, week, or month. Dely also allows for customization, such as adding color-coded distinctions based on different months. The generated charts can be saved and shared within the Dely platform.

Pros:

• Seamless Chart creation using pulled data.
• Customizable visualization options.

Cons:

• Limited advanced Charting features compared to dedicated visualization tools.

💬 Integrating Dely with Slack

Dely offers a strong integration with Slack, providing users with a convenient Channel for data-related inquiries. By installing Dely in Slack and configuring the necessary credentials, users can ask data questions directly within Slack channels or via direct messages. This eliminates the need to reach out to a specific person for data-related queries. Dely in Slack can also serve as a data catalog, providing quick access to available data metrics and dimensions.

Pros:

• Streamlined data inquiry process through Slack.
• Quick access to data catalog within Slack.

Cons:

• Limited functionality compared to using Dely directly.

💡 Handling Complex Queries with Dely

Dely excels in handling complex queries in natural language. Unlike keyword-based queries, Dely understands plain English inquiries and provides natural language answers. For instance, users can ask Dely to show the distribution of discounts by day, week, or month. Dely generates the corresponding Looker query and presents the answer in a natural language format. This simplifies data exploration for non-technical users, enabling them to retrieve valuable insights without needing deeper technical knowledge.

Pros:

• Natural language query processing for complex inquiries.
• Simplified data exploration for non-technical users.

Cons:

• Reliance on accurate user input for successful query interpretation.

📩 Exporting and Scheduling Queries with Dely

Dely offers the functionality to export query results as CSV files, allowing users to further analyze data in tools like Excel or Google Sheets. Moreover, users can schedule recurring queries, automating data retrieval and analysis. By setting up a schedule, users can specify the frequency, timing, and destination (user or channel) for delivering the query results. This streamlines data reporting processes and ensures Timely access to updated data.

Pros:

• Export query results for further analysis.
• Schedule queries for automated data retrieval.

Cons:

• Limited scheduling options compared to dedicated scheduling tools.

👍👎 Training Dely with Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down

Dely incorporates a feedback system using thumbs up and thumbs down ratings. By giving feedback on the accuracy and relevance of the results, users can help train Dely to improve its performance. Thumbs up ratings reinforce successful queries, while thumbs down ratings indicate the need for improvement. This feedback loop aids in enhancing Dely's understanding of specific user requests, making future responses more accurate and aligned with user expectations.

Pros:

• Continuous improvement through user feedback.
• Tailored performance based on specific user needs.

Cons:

• Moderation and analysis of user feedback may require additional resources.

🔍 Searching Existing Dashboards with Dely

In addition to exploring new data queries, Dely can also search existing dashboards in Looker. By asking questions like "Show me our website analytics," Dely can suggest Relevant dashboards that already exist in Looker. This feature helps users navigate the available dashboards more efficiently and discover insights without starting from scratch. If users need more specific information, Dely remains available to provide further assistance.

Pros:

• Saves time by searching existing dashboards.
• Facilitates dashboard-based exploration.

Cons:

• Requires well-organized and maintained dashboards for effective search results.

📝 Conclusion

Dely serves as an invaluable companion to Looker, enabling users to leverage the power of their semantic layers more effectively. With features like natural language queries, chart building, Slack integration, and feedback-driven improvement, Dely provides a user-friendly and efficient approach to data exploration and analysis. By simplifying the way users interact with Looker, Dely empowers non-technical individuals to derive valuable insights and make data-driven decisions with ease.

Highlights:

• Dely simplifies data exploration through natural language queries.
• Integration with Looker provides seamless access to data.
• Building charts and visualizations is made easy with Dely.
• Slack integration offers a convenient channel for data-related inquiries.
• Dely's feedback system allows for continuous improvement.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can Dely connect to semantic layers other than Looker? A: Yes, Dely supports multiple semantic layers, including Metabase, Light Dash, Cube, and DBT Cloud.

Q: Can Dely handle complex statistical analysis? A: While Dely is primarily focused on data exploration and visualization, it can handle complex queries and provide insights based on available data.

Q: Can Dely be integrated with other communication platforms besides Slack? A: Currently, Dely offers a strong integration with Slack, but future updates may include integration with other communication platforms.

Resources:

• Dely Web App
• Looker