As we move into the modern age of BI, more and more companies see data as an integral part of the decision-making process – and it becomes increasingly important to have reporting that is up-to-date, accurate, and available to all who need it. Domo has a great model for bringing real-time data to the end consumer, and as a Domo partner, we see this transform company operations every day. So how do they do it? And what implications does this have for end users?
How Domo Connects to Data in Real-time
Domo connects to data in a variety of ways, from prebuilt connectors to custom APIs and more. Most options offer customizable update schedules that allow users to choose how often a dataset is updated from the source, which means users can designate how fresh datasets are depending on their needs.
The first option I will touch on is Domo’s connectors. These are pre-built programs that allow users to bring data into Domo from the cloud, a database, files, and more without needing to build an API. Setup is usually straightforward with these connectors, and while each varies, you can always set the schedule for updates. These can be as frequent as every 15 minutes to ensure the freshest data is available where you need it. Domo also offers the ability to build custom API connections to the platform, which allows users to connect to data that is present in other platforms that may not have a connector already.
Workbench is another option to bring data into Domo in real-time. Workbench can connect to databases and files through data queries, such as JSON, XML, ODBC/OLAP, or CSV and delimited files. These jobs can be set to manual updates or through scheduling features, like the connectors mentioned above.
The other important factor in real-time data consumption is ensuring dataflows, transforms, and cards show the freshest data available. Domo has settings available for all dataflows, including MagicETL, MySQL, Redshift, and Adrenaline that trigger the flow as soon as an input dataset is updated. You can also schedule them to run at regular intervals, such as each hour. Cards on dashboards will reflect changes in the underlying data as soon as the dataset is finished updating.
Why Is Real-Time Data Important for Technical Users?
Real-time data is an integral part of technical BI users work. Having updated, fresh data aggregated in one place makes performing transforms and card building, and ultimately delivering meaningful insights, much easier. Rather than manually updating excel files or visiting various platforms to get the most up to date information, users can visit one unified platform and trust that their data is current. Domo’s connectors and Workbench also make it pretty quick and easy to get data in the platform to work with.
Building real-time connections to data within a platform also means less time spent on data distribution. Rather than exporting and preparing data exports each time a business user needs to make a decision, that user can simply log in to the Domo platform for the most up-to-date information. That means less time spent on data distribution, and more time on building new insights for your team.
Why Is Real-Time Data Important for Business Users?
It is incredibly important for business users to have access to accurate, up-to-date data to make decisions for their company. Real-time Domo data gives business users the power to step away from PowerPoint, Excel, and other forms of static data and move to interactive dashboards within meetings and at the time of critical decision-making. Rather than looking at data that may be days old, users can review the newest information at any time and have the knowledge and context needed to trust their information and decisions.
Potentially even more important is the democratization that comes along with a platform like Domo. Manual data retrieval processes mean going through the data team to access up-to-date information; when this is no longer a barrier, teams are more productive and profitable. Anyone with access to the platform can learn, explore, and answer tough business questions on their own time. It gives power back to the business user to do their own discovery, promotes a data-centric culture, and saves time for everyone involved.
Modern BI platforms that allow decentralized access to real-time data promote productivity and self-sufficiency. We are huge proponents of Domo for that very reason! With decentralized, up-to-date information, everyone at your company is empowered to make the most of your data.
RXA is a certified Domo consulting partner. If you are interested in learning more about Domo, or need help setting up real-time data in Domo, chat with us at https://rxa.io/contact or learn@rxa.io today!