Self-service and embedded BI platformLookerhas a new release, its first since being acquired by Google. As part of theGoogle '20 NEXT OnAirevent, the new Looker version ushers in features that integrate it more tightly with its parent's offerings. A number of non-Google-specific features -- in the areas of performance and developer functionality -- come along for the ride. These capabilities build on those in Looker 7, which was announced after the Google-Looker acquisition was revealed, but before it had closed.
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The headline here is that a newLooker "Block"is being released today that integrates Looker withGoogle Marketing Platform(GMP), includingGoogle Analytics 360(shown in the figure above),Campaign Manager+Display & Video 360, andSearch Ads 360, as well asGoogle Ads. The integration includes predictive analytics Activation Paths back into GMP, making that integration reciprocal.
In the non-Google department, Looker now supports cross-filtering in dashboards, and new Slack integration that provides the ability to ask questions of data, and receive the answers back, right in theSlackchat environment. New enhancements for Looker system administrators help them understand, analyze and control system activity; manage users and groups; and merge Looker-based permissions with those of corporate systems.
On the performance side, aggregated data is used more proactively, in order to speed up queries;Persistent Derived Tables(PDTs) can now be built concurrently, rather than one at a time; data downloads have been sped up; and Looker can now leverage JDBC connection pooling.
Looker developers get a brand new integrated development environment (IDE) for buildingLookMLmodels, with an object browser and contextual metadata, among other new capabilities. Beyond the tooling, there's also a newExtension Framework, for building widgets and applications, and a newData Dictionary, itself embeddable in external applications, which provides a UI to help business users find the fields and metrics they need. To round things out, the development framework, announced in November as part of Looker 7, is now generally available (GA).
Also read:Looker announces developer-friendly platform enhancements
TheLooker Marketplacehas reached GA as well. The Marketplace accommodates Looker and its customers, by serving as the home for all Looker Blocks (including the Block for Google Marketing Platform) and facilitating deployment of custom applications both within customer organizations and to the entire Looker customer base.
With the GA of Marketplace, Looker continues its push as a platform for BI solutions, rather than exclusively serving as a BI/data visualization tool. And with the Google integrations, Looker is clearly targeting solutions based on its parent's marketing and ads platforms as a sweet spot. Will that put Google on par with the combination ofSalesforceandTableau, orMicrosoft AzureandPower BI? While that remains to be seen, it's clear that Google is trying to align its stars in that configuration.
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