Alteryx Designer Desktop

I have been using Alteryx  myself and it has also been used more broadly by my company.

Approximately, about 30 people are using Alteryx  in my company.

I have been pretty satisfied with Alteryx's data blending feature as it is quite easy to use as a non-code platform. One of its benefits is that it's a drag-and-drop system. Analysts who do not have any coding experience can still work on the transformation and preparation of data, which is quite useful.

The way Alteryx's automation capabilities have contributed to my organization's workflow efficiency depends very much on the project we work on.

A potential drawback is that tracking changes and using Git  with Alteryx is not very easy. If there are multiple analysts working on a specific file, whereas with code you can easily see where changes are, Alteryx being a soft code platform makes it quite hard to track changes through Git .

The additional features that Alteryx needs to work on to make it more competitive include better collaboration and easier integration through API. These might be features that already exist and I'm not fully familiar with, but the API integration is currently a bit clunky.

The disadvantages that made me think about switching from Alteryx include the version control and collaboration issues previously mentioned. In addition to that, the cost is a factor, so we're looking at solutions that are free to implement. Finally, we are looking at how we can better integrate within our own software solutions, which are all Python-based.

I have been working with Alteryx for two years.

In terms of performance, it depends on the size of the workflow that you're dealing with. It can be pretty slow on PC, but it depends.

I consider Alteryx as scalable.

I haven't received any support from Alteryx, so I can't speak much about their technical support.

I didn't need to contact Alteryx support. I have found that the training resources online are okay. They could be improved with more examples of use cases, but they are fit for purpose.

Neutral

Before Alteryx, I worked with either direct data transformations in Python or working through tools such as Power BI and the Power Query functions. In general, I think those tools perform similar functions even though there might be some differences. I generally had a better experience with those tools which come at a lower cost.

At the moment, we're looking at alternatives in general. We're looking at both Alteryx and the potential to move away from it, either just using in-house tools or any alternatives available that perform similar functions.

The potential options we are considering instead of Alteryx are not really well defined. We're still researching.

I am generally satisfied with Alteryx.

I'm not the best person to discuss the pricing of Alteryx, as I'm not involved with that.

The tools I tried to integrate Alteryx with are in-house tools and solutions, where I faced problems.

Based on my experience, I would not recommend Alteryx to others. I would encourage developing internal capabilities over using Alteryx as a solution.

My thoughts on the ease of use, interface, and implementation process of Alteryx are that it's easy to use for non-coders, but for anyone who has ever coded before, it's really frustrating to use. There is a balance as it is very easy to use, but there is also no way of easily streamlining workflows or reviewing them.

I'm not sure whether it was bought from the AWS  marketplace.

I can't think of any specific examples of benefits at the moment.

On a scale of 1-10, I rate Alteryx a 6.

Positive

I used it every day for most of my day, developing different applications and ECLs, and I loved it. My background is diverse, with a variety of roles in my career. I have written the old style of ETLs with SQL, whether it be advanced SQL code for Oracle or using different programming languages to process data. 

I stumbled on Alteryx  when we were trying to build Tableau  dashboards, and we were having difficulty loading them directly into Tableau . We needed something to preprocess the data for the dashboard. We were trying to process large datasets at US Bank, and that would help us with that preprocessing.

It offered quick development, with the ability to process large datasets. It was easy to work with because everything was graphical, resulting in a quick development cycle. The ease of testing and producing what we needed quickly was invaluable. Once we got it in-house, I knew its value. It was easy to work with, and the graphical nature made it simple. I could develop quickly and did so for seven or eight years on different projects.

There were times when the product would fail during development without an apparent reason. The support structure changed; initially, we received great support, however, it later became less reliable due to licensing issues and a tiered support system. Licensing negotiations were problematic, affecting our product usage. For instance, our licenses were temporarily lost during negotiations when an agreement couldn't be reached.

I used the solution for seven or eight years, roughly.

There were times when the product would fail during development, and I couldn't explain why.

We struggled with the licensing. Many did not want to pay the per seat license and preferred an enterprise license, which was difficult to negotiate with Alteryx .

The customer service was not good because we weren't premium support users. If we reached the right people, it worked, however, our tickets often lingered without priority support. 

Positive

Initially, we used SQL and other programming languages for data processing.

The setup was manageable. There was a learning curve initially, however, after six months, it became easy. It is different from traditional coding, so you have to retrain your brain.

We thought the setup cost was high as we were buying it per seat. It was somewhat in line with Tableau. Some were hesitant to pay $4000 per seat.

I looked at Tableau Dataprep and other options yet did not find any as good as Alteryx. Microsoft started developing Power BI, which impacted our decision-making.

Licensing negotiations were problematic, impacting our usage. I used to hold groups at the bank to discuss why I thought this product was good. It offers quick development and self-documentation. I would rate it a nine out of ten. It's a data blending tool that I personally found superior to others I've tried.

I used Alteryx  for a retail company's project. They wanted to generate quick results out of some analysis for their fast-moving products and manage customer profiles for starting campaigns only for these fast-moving items.

Alteryx  enabled us to develop models and perform core Python coding, utilizing different approaches like the waterfall and agile frameworks. We sometimes use the SAFe agile framework.

I found Alteryx's ability to modify data on the fly, using in-memory processing, very useful. This feature prevents the necessity to store data temporarily. 

The tool also provides functionality for dashboarding, report bursting, and handling multi-currency and multi-language situations. It helps in managing delivery for large teams.

It would be beneficial if Alteryx could lower its price or introduce a loyalty program for individual consultants and freelancers like me. It would help independent users manage projects for clients without facing high costs.

I have used Alteryx for about six months.

Alteryx is very stable. I rate it nine out of ten.

Alteryx is scalable, and I would give it eight out of ten.

I contacted customer support once or twice, and they were quick to respond. I would also rate them nine out of ten.

Positive

Different customers have different data tools like DataStage and Informatica. They also provide good data flow capabilities. Alteryx has a built-in robustness that I was very happy with.

I didn't set it up myself; there was a project manager who set up the whole thing.

Alteryx is expensive. It's beyond the budget of freelancers like me, even though companies usually purchase it for larger projects. There should be a desktop version available at a lower cost for freelancers.

I have used almost all the tools depending on the customer's technological inventory, such as DataStage and Informatica.

Alteryx is a futuristic tool. I recommend negotiating the price before using it. It's a stable tool, and I rate it eight out of ten.

I had a couple of experiences using Alteryx  and KNIME  for simple database relations. It provides some reports, develops some flows, and of course, extracts reports. 

We do not have a native connector to SAP, however, I structured SAP ERP  databases for basic tables from purchasing processes. I related these tables and made calculations. Due to the large number of rows, I converted files to a file type from Alteryx , speeding up the reading process from hours to seconds. During the flow, I saved the process and performed only the part not previously saved, processing thousands or millions of lines, and then built the output report with the required calculations. 

For the basic processes, it's fast, however, learning the syntax for calculations takes time.

The drag and drop and layout is simple to understand, with intuitive names of features. For example, to connect native connectors, usually, a fee is required for SAP connectors, however, the tool's flexibility in saving processes and using a vast amount of available memory has been extremely helpful.

I haven't had much experience with the tool, however, it could improve its documentation. It's something I need to understand better. The tool could include more native connectors, such as for global ERPs, instead of requiring additional fees for these connections.

I have used Alteryx for the last three months only.

I have not encountered any lagging, crashing, or instability in the system during these three months of usage. Alteryx uses the memory available on my machine efficiently, which has helped me a lot.

I haven't contacted technical support directly as we have a partner in Brazil who supports us with any doubts. Thus, I didn't have any issues with technical support.

Positive

I used KNIME  and Power BI as alternatives. Power BI helped initially for smaller datasets. However, when expanding to large datasets, Power BI didn't suffice unless purchasing a premium license. Alteryx offers automated data flows and connections to cloud databases, which are beneficial.

The initial setup was straightforward, completed within a day.

The pricing seems high for my current needs. However, considering the benefits, it is easier to justify to management for broader company usage. It has a fair price when considering a larger-scale implementation.

I evaluated KNIME and Power BI.

I rate Alteryx as an eight out of ten. It's a great tool, however, the pricing can be high for just two or three users.