What level of Tableau expertise do I need for basic business reporting versus advanced analytics?
Basic reporting requires intermediate skills - someone who can connect data sources, create clean visualizations, and build interactive dashboards. Advanced analytics needs expert-level knowledge including statistical functions, predictive modeling, and complex calculated fields. Most businesses get 80% of their value from intermediate-level work.
How can I tell if a candidate actually knows Tableau versus just having it on their resume?
Ask them to walk through a specific dashboard they built and explain their design decisions. Have them describe how they'd handle a data quality issue or optimize a slow-loading report. Real expertise shows up in their ability to discuss trade-offs, performance considerations, and business impact - not just technical features.
Can Tableau handle real-time data or does everything need to be batch processed?
Tableau supports both real-time connections and scheduled extracts. Live connections work well for databases that can handle the query load, while extracts are better for performance with large datasets. The choice depends on your data volume, user count, and how current the data needs to be. Most businesses use a mix of both approaches.
How well does Tableau integrate with our existing CRM, ERP, and marketing tools?
Tableau connects to virtually every major business system either directly or through APIs. It has native connectors for Salesforce, SAP, Oracle, and hundreds of other platforms. For custom integrations, it can connect via ODBC, REST APIs, or cloud data warehouses that aggregate your various systems.
How long does it typically take to set up Tableau dashboards for a new business?
Basic dashboards can be built in days once data connections are established. A comprehensive business intelligence setup usually takes 4-8 weeks including data modeling, dashboard creation, user training, and testing. Complex enterprise implementations with multiple data sources and user groups can take 3-6 months to fully deploy.
What ongoing maintenance does Tableau require after the initial setup?
Expect regular data refresh monitoring, periodic dashboard updates as business needs change, and user access management. Most businesses need 5-10 hours monthly for maintenance, plus additional time for new requests or system updates. Having someone who understands your data structure is crucial for troubleshooting when things break.