Holistics vs Looker

Looker is unique among popular business intelligence (BI) tools for its innovative approach to data modeling and exploration. Holistics, on the other hand, not only provides a data modeling layer but also promises full control over the whole data analytics workflow, from raw data to insights.

In this article, we are going to do a detailed comparison between Holistics and Looker on how they are similar and different and which use cases the two tools best fit.

Data Modeling Layer

On the surface, Looker and Holistics are similar in that both provide a data modeling layer that translates between business users’ drag-and-drop inputs to a database query to provide a self-service data exploration interface.

The data modeling layer not only provides self-service analytics for business users but also provide a centralized management interface for data analysts to ensure that the data exposed is accurate, maintainable and reusable.

However, the differences between Holistics and Looker become apparent when we go deeper in how the two handle various use cases.

• The case of adhoc analysis
• Learning curve for data modeling
• Integrated data modeling with workflow and catalog

Holistics offers more flexible adhoc analysis

Looker is very opinionated when it comes to querying. The product’s philosophy is to emphasize maintainability and reusability via the upfront modeling process before any querying is done. Thus its adhoc analysis feature is de-emphasized. Looker only provides a bare-bone SQL editor that returns a raw resultset without any rich exploration user interface you would expect in a data exploration tool. No version history of adhoc queries, no visualization available discourages data analysts from using this feature indiscriminately.

Holistics, on the other hand, does not have this restriction on adhoc analysis. The default adhoc query editor is comprehensive with many features such as version history, query templates, schema explorer while providing full visualization experience you would expect from data exploration tool. Results from the adhoc queries can then be converted directly into a new model to be reused later, allowing for a seamless experience between adhoc analysis and data modeling.

Holistics offers shorter learning curve for data modeling

A requirement that immediately sets Looker apart from other alternatives is the need to invest time in an upfront data modeling step before any data visualizations can be done. For Looker, this means learning and preparing the modeling work in LookML first, as an abstraction on top of a SQL database.

Learning LookML is not rocket science but still takes significant effort, thus creating a fairly high barrier of entry. As a result, only analysts who are willing to invest in Looker’s approach would go through the process of learning it. Furthermore, Looker’s domain-specific language approach has a fairly long feedback cycle as analysts need to write the code, validate, save and only then can test it through exploring the resulting models. If there is an issue with the generated code, the analysts need to go back into fixing the code and repeat the cycle.

Holistics’ data modeling process, on the other hand, does not require the need to learn a new language. The only requirement is some minimal SQL knowledge to model some advanced use cases such as custom fields. Analysts can jump right into the data modeling process and get the models out with minimal learning. Furthermore, the feedback cycle is small as the data modeling interface has integrated visualization output, making it apparent when there is some fault in the models. As the underlying models are also stored as a domain-specific language, Holistics also retains the advantages of this approach and allows more advanced users to have freedom over the modeling process.

Holistics offers a more integrated experience with Data Workflow and Data Catalog

Looker prides itself on being a data exploration tool and thus does not give analysts the ability to do data preparation. Looker’s documentation refers to its partners when you need to do data workflow. Furthermore, Looker does not provide a catalog feature to allow the data team to have centralized definition of metrics and models to foster cross-company learning and exploration.

Holistics’ philosophy is to provide full control over the data analytics process, which means it provides both data workflow capabilities as well as data catalog for the whole organization to participate in the process. The tight integration between data modeling and data workflow means an analyst can create a workflow automatically during the modeling process, making it frictionless to create a full data pipeline with minimal effort.

Furthermore, by integrating data exploration and data workflow, Holistics makes it really easy to debug a data issue when it occurs. Exposing an inaccurate metric is as easy as clicking a button to see where the data goes wrong, at what step in the data pipeline.

The addition of data catalog in Holistics means data definition can be shared among the whole organization, eliminating the need for informal communication between data stakeholders while fostering data learning and exploration. As a result, the whole organization’s data literacy rate improves and everyone becomes more data-driven.

Conclusion

From the first glance, Holistics and Looker seem to be similar in approach with the use of a semantic layer that translates business users’ drag-and-drop input to SQL query. However, when you look deeper, Holistics goes beyond just data exploration and incorporates the whole data analytics process, providing the full flow from raw data to final insights.

In other words, while Looker provides a piece of the puzzle, Holistics provide the full assembled picture for your data analytics needs.

Detailed Comparison Table

The followings table provide more detailed comparison between Holistics and Looker as it goes into each aspect of both tools.

Group	Functionality	Holistics	Looker
Data Delivery	Email/Slack Schedule
Visualization	Beautiful, interactive visualization
Embedded Analytics	Embedding into your own application
	Native SQL support
	100% browser-based, works perfectly on all OS(Mac, Linux, Windows)
	Work with detailed, operational table data
	Able to drill down to explore more detailed data
Access Control	Row-based access control
	Version control support for reports and queries
Collaboration	Like and Commenting
Environment	Mobile Friendly
Data Modeling	Easy to learn data modeling approach
	Centralized data definition across organization (data catalogue)
	Centralized data definition across organization (data catalogue)
	Full-featured adhoc querying interface
	Adhoc querying without the need to do data modeling
	Able to do data modeling without SQL knowledge
	Error reporting at visualization layer
	Integrated data modeling and workflow system

Adhoc data exploration and querying interface

• Holistics provides a full-featured adhoc querying interface that allows users to directly write a query and freely explore the result-set without the need to do data modeling beforehand.
• Looker’s adhoc query interface is limited and does not provide visualization. You can only do data exploration on data that has been modeled.

Data Modeling Approach

• Both Holistics and Looker use data modeling layer that generates SQL to execute directly on customers database, ensure the data is fresh and detailed.
• Looker uses a proprietary domain specific language called LookML for data modeling. The use of LookML provides maintainability and reusability as changes can be tracked in version control and the code can be reused across underlying physical databases.
• Holistics allows a gentler learning curve compared to Looker as you don’t need to learn a separate language in order to do data modeling while retaining maintainability and reusability. The underlying models are still stored internally as a domain specific language that can be accessed by advanced users if desired.
• Holistics’ data modeling is integrated with data workflow, providing full visibility to the whole data analytics process

Collaborations and access control

• Holistics has support for like and commenting system which allows data consumers and data analysts to easily communicate within the platform.
• Looker does not provide communication features such as commenting and liking.
• Holistics allows for sophisticated row-based access control via filters

Data Delivery

• Both Holistics and Looker provide sophisticated data delivery options such as email, Slack, SFTP, etc.
• Looker provides an additional feature called “Data Actions” that gives user ability to trigger certain actions on data.

Trial Experience and Pricing

• Looker does not provide a self-service trial experience. You need to contact a salesperson to even starting to try out Looker.
• Holistics provides fully self-service trial process.
• Looker’s pricing is non-transparent and starts at relatively high onboarding price of $3000.
• Holistics provides a clear and predictable pricing model based on your usage which starts at $50, making it easier to try out.

Data Catalog

A data catalog helps users to search and understand an organization’s data definitions and raw data while maintaining high level of data governance.

• Holistics integrates data catalog with data modeling and data workflow, providing a seamless experience for the whole data team to create and share data knowledge.
• Looker does not provide a centralized data catalog