Looker opens semantic layer via new SQL Interface and connectors for Tableau & others

Data is the driving force of innovation for your business, especially in a world of accelerating AI adoption. But many data-driven organizations struggle with inconsistent and unreliable metrics. Without a single source of truth for data definitions, metrics can have different logic depending on what tool or team they came from. Teams that can’t trust their data go back to trusting their gut instead — a risky strategy when the business depends on getting the answer right.

To address these challenges, we designed Looker with a semantic model at its core that lets you define metrics once and use them everywhere, for better governance, security, and overall trust in your data. Today, we are releasing new BI connectors, including the general availability of our custom-built connector for Tableau, and are making it easier to use Looker’s metrics layer within the broader ecosystem of SQL-based tools, with an integration layer for LookML models based on BigQuery, plus connectors for many popular products.

This integration layer is called the Open SQL Interface and gives Looker customers more options for how they deploy governed analytics. We’re also releasing a general-purpose JDBC driver for connecting to the interface, and partners including ThoughtSpot, Mode, and APOS Systems (featuring connectivity to SAP Analytics Cloud) have already built connectors to integrate their products with Looker’s semantic layer, using this new framework.

Each of these connectors will support any LookML model that is connected to BigQuery. In combination, Looker and BigQuery offer a comprehensive solution for modern data analytics, helping you build trustworthy insights and uncover valuable intelligence that enables actionable insights. With today’s announcement, these opportunities come to life in even more user environments.

The Looker connector for Tableau 

With these releases, the list of connectors to popular visualization tools now includes:

• Google Sheets

• Looker Studio

• Power BI

• Tableau

• ThoughtSpot 

• Mode

• APOS Systems (featuring connectivity to SAP Analytics Cloud) 

• A JDBC driver for generic connections or building your own integration

Getting the most out of your data is how you get the most out of your business, and that starts with capturing and understanding it accurately. Looker sets the foundation for truth in collaboration. To get started with Looker, learn more: cloud.google.com/looker.