You’re in charge of an operational planning project. What are the best data visualization tools to use?

1 Criteria for data visualization tools

When selecting a data visualization tool for your operational planning project, you should consider various factors, such as the type and source of data you want to visualize, the purpose and audience of your data visualization, the compatibility and integration of the tool with existing data platforms, systems, and workflows, as well as the cost and usability of the tool. For example, do you need to work with structured or unstructured data? What level of detail and interactivity do stakeholders need? Can you easily import and export data, automate updates, and share results? How much budget and time do you have to invest in the tool, and how easy is it to learn and use?

2 Features of data visualization tools

When looking for a data visualization tool, you should consider several features. It should offer a variety of chart types and customization options, such as common charts like bar and line, as well as more advanced charts like maps and heatmaps. You should also be able to adjust colors, fonts, labels, legends, and axes. Additionally, the tool should have a high level of interactivity and functionality, so that you can interact with your data and perform calculations. It should also have a user-friendly interface and dashboard that allows you to create and edit data visualizations without coding or technical skills. Lastly, the tool should provide reliable performance and delivery, allowing you to access and update your data visualizations in real-time, as well as share them with stakeholders in various formats while controlling access permissions.