Data Visualization: From Numbers to Insight

Data, data and more data. This information resides in cookies, campaigns, transactions – essentially everywhere. In the data world, marketers and analysts use analytics and visualization tools to quickly gain insight into growth opportunities. This makes data easier to analyze and understand.

What do you need to understand data? Charts, maps, diagrams and schemas. These visualizations work to reinforce and support you in effectively reading the data. Which visualization do you choose to create a clear story? The visualization depends on what information you want to convey.

Why Data Visualization is So Important

As a data specialist, you know what data you’re looking at. However, outsiders see a maze of numbers, statistics and other data. Think of data visualization as signage – to point the reader to the best route and the message you want to tell.

That’s the reason to make data visual. For your own overview, but also to better convey your information to others. Dutch companies use data visualization tools for:

  • Making comparisons between data – Placing different periods, products or departments side by side
  • Demonstrating developments – Visualizing trends and patterns over time
  • Showing part of the whole – Market share, budget distribution or performance per segment
  • Relationships and hierarchies – Making connections between data points clear
  • Location and positioning – Geographic data and regional analysis
  • Distribution and spread – Data dispersion and outlier identification



🤔 Which data visualization tool fits your organization?

These interactive questions with generic advice help you find your ideal tool:

📈 Do you need advanced interactive dashboards?

Think of complex analyses, real-time monitoring and extensive drill-down functionality…

Recommendation: Tableau or Power BI – Powerful commercial solutions with enterprise-grade functionality and Dutch support.

💰 Is cost control a priority?

For budget-conscious implementation without license costs…

Recommendation: Apache Superset or Metabase – Open source solutions with professional capabilities and complete control over costs.

🔧 Do you have technical expertise in-house?

For organizations with development capacity that want customization…

Recommendation: D3.js or Chart.js – Maximum flexibility for custom visualizations, fully integrated into your applications.

🏢 Do you work with sensitive business data?

For organizations that need complete control over data storage and processing…

Recommendation: On-premise solutions like Grafana or self-hosted Metabase – Complete control over data security and GDPR compliance within Dutch borders.

⚡ Do you need real-time data monitoring?

For operational dashboards that require live updates…

Recommendation: Grafana or Kibana – Specialized in real-time monitoring with alerting functionality and streaming data support.

👥 How many users will use the system?

Think about scalability and user management for your organization…

Recommendation: For <50 users: Metabase. For 50-500: Power BI. For 500+: Tableau or custom D3.js implementation with enterprise infrastructure.

🔄 Do you integrate with existing Microsoft/Office365 environment?

For seamless integration with existing business software…

Recommendation: Power BI – Native integration with Microsoft ecosystem, SharePoint, Teams and Office365 workflows.

Assessment methodology

This evaluation is based on 25+ years of implementation experience with various companies.

Of course, based on questions like “Do you need advanced dashboards?”, “Is cost control important?” and “Do you have technical expertise?” you cannot immediately determine which tools fit your needs perfectly.

However, these questions form a valuable starting point to consciously and critically look at the different data visualization tools and their added value.




🆓 Open Source Data Visualization Tools

Flexible, cost-effective and fully customizable

Open Source Data Visualization Tools Overview

Free

🚀Apache Superset

Best for: Data visualization without license costs. Superset offers powerful dashboards and supports 40+ visualization types.

⭐ Advantages
  • 40+ visualization types
  • SQL Lab for power users
  • Role-based access control
  • Supports petabyte-scale data
❌ Disadvantages
  • Complex setup required
  • Technical expertise needed
  • Less user-friendly than commercial tools

Dutch implementation: Provides substantial functionality by default without license costs. Ideal for automated reporting.

Free

📊Metabase

Best for: Business Intelligence for non-technical users. Metabase makes data analysis accessible with an intuitive interface.

⭐ Advantages
  • No SQL knowledge required
  • Question-based interface
  • Quick setup and implementation
  • Embedding capabilities
❌ Disadvantages
  • Limited advanced analytics
  • Fewer visualization options
  • Performance with large datasets

EasyData experience: Perfect for SMB companies that want to get started with BI quickly. Average implementation time is often completed in weeks.

Free

🎨D3.js

Best for: Custom, interactive visualizations for web applications. D3.js offers you maximum flexibility for creating unique visualizations.

⭐ Advantages
  • Unlimited customization
  • Interactive web visualizations
  • Large community and resources
  • No platform dependency
❌ Disadvantages
  • Requires JavaScript expertise
  • Long development time
  • No out-of-the-box dashboards

Development: Ideal for tech companies that want to integrate custom visualizations into their products. EasyData develops D3.js implementations for unique use cases.

Free

📈Chart.js

Best for: Lightweight charting for websites and applications. Chart.js offers responsive, animation-rich charts with minimal setup.

⭐ Advantages
  • Very lightweight (55kb)
  • 8 chart types available
  • Responsive design
  • Simple API
❌ Disadvantages
  • Limited chart types
  • No dashboarding functionality
  • Basic interactivity

Web integration: Perfect for websites that need to display charts quickly. Often used in combination with other tools for complete BI solutions.

Free

🗺️Grafana

Best for: Time-series data and monitoring dashboards. Grafana excels in real-time monitoring and alerting.

⭐ Advantages
  • Excellent for time-series
  • Real-time monitoring
  • Alerting and notifications
  • Large library of plugins
❌ Disadvantages
  • Focus on monitoring data
  • Less suitable for business analytics
  • Complex configuration

Monitoring specialist: Standard choice for IT monitoring and DevOps teams. EasyData implements Grafana for operational dashboards.

Free

🔗RAWGraphs

Best for: Creative, complex visualizations without programming. RAW offers unique chart types like network diagrams.

⭐ Advantages
  • 30 unique visualization types
  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • Privacy-first (browser-only)
  • Vector/raster export
❌ Disadvantages
  • No dashboard functionality
  • Limited data import options
  • No real-time data

Creative analyses: Ideal for research institutes and design teams that need unique visualizations for reports and presentations.




💼 Commercial Data Visualization Tools

Enterprise-grade solutions with full support

Top Commercial Data Visualization Tools for Dutch Companies

€60/month

📊Tableau

Best for: Data visualization and storytelling. Tableau is the standard for complex analytics and interactive dashboards.

⭐ Advantages
  • Most advanced visualizations
  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • Strong community and training
  • Strong security
❌ Disadvantages
  • High license costs
  • Steep learning curve
  • Performance with very large datasets

Dutch market: Market leader for complex analytics. EasyData implements Tableau for Fortune 500 companies that need advanced visualizations.

€10/month

📈Microsoft Power BI

Best for: Microsoft ecosystem integration and cost-effective BI. Power BI offers strong ROI for Office 365 users.

⭐ Advantages
  • Seamless Office 365 integration
  • Excellent price-quality ratio
  • AI-powered insights
  • Dutch datacenter locations
❌ Disadvantages
  • Limited outside Microsoft stack
  • Fewer visualization options than Tableau
  • Premium features expensive

EasyData preference: As a Microsoft partner, we often implement Power BI for clients with existing Microsoft investments. Typical ROI within 6 months*.

€30/month

🔗Qlik Sense

Best for: Associative data exploration and self-service analytics. Qlik’s unique associative engine discovers hidden relationships.

⭐ Advantages
  • Associative data model
  • Fast in-memory processing
  • Mobile-friendly dashboards
  • Maintenance-friendly analytics
❌ Disadvantages
  • Complex license structure
  • Learning curve for beginners
  • Limited open data connectors

Enterprise focus: Powerful solution for large organizations that need in-depth data exploration. Strong in real-time analytics.

Free*

🌐Google Looker Studio

Best for: Google ecosystem integration and free dashboards. Looker Studio offers powerful visualizations at no cost.

⭐ Advantages
  • Completely free
  • Google services integration
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Embedded reports possible
❌ Disadvantages
  • Limited data connectors
  • No advanced analytics
  • Performance with large datasets

Budget-friendly: Perfect starting solution for small businesses. Can later be upgraded to Looker (paid) for enterprise functionality.

€40/month

💡Sisense

Best for: Embedded analytics and big data processing. Sisense specializes in processing complex, large datasets.

⭐ Advantages
  • In-chip data processing
  • Embedded analytics
  • Machine learning integration
  • Fast query performance
❌ Disadvantages
  • High implementation costs
  • Limited community
  • Complex setup for small datasets

Big Data specialist: Ideal for organizations that want to embed analytics in their own applications. Strong performance with terabyte-scale data.

€25/month

☁️Looker (Google Cloud)

Best for: Cloud-native analytics and data governance. Looker offers enterprise-grade BI with strong collaboration features.

⭐ Advantages
  • Cloud-native architecture
  • LookML modeling language
  • Strong data governance
  • Google Cloud integration
❌ Disadvantages
  • Complex initial setup
  • Technical expertise required
  • Limited on-premise options

Cloud-first: Good choice for organizations that want to operate fully cloud-native and are less concerned about US-based Big Tech companies.




📊 Quick Comparison: Open Source vs Commercial

Tool Type Cost Setup Complexity Enterprise Features Dutch Support
TableauCommercial€60/monthMedium⭐⭐
Power BICommercial€10/monthLow⭐⭐
Apache SupersetOpen SourceFreeHigh⭐❌
MetabaseOpen SourceFreeLow❌❌
Qlik SenseCommercial€30/monthMedium⭐⭐
D3.jsOpen SourceFreeVery High❌❌



Professional advice for your data visualization tool selection

EasyData has been helping organizations implement data visualization solutions since 1999
From Grafana to Tableau, from Power BI to Metabase
Independent advice based on your specific requirements

View completed implementations Schedule expert consultation

EasyData brings you data visualization expertise

✓

25 years proven track record (since 1999) We bring data visualization within your reach

✓

Transparent methodology and pricing – Fixed rate structure, no hidden costs

✓

Dutch datacenter locations – Hosting and support within our borders for optimal compliance

Implementation timeframes can vary from 2-12 weeks depending on data complexity, organization size and chosen platform. EasyData uses a transparent methodology without hidden costs. Individual results may vary per organization and market conditions.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Data Visualization Tools

Open source tools like Apache Superset and Metabase are free to use but often require technical expertise for implementation and maintenance. Commercial tools like Tableau and Power BI offer out-of-the-box functionality, professional support and are faster to implement, but have monthly license costs. EasyData helps companies make the right choice based on budget, technical capacity and business requirements.
For small companies, we often recommend Power BI due to its low costs (€10/month) and easy integration with Microsoft Office. Alternatively, Google Looker Studio is completely free and perfect for basic reporting. For companies that want more control: Grafana with EasyData support offers enterprise functionality without license costs.
This depends on the tool and complexity of your data. Power BI can be operational within 1-2 weeks for basic dashboards. Metabase implementation typically takes 2-3 weeks. More complex tools like Tableau or Apache Superset may require 4-8 weeks. EasyData often offers quick implementation due to our experience in various projects.
Yes, if properly implemented. Open source tools like Apache Superset have enterprise-grade security features and are GDPR-compliant when professionally configured. EasyData ensures secure implementation with role-based access control, data encryption and compliance with Dutch privacy legislation.
Open source tools have no license costs but do have implementation, maintenance and hosting costs. You need technical expertise for setup, updates and troubleshooting. EasyData offers transparent pricing for complete open source implementations, including hosting, maintenance and support, often still more affordable than commercial licenses.
Absolutely. Modern data visualization tools support hundreds of data connectors: databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server), cloud services (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), CRM/ERP systems (Salesforce, SAP), and APIs. EasyData has experience with complex data integrations and ensures seamless connection with your existing IT infrastructure.
Important KPIs are: time spent on reporting (should decrease), speed of decision-making (should increase), number of data-driven decisions, user adoption rate, and ROI calculation. EasyData helps with setting up success metrics and monitoring your BI investment. On average, our clients see 40% time savings in reporting within 6 months.
For large datasets (1M+ records), Apache Superset, Sisense and Tableau perform best. Superset can process petabyte-scale data, while Sisense is specifically optimized for big data with their In-Chip technology. Power BI can become slow with very large datasets. EasyData always recommends performance testing during the evaluation phase.
Yes, this is a hybrid approach we often see. For example: Power BI for daily business reporting, D3.js for custom web visualizations, and Grafana for system monitoring. EasyData helps design a tool stack that optimally serves different use cases without creating data silos.
Use standard data connectors, keep your data in your own databases, document all custom features, and ensure exportable dashboards. Open source tools like Superset completely eliminate vendor lock-in. EasyData always designs architectures with exit strategies and data portability in mind.
Yes, most tools support real-time data. Grafana excels in real-time monitoring, Power BI has streaming datasets, Tableau can make live connections. Apache Superset supports real-time queries. The limiting factor is usually your database performance, not the visualization tool. EasyData optimizes the entire data pipeline for real-time use.
Performance optimization includes: database indexing, data aggregation, caching strategies, query optimization, and incremental data loading. Use pre-computed metrics where possible. Tools like Apache Superset have built-in caching. EasyData implements performance best practices that give you faster dashboard loading.



⭐ About the Author

Rob Camerlink - CEO EasyData

Rob Camerlink
CEO & Founder of EasyData

25+ years pioneer in Dutch document automation | Expert in GDPR-compliant digital transformation | Expert in intelligent data solutions helping Dutch companies move forward since 1999. Registered under number FG001914 with the Dutch Data Protection Authority.