????實際上，一個處理海量數據的工具和它要處理的數據一樣重要。商業智能初創企業Tableau Software將數據計算變成好看的圖片，贏得了熱烈好評，現在公司正忙于擴展合作伙伴隊伍，搭建“接口”。接口項技術將使外部數據源，如在線客戶關系管理服務供應商Salesforce.com、微軟（Microsoft）和甲骨文（Oracle）的服務器，可以無縫接入其軟件。

????這就是Tableau的策略——“不論數據藏身何處”，用戶都可進行處理。上周，這家公司在加州圣地亞哥召開的用戶大會上公布了最新的合作伙伴——谷歌（Google）。此舉意味著，現在Tableau用戶可以利用它的可視化軟件與谷歌分析（Google Analytics用于跟蹤網站流量）和谷歌BigQuery云服務中的數據進行交互。BigQuery云服務允許企業在極其龐大的數據集（約數十億行）中運行搜索。

????谷歌BigQuery產品經理郭巨凱（音）稱：“我們的對象并不是具有超強技術背景的人，我們的目的是賦予商業用戶能力。”Tableau用戶可以拖拽大的數據集，創作彩色圖表。連鎖特許學校渴望公立學校（Aspire Public Schools）的老師通過Tableau跟蹤學生的表現和出勤率。美國3A級車隊國家汽車俱樂部（ National Motor Club）則使用這個軟件協調道路救援電話。（其他較大的客戶還包括eBay和谷歌）

????公司CEO克里斯蒂安·夏伯特表示，Tableau適合一切有數據和問題的人。夏伯特稱：“如果說分析工作只是IT人士的專利，那就太愚蠢了。”

????讓大數據變得觸手可及，這種嘗試在商業用戶中很受歡迎。不過，Tableau也有許多競爭對手，其中包括重量級的SAP和規模相對較小的QlikTech。但Tableau這家位于西雅圖的初創企業絕對值得關注。2011年，這家公司的銷售額增長了83%，夏伯特稱，今年，公司收入將超過1億美元。對于一款給龐大復雜的數據管道換上悅目外形的軟件來說，這個表現還不錯。此外，傳聞稱公司正在計劃進行IPO，而且可能很快就會行動。

????目前，Tableau的主要任務是改進產品（一款新版軟件，其中將包括用于渲染可視化效果的引擎），建立更多連接其可視化工具的接口。因此，與谷歌聯姻是合理、也是必要的一步。

????譯者：劉進龍/汪皓

????A big data tool is only as good as the data that feeds into it. Business intelligence startup Tableau Software has earned rave reviews for?turning data computations into beautiful graphics, but now the company is busy expanding its pool of partners and building "connectors" -- technology that enables external data sources like Salesforce.com (CRM) and Microsoft (MSFT) and Oracle (ORCL) servers to seamlessly plug into its software.

????It's all part of Tableau's strategy of allowing customers to work with their data "no matter where it lives."?At its user conference in San Diego, Calif. this week, the company announced its latest partner -- Google (GOOG). The move means Tableau users will now be able to use its visualization software to interact with data on Google Analytics (used to track website traffic) as well as Google's BigQuery cloud-based service, which lets businesses run queries on extremely large datasets (think billions of rows).

????"Rather than having someone with a very technical background we're able to empower any business users," says?Ju-Kay Kwek, product manager for Google BigQuery. Tableau users can drag and drop large sets of data to create colorful graphs. Teachers at Aspire Public Schools, a chain of charter schools, use Tableau to monitor student performance and attendance. And the National Motor Club, a AAA competitor, uses the software to coordinate roadside assistance calls. (Other, larger customers include eBay (EBAY) and, fittingly, Google).

????Company CEO Christian Chabot says Tableau is for anyone with data and questions.?"The idea that analytics is for IT guys only is stupid," says Chabot.

????Putting big data at the fingertips of everyday business users is a popular effort. Tableau has plenty of competition from the likes of heavyweights like SAP (SAP) and smaller players like QlikTech (QLIK). But the Seattle-based startup is definitely one to watch. The company's sales grew 83% in 2011 and Chabot says revenue will exceed $100 million this year--not bad for software that puts a pretty face on the complexities of big data plumbing. Plus, an IPO is rumored to be in the works, and soon.

????For now, Tableau is focused on improving its product (a new, upcoming version of the software will include a revamped engine for rendering visualizations) and building out more connectors to its visualization tools. Hooking up with Google, then, is a logical and necessary move.