Data analytics involves the process of exploring and visualizing data to extract meaningful information about organizations or any other type of data-generating actions. Most of the time, data analytics helps users in the decision-making process and correlation of existing and known information with new data generated.
Data analytics process frequently involves actions to identify trends that occur in relation to our objectives. For example, if we want to find out what is our sales trend, it is necessary to perform an analysis of sales values in a certain period. Trends indicate a technique of identifying the continuity of a particular movement, thus contributing to the connection of two or more variables.
Trend lines in Tableau Software are often used to capture the interdependence between two variables. In order to be able to use trend lines in Tableau it is important to remember that both axes (Columns and Rows) must contain fields that can be interpreted as numbers. Therefore, we can follow the trend of sales or profit over a period of time.
Tableau provides users with five trend line models: Linear, Logarithmic, Exponential, Polynomial and Power. Regardless of the model used, the trend lines connect two or more points in a series of time and add in the visualization a line or a curve that represents the tendency of the analyzed data. The trend lines are based on statistical models and contribute to predicting future results based on existing data. Also, the purpose of these lines is to help users build predictions based on the variables values in the data set analyzed.
Next, we will show you how to build trend lines in Tableau:
→ In Tableau Desktop, connect to Superstore sample data provided by Tableau.
→ Drag the Order Date on Column and the Sales on Rows.
→ Choose the chart type as Line Chart.
→ In the Analysis Menu go to Model -> Trend Line. Clicking on Trend Line pops up an option showing different types of trend lines that can be added. Choose the trend line model to be Linear.
→ The Trend Line also shows the mathematical expression for the correlation between the fields, the P-Value and the R-Squared value.
→ In order to describe the Trend Line, right-click on the chart and select the option Describe Trend Line to get a detailed description of the Trend Line chart. It shows the coefficients, intercept value, and the equation. These details can also be copied to the clipboard and used in further analysis.
By Adelina Popescu
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