Most businesses and organizations are fast becoming data-driven. Data has proven to be resourceful in most activities businesses and organizations execute through extracting & obtaining meaningful insights from customer behavior to market trends that help them to make informed decisions.

However, raw data alone is not enough to empower businesses and organizations to make actual sense of it, as putting it together can be difficult. One thing about the raw state of data is that it can be complex to break down and understand, and that’s where tools like data visualization can step in to provide clarification and detailed insights. 

We will shed light on how data visualization plays a role in analytics. As we go deep into the topic, you will learn how visualization helps break down data into simple forms that anyone can understand. 

What is the Essence of Visually Representing Data? 

Before we list and explain some of the essence of visually representing data, let’s briefly define data visualization.

Data Visualization is the process of interpreting & presenting raw data in visual formats such as charts, graphs and maps. It is easier to transform numbers and statistics into meaningful and digestible visual representations through visualization. 

With the definition of data visualization in place, let’s explain why it is essential to represent data visually and below are some of them;

• Easy breakdown of complex information: Raw data in numbers and statistics forms can be complex to comprehend and accurately interpret most times. This is why the advantage of data visualization is its ability to simplify complex information and data. For example, a spreadsheet filled with columns and rows of numbers might be confusing and challenging for some people, even for data-savvy professionals, to easily comprehend. But this can be the opposite if represented in visual formats like charts, graphs, patterns or any other visual representation formats. It will become easier to understand and interpret, thereby simplifying complex data. 

• Improve effective communication: Effective communication is vital in most businesses and organizations. Poor communication of data and information can cause numerous things to go wrong in business. It is essential to find a way to visually represent raw data and information to make communicating them hitch-free. Visually represented data are more engaging and interactive and give ground for effective communication to thrive. Visual representation ensures everyone within the business and organization is carried along and not left behind, especially during the decision process.

• Facilitate decision-making: One significant importance of data analytics is that it eases and fastens decision-making. Unfortunately, businesses and organizations may find it challenging to move forward with operations when there is a continuous delay in decision-making.  However, data visualization facilitates the decision-making process to be timely by providing real-time insights that empower business leaders and executives to make informed and valuable decisions. Visually represented data eliminates the slow decision-making process.

How data visualization contributes to in-depth analysis

Aside from simplifying complex data and information into comprehensible format, there are other ways data visualization can be beneficial, and they include;

• Identifying trends and patterns: Data visualization tools help to identify and detect trends and patterns within datasets. With the ability of data visualization tools to identify and spot things, it will be easier for businesses to identify vital things like seasonality in sales, customers’ behavior & preferences. Visual representation makes it easier for businesses to spot and take note of recurring trends and patterns. This can also be useful in assisting businesses to pick out the products/services that are doing well in the market and receiving the most attention from customers. Things like this can help businesses and organizations to tailor their marketing efforts and strategies accordingly. 

• Comparing data sets: A vital process in data analytics is comparing different data sets to view and understand the ones that are more relatable and relevant to the purpose of the analysis. Comparing data sets in their original form can be challenging to differentiate and comprehend. Businesses can effortlessly compare different data sets to spot their similarities and differences with visual representation. 

What areas is the application of data visualization in analytics needed? 

Talking about the importance of data visualization in analytics won’t be complete if we don’t give real-life examples of the various areas where data visualization in analytics is practically applied. 

Are you asking questions about where the application of data visualization in analytics can be resourceful? If yes, below are some of the areas where it is applicable;

Healthcare and Medical Research

Data visualization in analytics plays a vital role in the healthcare and medical research sector. It does this by assisting medical doctors and researchers to effectively carry out tasks like analyzing patient data, tracking disease outbreaks and making informed decisions on the best way to go about treatments. 

From visualizing patient records, health practitioners can have the ability to identify and go deep into understanding the symptoms of certain diseases their patients suffer from, and it will also help to convey information about the sickness to the patients in a way they will easily understand what their predicament is about.  

This also encourages and promotes personalized, engaging and effective healthcare since the patients partake throughout the journey of receiving quality treatment and recovery.

Finance and investment

This is one of the most vital areas where data visualization in analytics is highly needed. In the financial sector, activities like monitoring trends, tracking portfolio performance and making investment decisions heavily rely on data visualization to make it achievable and possible. 

With the presence of charts and graphs, business leaders and investors can analyze stock prices to assist them in identifying potential buyers and selling value if they decide to sell. 

Data visualization also comes in handy in finance sectors, as it assists businesses in identifying fraudulent activities. This is achievable by being attentive and spotting irregular patterns and potential threats that can cause harm. This helps to tighten security and protect customers from becoming victims. 

Marketing and customer analytics

The marketing sector is another area where data visualization has proven to be a powerful tool. It helps businesses to understand their customer insights & behavior, effectively measure campaign outcomes and optimize strategies.

Even though data visualization allows businesses and organizations to represent their data visually, that doesn’t mean it is a fancy way of presenting data. Data visualization is more than visually representing data. It goes deep into assisting businesses to understand what their raw data and information are saying in the most simple, clear and concise terms.