Sigma Computing is a cloud-native BI platform that feels like using a spreadsheet - but with the power of cloud data warehouses behind it. Here’s the catch: it can’t connect directly to AWS Athena, which powers Tallyfy Analytics.
About Sigma Computing
Sigma lets business users explore data without writing a single line of SQL. If you’re comfortable with Excel, you’ll feel right at home. The platform focuses on:
Familiar Interface - Spreadsheet-like experience for data exploration
Cloud-Native Architecture - Built specifically for cloud data platforms
Self-Service Analytics - Empowers business users to create their own analyses
Live Data Connections - Real-time queries without data extraction
Collaborative Features - Team-based workbook editing and sharing
Current Connection Limitations
Important Note: Sigma Computing does not currently support connections to AWS Athena, which is the query engine that powers Tallyfy Analytics.
Sigma Computing connects directly to these data warehouse platforms:
Supported Platforms
Connection Type
Snowflake
Native connector
Google BigQuery
Native connector
Amazon Redshift
Native connector
Databricks
Native connector
PostgreSQL
Native connector
MySQL
Native connector
Microsoft SQL Server
Native connector
AlloyDB
Native connector
Starburst
Native connector
Why Sigma Doesn’t Support Athena
Sigma needs persistent connections to data warehouses - think of it like keeping a phone line open. AWS Athena works differently. It’s serverless, which means:
Query-on-Demand - Different connection patterns than traditional warehouses
S3-Based Storage - Data stored in S3 rather than warehouse tables
Potential Workarounds
Can’t connect directly? You’ve got options:
Option 1: Use Redshift Spectrum
Got Amazon Redshift? Use Redshift Spectrum to query your S3 data (that’s where Tallyfy Analytics stores everything). Then connect Sigma to Redshift. Problem solved.
Option 2: Data Warehouse Migration
Move your analytics data to a warehouse Sigma actually supports:
Snowflake - The go-to for most teams running analytics
BigQuery - Google’s serverless option (yes, serverless but still works)
Redshift - Amazon’s tried-and-true warehouse
Option 3: Alternative BI Tools
Want to stick with Athena? These tools play nice with it:
Power BI (just install the right drivers)
Tableau (works great with JDBC)
AWS QuickSight (built for Athena - no surprises there)
Future Considerations
Things change fast in the data world. Here’s what you can do:
Monitor Sigma’s Roadmap - They might add Athena support eventually
Submit Feature Requests - Tell Sigma you need this (the squeaky wheel gets the grease)
Evaluate Architectural Changes - Maybe it’s time to rethink your data stack anyway?
Getting Started with Sigma
If you decide to go with Sigma (and a compatible warehouse), they’ll give you:
Free trials to test things out
Tons of documentation and training
Professional help if you need it
An active community
But let’s be honest - if you’re using Tallyfy Analytics right now, stick with Power BI or Tableau. They work perfectly with Athena.
Sigma Computing cannot directly connect to Tallyfy Analytics due to fundamental architectural incompatibilities between Sigma’s need for persistent always-on database connections and AWS Athena’s serverless query-by-query model but organizations can work around this limitation using data warehouse bridges like Redshift Spectrum or Snowflake or by switching to alternative BI tools like AWS QuickSight Tableau or Power BI that natively support Athena’s serverless architecture.
This guide explores alternative analytics solutions for teams seeking Sigma Computing’s spreadsheet-style data exploration with Tallyfy Analytics and recommends Power BI as the closest match while also covering Tableau and AWS QuickSight options along with implementation strategies for hybrid Excel approaches and custom self-service portals.
Tallyfy Analytics is an add-on service that copies workflow data to a dedicated Amazon Athena infrastructure where users can connect BI tools like Tableau and Power BI to build custom reports and perform deep analysis on process performance trends and task completion metrics.
Looker integrates with Tallyfy Analytics through Amazon Athena to transform workflow data into interactive dashboards and embedded analytics that enable teams to explore process insights answer business questions and monitor performance in real-time without requiring technical expertise.