Sigma Computing is a cloud-native analytics platform that provides spreadsheet-like data exploration capabilities but currently does not support direct connections to AWS Athena which powers Tallyfy Analytics.
Alternatives for spreadsheet-style analytics
While Sigma Computing can’t directly connect to Tallyfy Analytics, several alternatives can offer similar spreadsheet-style data exploration capabilities. This guide helps you pick and implement the best option for your organization.
Understanding Sigma’s key differentiators helps identify alternatives that offer similar user experiences:
- Spreadsheet Interface - Familiar Excel-like interaction model
- Self-Service Analytics - Business users can explore data on their own
- Live Data Connections - Real-time queries without data downloads
- Collaborative Editing - Team-based workbook creation and sharing
- No-Code Data Manipulation - Point-and-click data transformation
- Cloud-Native Performance - Built for modern data warehouses
Power BI provides the closest experience to Sigma’s spreadsheet interface while supporting Tallyfy Analytics.
- Familiar Interface - Excel-like grid views and data manipulation
- Self-Service Capabilities - Business user-friendly data exploration
- Direct Athena Connection - Native connectivity to Tallyfy Analytics
- Microsoft Ecosystem - Works with familiar Office tools
- Collaborative Features - Workbook sharing and team editing
- Set Up Power BI Desktop - Install Power BI Desktop with Athena ODBC drivers
- Set up Athena Connection - Use your Tallyfy Analytics credentials
- Create Excel-Style Reports - Build spreadsheet-like data views
- Turn on Self-Service - Train users on Power BI’s Excel-like features
- Set up Collaboration - Enable workbook sharing and governance
Best For: Organizations already using Microsoft tools or wanting the closest Sigma alternative.
Tableau offers powerful self-service analytics with some spreadsheet-like capabilities.
- Data Grid Views - Table-based data exploration
- Drag-and-Drop Interface - Intuitive data manipulation
- Live Connections - Real-time Athena querying
- Calculated Fields - Formula-based data transformation
- Collaborative Dashboards - Team-based content creation
- More visualization-focused than spreadsheet-focused
- Steeper learning curve for business users
- Better advanced analytics capabilities
- Enterprise-grade governance features
Best For: Organizations that need advanced visualization capabilities alongside spreadsheet-style exploration.
QuickSight provides native AWS integration with growing self-service capabilities.
- SPICE In-Memory - Fast, spreadsheet-like performance
- Auto-Generated Insights - AI-powered data discovery
- Self-Service Exploration - Business user-friendly interface
- Native Athena Integration - Seamless Tallyfy Analytics connectivity
- Collaborative Dashboards - Team-based analytics
- Cost-Effective - Good pricing for AWS customers
- No Driver Setup - Native Athena connectivity
- AWS Ecosystem - Built-in security and management
- Serverless Scaling - Matches Athena’s serverless setup
Best For: AWS-focused organizations that want cost-effectiveness and native integration.
Mix Excel’s familiar interface with Power BI’s connectivity for maximum user adoption.
- Power BI as Data Gateway - Use Power BI to connect to Tallyfy Analytics
- Excel Integration - Send data to Excel for detailed manipulation
- Automated Refresh - Schedule regular data updates
- Dashboard Creation - Build summary dashboards in Power BI
- User Training - Focus on Excel-familiar workflows
- Uses existing Excel skills
- Small learning curve for business users
- Mixes spreadsheet flexibility with BI capabilities
- Cost-effective for existing Microsoft customers
Switch to a Sigma-supported warehouse for the full Sigma experience.
Snowflake
- Great Sigma integration
- Advanced analytics capabilities
- Automatic scaling and optimization
- Good performance for large datasets
Amazon Redshift
- Native AWS integration
- Use Redshift Spectrum for S3 data access
- Familiar SQL interface
- Works with existing AWS infrastructure
- Data Pipeline Setup - Sync from S3 to chosen warehouse
- Cost Analysis - Compare warehouse costs vs current Athena usage
- Performance Testing - Check query performance improvements
- User Training - Get teams ready for new platform
Build a custom interface that offers Sigma-like functionality over Athena.
- Web-Based Interface - React/Angular frontend with grid components
- Backend API - Python/Node.js service querying Athena
- Authentication - Works with existing user management
- Caching Layer - Redis/ElastiCache for performance
- Export Features - CSV/Excel download capabilities
- Resource Requirements - Big development and maintenance effort
- Timeline - 3-6 months for basic functionality
- Skills Needed - Full-stack development team
- Ongoing Costs - Development, hosting, and maintenance
| Criteria | Power BI | Tableau | QuickSight | Custom Solution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | High | Medium | Medium | Customizable |
| Spreadsheet Feel | High | Medium | Low | High |
| Setup Complexity | Low | Medium | Low | High |
| Total Cost | Medium | High | Low | Variable |
| Advanced Analytics | Medium | High | Medium | Customizable |
| AWS Integration | Medium | Medium | High | High |
Budget and Timeline
- What’s your budget for BI tooling and setup?
- How quickly do you need the solution running?
- Do you have development resources for custom solutions?
User Requirements
- How important is the spreadsheet-like interface?
- What’s the technical skill level of your main users?
- How many users need access to the analytics platform?
Technical Environment
- Are you committed to staying within the AWS ecosystem?
- Do you have existing Microsoft or Tableau investments?
- What’s your appetite for managing extra infrastructure?
Analytics Maturity
- Do you need basic reporting or advanced analytics?
- How important are real-time vs. scheduled data updates?
- What level of data governance do you need?
- Start with Power BI - Fastest path to Sigma-like functionality
- Focus on Key Use Cases - Set up core reporting requirements first
- Plan User Training - Invest in change management and adoption
- Improve Based on Feedback - Refine based on user experience
- Check Warehouse Migration - Think about if Sigma’s full capabilities justify the cost
- Watch Sigma Roadmap - Look for potential future Athena support
- Build Analytics Skills - Develop internal expertise regardless of tool choice
- Plan for Scale - Make sure chosen solution supports future growth
- Vendor Resources - Use training and support from your chosen vendor
- Community Forums - Join user communities for tips and best practices
- Professional Services - Think about implementation consulting for faster deployment
- Internal Champions - Find power users to drive adoption
By carefully checking these alternatives and following a structured setup approach, you can get many of Sigma’s benefits while working with your existing Tallyfy Analytics infrastructure.
Sigma > Connection limitations and alternatives
Understanding why Sigma Computing cannot directly connect to Tallyfy Analytics and exploring alternative approaches for data visualization and analysis including workarounds and recommended BI tools.
Microsoft Power BI enables interactive data visualization and business intelligence by connecting to Tallyfy Analytics through Amazon Athena to create custom reports dashboards and performance tracking for workflow optimization.
Tableau integration enhances Tallyfy Analytics by offering extensive data visualization tools for creating interactive dashboards and reports to analyze workflow performance through direct connectivity with Amazon Athena.
About Tallyfy
- 2025 Tallyfy, Inc.
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Use
- Report Issue
- Trademarks