Alteryx’s drag-and-drop interface is a good option for UI business created ETL workflows. However, it may be harder to scale, expensive to deploy, and has a higher switching cost due to its proprietary nature.
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Alteryx simplifies, but Datacoves empowers.
Alteryx was a pioneer in making data preparation accessible with its drag-and-drop interface especially for users coming from Tableau. However, companies find that Alterix ELT pipelines can lack governance and as with other GUI based ETL tools there are limitations. Alteryx’s approach can limit teams needing better integrated tools and capabilities. If you need a GUI based workflow and don't expect to have many pipelines, Alterix may be a good choice, but if you care about empowering your data team with a SQL based friendly environment that seamlessly integrates all parts of the data stack, you should consider enterprise ready Datacoves.
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Datacoves was the perfect turn-key solution for our data team to quickly stand up a modern data stack and follow industry best-practices while safeguarding PHI. Trying to put together all the pieces of the puzzle was daunting to say the least; Continuous CI/CD, documentation, engineering best practices, safeguarding PHI, and so on. Datacoves provided it all in one clean package that just clicked.
Eugene Kim
Data Architect
Homepage
Why choose Datacoves?
End-to-end ELT
Datacoves provides a fully integrated ELT stack where teams can integrate existing tools or use the ones provided in the platform. Its tight integration with dbt and Airflow allows teams to manage everything in one environment without worrying about platform maintenance, tool upgrades, or managing multiple SaaS contracts
Alteryx provides a drag-and-drop platform that simplifies the Extract, Load, and Transform (ELT) process for its users. It supports a wide range of data sources and destinations, making it easy to extract and load data. However, the platform focuses heavily on ease of use, which can limit the level of customization and control available for more complex transformations. While this low-code approach works well for less technical users, it may fall short for teams needing more advanced SQL-based transformations or detailed management of their ELT pipelines.
Flexibility for the organization
Datacoves is built for the most challenging enterprise environments. Its flexibility enables teams to customize and extend their workflows with any VS Code Extension and Python Library. This level of flexibility is essential for organizations that need to adjust and optimize their data processes as they grow.
Alteryx excels at providing non-technical users with an accessible platform to build workflows without writing code. However, the platform’s focus on ease of use can limit customization and flexibility when it comes to control of the generated code. While its low-code approach is beneficial for less technical users, it may not be the best choice for teams that are comfortable with SQL-based transformations and want control over their ELT pipelines without black boxes.
Scalability as you grow
Datacoves is designed to scale with the growing complexity of data operations. Its Kubernetes based managed Airflow solution enables Datacoves to efficiently handle large and complex workflows. Additionally, Datacoves Mesh enhances scalability by enabling large projects to be split into multiple smaller projects,
By default, Alteryx does not push down operations to the database which is not scalable. Its native orchestration includes basic workflow scheduling, automation, and task chaining within a single workflow. However, as pipelines grow, so does the complexity of managing and deploying all the pipelines. Alteryx's orchestration features may be limiting, potentially requiring additional tools to manage complex workflows efficiently.
DataOps compatibility
Datacoves is fully compatible with modern DataOps practices with no black-box processes. Out of the box blueprints are provided to accelerate process maturity including best practices for CI/CD , dbt project architecture, blue-green deployments, data security and more. Datacoves helps reduce technical debt by establishing a mature process from the start.
Alteryx’s GUI-based ETL can act like a "black box," limiting visibility into the underlying processes and making it difficult to do code reviews and ensure consistent standards. This can make debugging more difficult, as it’s harder to trace issues or pinpoint errors compared to more transparent, code-based tools.
Vendor lock in
Datacoves minimizes vendor lock-in by leveraging open-source tools like dbt Core, Airflow, and incorporating best-in-class open source libraries that enhance developer productivity. Additionally, Datacoves is adaptable. When new open-source tools become available, they can extend parts of the stack so you stay aligned with evolving technology needs.
Alteryx’s proprietary platform and tools may appear to be user-friendly and effective, but it can lead to vendor lock-in by making it difficult to migrate workflows to other platforms or adopt new tools without significant rework. The reliance on Alteryx’s specific ecosystem means that organizations may face challenges if they want to switch to an open-source or more customizable environment in the future. While Alteryx provides a comprehensive, user-friendly platform, teams looking to maintain long-term flexibility might find it harder to transition away from the proprietary infrastructure.
What our clients have to say
Nice end-to-end system
Datacoves brings a very well-thought-out devlopment to deployment system. The project structure and workflow you inherit by working with them saves a ton of work.
Craig Lathrop
IT & Data Operating Partner
Cold Bore Capital Management LLC
Thought leadership on data engineering
Datacoves allowed us to switch to more modern technology stack but most of all adopt a different mindset and approach to building and maintaining data pipelines and working with data as an asset.
Tobias Temmink
Data Management Lead
The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson