Google Data Studio is a free business intelligence tool that has become popular for building dashboards and visualizing data. Recently, there have been some rumors circulating online that Google may discontinue Data Studio in the near future. In this article, we’ll examine the evidence around these claims and try to determine if Google Data Studio is actually being discontinued.
The Rumors of Discontinuation
In mid-2022, a few articles and forum posts popped up speculating that Google may retire Data Studio in the future. Some of the key points made in these rumors include:
- Google has launched a new product called Looker that overlaps with some of Data Studio’s capabilities. Some believe that Google will focus their efforts on Looker rather than continuing to develop both products.
- Changes and new feature development for Data Studio have slowed down recently. The product roadmap is not as robust as it once was.
- Some forum posts claim that Google employees have hinted about Data Studio being phased out internally.
- The recent launch of visualizations in Google Analytics 4 has raised questions about Data Studio’s purpose moving forward.
While these points seem concerning on the surface, it’s important to dig deeper into each one to determine if there is any real evidence that Data Studio will be discontinued.
Examining the Evidence
Let’s take a closer look at each of the main arguments around Google potentially sunsetting Data Studio:
The Launch of Looker
It’s true that Google acquired Looker in 2019 for $2.6 billion. Looker is a business intelligence tool that offers data modeling, dashboards, and analytics functionality. On the surface, it overlaps with some of the use cases that Data Studio serves.
However, Looker is primarily targeted at large enterprises and has a very robust enterprise feature set. It offers capabilities like a modeling language, governance, and embedded analytics that go far beyond what Data Studio provides.
Google has clearly positioned Looker as their premium BI solution while Data Studio is targeted at smaller businesses, individuals, and less complex use cases. The two products can co-exist for different segments of the market.
Slowing Innovation
Data Studio has not seen major new features or updates in 2022 compared to past years. The roadmap seems lighter than before. However, Google has not ceased feature development entirely.
Some notable updates in 2022 include:
- New card and gauge visualization types
- Drill down capabilities
- Additional functions for calculated fields
While the pace of innovation has perhaps slowed, Data Studio is still seeing regular small improvements.
Hints from Google Employees
There are a few anonymous forum posts and tweets that claim Google employees have mentioned Data Studio being discontinued internally. However, these are unverified sources from anonymous users. There have been no public statements from Google leaders or official communication about ending Data Studio.
Visualizations in GA4
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) introduced new built-in visualizations and dashboards in 2022. Some believe this new functionality makes Data Studio unnecessary since visualizations can be created directly in GA4.
However, the visualizations in GA4 are relatively basic and limited in scope. They are meant for simple analysis of Google Analytics data only. Data Studio connects to 100+ data sources and offers much more advanced and customizable visualization capabilities for cross-data source analysis.
The GA4 visualizations complement rather than replace the deeper functionality of Data Studio.
Google’s Official Response
With so many rumors swirling, Google finally decided to address the speculation head on. On September 14, 2022, they posted this statement in the Google Data Studio community forums:
We want to assure customers that we are fully committed to supporting and investing in Google Data Studio for the long term. There are no plans to sunset the product.
We apologize for any confusion caused by speculation suggesting otherwise. While launches like Looker and GA4 visualizations expand our capabilities in different segments, Data Studio remains a critical part of our overall BI and analytics strategy.
This official statement from Google directly refutes the idea that Data Studio could be discontinued any time soon. They provide assurances of their long-term commitment and investment in the product.
The Verdict
Based on Google’s official response and analysis of the evidence, it seems clear that rumors of Google Data Studio’s discontinuation have been greatly exaggerated. While product evolution has slowed slightly, there are no signs that Google plans to sunset the tool.
Some key takeaways:
- New products like Looker and GA4 visualizations are meant to complement Data Studio rather than replace it.
- Data Studio continues to see minor feature improvements and updates.
- Google’s official statement rejected rumors of discontinuation and reaffirmed commitment to the product.
So should Google Data Studio users be concerned? Based on currently available information, there is no need for alarm about the product going away any time soon.
The Future of Data Studio
Now that fears about discontinuation have been put to rest, what can users expect from Data Studio in the future? Here are a few potential directions:
More Connectors
Data Studio already supports connections to Google’s cloud services, MySQL, Postgres, BigQuery, and more. Expanding the connector ecosystem to additional data sources could make Data Studio valuable to an even broader audience.
Improved Mobile Experience
Making dashboards easily accessible and usable on mobile devices could help adoption among business users who are on-the-go.
Enhanced Sharing and Collaboration
More seamless sharing of entire dashboards or visualizations with colleagues could improve the collaborative analytics experience.
Templates and Layouts
Introducing pre-built templates and dashboard layouts could make it easier for beginners to get started with Data Studio.
AI-Powered Capabilities
Artificial intelligence could enhance Data Studio. Imagine natural language queries or automated insights to guide users.
While the roadmap may evolve, Data Studio still has plenty of room for innovation and growth in the years ahead.
Conclusion
Google Data Studio is not being discontinued anytime soon. While product updates have slowed marginally and new Google offerings like Looker and GA4 visualizations have raised questions, Google has made it clear that they remain fully committed to Data Studio.
As their free and more lightweight BI solution, Data Studio fills an important niche in the Google analytics ecosystem. Rumors of its demise have been exaggerated and Google will continue supporting and improving the product well into the foreseeable future.
