What Questions Should I Ask Before Choosing a Tableau to Looker Migration Vendor?

If you’re planning to migrate from Tableau to Looker, choosing the right migration vendor can make all the difference between a smooth transition and a costly, frustrating experience. Asking the right questions upfront will help you evaluate a vendor’s expertise, processes, and reliability.

Below, we’ll walk through the key questions you should ask before finalizing a Tableau to Looker migration partner, along with insights into leading service providers like SquareShift and competitors.

1. Do you have proven experience with Tableau to Looker migrations?

Not every BI consultant specializes in complex cross-platform migrations. You need to ensure your vendor has direct experience moving dashboards, data models, and workflows from Tableau into Looker.

Ask:

  • Can you share case studies of past Tableau-to-Looker migration projects?
  • How do you handle differences in visualization logic and data modeling?

2. How do you approach data model transformation?

Tableau and Looker have fundamentally different architectures. Tableau is visualization-first, while Looker is model-driven with LookML. A reliable vendor should have a clear methodology for restructuring your data models.

Ask:

  • How do you translate Tableau data sources into LookML?
  • What steps do you take to ensure accuracy in Looker’s semantic layer?

3. What is your migration strategy for dashboards and reports?

Dashboards in Tableau often need rebuilding or reimagining in Looker, since not every feature maps directly.

Ask:

  • Do you use automation tools or manual rebuilding for dashboards?
  • How do you validate migrated dashboards for accuracy and performance?

4. How do you ensure minimal downtime and user adoption?

Beyond the technical migration, user adoption and training are critical.

Ask:

  • Will you provide training sessions for business users and analysts?
  • How do you ensure minimal disruption during migration?

5. What security and compliance measures do you follow?

Data security is non-negotiable, especially for regulated industries like banking, healthcare, and retail.

Ask:

  • How do you handle sensitive data during migration?
  • Are you compliant with GDPR, HIPAA, or other regulations?

6. How do your services compare with competitors?

Here’s a quick comparison of SquareShift and other notable vendors:

Vendor Key Strengths Suitable For
SquareShift Specializes in complex Tableau → Looker migrations, expertise in LookML, offers training & support Enterprises needing end-to-end migration and adoption
Treselle Systems Strong in data integration, custom migration tools, scalable solutions Mid-to-large enterprises with hybrid data environments
InfoCepts Broad BI expertise, strong analytics modernization services Companies needing broader BI transformation beyond Looker
Hashmap (NTT Data) Focus on cloud data platforms, strong engineering background Businesses migrating Tableau with heavy cloud integration needs

7. What is your pricing and support model?

Cost transparency matters as much as capability. Some vendors charge fixed fees, while others use time & material models.

Ask:

  • What’s included in your pricing (migration only, or also training & support)?
  • Do you provide ongoing post-migration support?

Final Thoughts

When selecting a Tableau to Looker migration vendor, don’t just look at technical expertise—evaluate their process, security practices, user adoption strategy, and support model. Vendors like SquareShift stand out because they offer a structured methodology, hands-on LookML expertise, and dedicated post-migration training to help your teams succeed.

By asking the right questions, you’ll avoid common pitfalls and ensure a smooth, future-ready migration that unlocks the full power of Looker.

Location: United States

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