Data sources for data visualizations

  • Release version: Washingtondc
  • Updated February 1, 2024
  • 2 minutes to read
  • Summarize
    Summarized using AI
    This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete.

    Summary of Data Sources for Data Visualizations

    This document provides an overview of various data sources available for creating data visualizations within ServiceNow's Platform Analytics. Each data source serves a specific purpose and can be configured to enhance business process analysis and optimization.

    Show full answer Show less

    Key Features

    • Table Data Source: A collection of database records that represent the current state of your data, configured by selecting specific tables and fields.
    • Indicator: Also known as a KPI, it tracks changes in table data over time, helping to identify trends through aggregations and conditions.
    • User Experience Analytics: Activated by default, it requires the User Experience Analytics in PAR Integration application to visualize user interactions and metrics for various web applications.
    • MetricBase: Requires a subscription; it stores time-series data enabling graphing and trigger executions for IoT applications.
    • Health Log Analytics: Also subscription-based, it aids in identifying IT issues and analyzing logs, with visualizations created in the UI Builder.
    • Multiple Data Sources: Some visualization types can combine multiple data sources, provided they are of the same type.

    Key Outcomes

    By leveraging these data sources, ServiceNow customers can create effective visualizations that provide insights into business processes, user experiences, and performance metrics. Understanding each data source's functionality allows for more informed decision-making and strategy development aimed at optimizing operations.

    Each workspace data visualization references a specific data source.

    Data source Available in Description
    Table Base system A Table data source is a collection of database records that together constitute the current state of your data. The rows of the table correspond to records and the columns correspond to fields. You often choose both table and field, or you group data by fields, when you configure a data visualization. Configured report sources appear in the Predefined conditions list when you choose to filter table data.
    Indicator Base system An indicator, also called a key performance indicator (KPI), is a record of the changes to your table data over a period of time. You use indicators to determine trends and forecast the future. Indicators apply an aggregation and conditions to the data. For example, the indicator Number of open incidents applies the Count aggregation to the Incident table, resulting in a number of incidents. It also applies the conditions that the State of the incidents must not be Closed or Canceled, and the Active field must be True.

    Indicators often have breakdowns applied. A breakdown is a qualitative property for filtering the indicator scores. For example, for incident data, the priority, category, and assignment group for the incident are all commonly applied breakdowns.

    For more information, see Performance Analytics indicators.

    Usage Insights Activated by default. However, to include Usage Insights data sources in your visualizations, you need the Usage Insights in PAR Integration application from the ServiceNow® Store. The ServiceNow® Usage Insights application provides dashboard views for monitoring usage analytics of your web applications as well as Virtual Agent, ServiceNow mobile, and Service Portal applications. Visualize metrics and interactions to better understand the user experience, and create more intuitive journeys for your users.

    For more general information about Usage Insights, see User Experience Analytics. For more information specific to data visualizations, see User Experience Analytics data sources for visualizations.

    MetricBase Requires a separate subscription and must be activated by ServiceNow personnel. The MetricBase application stores time-series data, which is data that is sampled at regular intervals. You can graph the stored data or use it with triggers to execute Flow Designer flows. MetricBase helps developers working with IoT-based applications that monitor or act on large amounts of machine-generated data. For more information, see MetricBase.
    Health Log Analytics Requires a separate subscription and must be activated by ServiceNow personnel.

    The Health Log Analytics application helps prevent IT issues before your users are affected. It helps you identify the root cause of an issue by enabling you to triage related logs and analyze the raw data. For more information, see Health Log Analytics.

    Note:
    You can create and edit data visualizations for Health Log Analytics only in the UI Builder, not in the Platform Analytics Visualization Designer or in dashboards.