How to use Forecast in 'Analysis' in Tableau?

In Tableau, you can use the Forecast feature to create predictive forecasts for your data, helping you analyze future trends and make informed decisions. Here's how to use the Forecast function in Tableau:

1.Connect to Your Data:

• Start by connecting to your data source in Tableau, and create a new worksheet or open an existing one.

2.Drag and Drop Your Measure:

• Drag and drop the measure (numeric field) for which you want to create a forecast into the Rows or Columns shelf, depending on your desired chart type.

3.Select the Forecast Option:

• After adding your measure to the view, right-click on the measure in the view.
• In the context menu that appears, hover over "Forecast," which will open a submenu.

4.Choose Forecast Options:

• In the Forecast submenu, you can choose from several forecast options:
• Show Forecast: This option enables you to display a forecast line on your chart.
• Forecast Options: Clicking this option allows you to configure the forecast settings.

5.Configure Forecast Settings:

• In the "Forecast Options" dialog box, you can configure various settings for your forecast:
• Forecast Type: Select the type of forecast you want, such as linear or exponential.
• Aggregation: Choose how your data should be aggregated (e.g., by sum, average, or another aggregation method).
• Forecast Period: Specify the number of periods into the future you want the forecast to extend.
• Confidence Interval: Define the level of confidence for the forecast (e.g., 95%).
• Seasonality: If your data exhibits seasonal patterns, you can specify the seasonality settings.
• Fill in missing values: Choose how to handle missing data in the forecast.

6.Apply the Forecast:

• Once you've configured the forecast settings, click the "OK" button to apply the forecast to your visualization.

7.View and Customize the Forecast:

• Your visualization will now include the forecasted line, showing predicted values for the specified measure.
• You can further customize the forecast by adjusting the visualization type, formatting, and annotations as needed.

8.Interact with the Forecast:

• Users can interact with the forecast by hovering over data points to see forecasted values, and they can also explore how changes in historical data affect the forecast.

9.Save and Share Your Analysis:

• After creating and customizing your forecast, you can save your workbook and share it with others. Tableau also allows you to publish your workbook to Tableau Server or Tableau Online for collaborative analysis.

10.Monitor and Update:

• Keep in mind that forecasts are based on historical data, so as new data becomes available, you may want to update your analysis and forecasts to reflect the latest information.

By following these steps, you can use the Forecast feature in Tableau to create predictive forecasts and gain insights into future trends in your data, which can be valuable for making data-driven decisions.