Item: Google BigQuery
Rating: 7
Author: Verified User

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use BigQuery to manage large datasets we collect in surveys and in regular work projects. Only one person is in charge of it as we are a small company. It works extremely well for my company because it is cloud-based and we do a lot of remote work, so I can access our data and manage things from anywhere. It's a great tool and makes all kinds of data processing and analysis much easier and faster.

Pros and Cons

Cloud storage- always a huge draw for small businesses who may or may not have a bricks-and-mortar office to work from. We can share data easily and access it from anywhere.
The user interface is excellent- easy to navigate and conduct whatever specific analyses you want
You pay for the data you process, so it's kind of a pay-per-use system. This is awesome for smaller companies who may not need excessive amounts of data processed per month but still need the powerful analytics of a program like BigQuery.

Even though the cost is pay-per-use, it's still expensive. This may make the program impractical for companies that won't use it frequently enough or for high-powered processing as it is meant for.
Sometimes it is difficult to import data from alternate sources and manage it. The integrations between BQ and other online cloud storage aren't always a smooth transfer.

Return on Investment

BigQuery has been a great benefit for managing large datasets. We collect quite a bit of data in our line of work and it's difficult to find program that can easily manage that as well as have it accessible via cloud storage.
The cost is high, even though you only pay for what you use. Ideally the cost would be lower for certain usage ranges but for now, it's difficult for a small company to justify the cost even with such large scale data.

Usability

BigQuery is a little bit difficult to learn at first. The tools are all there but it takes a few hours of practice and trial and error to be comfortable processing a large dataset. It can handle quite a bit and the cloud storage makes those experimental practice hours much easier to do in your spare time. The software is capable of doing a lot, it's just a matter of being patient and learning the ways of BigQuery.

Support Rating

As with any large company, support isn't always easy to get to. There are plenty of online tutorials and they have online guides that aren't too difficult to find. For last minute issues, a call is the best option to figure out what your next step should be. it's not a terrible customer service system, especially if you spend an appropriate amount of time beforehand familiarizing yourself with the system. That'll expedite any further questions you have down the road and make the support a much bigger help.

Other Software Used

Affinity, Hetman Photo Recovery, Adobe Connect

Likelihood to Recommend

BigQuery is a huge benefit to companies that work remotely, process large datasets, or need to easily manage those large datasets. It's a powerful tool with cloud storage and the ability to work with large scale datasets. It works well if your monthly usage varies because you can pay for the processing you do- not paying for a minimum that you don't meet. It's not going to be a great option for companies with smaller datasets or who could operate with a less powerful and cheaper system.

BigQuery- A big tool with a lot to offer

Overall Satisfaction with Google BigQuery