Why Make a Chart? Simple Data Viz for Busy Humans

What's the Deal?

We wanted something simple: a tool that could turn data into good-looking charts without the fuss. So we built it, right inside Slack.

How It Works

1. Type /chart in Slack

2. Paste in your data (don't worry about formatting, we'll figure it out)

3. Choose your chart type

4. Boom! You've got a chart

It's that simple. No apps to open, no tutorials to watch, no hair to pull out.

Why We Think You'll Dig It

• It's Fast: From data to chart in seconds.

• It's Where You Are: No need to switch to another app. If you're in Slack, you're good to go.

• It's Pretty: We know what looks good. Your charts will too.

• It's Flexible: Pie charts, bar graphs, line charts, donut charts... with more to come.

• It's Fun: Okay, maybe "fun" is a stretch for charts, but we tried to make it at least a little enjoyable.

How We Stack Up

Different tools for different jobs, right? Here's how we see ourselves compared to some of the big players out there:

Make a Chart

That's us! We're all about speed and simplicity. Need a chart right now? We've got you. Paste your data, pick a chart type, and you're done. No apps to open, no formatting to fuss with. We live in Slack, so if you're already there, we're just a slash command away. We're not going to win any awards for advanced features, but if you need a decent-looking chart in seconds, we're your best bet.

Tableau

Tableau is the heavyweight champion of data visualisation. It's powerful, flexible, and can create stunning, interactive dashboards. If you're a data analyst or your job title has "Business Intelligence" in it, Tableau might be your jam. For the rest of us who just need a quick chart for our next meeting, it might be overkill.

Excel

The Swiss Army knife of the business world. It's been around forever, and chances are you already have it on your computer. Excel can make charts, and if you know what you're doing, it can make them pretty well. Getting from raw data to a nice-looking chart can take some time, especially if you're not an Excel wizard. It's great for when you need to do calculations and then visualise them, but we feel like we offer an easier solution to create a quick pie chart.

Power BI

Microsoft's answer to Tableau, Power BI is another powerful tool for data analysis and visualisation. It's great for creating comprehensive dashboards and has strong integration with other Microsoft products. But like Tableau, it's designed for much more complex tasks than just whipping up a quick chart. If you're doing serious data analysis across multiple sources, Power BI could be a great choice. If you just need to show your team how this quarter's sales break down, maybe that's where we come in.

Google Charts

Google Charts is a free, web-based tool that's pretty easy to use. It's a step up from Make a Chart in terms of customisation, but it also requires more work. You'll need to format your data correctly and possibly write some JavaScript if you want to embed the charts. It's a good middle ground between simplicity and flexibility, but it still requires you to leave your workflow and doesn't offer the instant gratification we're aiming for.

The Bottom Line

We built Make a Chart for those moments when you need a chart quickly, and you don't want to leave Slack to make it happen. We're not trying to compete with the deep analytical capabilities of Tableau or Power BI, the familiarity of Excel, or even the flexibility of Google Charts.

Our niche? Speed and simplicity, right where you're already working. If that sounds like something you need, give us a try. If you're doing complex data analysis or need highly customised visualisations, you might be better served by one of these other tools. And that's okay! We're here for the quick wins, the team check-ins, the "I need this for a meeting in 5 minutes" moments.

Choose the right tool for the job. Sometimes, that tool is a simple Slack bot that turns your data into charts in seconds. If that's what you need, we've got your back.

What's Next?

We're just getting started. Got ideas? Hate something? Love something? Let us know. Contact info@makeachart.app