When I was working as a data analyst for an office supply company, I got a request to create a data visualization for product sales. The sales team wanted to know how each product sub-category was contributing to our overall sales. The data should display in order, starting from the least selling products to the highest selling ones.
To visualize this data, I used a waterfall chart in Tableau. With this, we were able to visualize total sales and see exactly how each sub-category’s sales are in the chart.
In this post, I’ll explain what a waterfall chart is in Tableau and how to create it using sample data in Tableau and Salesforce data.
What is Waterfall Chart in Tableau?
A waterfall chart in Tableau is a type of chart that shows how a starting value increases or decreases through a series of steps to reach a final total. Each step represents a positive or negative change. With this, we can understand the share of each factor to the overall result.
For example, we can use it to break down the share of each product’s sales in the product category and show how much each product contributed to overall sales.
Create a Waterfall Chart in Tableau
In Tableau, there is no built-in option to create a Waterfall chart in Tableau. For this, we use a Gantt bar chart to display a waterfall chart.
We will cover the following examples to create a Waterfall chart in Tableau:
- Create a Waterfall Chart to Analyze Product Sales
- Create a Waterfall Chart to Analyze the Salesforce Opportunity Amount
Check out: Divergent Stacked Bar Chart in Tableau
Create a Waterfall Chart in Tableau to Analyze Product Sales
In this example, we will use the sample data of Superstore that is there in the Tableau desktop. Using this data, we will display the share of sales for each product category in the total sales.
Open the Tableau desktop, select the Superstore data, and follow the steps below to create a Waterfall chart.
- To analyse the product category sales, drag the Sub-category field to the columns and Sales(sum) to the rows.
- Sort the columns in increasing order with the sort button. Then click on the Sales in rows and select Quick table Calculation > Running Total.
- Go to the Marks section and select the chart type as a Gantt Bar chart. With this, you will see the chart appear as a waterfall from the right side.
Check out: Stacked Bar Chart With Multiple Measures in Tableau
- To display the share of sales for each product, drag the Sales(sum) to the Size card in the Marks section.
- Click on the size parameter Sales(sum) and modify it as “-SUM(Sales)” and change the sorting of columns to descending order.
- We can also show the total of the sales, comparing the share of each product. To add the total, click on the Analysis tab and select Totals > Show Row Grand Totals.
- To add the amount in the product rows, and to change the color in the waterfall bar chart, drag the Sales(Sum) to the Color and Label cards in the Marks section.
This way, we can create a Waterfall chart in Tableau to analyze product sales.
Check out: Donut Chart in Tableau
Create a Waterfall Chart to Analyze the Salesforce Opportunity Amount
In this example, we will use the Salesforce opportunity data to analyze the amount generated through various opportunity types.
To get the Salesforce data, we need to set up a connection between Tableau Desktop and the Salesforce org.
If you are using Tableau Public, then you can create a report on Opportunity records and export it. After this, upload the exported csv file as a data source.
Follow the steps below to create a Waterfall chart using the Tableau data.
- After connecting data to Salesforce, select the Opportunity object and go to Sheets.
- Drag the Industry(opportunity type) to the Columns shelf and Amount to the Rows.
- Click on the dropdown of SUM(Amount) and select Quick Table Calculation > Running Table.
Check out: Gantt Chart in Tableau
- In the Marks section, change the mark type to Gantt bar.
- Now, we will create a calculative field. This sets the starting point of each bar to the end of the previous bar. Without this, Tableau stacks all bars from zero, and won’t show the Waterfall format.
Click on the Analysis tab and select Create a Calculative field. Label the calculative field and enter the below formula, and click OK.
RUNNING_SUM(SUM([Amount])) - SUM([Amount])
- Drag the calculative field to the Rows and replace it with the Amount field.
With this, you will see the steps of the waterfall from right to left, but there is a gap between them. To fix this, drag the Amount to the Size card.
To add the label and color, drag the amount to the Label and Color cards.
This way, we can create a Waterfall chart in Tableau using the Salesforce data.
Check out: Create Pie Chart in Tableau
By following the above examples, you can easily create Waterfall charts in Tableau using either the sample Superstore data or Salesforce data.
These charts help you to analyze how each product or industry adds to or reduces the total amount.
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I am Bijay Kumar, the founder of SalesforceFAQs.com. Having over 10 years of experience working in salesforce technologies for clients across the world (Canada, Australia, United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, etc.). I am a certified salesforce administrator and expert with experience in developing salesforce applications and projects. My goal is to make it easy for people to learn and use salesforce technologies by providing simple and easy-to-understand solutions. Check out the complete profile on About us.
