Sigma Product Launch: Fall 2024

Data Models

Data models are new foundational objects in Sigma that contain all the primitives you need to build a robust, fully governed semantic model, including:

• Reusable tables
  
• Relationships
• Metrics
• Role-based permissions
• Version tagging on data models

While data models in Sigma are GUI-based, you can also integrate with code-based semantic layers, like the dbt Semantic Layer. 

semantic modeling in Sigma

New AI Features

We’re adding two new AI features to Sigma:

• Explain Viz: Uses AI to instantly generate a description of any chart. Details can include key insights, observations, data distribution summaries, and other context.
• Formula Assistant: Uses AI to write new formulas, correct formula errors, and explain existing formulas applied to elements in workbooks and data models.

Learn more about AI in SIgma

Sigma BI Analyst by Hakkōda

With our partner Hakkoda, we’ve developed a free Snowflake Native App that helps you assess your existing BI sprawl and explore strategies to migrate to Sigma. Once you configure your Tableau, Looker, or Power BI accounts with the app, you'll be able to see:

• Workbook statistics
• Data source patterns
• License utilization

You can also connect the app to Sigma via a free trial and explore:

• Potential cost savings if you switch to Sigma
• How formulas might change between BI tools during a migration

Learn more about the Sigma BI Analyst

Glean Integration

We’ve built an integration with Glean, which allows users to query other data sources (like Slack, Confluence, or Google Docs), using a Sigma cell or multiple cells as a starting point.
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It’s a great way to connect the structured data within Sigma to all the unstructured data you use in your workflow. You’ll work faster, and get to answers sooner.

Learn more about The GLEAN InTEGRATION

Overlay Containers

Overlay containers are a type of container that you can set to appear over a dashboard or report. The first type we’re launching is a modal, which is anchored to the center screen. You can use these overlay containers to convey important information in a workbook, such as:

• A guide on how to understand a report when viewing it for the first time
• Advanced dashboard controls for more experienced users
• More detailed analysis after clicking on a cell in a table

Learn more about CONTAINERS in SIgma

OAuth with Write Access

Sigma now supports OAuth with write access for both Snowflake and Databricks. 

This makes Sigma the first and only data analytics platform to support OAuth with write access to either Snowflake or Databricks.

Learn more about OAUTH IN SIGMA

Embedded Analytics Updates

We’ve added new capabilities to help developers of embedded analytics do more and work faster, including:

• JWT-based Embedding
  
• Embedded Link Sharing
• Inbound and outbound JavaScript events
• 20 new API recipes
• Additional support for coding in Python, Ruby, Go, and JavaScript

CSV to Input Table

You’ve always been able to upload CSVs to Sigma, but we’re now letting you upload these files directly into Input Tables, Sigma’s write-back feature.

This means that you can immediately modify the data after you upload from a CSV, and, as always, write it back to the warehouse to use alongside your other cloud data.

Write back to your warehouse

Security and Admin

New controls for IT teams include:

• Key-pair authentication for Snowflake customers
  
• Customizable session lengths
• Support for 16 locales
• Customer-managed keys
• An Azure SQL database connection (coming soon!)

SQL Editor

At the fall launch, we also previewed new SQL functionality in Sigma. 

Soon, a SQL user will be able to perform their analysis in Sigma the same way they would in a notebook: an element, like a cell, can be used for each of the incremental steps and transformations in analysis, chained together.  They’ll be able to use SQL to reference any data available in Sigma—even analysis made through the spreadsheet UI.