[rogansage]

Thanks warrenm! - it sounds like the issue I describe is one that you've seen smart people come up against. Would a fair description of a perfect tool in your mind then be something like:

A analytics experience that A) looks like a nicely integrated part of our platform and, B) which doesn't force us to spend millions of developer hours, user feedback, etc to get it working

This I think would be an 'ideal solution' - if we could achieve that with what we're building do you think it would be useful or would there be more problems you'd foresee?

[warrenm]

Honestly ... you can hit "looks like a nicely intregated part of our platform" by some CSS (or tool-specific version of the concept)

...but why is it important to you that the solution look "nicely integrated"?

Most organizations I deal with (spoiler - I work in the analytics and automation space in presales, architecture, and PS delivery) want a centralized analytics tool (or a couple) that integrate all their disparate sources into a "single pane of glass" (sorry for the buzzword-compliance ... but it happens to be a good one here)

Please note what I am NOT saying: I am NOT saying "don't build / integrate an in-app analytics offering".

What I AM saying: "be sure that's a good use of your limited resources instead of partnering with someone else's tool/platform that does what you want"

[warrenm]

>This I think would be an 'ideal solution' - if we could achieve that with what we're building do you think it would be useful or would there be more problems you'd foresee?

What I "foresee" is you're going to end up devoting more and more effort into something that is not 'core' to your app/platform

Maybe that's a good thing

Maybe it isn't

Personally ... using another cliche, I prefer to not 'reinvent the wheel' when I can use a perfectly good one that already exists (maybe I need an axle adapter and gear box to connect ... but those are a lot easier to implement than the whole shooting match)

[rogansage]

I completely agree! What we're trying to build is a solution for other companies (not to build it for our own app) that hits that sweet spot in the middle - i.e. one that allows companies which currently have to make the trade off between the whole shooting match and the axel adapter... where they can build the bits they need to customise and buy the stuff they don't

Do you think a best of both worlds solution would be valuable? (even if not immediately obvious how it could be possible!)

[warrenm]

So you want to become an analytics platform/tool?

Go for it

You've got some big players in the space already (some entrenched for decades) - but you may be able to find a niche you can serve better