- Local file connection (Excel, CSV, or Google Sheet):
Just drag in an Input Data tool, browse to your file, and you’re connected.
- Cloud connection (Snowflake, Databricks, BigQuery, etc.):
Select your connector from the dropdown, input credentials (or use single sign-on), and pick a table or view.
Pro tip: The in-product connector library handles authentication automatically once set up, so future connections take seconds.
Step 2: Clean up messy data (10-20 min)
- Drop in a Select tool to rename or reorder columns (1–2 minutes).
- Add Data Cleansing to remove nulls, standardize case, and trim spaces (3–5 minutes).
- Use Auto Field to automatically assign the best data types (1 minute).
- Run the workflow and inspect results in Browse (5 minutes).
Step 3: Build a repeatable process (10-15 min)
- Add an Output Data tool and configure your destination (Excel, Snowflake, or a local CSV).
- Re-run the workflow with one click to confirm the same results
- Save the workflow in My Workspace (or publish to Alteryx Cloud if you’re using the hosted version).
That’s your first reusable automation! The next time you run it, it takes seconds and can even be scheduled or shared with teammates later.
Step 4: Show and share your quick wins
Once you’ve built a workflow that saves you time, take a few minutes to document how much time the automation saves you compared to your former manual process. You don’t need a presentation, just a short summary that shows impact.
Try this:
- Screenshot your workflow – Highlight the start and end tools and label them (“input,” “clean,” “output”).
- Add one sentence about impact – “This workflow cleans our monthly expense data in 8 minutes instead of 3 hours.”
- Export your before/after results – Show the difference in row count, nulls removed, or formatting consistency.
- Share it with your manager or team chat – Keep it simple: “I tested Alteryx One during the free trial and built this in under an hour. It automated a task that usually takes half a day. Could we look at getting a license so we can scale this?”
This step helps you turn your trial into proof of value and demonstrates how you solved a problem your boss already cares about — in less time and with fewer errors.
For more tips on pitching Alteryx to your boss, check out this guide “How to Talk to Your Boss about Alteryx: An Analyst’s Toolkit.” It’s filled with strategies and prewritten materials to help you prove the value of Alteryx.
