Bilbo: a smart tool for querying and visualizing data using natural language

Bilbo is a Metabase-based AI assistant designed to help users quickly query and analyze data through natural language. Instead of complex SQL statements, users simply type in everyday phrases such as "show last quarter's sales" or "customer data by region" to generate data results and visualizations. Data contextualization ensures more accurate queries. Bilbo is easy to use for non-technical people and is widely used for business data analysis and decision support. The product offers free trials and paid team plans to meet the needs of organizations of different sizes.

Function List

• Generate accurate results by inputting query data through natural language.
• Automatically create data visualizations such as bar charts, pie charts, etc.
• Supports team sharing of data contexts to improve query efficiency.
• Chrome extension available for quick access.
• Supports custom data tables and commands to optimize complex data queries.
• Free trials (10 inquiries) and paid team plans are available.

Using Help

Installation and use process

Bilbo offers Chrome extension with easy installation steps:

1. Open the Chrome Web Store and search for "Bilbo for Metabase".
2. Click "Add to Chrome" to confirm installation.
3. Once the installation is complete, the Bilbo icon will appear in the browser toolbar.
4. Click on the icon, log in to your Metabase account, and connect Bilbo to your data source.
5. If you do not have a Metabase account, you can visit https://www.metabase.com/ Create an account and configure the data source.

For those who don't use extensions, Bilbo also supports the use of the https://getbilbo.com/ Direct access. To get started, users need to log in to Metabase and authorize Bilbo to access the data source.

Main Functions

1. Natural language queries

The core functionality of Bilbo is to allow users to query data in natural language. The procedure is as follows:

• Enter a question in the Bilbo interface, such as "Show sales by product category for the first quarter of 2024".
• Bilbo parses the input, automatically generates a SQL query and returns the results.
• The results are presented in a tabular format with clear and concise data.
• The user can select the "Export" function to save the results as a CSV or Excel file.

2. Data visualization

Bilbo supports the automatic conversion of query results to charts, how to do it:

• When the query is complete, click the "Visualize" button on the screen.
• Select the chart type (e.g., bar chart, pie chart, line chart).
• The system automatically generates charts and graphs, and users can adjust colors, labels and other styles.
• Charts can be downloaded directly as PNG or PDF for reporting or sharing.
• Example: Enter "Count customers by region, display as pie chart" and Bilbo will generate a pie chart to visualize the data distribution.

3. Teams share context

Bilbo supports team collaboration and sharing of data context to improve query accuracy:

• Select "Datasheet Context" in Settings to add frequently used datasheets.
• Customized instructions can be added, such as stating "Customer ID is marked as CID in the database".
• Queries are more precise and less ambiguous when team members share context.
• Action: Go to "Settings > Data Context", select the data table, enter the customized description, save it and make it available to the whole team.

4. Chrome Extension Quick Access

With the Chrome extension, users can invoke Bilbo at any time:

• Click the Bilbo icon on your browser toolbar to bring up the query window.
• Enter the query and Bilbo connects directly to the Metabase data source and returns the results.
• Extended support for fast switching between multiple data sources, suitable for managing multi-project data.

5. Free trials and subscriptions

Bilbo offers 10 free queries to try out the process:

• interviews https://getbilbo.com/Click on "Free Start".
• Sign up for a 10-question trial, no credit card required.
• At the end of the trial, a team plan is available and pricing details are available on the website.
• Product Hunt users can use the coupon code HUNT5050% discount for the first 3 months.

caveat

• Ensure that the Metabase data source is configured correctly and that Bilbo relies on Metabase to run.
• Use clear language when making inquiries and avoid vague statements to improve the accuracy of results.
• The team plan is good for multi-person collaboration, and the free version is good for individual testing.

Bilbo's interface is intuitive and easy to use. Whether it's generating complex queries or creating charts, users are just a few clicks away. Official Documentation https://getbilbo.com/docs Provides detailed tutorials covering advanced queries and contextual settings.

application scenario

1. Business Data Analytics
   With Bilbo, business users can quickly look up sales, inventory, or customer data. For example, marketing teams can type in "show the effectiveness of this month's ads" to generate conversion rate charts for meeting presentations.
2. Non-technical staff data exploration
   Employees with non-technical backgrounds, such as sales or operations, can query data in natural language without having to learn SQL, for example, by typing in "this week's order trend" to see a line graph.
3. Teamwork and decision support
   Teams share data context to quickly validate hypotheses. For example, a product manager can query the "change in user retention rate after the launch of a new feature" to support product optimization decisions.
4. Rapid report generation
   The finance team can save time by entering "Quarterly Revenue", generating charts and exporting them for quarterly reports.

QA

1. How does Bilbo ensure query accuracy?
   Bilbo parses user input through natural language processing and shared data context. Users can customize data tables and instructions to reduce ambiguity. It is recommended that explicit questions be entered to improve accuracy.
2. Do I need a Metabase account?
   Yes, Bilbo is an AI assistant for Metabase that requires a connection to a Metabase data source. Users can register for an account on the Metabase website.
3. What are the limitations of the free trial?
   The free trial offers 10 queries, which are fully functional but limited. The Team Plan offers a higher query quota and is suitable for long-term use.
4. What chart types are supported?
   Bilbo supports bar charts, pie charts, line charts and many other visualization types that users can choose according to their needs.
5. How do I contact the support team?
   Available through the official website https://getbilbo.com/ Contact Us page or email support for assistance.