Data analytics software provider Periscope Data Inc. is updating its Unified Data Platform with support for the Python and R programming languages, as well as the Structured Query Language that’s used for managing relational databases.

With the update, Periscope users will be able to perform far more complex statistical analyses and visualize the results of this analysis in more useful ways.

Periscope launched its Unified Data Platform last November. The product adds data warehousing capabilities to its main analytics software, providing better visibility into things such as dependency and latency so data scientists can be sure they’re using the correct sources. They can then perform analytics on that data to gain more consistent insights that can be visualized through the interactive charts, maps and dashboards its main product provides.

Before today’s update, however, many of Periscope’s users struggled to perform more complex analyses of their data using the popular Python and R languages, because they had to be performed outside the Unified Data Platform. But by adding support for Python and R, that’s no longer the case.

“Previously, when data analysts wanted to use deeper analysis techniques, like predictive analytics, natural language processing and semantic analysis, they would use several different tools – one to extract the data using SQL, another to conduct deeper analysis and modeling in R or Python, and then another to visualize the results,” said Periscope Chief Executive Harry Glaser. “The addition of the R and Python languages unlocks these techniques in Periscope Data’s Unified Data Platform for the first time so data analysts can complete that end-to-end workflow in one place.”

In its pitch, Periscope spelled out how the new capabilities can enhance data teams’ workflows. The main benefit is that the integration eliminates the need to switch between different data analytics tools, since users can now switch between querying data in SQL and analyzing in Python or R within the same environment. Datasets can also be modified more easily, models can be improved and visualizations updated from the same location, the company said.

Other benefits of the integration include data being more accessible and the ability to perform predictive analytics by leveraging Python and R libraries. Periscope said the integration between its Unified Data Platform will be made available to all customers in the coming weeks.

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