# Grafana

Grafana is an open-source visualization and analytics platform that can connect to various data sources. It allows data to be clearly presented in dashboards, with extensive customization options available for graphs and status indicators.

ENLYZE integrates with Grafana through two data sources: the **ENLYZE Grafana Plugin** for time series data and the **ENLYZE API** for production metrics like OEE, downtimes, and production runs.

## Benefits and features

Grafana offers the following benefits for creating, managing, and using monitoring dashboards in production environments:

* Status overviews and time series data with automatic updates
* Easy dashboard sharing via link
* Display on production floor monitors using kiosk mode
* Setup of alerts and notifications based on real-time production data

## Getting started

This documentation is structured as a learning path, from beginner to advanced:

1. [**Getting Started**](/en/integrations/grafana/getting-started.md) — Learn the basics and create your first dashboard
2. [**Visualisation Types**](/en/integrations/grafana/visualisation-types.md) — Time series, single values, tables, and advanced styling
3. [**Intermediate Features**](/en/integrations/grafana/intermediate-features.md) — Dashboard organization and data transformations
4. [**ENLYZE API**](/en/integrations/grafana/advanced-api.md) — Set up the API data source, query endpoints, and use variables
5. [**Production Dashboards**](/en/integrations/grafana/production-dashboards.md) — Real-world dashboards for production status, OEE, and downtimes

## Additional resources

* [Hosted vs. self-managed](/en/integrations/grafana/hosted-vs-self-managed.md) - Understand the difference between Platform Grafana and running your own instance
* [ENLYZE data source](/en/integrations/grafana/enlyze-data-source.md) - Technical details about the available data sources and how to connect

## Comparison with other visualization tools

Grafana is often mentioned alongside other analytics tools such as Power BI and Tableau. Grafana is particularly well-suited for the following use cases, where it outperforms Power BI and Tableau:

* Monitoring real-time data from over 100 types of data sources.
* Automatic alerts and notifications via various messenger apps.

However, there are also scenarios where Grafana is not the best solution, and Power BI or Tableau may be preferable:

* Quarterly reports and KPI analyses.
* Comparison of data across different time periods.

<table><thead><tr><th>Application</th><th data-type="rating" data-max="5">Time series</th><th data-type="rating" data-max="5">Reports</th><th data-type="rating" data-max="5">Alerts</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Grafana</strong></td><td>5</td><td>3</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Tableau</strong></td><td>3</td><td>5</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Power BI</strong></td><td>3</td><td>5</td><td>2</td></tr></tbody></table>


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