Why has Looker's Explore feature seen a 20% drop in daily active users over the past month?

Introduction

The recent 20% drop in daily active users for Looker's Explore feature is a significant concern that requires immediate attention and a thorough root cause analysis. As we delve into this issue, we'll systematically examine potential factors, generate data-driven hypotheses, and develop a comprehensive plan to address the underlying causes and restore user engagement.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Looking at the timing, I'm thinking there might be a seasonal component. Has this drop coincided with any particular time of year or event?

Why it matters: Seasonal trends can significantly impact usage patterns. Expected answer: No clear seasonal pattern identified. Impact on approach: If seasonal, we'd focus on year-over-year comparisons and cyclical strategies.

• Considering user segments, I'm curious if this decline is uniform across all user types. Have you noticed any particular user segments more affected than others?

Why it matters: Different segments may require targeted solutions. Expected answer: Enterprise users showing a steeper decline. Impact on approach: We'd prioritize enterprise-specific issues and solutions.

• Thinking about recent changes, I wonder if there have been any updates to the Explore feature or related functionalities in the past month?

Why it matters: Recent changes often correlate with usage fluctuations. Expected answer: A minor UI update was rolled out three weeks ago. Impact on approach: We'd investigate the impact of this update on user experience and workflow.

• Regarding data integrity, I'm wondering if there have been any changes to how we track or define daily active users for the Explore feature?

Why it matters: Metric definition changes can lead to false alarms. Expected answer: No changes to the metric definition or tracking system. Impact on approach: We'd focus on actual usage decline rather than measurement issues.