Looker vs Phocas Analytics
embedded BI head-to-head for ERP teams: evidenced capabilities, published pricing, and which ERPs each actually integrates with.
| Starting price | Quote-based | Quote-based |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud, On-premises |
| Company size | Mid-market, Enterprise | SMB, Mid-market |
| Stated ERP integrations | NetSuite, SAP, Oracle Fusion Cloud | NetSuite, SAP, Epicor, Infor, Sage X3 |
| Vendor | Google Cloud | Phocas Software |
Our take
Where Looker leads
- Stronger evidenced coverage on 16 of the 27 capabilities where they differ (led by governed semantic layer / centralized metrics and live/direct query against the source).
- Stated Oracle Fusion Cloud integration the alternative doesn't list.
Where Phocas Analytics leads
- Stronger evidenced coverage on 11 of the 27 capabilities where they differ (led by native/prebuilt erp connectors and mobile-optimized dashboards).
- Stated Epicor, Infor, Sage X3 integration the alternative doesn't list.
Where they differ
The 27 capabilities (of 45 in the embedded BI taxonomy) where the evidence separates them, biggest gaps first. “Not evidenced” means our research found no public documentation of this capability — the vendor may still offer it. Confirm on a demo.
| Capability | ||
|---|---|---|
| Governed semantic layer / centralized metricsData Modeling & Semantic Layer | Core strength | Not evidenced |
| Live/direct query against the sourceData Modeling & Semantic Layer | Core strength | Not evidenced |
| Calculated fields / custom formula languageData Modeling & Semantic Layer | Core strength | Not evidenced |
| Native/prebuilt ERP connectorsData Connectivity | Not evidenced | Core strength |
| Generative-AI conversational assistantAI & Augmented Analytics | Core strength | Not evidenced |
| Embed SDK / JavaScript client libraryEmbedded & Developer Analytics | Core strength | Not evidenced |
| Multi-tenant row-level security for embeddingEmbedded & Developer Analytics | Core strength | Not evidenced |
| Row-/column-level securityGovernance & Administration | Core strength | Not evidenced |
| SSO / enterprise identity integrationGovernance & Administration | Core strength | Not evidenced |
| Mobile-optimized dashboardsDashboards & Visualization | Not evidenced | Supported Mobile access |
| Pixel-perfect / paginated report layoutsDashboards & Visualization | Not evidenced | Supported Financial statements and management reporting |
| Built-in ETL / data preparationData Modeling & Semantic Layer | Not evidenced | Supported Automated data sync and consolidation from source ERP |
| Natural-language queryAI & Augmented Analytics | Supported Gemini-powered natural-language querying via Conversational Analytics | Not evidenced |
| Automated insight / anomaly detectionAI & Augmented Analytics | Supported Agentic insights and automated decisions | Not evidenced |
| Predictive forecasting / AutoMLAI & Augmented Analytics | Not evidenced | Supported Budgeting and forecasting |
| White-label / full-theming customizationEmbedded & Developer Analytics | Supported Private and public embedding with custom branding | Not evidenced |
| REST API for automation and provisioningEmbedded & Developer Analytics | Supported Full REST API | Not evidenced |
| Licensing model for customer-facing (ISV) embeddingEmbedded & Developer Analytics | Supported Dedicated Embed edition with API call allowances | Not evidenced |
| Audit logging and usage monitoringGovernance & Administration | Supported Usage and performance monitoring | Not evidenced |
| Content lifecycle managementGovernance & Administration | Supported Version control and Git integration for LookML models | Not evidenced |
| Export to Excel/PDF/PowerPointReporting, Alerting & Distribution | Not evidenced | Supported Export to Excel and other formats |
| Sharing, comments and collaborationReporting, Alerting & Distribution | Not evidenced | Supported Sharing and permissions for teams |
| Multidimensional / integrated planning modelsEnterprise Planning & Forecasting | Not evidenced | Supported Budgeting and forecasting module |
| What-if scenario modelingEnterprise Planning & Forecasting | Not evidenced | Supported Cash flow and profitability analysis scenarios |
| Planning write-back to source systemEnterprise Planning & Forecasting | Supported Data actions and write-back integrations | Not evidenced |
| Drag-and-drop dashboard/report authoringDashboards & Visualization | Supported Looker Studio for free-form visualization | Core strength |
| Interactive filtering, drill-down and cross-filteringDashboards & Visualization | Supported Explores for self-service querying | Core strength |
Both grade identically on the other 18 capabilities — see each product's full profile: Looker, Phocas Analytics.
Looker vs Phocas Analytics — FAQs
Is Looker or Phocas Analytics better for ERP integration?
Both state integrations with NetSuite, SAP. Looker additionally lists Oracle Fusion Cloud. Phocas Analytics additionally lists Epicor, Infor, Sage X3. Always verify the connector against your ERP version with a reference customer.
Which is cheaper, Looker or Phocas Analytics?
Neither publishes a list price — both quote. Ask each for the all-in first-year cost at your seat count, as one number, and compare those.
Get pricing for both
Tell us your ERP, seat count and must-haves and we'll come back with an independent view of what Looker and Phocas Analytics should each cost you — and whether a third option belongs on your shortlist.