14.1 What are Segmentations¶
Segmentations in Datashop let you group or rank the items of a dimension — such as customers, products, or suppliers — based on the value of a metric like Turnover, Profit, or Quantity Sold.
They transform large datasets into clear, comparable groups that highlight patterns:
who your top performers are, which items contribute most to results, and where the “long tail” begins.
In simple terms, a segmentation is a set of rules that divides one dimension into several meaningful groups.
Instead of seeing hundreds of customers, you can instantly see “Top 10 Customers”, “A/B/C Groups”, or “Quartiles”.
Segmentations can be global or embedded:
- Global segmentations are defined once and can then be reused across visuals, dashboards, or KPIs
- Embedded segmentations can be created with a few clicks inside your visuals and won't clutter your data model if you're not going to use it elsewhere.
The building blocks of a segmentation¶
A segmentation consists of: - Dimensional Unit – what you are segmenting (e.g. Customer, Product, Region). - Metric – what drives the ranking or grouping (e.g. Turnover, Profit, Quantity). - Segments – the resulting groups such as Top 10, A-group, or Q1–Q4.
Each segment defines a condition on the processed metric value (ordinal, rank, percentage, or percentage-rank). Datashop evaluates these conditions dynamically based on your current filters — ensuring that your segmentation always adapts to the data you’re viewing.
Segmentations can be created manually or through guided types such as Top N, Pareto, ABC, or Quartiles.
Guided types simplify setup and are ideal for common analytical patterns, while custom segmentations give you full control.
Tips – What are Segmentations¶
- Use segmentations to simplify dense visuals — they make trends stand out immediately.
- Reuse segmentations across multiple dashboards to ensure consistent analysis logic.
- Combine segmentations with color rules to emphasize the most valuable groups.