Salesforce acquired Tableau in 2019 for approximately $15.7 billion in an all-stock transaction.
Tableau was founded in 2003 by Christian Chabot, Pat Hanrahan, and Chris Stolte. Its software helps users turn data into interactive charts, dashboards, and visual analyses without requiring every user to write database code. The company went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2013.
Salesforce announced the agreement in June 2019, presenting Tableau as a way to expand its data and analytics offerings. Tableau continued to operate as a distinct brand and platform after joining Salesforce.
The acquisition is distinct from Salesforce’s later purchase of Slack, which was announced in 2020. Tableau focuses on data visualization and business intelligence, whereas Slack is primarily a workplace messaging and collaboration service.