Custom Looker integration development
Appfront builds custom Looker integrations that bring governed dashboards and analytics directly into your own application or customer portal. Through the Looker API and Embed SDK, we embed Looks, Explores and dashboards with row-level security and per-user SSO, so each customer sees only their own figures. A LookML layer on top of your data warehouse ensures the whole team works with the same definitions.
What is a Looker integration?
Looker is Google Cloud's BI and analytics platform. It stands out with a governed semantic layer built in LookML: rather than scattered reports where everyone creates their own calculations, you define metrics once, centrally, and dashboards, Looks and Explores all work from the same definitions. Don't confuse Looker with Looker Studio: Looker is the enterprise platform, offering modelling, governance and robust embedded analytics.
A custom integration means, in practice: embedding dashboards and Looks in your own application or customer portal, retrieving data and queries programmatically via the Looker API, exposing a LookML metrics layer on top of your data warehouse, and showing analytics to users without a separate Looker login through signed embedding and SSO. Row-level security ensures each user or tenant sees only their own data.
Appfront builds in line with the official Looker API and SDK documentation and the OWASP ASVS security standard. We align the embedding architecture, LookML models and error handling with your actual data model and user roles, so the integration grows with your product and dashboards keep loading reliably as user numbers increase.
Embedded dashboards
Looker dashboards, Looks and Explores run directly inside your own application or customer portal, with no separate BI environment for users to navigate to. Using the Embed SDK, they move between dashboards within a single iframe and everything stays in your own brand style.
Row-level security & SSO
With signed embedding and SSO, we display dashboards without a separate Looker login. Row-level security filters the data per user or tenant, so in a multi-tenant portal each customer sees only their own figures, securely and without you managing separate accounts.
Governed metrics on LookML
Metrics are defined once in LookML, on top of your data warehouse. Everyone, in dashboards and via the API, works from the same definitions of revenue, margin or churn. No more conflicting figures between departments or reports.
Our development process for Looker integrations
We work to a proven methodology that removes uncertainty early and delivers a stable integration. From an initial analysis of your data model, user roles and embedding requirements through to go-live and ongoing management, every step is aimed at an integration your team can understand and trust.
We map out which dashboards you want to embed, which data warehouse sits underneath, how row-level security should work per user or tenant, and which metrics need modelling in LookML.
We design the embedding architecture, choose the right authentication and signed embedding approach, and establish an error-handling strategy.
Implementation with automated tests, structured logging and monitoring. You see working builds along the way.
Controlled go-live with data validation and a safety net, followed by ongoing management and further development.
What a Looker integration delivers in concrete terms
Every Looker integration is set up specifically for your dashboards, data model, user roles and surrounding systems. Below are the capabilities we most often deliver for organisations that use Looker as part of their product or internal BI.
Dashboards in your own app
Looker dashboards, Looks and Explores embedded in your own application or customer portal via the Embed SDK. Users get full interactive analytics without leaving your product, moving between dashboards within a single iframe without reloading each time.
Row-level security & SSO
Signed embedding with SSO so users don't need a separate Looker login, and row-level security that filters the data per user or tenant. In a multi-tenant portal, each customer sees only their own figures, enforced at the data model level.
Looker API: data & queries
Through the Looker REST API, we retrieve dashboards, Looks, queries and results programmatically. This lets you power your own interfaces, exports or automated reporting with reliable, modelled data, without your users needing to work in Looker themselves.
Governed LookML metrics layer
We model your metrics once, centrally in LookML, on top of your data warehouse. Revenue, margin, churn and other key figures get a single definition that appears consistently in every dashboard and API call, so there are no more debates about whose numbers are right.
Integration with a data warehouse
Looker runs on top of your data warehouse, such as BigQuery or Snowflake. We set up the connection, modelling and query logic so that dashboards load quickly and the data comes from one reliable source, rather than scattered exports and copies.
White-label & branding
Embedded dashboards in your own brand identity: colours, fonts and interactive elements that blend seamlessly with your product. For your customers, the analytics feels like a natural part of your application, not a bolted-on external tool.
Typical use cases in practice
A Looker integration looks very different from one organisation to the next. We see a number of patterns recur, and for each we have a working setup that pays close attention to embedding, row-level security and the link with your data warehouse.
SaaS with embedded analytics
Software products that want to offer their customers analytics without building their own dashboard engine. Looker dashboards embedded in the product, with row-level security per customer and branding in your own identity. See also our API integrations.
Client portals with data
Portals in which customers or partners view their own figures: usage, performance, progress. Signed embedding with SSO provides access without separate logins, and row-level security ensures that each user sees only their own data.
Internal BI teams
Data and BI teams that want governed dashboards and self-service Explores built on a single reliable data model. The LookML layer ensures departments work with the same definitions; the API exposes the same data for automated reporting and your own tooling.
Google Cloud organisations
Organisations already running on Google Cloud that want to open up their BigQuery data with governed BI. Looker fits this naturally; we handle the integration, the LookML modelling and the embedding in your own applications and portals.
Technology we use
We build Looker integrations using the official Looker REST API and Embed SDK, combined with the backend stack that suits you. The exact choice depends on your data warehouse and embedding requirements, so your own team can manage or further develop the implementation.
Why choose Appfront for your Looker integration?
Appfront has extensive experience building API integrations for a wide range of organisations in the Netherlands. We always start with a thorough analysis of your existing systems and processes. An integration should not only work technically, but also add practical value to the way you work.
For every integration, we write clear documentation and make sure your own team, or any future supplier, can understand and manage it. No black box, just transparent code and clear agreements on monitoring, alerting and maintenance.
You work with a dedicated point of contact who understands both the technical and the functional side. This keeps communication short, prevents misunderstandings and speeds up decisions when choices need to be made during development.
Also see our wider services around API integrations, middleware, custom software development and web app development. Do you work with other BI or data platforms? Then also see our Power BI integration and Snowflake integration.
- Experience with the Looker API, Embed SDK and signed embedding
- Specialists in embedded analytics and multi-tenant portals
- Proficient in LookML modelling and governed metrics
- Secure by default: credential rotation, scoped permissions, row-level security
- Structured error handling and retry mechanisms
- Comprehensive logging and monitoring from day one
- Integration with data warehouses such as BigQuery and Snowflake
- Clear documentation your team can read and manage
- A fixed point of contact, no account managers passed around
- Ongoing maintenance and proactive further development
Security and privacy in Looker integrations
Embedded analytics expose business-sensitive figures and often personal data too. This is most critical with row-level security: in a multi-tenant portal, a user must never be able to see another customer's data. Appfront enforces that separation at the data model level and builds the embedding in line with the OWASP ASVS: API credentials stored in secure vaults, a protected backend service that signs the embed URL, scoped permissions and regular audits of data access.
Looker is part of Google Cloud and provides governed data access with row-level security and structured permission management. We document the data flows, the LookML models and the embedding architecture so that your record of processing activities is complete and you can demonstrate compliance with the GDPR. This keeps every embedded dashboard view traceable and restricted per user.
More on our security approach: information security policy and CVD policy.
- GDPR-compliant data processing and data minimisation
- Row-level security per user or tenant
- Signed embedding via a protected backend service
- Encryption in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest
- Role-based access and least-privilege principles
- Audit logs with traceable data flows
- Monitoring and alerting for anomalies
- Documentation for your record of processing activities
Frequently asked questions about Looker integrations
Answers to the questions we receive most often about Looker implementations.
A Looker integration is a technical link between Looker and your own application, customer portal or system. Using the Looker REST API and Embed SDK, dashboards, Looks and Explores are embedded in your product, data and queries are retrieved programmatically, and a governed metrics layer is exposed in LookML. With signed or private embedding, users view dashboards without a separate Looker login, while row-level security ensures everyone sees only their own data. An integration can be simple (embedding a single dashboard) or extensive (multi-tenant white-label analytics with per-user filtering).
Looker is a good fit for organisations that need governed, reliable BI on a data warehouse such as BigQuery or Snowflake, and for SaaS builders who want to embed analytics in their own product with row-level security per customer. The LookML layer ensures everyone works with the same metric definitions. For lightweight ad-hoc dashboards or simple reporting without governance requirements, Looker Studio or Power BI may sometimes be more suitable — note that Looker is something quite different from Looker Studio. We will work with you to determine which tool best fits your needs.
A simple integration, such as embedding one dashboard via the Embed SDK with signed embedding, can go live relatively quickly. More complex scenarios, involving multi-tenant row-level security, a fully developed LookML layer, white-label branding and deep integration with your data warehouse, typically take longer. After an introductory conversation, we will give you a realistic estimate based on your situation.
We work with the official Looker REST API and the Looker Embed SDK for embedding and SSO, combined with the backend stack that suits you, usually Node.js or Python. Authentication runs via API credentials (client_id and client_secret) and, where desired, OAuth; we handle signed embedding through a backend service that signs the embed URL. We model the governed metrics layer in LookML, connected to your data warehouse such as BigQuery or Snowflake. We configure row-level security per user or tenant.
Costs are determined by the complexity of the embedding, the number of dashboards and users, the depth of row-level security, the scope of the LookML layer, and the amount of custom work involved in connecting to your data warehouse. Ongoing management, monitoring and support also affect the total investment. We always provide a clear quote following a no-obligation analysis of your situation.
Yes. Looker is part of Google Cloud and offers governed data access with row-level security, so each user sees only their own data. Appfront builds to the OWASP ASVS: API credentials are kept in secure vaults, embedding is signed through a protected backend service, permissions are scoped, and rights are separated per tenant. We document the data flows and the embedding architecture so that your record of processing activities remains complete and you can demonstrate compliance with the GDPR.
Yes. Appfront regularly takes over existing Looker integrations, even when these were originally set up by another party. We review the API integration, the Embed SDK implementation, the LookML models, the row-level security and the error handling, document the current setup and propose improvements. From that point on, we can handle adjustments, extensions and monitoring, including timely rotation of API credentials.
Looker suits data and BI teams that want governed metrics, SaaS builders who want to offer embedded analytics to their customers, and organisations already running on Google Cloud. Typical use cases include embedding dashboards in a client portal with data per client, internal BI on a data warehouse with consistent definitions, and white-label analytics as part of a software product. For lightweight ad hoc reporting without governance, we will work with you to determine whether Looker Studio or Power BI is a better fit.
Ready to build your Looker integration?
Tell us which dashboards you want to embed, which data warehouse your data sits in, and how row-level security should work per user or tenant. We are happy to help you think through the embedding architecture, LookML modelling and white-label branding. A no-obligation first conversation will give you a clear picture of what is possible within half an hour.