Deciphering Data: A Deep Dive into QlikView vs QlikSense for Modern Analytics
Introduction: The Evolving Landscape of Business Intelligence
The Genesis of Qlik: From Associative Model to Modern Platforms
The story of Qlik begins with a fundamental challenge: how to make data truly accessible and interactive for users, regardless of their technical expertise. In the early 1990s, traditional business intelligence (BI) tools were rigid, relying on pre-defined queries and reports. This approach often left users waiting for IT departments to provide answers, hindering real-time decision-making.
Qlik’s founders, Staffan Gestrelius and Björn Berg, envisioned a different paradigm. They recognized the power of the human mind to explore data associatively, much like how we naturally connect ideas and concepts. This led to the development of Qlik’s revolutionary associative engine, which became the cornerstone of their product.
Instead of relying on rigid, hierarchical data structures, Qlik’s associative model allowed users to freely explore data, making connections and uncovering insights that might be missed with traditional tools. This approach was a significant departure from the prevailing BI landscape, marking the beginning of a new era of interactive data exploration.
Over time, Qlik has evolved from its initial desktop-based application to a comprehensive platform encompassing both on-premises and cloud-based solutions. This evolution reflects the changing needs of businesses, from the demand for mobile access and collaborative features to the growing importance of AI-driven insights. The core principle, however, remains the same: empowering users to explore data freely and make data-driven decisions.
Defining the Core: What is QlikView?
QlikView, the company’s original product, is a powerful, developer-centric BI platform that pioneered the concept of in-memory associative data analysis. It’s designed for creating highly customized, guided analytics applications.
Key characteristics of QlikView include:
- Guided Analytics: QlikView applications are typically developed by IT professionals or power users who design specific data models, visualizations, and workflows. This allows for a structured and controlled approach to data analysis.
- In-Memory Associative Engine: QlikView loads data into the server’s RAM, enabling lightning-fast query response times and interactive data exploration. The associative engine allows users to explore data without predefined paths.
- Powerful Scripting: QlikView’s scripting language (QlikView Scripting Language, or QVS) provides extensive control over data loading, transformation, and modeling. This allows developers to create complex and highly customized applications.
- QVD Files: QlikView utilizes QVD (QlikView Data) files, which are optimized for fast data loading and reduce the load on source systems.
QlikView excels in scenarios where complex reporting, guided analytics, and highly customized applications are required. It’s particularly well-suited for organizations with established IT teams and well-defined data analysis workflows.
Defining the Core: What is Qlik Sense?
Qlik Sense is Qlik’s modern, self-service BI platform, designed to empower users of all skill levels to explore data and create their own insights. It’s built on a modern, cloud-first architecture and emphasizes ease of use, flexibility, and scalability.
Key characteristics of Qlik Sense include:
- Self-Service Analytics: Qlik Sense’s intuitive interface and drag-and-drop functionality enable users to create their own visualizations and dashboards without requiring extensive technical skills.
- Smart Visualizations: Qlik Sense leverages AI and machine learning to automatically generate relevant visualizations and insights, helping users to quickly identify patterns and trends.
- Responsive Design: Qlik Sense applications are designed to be responsive and accessible across a variety of devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
- Cloud-Native Architecture: Qlik Sense’s modern architecture is optimized for cloud deployment, providing scalability, flexibility, and ease of management.
- Data Manager: Qlik Sense simplifies data loading and association through its Data Manager, which automates many of the data preparation tasks.
- QVF Files: Qlik Sense uses QVF files, and can also utilize cloud based storage options.
Qlik Sense is ideal for organizations that prioritize self-service analytics, agile decision-making, and cloud-based deployments. It empowers users to explore data independently and fosters a culture of data-driven decision-making.
The Fundamental Shift: From Guided Analytics to Self-Service BI
The shift from QlikView to Qlik Sense represents a broader trend in the BI landscape: the move from guided analytics to self-service BI.
- Guided Analytics: In the guided analytics model, IT professionals or power users create pre-defined applications that guide users through specific data analysis workflows. This approach provides structure and control, but it can also limit flexibility and responsiveness.
- Self-Service BI: Self-service BI empowers users to explore data independently, create their own visualizations, and answer their own questions. This approach fosters agility and innovation, but it requires a greater emphasis on data governance and user training.
QlikView embodies the guided analytics approach, while Qlik Sense embraces the self-service BI model. This shift reflects the growing demand for data democratization and the need for businesses to empower their employees with the ability to make data-driven decisions quickly and efficiently. The evolution also reflects the movement to cloud based analytics, and the need for more flexible and scalable solutions.
Architectural Foundations: Unveiling the Differences
QlikView’s Classic Architecture: A Detailed Breakdown
QlikView’s architecture is built around a client-server model, optimized for on-premises deployments. It’s characterized by its robust in-memory associative engine and reliance on QlikView Data (QVD) files.
Client-Server Model:
- QlikView applications (QVW files) are developed and managed on a server.
- Users access these applications through the QlikView Desktop client or the QlikView Server via a web browser.
- The server handles data processing, calculations, and rendering of visualizations.
In-Memory Associative Engine:
- QlikView loads data into the server’s RAM, enabling rapid data exploration and analysis.
- The associative engine allows users to explore data without predefined paths, uncovering hidden relationships.
QlikView Scripting Language (QVS):
- QVS is the primary tool for data loading, transformation, and modeling.
- It provides extensive control over data manipulation, allowing developers to create complex data models.
QVD Files:
- QVD files are optimized for fast data loading and reduce the load on source systems.
- They store transformed data in a columnar format, enhancing performance.
- QVD files are produced by QlikView, and are consumed by QlikView, and can also be consumed by Qlik Sense.
Deployment:
- Primarily designed for on-premises deployments.
- Server infrastructure is managed by the organization.
QlikView’s architecture is highly effective for complex reporting and guided analytics, providing developers with granular control over data and application design.
Qlik Sense’s Modern Architecture: Cloud-First and Scalable
Qlik Sense is built on a modern, cloud-native architecture, designed for scalability, flexibility, and self-service analytics. It leverages microservices and containerization to enhance performance and deployment options.
Cloud-Native Architecture:
- Designed for cloud deployment, supporting SaaS, PaaS, and hybrid environments.
- Microservices architecture enables independent scaling and updates of individual components.
- Containerization (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) enhances deployment flexibility and resource utilization.
Associative Engine:
- Maintains the core associative engine, but optimized for cloud environments.
- Enhanced performance and scalability for large datasets.
Qlik Sense Engine (QIX):
- This is the core engine, that handles data processing, calculations, and visualizations.
Data Manager and Data Load Editor:
- Provides intuitive tools for data loading, transformation, and modeling.
- Simplifies data preparation for self-service analytics.
QVF Files:
- Qlik Sense uses QVF files, that are optimized for the Qlik Sense Engine.
- Qlik Sense can also connect to cloud based data storage.
Deployment:
- Supports on-premises, cloud, and hybrid deployments.
- Qlik Cloud provides a fully managed SaaS offering.
Qlik Sense’s architecture is optimized for self-service BI and agile decision-making, providing users with a flexible and scalable platform for data exploration.
Deployment Options: On-Premises, Cloud, and Hybrid Environments
Both QlikView and Qlik Sense offer various deployment options, catering to different business needs and IT strategies.
On-Premises:
- Organizations manage their own server infrastructure and software installations.
- Provides greater control over data and security.
- Requires IT resources for maintenance and updates.
- Both QlikView and Qlik Sense can be deployed on premise.
Cloud:
- Qlik Cloud (SaaS) provides a fully managed cloud-based platform.
- Reduces IT overhead and provides scalability and flexibility.
- Enables easy access to data and applications from anywhere.
- Qlik Sense is designed with cloud deployment in mind.
Hybrid:
- Combines on-premises and cloud deployments.
- Allows organizations to leverage existing infrastructure while benefiting from cloud capabilities.
- Provides flexibility for data integration and application deployment.
- Hybrid deployments are possible with both QlikView and Qlik Sense, but Qlik Sense is much more flexible in this area.
The choice of deployment depends on factors such as data security requirements, IT resources, and business agility.
Data Storage and Management: QVDs vs. QVF and Cloud-Based Options
Data storage and management differ between QlikView and Qlik Sense, reflecting their architectural differences.
QlikView:
- Primarily relies on QVD files for optimized data storage and loading.
- QVD files are stored on the server’s file system.
- Data management is typically performed through QlikView scripts.
Qlik Sense:
- Uses QVF files, which are optimized for the Qlik Sense Engine.
- Supports cloud-based data storage options, such as cloud object storage.
- Data Manager simplifies data loading and association.
- Qlik Sense can consume QVD files.
- Qlik Sense has much more flexibility in connecting to many different data sources.
Cloud-Based Options (Qlik Sense):
- Integration with cloud data warehouses (e.g., Snowflake, Amazon Redshift).
- Connectivity to cloud data lakes (e.g., Azure Data Lake Storage, Google Cloud Storage).
- Enables scalable and cost-effective data storage and management.
Qlik Sense’s support for cloud-based data storage and management enhances its scalability and flexibility, enabling organizations to leverage modern data architectures.
User Experience and Interface: Navigating the Platforms
QlikView’s Developer-Centric Interface: Customization and Control
QlikView’s interface is designed with developers and power users in mind, offering extensive customization and control over application design and data presentation.
Developer-Focused Environment:
- The QlikView Desktop client provides a comprehensive development environment for creating and managing QlikView applications.
- It offers a wide range of tools and features for data modeling, scripting, and visualization design.
Highly Customizable Layouts:
- Developers have granular control over the layout and appearance of QlikView applications.
- They can create highly customized visualizations, reports, and dashboards to meet specific business requirements.
Extensive Scripting Capabilities:
- QlikView’s scripting language (QVS) enables developers to perform complex data transformations and calculations.
- This allows for the creation of highly sophisticated and tailored applications.
Object-Oriented Design:
- QlikView’s object-oriented design allows developers to create reusable components and templates.
- This enhances efficiency and consistency in application development.
Steep Learning Curve:
- Due to the large amount of control, and scripting requirements, the learning curve for Qlikview is steeper than Qlik Sense.
QlikView’s interface is ideal for organizations that require highly customized and controlled applications, providing developers with the tools and flexibility to meet complex business needs.
Qlik Sense’s Intuitive Interface: Drag-and-Drop and Smart Visualizations
Qlik Sense’s interface is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, empowering users of all skill levels to explore data and create their own insights.
Drag-and-Drop Functionality:
- Users can easily create visualizations and dashboards by dragging and dropping data fields onto the canvas.
- This simplifies the process of data exploration and analysis.
Smart Visualizations:
- Qlik Sense leverages AI and machine learning to automatically generate relevant visualizations and insights.
- This helps users to quickly identify patterns and trends in their data.
Responsive Design:
- Qlik Sense applications are designed to be responsive and adapt to different screen sizes and devices.
- This ensures a consistent user experience across desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
Intuitive Navigation:
- The interface is designed to be easy to navigate, with clear menus and toolbars.
- This allows users to quickly find the tools and features they need.
Associative Insights:
- The associative engine is used to highlight related data, and allow the user to quickly drill down into the information they need.
Qlik Sense’s interface is ideal for organizations that prioritize self-service analytics and empower users to explore data independently.
Mobile Accessibility: QlikView vs. Qlik Sense Mobile Apps and Responsiveness
Mobile accessibility is a crucial factor in modern BI platforms, and QlikView and Qlik Sense offer different mobile experiences.
QlikView Mobile:
- QlikView offers a mobile app that allows users to access QlikView applications on mobile devices.
- However, the mobile experience is often limited compared to the desktop version, and can be less responsive.
- Because Qlikview applications are designed with fixed layouts, they do not always translate well to smaller mobile screens.
Qlik Sense Mobile:
- Qlik Sense is designed with responsive design principles, ensuring a consistent user experience across all devices.
- The Qlik Sense mobile app provides a full range of features and capabilities, allowing users to explore data and create insights on the go.
- Qlik Sense’s cloud native architecture also allows for better mobile performance.
Responsiveness:
- Qlik Sense’s responsive design ensures that visualizations and dashboards adapt to different screen sizes and orientations.
- This provides a seamless mobile experience for users.
- Qlikview applications can require extra development time to make them function reasonably on a mobile device.
Qlik Sense provides a superior mobile experience compared to QlikView, offering greater responsiveness and a wider range of features on mobile devices.
Collaborative Features: Sharing, Storytelling, and Team Analytics
Collaboration is essential for effective data analysis, and QlikView and Qlik Sense offer different collaborative features.
QlikView Collaboration:
- QlikView allows users to share QlikView applications and reports through the QlikView Server.
- Collaboration is primarily focused on sharing pre-built applications and reports.
- Qlikview is less well suited for real time collaborative design.
Qlik Sense Collaboration:
- Qlik Sense provides a range of collaborative features, including sharing, storytelling, and team analytics.
- Users can share visualizations, dashboards, and stories with colleagues.
- Team analytics features allow users to collaborate on data exploration and analysis in real time.
- Qlik Sense cloud also allows for real time collaborative development.
Storytelling:
- Qlik Sense’s storytelling feature allows users to create interactive presentations that highlight key insights and findings.
- This enhances communication and collaboration among team members.
Sharing and Governance:
- Qlik Sense cloud, provides easy sharing, and strong governance models, allowing for secure collaboration.
Qlik Sense offers more robust and flexible collaborative features compared to QlikView, enabling teams to work together more effectively on data analysis and decision-making.
Data Modeling and Scripting: The Engine Room
QlikView’s Scripting Power: In-Depth QlikView Scripting Language (QVS)
QlikView’s strength lies in its powerful scripting language, QlikView Scripting Language (QVS), which provides developers with extensive control over data loading, transformation, and modeling.
Extensive Data Manipulation:
- QVS allows developers to perform complex data transformations, including data cleansing, aggregation, and manipulation.
- It supports a wide range of functions and operators for data processing.
Custom Data Loading:
- QVS enables developers to load data from various sources, including databases, files, and web services.
- It provides granular control over data loading processes, allowing for customized data extraction and transformation.
Complex Data Modeling:
- QVS allows developers to create complex data models, including star schemas and snowflake schemas.
- It supports the creation of calculated fields, derived tables, and other advanced data modeling techniques.
Control over Application Logic:
- QVS can be used to control the logic and behavior of QlikView applications, including user interactions and data presentation.
- It allows for the creation of very specific and tailored applications.
Steep Learning Curve:
- QVS is a powerful language, but it requires a solid understanding of scripting and data modeling concepts.
- This can lead to a steeper learning curve for new users.
QlikView’s scripting capabilities make it ideal for organizations that require highly customized data models and applications.
Qlik Sense’s Data Manager: Simplified Data Loading and Associations
Qlik Sense’s Data Manager simplifies data loading and association, making it easier for users to prepare data for analysis.
Intuitive Data Loading:
- The Data Manager provides a user-friendly interface for loading data from various sources.
- It automatically detects data types and suggests associations between tables.
Automated Data Associations:
- Qlik Sense’s associative engine automatically creates associations between data fields, eliminating the need for manual data modeling in many cases.
- This is a large time saver.
Data Profiling and Cleansing:
- The Data Manager provides tools for data profiling and cleansing, allowing users to identify and correct data quality issues.
- Simple data transformations can be done within the Data manager.
Drag-and-Drop Data Modeling:
- Users can easily create and modify data associations by dragging and dropping data fields.
- More complex data transformations can be done in the Data Load Editor.
Reduced Scripting Requirements:
- The Data Manager reduces the need for complex scripting, making it easier for users to prepare data for analysis.
Qlik Sense’s Data Manager simplifies data preparation, empowering users to focus on data analysis rather than data modeling.
Advanced Data Modeling: Set Analysis and Complex Calculations
Both QlikView and Qlik Sense offer advanced data modeling capabilities, including set analysis and complex calculations.
Set Analysis:
- Set analysis allows users to create custom sets of data based on specific criteria.
- This enables users to perform complex comparisons and calculations across different data subsets.
- Both platforms have very strong set analysis functionality.
Complex Calculations:
- Both platforms support a wide range of functions and operators for performing complex calculations.
- Users can create calculated fields, derived tables, and other advanced data modeling techniques.
Variables:
- Both platforms allow for the use of variables. These variables can be used within the data load script, and within the user interface, to create dynamic applications.
Advanced Aggregations:
- Both platforms allow for advanced aggregations like running totals, and period over period calculations.
Both QlikView and Qlik Sense provide powerful tools for advanced data modeling, enabling users to perform complex analyses and gain deeper insights from their data.
Data Governance and Security: User Roles and Access Control
Data governance and security are critical aspects of any BI platform, and QlikView and Qlik Sense offer different approaches to user roles and access control.
QlikView Security:
- QlikView’s security model is primarily based on user authentication and authorization at the application level.
- Access control is managed through the QlikView Server, which allows administrators to define user roles and permissions.
Qlik Sense Security:
- Qlik Sense provides a more granular and flexible security model, with support for role-based access control (RBAC) and data-level security.
- Qlik Sense Cloud provides even more security and governance options.
- It allows administrators to define user roles and permissions at the application, data, and object levels.
Data Governance:
- Qlik Sense provides features for data governance, including data lineage, data quality monitoring, and data cataloging.
- Qlikview relies more on the development team to ensure data governance.
Audit Trails:
- Both platforms provide audit trails, but Qlik Sense provides more detailed audit trails.
Integration with Identity Providers:
- Qlik Sense has much better integration with common identity providers.
Qlik Sense offers a more comprehensive and robust security model compared to QlikView, providing greater flexibility and control over data access and governance.
Visualization and Analytics: Bringing Data to Life
QlikView’s Pre-Built Charts and Customization Options
QlikView offers a wide range of pre-built charts and extensive customization options, allowing developers to create highly tailored visualizations.
Diverse Chart Library:
- QlikView provides a comprehensive library of pre-built charts, including bar charts, line charts, pie charts, scatter plots, and more.
- These charts can be customized to meet specific business requirements.
Extensive Customization:
- Developers have granular control over the appearance and behavior of QlikView charts.
- They can customize colors, fonts, labels, axes, and other chart elements.
Custom Objects:
- Qlikview allows for the creation of custom objects. These can be used to display data in very specific ways.
Conditional Formatting:
- QlikView supports conditional formatting, allowing developers to highlight data based on specific criteria.
- This enhances data visualization and helps users to quickly identify key insights.
Layout Control:
- QlikView gives very fine grained control over the layouts of objects within a report.
QlikView’s customization options make it ideal for organizations that require highly tailored and visually appealing visualizations.
Qlik Sense’s Smart Visualizations and AI-Driven Insights
Qlik Sense leverages smart visualizations and AI-driven insights to help users quickly identify patterns and trends in their data.
Smart Visualizations:
- Qlik Sense automatically generates relevant visualizations based on the selected data fields.
- This helps users to quickly explore data and identify key insights.
Insight Advisor:
- Qlik Sense’s Insight Advisor uses AI and machine learning to generate automated insights and recommendations.
- It analyzes data and suggests relevant visualizations and analyses.
Natural Language Processing (NLP):
- Qlik Sense allows users to ask questions in natural language, and it will generate relevant visualizations and insights.
- This lowers the barrier to entry for many users.
Associative Insights:
- Qlik sense uses it’s associative engine to highlight related data, and allow the user to quickly drill down into the information they need.
Responsive Visualizations:
- Qlik Sense visualizations are designed to be responsive and adapt to different screen sizes and devices.
Qlik Sense’s smart visualizations and AI-driven insights empower users to quickly gain valuable insights from their data.
Interactive Dashboards and Reporting Capabilities
Both QlikView and Qlik Sense offer interactive dashboards and reporting capabilities, but they differ in their approach.
QlikView Dashboards:
- QlikView dashboards are highly customizable and provide developers with granular control over layout and design.
- They are typically designed for guided analytics and provide users with a structured view of key metrics.
Qlik Sense Dashboards:
- Qlik Sense dashboards are designed to be interactive and user-friendly, empowering users to explore data and create their own insights.
- They are optimized for self-service analytics and provide users with a flexible and intuitive interface.
Reporting Capabilities:
- Both platforms offer reporting capabilities, but QlikView is often preferred for complex and highly formatted reports.
- Qlik Sense is better for more agile reporting.
Interactive Exploration:
- Both platforms allow for interactive exploration of data, but Qlik sense is generally considered to be more intuitive.
Qlik Sense’s interactive dashboards and reporting capabilities empower users to explore data and make data-driven decisions quickly and efficiently.
Embedded Analytics: Integrating Qlik into Applications
Both QlikView and Qlik Sense can be embedded into other applications, but Qlik Sense offers a more modern and flexible approach.
QlikView Embedded Analytics:
- QlikView applications can be embedded into web pages and other applications using the QlikView Server.
- This allows organizations to integrate QlikView analytics into their existing workflows.
Qlik Sense Embedded Analytics:
- Qlik Sense provides a range of APIs and SDKs for embedding Qlik Sense visualizations and dashboards into other applications.
- This allows for seamless integration with web applications, mobile apps, and other business systems.
Modern APIs:
- Qlik Sense has a much more robust and modern API structure, allowing for more flexible embedding.
Cloud Integration:
- Qlik Sense Cloud makes embedding analytics into cloud applications much simpler.
Mashups:
- Qlik sense excels at creating mashups, where data from Qlik Sense is combined with other web based content.
Qlik Sense’s embedded analytics capabilities provide greater flexibility and integration options compared to QlikView, enabling organizations to seamlessly integrate Qlik analytics into their applications.
Performance and Scalability: Handling Large Datasets
QlikView’s Performance Optimization Techniques
QlikView, while powerful, requires careful optimization to maintain performance with large datasets.
QVD Optimization:
- QVD (QlikView Data) files are crucial for performance. Using QVDs for pre-processed data reduces the load on source systems and speeds up data loading.
- Strategic use of QVD layers is essential.
Script Optimization:
- Efficient QlikView scripting is vital. Minimizing loops, optimizing data transformations, and using incremental loads can significantly improve performance.
- Careful script design avoids unneeded calculations.
Memory Management:
- QlikView’s in-memory architecture demands careful memory management. Monitoring memory usage and optimizing data models are crucial.
- Limiting unneeded fields, and optimizing data types reduces memory footprint.
Application Design:
- Designing applications with performance in mind, such as limiting the number of objects and using efficient chart types, can enhance responsiveness.
- Reducing the number of calculations done within the user interface.
Server Tuning:
- Proper server configuration, including CPU allocation, RAM allocation, and disk I/O optimization, is essential for optimal performance.
QlikView’s performance relies heavily on developer expertise and careful optimization.
Qlik Sense’s Scalability and Performance Enhancements
Qlik Sense is designed for scalability and performance, especially in cloud environments.
Cloud-Native Architecture:
- Qlik Sense’s cloud-native architecture enables horizontal scaling, allowing organizations to easily add resources as needed.
- Microservices architecture allows for independent scaling of components.
QIX Engine Enhancements:
- The Qlik Sense engine (QIX) is optimized for performance and scalability, handling large datasets efficiently.
- Improved algorithms and data processing techniques.
On-Demand App Generation:
- Qlik Sense allows for the on-demand generation of applications, which can reduce the initial load time, and memory usage.
Resource Distribution:
- Qlik Sense’s architecture allows for better resource distribution across multiple servers and nodes.
- This is especially true in cloud based deployments.
Improved Memory Management:
- Qlik sense has improvements in memory management, allowing it to handle larger datasets.
Qlik Sense’s modern architecture and engine enhancements provide superior scalability and performance compared to QlikView.
In-Memory Processing and Data Compression: A Comparative Analysis
Both QlikView and Qlik Sense utilize in-memory processing and data compression, but they differ in their implementation.
In-Memory Processing:
- Both platforms load data into RAM, enabling fast query response times.
- QlikView’s architecture is more reliant on a single server’s RAM, while Qlik Sense can distribute processing across multiple nodes.
Data Compression:
- Both platforms use data compression techniques to reduce memory footprint.
- Qlik Sense has made improvements to it’s compression algorithms.
QVD vs. QVF:
- QVD files in QlikView and QVF files in Qlik Sense both provide optimized data storage and loading.
- QVF files are optimized for the QIX engine.
Cloud Optimization:
- Qlik Sense cloud deployments allow for optimized memory and processing allocation.
Qlik Sense’s architecture and engine enhancements provide more efficient in-memory processing and data compression, especially in cloud environments.
Resource Management and Server Configuration
Proper resource management and server configuration are crucial for both QlikView and Qlik Sense.
QlikView Server Configuration:
- QlikView server configuration involves allocating sufficient RAM, CPU, and disk I/O resources.
- Monitoring server performance and adjusting settings as needed is crucial.
Qlik Sense Server Configuration:
- Qlik Sense server configuration is more flexible, especially in cloud environments.
- Administrators can easily scale resources up or down based on demand.
Resource Monitoring:
- Both platforms provide tools for monitoring resource usage.
- Qlik Sense cloud provides very detailed monitoring tools.
Load Balancing:
- Qlik Sense provides robust load balancing capabilities, distributing workloads across multiple servers.
- This is especially important for high volume applications.
Cloud Resource Management:
- Qlik Sense cloud allows for very easy resource management, and autoscaling.
Qlik Sense’s cloud-native architecture and resource management capabilities provide greater flexibility and scalability compared to QlikView.
Use Cases and Industry Applications: Real-World Scenarios
QlikView’s Strengths: Complex Reporting and Guided Analytics
QlikView excels in scenarios requiring intricate, controlled reporting and guided analytics, often in environments with established IT governance.
Complex Financial Reporting:
- QlikView is well-suited for generating detailed financial reports with complex calculations and layouts.
- Its scripting capabilities enable the creation of highly customized financial statements and analyses.
Manufacturing Production Analysis:
- QlikView’s guided analytics are ideal for monitoring production processes, identifying bottlenecks, and optimizing efficiency.
- Detailed reports can be created to track key performance indicators (KPIs) and production metrics.
Pharmaceutical Clinical Trials:
- QlikView is used for analyzing clinical trial data, generating reports, and tracking patient outcomes.
- Its ability to handle complex data models and calculations is essential for clinical research.
Government Reporting:
- Government agencies use QlikView for generating detailed reports on public services, budget allocations, and performance metrics.
- The high degree of control over the report output is very useful in this sector.
Highly Regulated Industries:
- Industries that require strict adherence to reporting standards, and governance, often use Qlikview due to the high degree of control.
QlikView’s strength lies in its ability to deliver highly structured, controlled, and complex analytical applications.
Qlik Sense’s Strengths: Self-Service BI and Agile Decision Making
Qlik Sense is ideal for organizations that prioritize self-service analytics, agile decision-making, and user empowerment.
Sales Performance Analysis:
- Sales teams use Qlik Sense to quickly analyze sales data, identify trends, and track performance against targets.
- Its intuitive interface allows sales managers to create their own dashboards and reports.
Marketing Campaign Optimization:
- Marketing teams use Qlik Sense to analyze campaign performance, track customer engagement, and optimize marketing spend.
- The ability to quickly explore data and generate insights is crucial for agile marketing.
Supply Chain Management:
- Supply chain managers use Qlik Sense to monitor inventory levels, track shipments, and identify potential disruptions.
- Real-time data visualization and analysis enable proactive decision-making.
Human Resources Analytics:
- HR departments use Qlik Sense to analyze employee data, track recruitment metrics, and identify talent gaps.
- The easy to use interface allows HR professionals to answer their own questions.
Retail Customer Insights:
- Retailers use Qlik Sense to analyze customer purchasing habits, track inventory, and optimize store layouts.
- The ability to easily connect to cloud based data sources is very useful.
Qlik Sense empowers users across the organization to explore data, generate insights, and make data-driven decisions.
Industry-Specific Solutions: Finance, Healthcare, Retail, and Manufacturing
Both QlikView and Qlik Sense offer industry-specific solutions, but their strengths differ.
Finance:
- QlikView: Complex financial reporting, risk analysis, and regulatory compliance.
- Qlik Sense: Real-time financial dashboards, performance analysis, and forecasting.
Healthcare:
- QlikView: Clinical trial analysis, patient outcome tracking, and hospital operations reporting.
- Qlik Sense: Patient population health management, operational dashboards, and personalized medicine.
Retail:
- QlikView: Inventory management, sales analysis, and supply chain optimization.
- Qlik Sense: Customer insights, marketing campaign analysis, and store performance dashboards.
Manufacturing:
- QlikView: Production analysis, quality control, and supply chain management.
- Qlik Sense: Real-time production monitoring, predictive maintenance, and operational dashboards.
Each platform provides solutions that are best suited to the needs of each individual industry.
Choosing the Right Tool: Matching Platform to Business Needs
Selecting the right tool depends on specific business needs and priorities.
QlikView:
- Choose QlikView for complex reporting, guided analytics, and highly customized applications.
- Ideal for organizations with established IT teams and well-defined data analysis workflows.
- Choose Qlikview when high degrees of control and governance are required.
Qlik Sense:
- Choose Qlik Sense for self-service analytics, agile decision-making, and cloud-based deployments.
- Ideal for organizations that prioritize user empowerment and data democratization.
- Choose Qlik Sense for modern cloud based data strategies.
Considerations:
- Data complexity and volume.
- User skill levels and training requirements.
- IT infrastructure and resources.
- Budget and licensing costs.
- The organizations data strategy, and future goals.
By carefully evaluating these factors, organizations can choose the platform that best aligns with their business objectives.
Future Trends and Updates: The Road Ahead
Qlik’s Roadmap: Cloud Analytics and Augmented Intelligence
Qlik’s strategic direction is heavily focused on cloud analytics and augmented intelligence, aiming to provide users with more powerful and intuitive data experiences.
Cloud-First Strategy:
- Qlik is investing heavily in its cloud platform, Qlik Cloud, enhancing its capabilities and scalability.
- The emphasis is on providing a fully managed, SaaS-based analytics experience.
Augmented Intelligence (AI):
- Qlik is integrating AI and machine learning into its platform, automating data analysis tasks and providing AI-driven insights.
- Insight Advisor and natural language processing (NLP) are key components of this strategy.
Data Literacy:
- Qlik is promoting data literacy through its platform and educational resources, empowering users to make data-driven decisions.
- The focus is on making data accessible and understandable for everyone.
Active Intelligence:
- Qlik is pushing the concept of active intelligence, where data is used to trigger immediate actions.
- This allows businesses to react to data in real time.
Data Fabric:
- Qlik is working on building a data fabric, allowing for seamless data integration across various data sources and environments.
Qlik’s roadmap is geared towards providing a modern, intelligent, and cloud-based analytics platform.
QlikView’s Maintenance and Long-Term Support
QlikView, while a mature product, continues to receive maintenance and support, but its development focus has shifted.
Continued Maintenance:
- Qlik provides ongoing maintenance and bug fixes for QlikView, ensuring its stability and reliability.
- Support is still available for QlikView customers.
Limited Feature Development:
- Qlik’s development efforts are primarily focused on Qlik Sense and Qlik Cloud, with limited new feature development for QlikView.
- Qlikview has entered a phase of sustaining engineering.
Migration Encouragement:
- Qlik encourages QlikView customers to migrate to Qlik Sense, providing tools and resources to facilitate the transition.
- This is due to the strategic focus on Qlik Sense.
Long-Term Support:
- Qlik has communicated a long-term support plan for QlikView, ensuring that customers can continue to use the platform for the foreseeable future.
Focus on Stability:
- The emphasis for QlikView is on maintaining stability and reliability, rather than adding new features.
QlikView remains a stable platform, but its future development is limited.
Qlik Sense’s Continuous Innovation: SaaS and AI Integration
Qlik Sense is experiencing continuous innovation, driven by its cloud-first strategy and AI integration.
SaaS Enhancements:
- Qlik is continuously enhancing its SaaS offering, Qlik Cloud, with new features and capabilities.
- This includes improvements to scalability, performance, and security.
AI Integration:
- Qlik is integrating more AI and machine learning capabilities into Qlik Sense, automating data analysis tasks and providing AI-driven insights.
- This includes enhancements to Insight Advisor and NLP.
API and SDK Development:
- Qlik is expanding its API and SDK offerings, enabling developers to integrate Qlik Sense into a wider range of applications.
- This allows for greater flexibility and customization.
Data Integration:
- Qlik is focusing on improved data integration capabilities, allowing Qlik Sense to connect to a wider range of data sources.
- This includes enhancements to Qlik Data Integration.
Community Driven Features:
- Qlik is taking feedback from the community, and implementing community requested features into Qlik Sense.
Qlik Sense is evolving rapidly, with a focus on cloud-based innovation and AI-driven insights.
The Convergence of QlikView and Qlik Sense: Potential Scenarios
While QlikView and Qlik Sense are distinct platforms, there are potential scenarios for convergence or integration.
Hybrid Environments:
- Many organizations will continue to use both QlikView and Qlik Sense in hybrid environments, leveraging the strengths of each platform.
- Qlik is working on tools to ease hybrid deployments.
Feature Parity:
- Over time, Qlik aims to achieve feature parity between QlikView and Qlik Sense, allowing organizations to migrate more easily.
- This means Qlik Sense is gaining the more complex features that Qlikview already has.
Shared Engine:
- While unlikely in the short term, a future scenario could involve a shared engine that powers both QlikView and Qlik Sense.
- This would streamline development and maintenance.
Cloud Integration:
- Qlik is focusing on cloud integration, allowing QlikView applications to be accessed and managed in cloud environments.
- This could lead to a more seamless experience for users of both platforms.
Migration Tools:
- Improved migration tools are constantly being created, to help Qlikview customers move to Qlik Sense.
The future may involve greater integration and convergence between QlikView and Qlik Sense, providing organizations with more flexibility and options.
Conclusion: Making the Informed Choice
Summarizing the Key Differences: A Concise Comparison
QlikView and Qlik Sense, while both powerful analytics platforms, cater to different needs and preferences. Here’s a concise comparison:
Architecture:
- QlikView: Classic client-server, on-premises focused.
- Qlik Sense: Modern, cloud-native, microservices-based.
User Experience:
- QlikView: Developer-centric, highly customizable, steep learning curve.
- Qlik Sense: Intuitive, self-service, drag-and-drop, AI-driven.
Data Modeling and Scripting:
- QlikView: Powerful scripting (QVS), complex data modeling.
- Qlik Sense: Simplified data manager, automated associations, Data Load Editor.
Visualization and Analytics:
- QlikView: Highly customizable charts, controlled reporting.
- Qlik Sense: Smart visualizations, AI-driven insights, interactive dashboards.
Performance and Scalability:
- QlikView: Requires careful optimization, limited cloud scalability.
- Qlik Sense: Cloud-optimized, scalable, enhanced performance.
Deployment:
- QlikView: Primarily on premise.
- Qlik Sense: Cloud, on premise, hybrid.
Collaboration:
- QlikView: Basic sharing.
- Qlik Sense: Extensive sharing, storytelling, team analytics.
QlikView offers control and deep customization, while Qlik Sense prioritizes ease of use and agile analytics.
Recommendations: When to Choose QlikView vs. Qlik Sense
The choice between QlikView and Qlik Sense depends on your specific business needs and priorities:
Choose QlikView when:
- You require highly customized, guided analytics applications.
- You have a strong IT team and well-defined data analysis workflows.
- You need complex, highly formatted reporting.
- You work in a highly regulated industry that requires very strong governance.
- Your current applications are already built in Qlikview, and you do not have a strong need to move to the cloud.
Choose Qlik Sense when:
- You prioritize self-service analytics and user empowerment.
- You need agile decision-making and rapid data exploration.
- You are moving to a cloud-first strategy.
- You want modern, AI-driven insights.
- You want strong collaborative features.
- You want easy mobile access.
Consider a hybrid approach when:
- You have existing QlikView applications but want to leverage Qlik Sense’s capabilities.
- You need a gradual migration strategy.
- You have a need for both guided, and self serve analytics.
Ultimately, the best choice is the one that aligns with your organization’s data strategy and business objectives.
The Future of Data Analytics with Qlik
Qlik’s future is firmly rooted in cloud analytics and augmented intelligence, driving innovation and empowering users to make data-driven decisions.
Cloud-First Innovation:
- Qlik Cloud will continue to be a focal point, providing a scalable and flexible analytics platform.
AI-Driven Insights:
- AI and machine learning will play an increasingly important role, automating tasks and providing deeper insights.
Data Literacy and Democratization:
- Qlik will continue to promote data literacy and empower users of all skill levels.
Active Intelligence and Real-Time Decisions:
- The push for active intelligence will allow companies to react to data as it happens.
Data Fabric:
- The data fabric will allow for seamless data integration.
As Qlik continues to evolve, it will provide organizations with the tools and capabilities they need to thrive in the data-driven world. The company’s focus on cloud, AI, and user empowerment positions it as a leader in the future of data analytics.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the primary differences in architecture?
QlikView:
- Uses a classic client-server architecture, primarily designed for on-premises deployments.
- Relies heavily on QVD (QlikView Data) files for optimized data storage.
- The engine works primarily within the RAM of a single server.
Qlik Sense:
- Employs a modern, cloud-native architecture based on microservices and containerization.
- Optimized for scalability and flexibility, supporting cloud, on-premises, and hybrid deployments.
- Uses QVF files, and can utilize many cloud based data storage options.
- The engine can distribute workloads across many servers, especially in cloud based deployments.
In essence, QlikView is designed for a more traditional, controlled environment, while Qlik Sense is built for agility and scalability in the cloud era.
Is QlikView being phased out?
- QlikView is not being abruptly phased out. Qlik continues to provide maintenance and support for existing QlikView customers.
- However, Qlik’s strategic focus and development efforts are primarily directed towards Qlik Sense and Qlik Cloud.
- Qlik encourages QlikView customers to consider migrating to Qlik Sense, and provides tools to help with the transition.
- Qlikview has entered into a sustaining engineering life cycle.
Therefore, while QlikView remains usable, its long-term future is less emphasized compared to Qlik Sense.
Which platform is better for self-service analytics?
- Qlik Sense is significantly better for self-service analytics.
- Its intuitive, drag-and-drop interface, and smart visualizations empower users of all skill levels to explore data and create their own insights.
- QlikView, with its developer-centric approach and scripting requirements, is less conducive to self-service.
How do licensing models differ?
- Qlik’s licensing can become rather complex, and it is best to speak with a Qlik sales representative. However, some general distinctions can be made.
- Generally, QlikView licensing historically tended to be more server-based and document based.
- Qlik Sense licensing offers more flexible options, including user-based subscriptions, capacity-based licensing, and SaaS offerings.
- Qlik cloud also changes many of the licensing options.
Can I migrate from QlikView to Qlik Sense?
- Yes, migrating from QlikView to Qlik Sense is possible, and Qlik provides tools and resources to facilitate the process.
- However, migration can require careful planning and effort, especially for complex QlikView applications.
- There are also many Qlik partners that specialize in migrating people from Qlikview to Qlik Sense.
What are the advantages of cloud deployment with Qlik Sense?
Cloud deployment with Qlik Sense offers several advantages:
- Scalability: Easily scale resources up or down as needed.
- Flexibility: Access data and applications from anywhere.
- Reduced IT overhead: Qlik manages the infrastructure and software updates.
- Cost-effectiveness: Pay-as-you-go pricing models.
- Easier collaboration.
- Improved mobile access.
How does Qlik Sense handle big data?
Qlik Sense is designed to handle big data through:
- Its associative engine, optimized for in-memory processing.
- Its cloud-native architecture, enabling horizontal scaling.
- Its data compression techniques, reducing memory footprint.
- Ability to connect to cloud data warehouses, and data lakes.
- It’s improved engine, that can process larger data volumes.
What are the key scripting differences?
- QlikView uses QlikView Scripting Language (QVS), which provides extensive control over data loading and transformation.
- Qlik Sense offers the Data Manager for simplified data loading and automated associations, reducing the need for extensive scripting.
- However, Qlik Sense also has a very powerful “Data Load Editor” that allows for very complex scripting similar to Qlikview.
- Essentially, Qlik sense allows for people with less scripting knowledge to do most of their required tasks, but also allows people with deep scripting knowledge to still utilize those abilities.
Which platform is more mobile-friendly?
- Qlik Sense is significantly more mobile-friendly.
- Its responsive design and dedicated mobile app provide a seamless user experience across devices.
- QlikView’s mobile experience is generally more limited.
How does Qlik’s AI integration work?
Qlik integrates AI through features like:
- Insight Advisor: Which automatically generates visualizations and insights.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP): Allows users to ask questions in plain language.
- AI is used to optimize performance, and to generate smart visualizations.
- Qlik also is working on many other ways to integrate AI into their platform.
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