Vendor:
Founded:
Headquarters:
Qlik
1993
Radnor, PA
Customers:
Deployment Model:
Free Trial:
36,000+
Cloud, On-Premise
Yes
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Qlikview At A Glance
Product Overview
QlikView distinguishes itself from other BI tools through its unique inference engine, which maintains data associations automatically.
Most traditional BI tools rely on query-based tools, which divorce data from its context. For end-users seeking actionable, in-depth insights from their data to use to make business decisions, query-based tools do not provide enough information.
The inference engine maintains associations in the data automatically. In fact, it works the same way the human mind works: when you “think” of one thing, or parcel of data, you are also reminded of all the things related to it.
Search is vastly simplified with QlikView, which implements a Google-like search that also works in an associative manner, conveying results for the phrase and also for things commonly related to that phrase. An example of this “indirect” search would be if an end-user needed to find out the contact information of a marketer for a company, but they didn’t know the name or the company, only what the marketer specializes in and has done in the past.
Relationships in data are easily illuminated with QlikView’s visuals. Relevant data, and important relationships, will be identified and highlighted in a given color, making for timely and efficient insights. Irrelevant data is colored gray to avoid wasted time.
QlikView is comprised of three main components: QlikView Desktop, QlikView Publisher, and QlikView Server.
Desktop establishes the data model to be used, and lays out a graphical interface. This is where source data is linked to and unified with existing data, so that new information can be analyzed along with existing information. Desktop is also where graphs and tables are developed, and where visuals can be personalized by the end-user.
Server contains the in-memory analytics processor which accounts for QlikView’s speed. It is here where access control is done and the web server’s user portal is created.
Publisher is used to primarily fulfill two functions: to load source data, and then to publish it and send it out to wherever it needs to go.
Features
Several of QlikView’s features are listed below. However, we want to mention QlikView’s latest update, QlikView 12. QlikView 12 offers enhancements, including:
- QlikView runs on the same QIX engine as Qlik Sense, so customers can share data models between Qlik Sense and QlikView
- Enhanced security, such as stronger encryption and improved encryption handling
- Available on touch mobile devices (users can switch between mouse, pen or touch in hybrid devices without manual application refresh)
- Improved scalability that supports more nodes in a QlikView Server cluster
- Ability to connect QlikView to Web services via a native RESTful API connector (Web services include social media sites and content management systems)
- Availability for free and subscription-based data-as-a-service (users can add or cross reference their internal data with the Qlik DataMarket library of external data)
- Ad Hoc Analysis?
- Online Analytical Processing (OLAP)?
- Predictive Analysis?
- Profit Analysis?
- Trend Indicators?
- Ad Hoc Reporting?
- Automatic Scheduled Reporting?
- Customizable Dashboard?
Target Market
Qlik has a wide and diverse client base from around the world that includes many industries, ranging from online-startups and higher education institutions to government entities and media outlets. Some of their key customers are listed below:
- Albany Times Union
- Allina Health
- King.com
- Global Retail Bank
- US Synthentic
- Austin Fire Department
- Bassett Healthcare
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
- Autodesk
- Centerstone Research Institute
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Implementation/Integration
Qlik provides three consulting services for implementation:
- Foundation Services – The customer works with a QlikView Consulting Services staff on implementation – some of the steps include System Architecture Foundation (discussing goals and requirements of a Qlik system), Data Architecture Foundation (review and discussion of current and future data management needs, including data integration), Application Architecture Foundation (review of application requirements including size and scope), and Solution Validation (review of implementation and benchmarks against Qlik’s best practices).
- Application Services – This service is designed for customers that want to deploy a more complex Qlik application. They’ll work with dedicated Consulting Services staff that have expertise in specific applications.
- Enterprise Services – This service is intended for customers with enterprise-scale deployment. The Qlik Consulting Services work with the customer in monitoring current deployment and help plan for future upgrades.
Customer Service & Support
In late 2015, Qlik has revamped its support offerings. There are two levels of support: Basic and Enterprise. The Basic level includes global phone support, a self-help portal, forums, a Knowledge Base, product updates and support request tracking.
The Enterprise level includes everything from the Basic level plus:
- 24/7 coverage for Severity 1 issues and eight hours a day (seven days a week) coverage for Severity 2 and 3 issues
- Business-critical service level agreements prioritized to specialists or certified engineers
- Advising client of product release and upgrade based on their needs
- The new Qlik Proactive Support, a service that anticipates potential issues with the software and proactively fix it
Shortcomings
Debugging can pose a problem with QlikView, although there is ample customer support to address such issues.
Scripting done in preparation for the data association model can also be difficult.
The filering is well-executed, but some businesses struggled with end-users filtering and letting things unintentionally join, and either limit or multiply the results. While a great feature, it is easily messed up at the end user and developer levels.
Some also found it difficult for non-tech users to have access to self-service, which is seen by others as the tool’s greatest strength. In general, some users struggled to grasp the concept of filtering, and had trouble creating their own visuals.
Screenshots
About
Qlik was founded in Sweden in 1993. It’s original name derived from Quik, a marketing acronym standing for “Quality, Understanding, Interaction, Knowledge.” Now based in Radnor, Pennsylvania, Qlik has offices around the world with more than 1700 partners covering more than 100 countries.
In addition to QlikView, there is the new Qlik Sense platform. Qlik Sense is a self-service data discovery solution that is deployed as a Desktop, Enterprise, on in the Cloud. Qlik Sense gives users the ability to:
• Search for data relationships via their Smart Search functionality
• View multiple data sources in one application (Qlik Sense automatically connects multiple sources of data)
• Work with the interactive Smart Visualizations tool to create and share dashboards
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