QlikView vs Qlik Sense: A Detailed Comparison
Posted on March 20, 2024 | By Admin
Data is everywhere; businesses need a powerful analytics tool to turn it into valuable insights. Qlik provides a robust platform for data integration and analytics, evolving to meet the needs of modern enterprises. Within the Qlik ecosystem, QlikView vs Qlik Sense defines the transition to modern analytics.
QlikView is a developer-driven analytics solution. Developers build an application by creating the data model, layout, charts, and formulas. Analysts can then explore and drill down into data for reports, but have limited options for creating new visualizations.
On the other hand, Qlik Sense offers a modern, self-service BI experience with cloud scalability. It allows analysts to build applications and create custom visualizations independently without needing developers for scripting. It also adapts to different screen sizes and integrates seamlessly with other tools. This blog unpacks the key differences between QlikView vs Qlik Sense, helping you choose the right generation for your analytics needs.
QlikView vs Qlik Sense: Feature Comparison
| Feature | QlikView | Qlik Sense | Business Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analytics | Guided analytics with structured, developer-defined dashboards. | Self-service analytics with some guided analytics support. | In QlikView, reports are fixed, while in Qlik Sense, users can drag and drop to explore data by time, category, region, or other dimensions. QlikView for fixed reports and Qlik Sense for interactive reports. |
| UI & Data Modeling | Limited UI for complex transformations, script-based modeling. | Better UI with enhanced data model visualization and scripting. | Qlik Sense is user-friendly and self-service, while QlikView is developer-driven. For example, Automatic table associations in Qlik Sense vs. manual key creation in QlikView. |
| Extensions & Integration | Supports custom extensions via QlikView Workbench. | More flexible extensions with open APIs. | QlikView allows some add-ons, while Qlik Sense’s open APIs integrate with tools like SenseOps for automation and governance. |
| Data Connectivity | Supports various data sources via connectors. | Modern connectors with simplified integration. | Both connect to different data sources, but Qlik Sense is quicker and more flexible when integrating new data sources. |
| Geospatial Analysis | Not supported. | Supported. | Unlike QlikView, Qlik Sense offers interactive mapping for sales analysis, logistics, and geographic insights. |
| Exploration | Linear exploration with guided analytics. | Associative data model enabling dynamic exploration. | With Qlik Sense, users explore data freely with smart search and dynamic filtering, uncovering hidden trends beyond structured reports in QlikView. |
| Deployment | On-premises with server management. | Supports both cloud and on-premises. | Qlik Sense offers more flexible deployment options than QlikView. |
| Security & Governance | Centralized but complex security model. | Simplified and more granular security with user-level permissions. | QlikView restricts access at the document level, while Qlik Sense enables row-level security. For example, in Qlik Sense, a manager views all sales, but a rep accesses only their region. |
| Collaboration | Static reports. | Strong collaboration with real-time sharing and annotations. | Qlik Sense enables real-time collaboration, while QlikView requires exporting to share reports. |
| Visualizations | Basic charts, requiring external customization. | Rich library of built-in charts and visualizations. | QlikView offers basic charts like bar, line, pie, scatter, and gauge charts, while Qlik Sense includes advanced visuals like geo maps, KPIs, heatmaps, and custom extensions. |
| Set Analysis & Debugging | Complex expressions are harder to troubleshoot. | Enhanced debugging with color-coded expressions and real-time feedback. | Qlik Sense detects errors instantly with real-time formula validation and smart warnings, while QlikView requires manual debugging. |
| NLP | No natural language processing. | Allows querying and interaction using natural language. | Qlik Sense allows users to query data using natural language. Example: “Show me sales by region”. |
| Function Evaluation | Evaluates once during script execution or refresh. | Evaluates in real-time in live dashboards. | Qlik Sense shows live updates as you interact with the dashboard. |
Making the right choice: QlikView vs Qlik Sense
“Use QlikView for structured, developer-controlled analytics with predefined interactive visualizations. Use Qlik Sense for self-service BI with flexible data exploration, drag-and-drop visualizations, and smart data discovery.”
For organizations using QlikView, upgrading to Qlik Sense provides advanced visualizations, improved governance, real-time collaboration, open APIs, better scalability, seamless integration, and automation for deployments and workflows.
Ultimately, the decision between QlikView vs. Qlik Sense depends on your business needs. If you’re considering migrating from QlikView to Qlik Sense, the transition unlocks greater flexibility, automation, and analytics capabilities. Learn how a DevOps-driven approach can streamline your migration and maximize your Qlik investment in our detailed guide: QlikView to Qlik Sense and Beyond.
If you’re transitioning to Qlik Sense, explore SenseOps, an intelligent suite of apps to drive better and faster outcomes from existing Qlik investments. It provides solutions for managing version control, automation, custom extensions, integrations, and DevOps pipelines. This way, businesses focus more on leveraging the full power of Qlik Sense analytics across environments within a unified platform.
Enhance your Qlik experience with SenseOps. Contact us at hello@senseops.com to learn more, or sign up here to explore our marketplace and start your trial today!