Writeback Extension for Qlik Sense: Simplify Budgeting
Posted on August 20, 2024 | By Admin
QlikSense Writeback has revolutionized the budgeting process, an instrument of fiscal discipline and accountability, and has evolved since its introduction in the late 1700s in the public domain and later in the 20th century against the backdrop of industrialization. Companies of all sizes have adopted various methods and technologies for this exercise – ranging from manual Excel sheets to advanced financial planning and analysis (FP&A) tools that integrate real-time data, automate workflows, and support scenario-based decision-making.
In today’s data environment, budgeting is no longer a periodic framework but a continuous process. So, planners need mechanisms to make live updates across multiple enterprise systems and explore scenarios without switching applications or worrying about accuracy or delays – all within their analytical ecosystem. This necessitates real-time inputs, dynamic allocations, and immediate feedback loops.
Budgeting is typically a multi-dimensional challenge for organizations using data visualization and analytics. Let’s consider the case of a US-based grower and a Qlik Sense user with key questions during the budgeting process.
- Budget allocation based on historical performance – How do organizations assign weights from previous data dynamically to influence correct budget allocations?
- Changing budgets and evaluating business impact – How do planners evaluate the impact of budget change along various dimensions like product categories, SKUs, and geographies?
- Applying real-time data to budgeting – How can companies make budgeting decisions that accurately mirror real-time market conditions and operational realities?
Solving these issues needs an integrated Qlik Sense Writeback solution that supports real-time updates, offers contextual information, and improves collaboration in the budgeting process.
SenseOps Writeback: Enabling Real-Time Budgeting in Qlik Sense
The Qlik Sense Writeback extension, SenseOps, transforms Qlik Sense into an interactive budgeting solution. It enables users to enter, modify, and synchronize budget data from multiple sources in real time. This extension does away with manual data entry, cumbersome file exports, and error-prone reconciliation processes by integrating writeback functionality natively within Qlik Sense applications.
Key Functionalities of SenseOps Writeback
1. Direct, Contextual Budget Inputs
Conventional budgeting processes usually include pulling data from Qlik Sense, performing changes in third-party tools, and re-importing data for analysis. SenseOps Writeback avoids this inefficiency by enabling users to:
- Input budget values directly into Qlik Sense applications.
- Monitor live results in their analytical environment.
- Store and retrieve data in structured formats (CSV, databases, REST APIs).
This makes it possible for planners to make real-time modifications without affecting their workflow or creating data inconsistencies.
2. Dynamic Budget Splitting for Granular Allocation
Budget allocations involve several entities, like products, geographies, or business units either by pre-defined or dynamic weights. The Qlik Sense Writeback split feature in SenseOps Writeback enables users to:
- Define weightage-based allocations derived from historical data.
- Allocate budgets automatically across hierarchies (e.g., category → product → SKU).
- Re-allocate dynamically based on external variables like market trends, seasonality, or event-based demand.
For instance, consider a budgeting scenario where a company allocates $125,000 for its Vegetables category. This allocation needs to be distributed across individual products such as Tomatoes, Broccoli, Artichokes, and Beans. Using the dynamic split feature, planners can:
- Assign pre-calculate weightages (e.g., 50% Tomatoes, 20% Broccoli, 20% Artichokes, 10% Beans).
- Manually override weightages based on recent performance data.
- Graphically see immediate effects of change on overall rollups of budgets.
- Instantly visualize how changes impact overall budget rollups.
This ensures a highly flexible and adaptive budgeting model that aligns with business realities.
3. Granular Budget Modifications with Live Impact Analysis
Adjusting budgets at a granular level is a critical aspect of financial planning. The SenseOps Writeback extension provides the ability to:
- Modify budget values at different aggregation levels (e.g., adjusting a product’s budget while maintaining category-level constraints).
- Override calculated weightages to incorporate management decisions or field insights.
- Explore how budget modifications propagate across hierarchies in real-time.
For instance, if planners decide to increase the budget allocation for Broccoli by 5%, the system automatically:
- Recalculates the remaining product allocations.
- Displays the updated category total.
- Provides a side-by-side comparison of the original vs. modified budget.
By integrating real-time impact analysis, decision-makers can make informed adjustments while maintaining financial discipline.
4. Live Data Synchronization Across Enterprise Systems
One of the most powerful capabilities of SenseOps Writeback is its ability to synchronize real-time budget updates across multiple data sources. Organizations can:
- Write data directly to relational databases (Oracle, MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, etc.).
- Store structured budget data in file formats such as CSV, QVD, and TXT.
- Leverage REST API integrations (upcoming feature) for seamless cloud-based data exchanges.
By ensuring that budget changes are instantly reflected across all relevant systems, organizations eliminate data silos and enhance financial transparency.
- Recalculates the remaining product allocations.
- Displays the updated category total.
- Provides a side-by-side comparison of the original vs. modified budget.
By integrating real-time impact analysis, decision-makers can make informed adjustments while maintaining financial discipline.
Accessing Line Extension
- Open Qlik Sense: Launch the Qlik Sense application where you want to work with the Line Table.
- Enter Edit Mode: Go to the desired sheet or create a new one. Switch to edit mode to make changes.
- Access Custom Objects: Click “Custom Objects” in the left panel.
- Select SenseOps Extension: Find and select “SenseOps” from the custom objects menu.
- Add SenseOps Line Object: Drag and drop the “SenseOps Line Object” onto the sheet canvas.
- To access Writeback settings, click “Settings“ in the property panel.
Setting Up Writeback in Qlik Sense
The SenseOps Writeback extension follows a structured setup process that ensures smooth integration with Qlik Sense applications.
Step 1: Destination Selection
Users can choose the destination where budget data will be stored:
- File-based storage (CSV, QVD, Text files).
- Database storage (Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, etc.).
- REST API integration (upcoming feature).
Each destination supports operations such as Upload, Insert, and Delete, ensuring flexibility in data management.
Step 2: Column Definition
Users can define the data structure for writeback operations:
- Select existing columns from the Qlik Sense data model.
- Create custom input fields (e.g., dropdowns, checkboxes, numerical values).
- Configure visibility, formatting, and validation rules for input fields.
Step 3: Storage Configuration
Define how data is structured and stored:
- Assign unique identifiers (keys) for relational integrity.
- Configure multiple destination mappings for enterprise-wide consistency.
- Enable audit logging to track data changes with CreatedBy and CreatedAt fields.
Step 4: Trigger Actions
Configure automated actions based on success or failure conditions:
- Trigger app refreshes within Qlik Sense.
- Send notifications on budget modifications.
- Initiate approval workflows for financial oversight.
These capabilities ensure that budget updates are not only recorded but also acted upon in real-time.
Conclusion
The SenseOps Writeback extension fundamentally transforms how organizations approach budgeting within Qlik Sense. By providing real-time, contextual data entry, dynamic allocation mechanisms, and seamless system synchronization, it eliminates inefficiencies and enhances financial planning capabilities.
With functionalities like direct data inputs, granular budget modifications, dynamic split allocations, and real-time impact analysis, organizations can achieve a highly interactive and responsive budgeting process – all without leaving the Qlik Sense environment.
To try a full-fledged experience with your data, schedule a demo or try it live. For more information write to us at hello@senseops.com.
