QlikView vs MicroStrategy: A Comparative Analysis
Introduction
Choosing the right business intelligence tool is critical for effective data analysis and reporting. Qlikview and Microstrategy are both established players in the BI field, each offering unique features and capabilities.
While Qlikview is known for its in-memory data processing and user-friendly interface, Microstrategy boasts comprehensive analytics and superior mobile capabilities. A thorough comparison of these platforms is essential for organizations to make an informed decision.
In this context, we'll also explore how Sourcetable, with its modernized, spreadsheet-like interface that syncs with your data, serves as a streamlined alternative to traditional BI tools like Qlikview or Microstrategy for various business intelligence tasks.
What is QlikView?
QlikView is a guided analytics solution known for its advanced data visualization capabilities. It is designed to support the rapid development and delivery of analytics applications and dashboards.
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QlikView is a guided analytics solution known for its advanced data visualization capabilities. It is designed to support the rapid development and delivery of analytics applications and dashboards.
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Key Features
- Associative Engine: At the core of QlikView is its powerful associative engine that dynamically generates new data views, providing a unique analytical experience.
- In-Memory Data: QlikView compresses data and stores it in memory, allowing for quick data exploration and interaction by multiple users simultaneously.
- Data Source Connectivity: The platform offers direct connectivity to various data sources, ensuring that users have access to up-to-date information for analysis.
- Flexible Analysis: Users are not restricted to predefined drill paths or dashboards, giving them the freedom to explore data as needed.
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User Experience
QlikView delivers an associative experience across all data used in analysis, enabling users to uncover insights and make data-driven decisions efficiently.
What is MicroStrategy?
MicroStrategy is a business intelligence (BI) platform known for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technology at every level within an organization. As the first BI platform to incorporate AI, it facilitates enhanced data analysis and decision-making processes.
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MicroStrategy is a business intelligence (BI) platform known for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technology at every level within an organization. As the first BI platform to incorporate AI, it facilitates enhanced data analysis and decision-making processes.
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AI Integration
MicroStrategy's AI technology, referred to as HyperIntelligence, simplifies the process of data analysis. It offers features such as predictive analytics, natural language processing, and AI bots tailored to user needs.
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User Accessibility
Designed for both everyday and data-savvy users, MicroStrategy enables efficient information retrieval and the asking of deeper questions using natural language. This accelerates time to action, making it a user-friendly analytical tool.
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Features
- Data visualization
- HyperIntelligence
- Hyper cards
- GenAI chat
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Trust and Collaboration
Trusted by innovative companies, MicroStrategy also boasts a global partner ecosystem which allows users to create bespoke solutions and harness the power of collaborative intelligence.
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Key Features of QlikView
Associative Engine |
The associative engine is the core element that differentiates QlikView, providing a unique approach to data discovery. |
Visual Discovery |
QlikView offers intuitive visual discovery that enhances user experience and facilitates understanding of data relationships. |
Qlik Cloud Analytics |
A SaaS deployment, Qlik Cloud Analytics extends QlikView's capabilities, enabling active analytics with AI-powered insights in a cloud environment. |
Qlik Sense Integration |
Complementing QlikView, Qlik Sense is an on-premises solution that aids users in transitioning from passive to active analytics, leveraging AI for enhanced intuition. |
Key Features of Microstrategy
Data Source Connectivity |
Microstrategy provides extensive data connectivity options. It can interface with relational databases, flat files, big data sources, social media platforms, and cloud systems, enabling a comprehensive data analysis environment. |
Data Blending and Wrangling |
This BI tool features robust data blending capabilities to merge various data sources. Its data wrangling feature facilitates efficient data transformation and modification to prepare data for analysis. |
Data Mining and Predictive Analysis |
Microstrategy's data mining and predictive analysis capabilities are enhanced by the ability to integrate with third-party data mining tools, providing a robust environment for predictive modeling. |
Analytics and Visualization |
The platform boasts an extensive analytics function library, including OLAP, mathematical, financial, and data mining functions. Its visualization library offers a variety of grids, graphs, and built-in tools, along with access to hundreds of open-source visualizations from providers like D3. |
Real-Time Dashboards |
Real-time dashboards in Microstrategy enable live data sourcing, offering up-to-the-minute monitoring and insights into current information streams. |
Embedded BI |
Microstrategy's embedded BI feature includes development-ready portlets for seamless integration with platforms such as IBM WebSphere, Oracle WebLogic, Microsoft SharePoint, and SAP NetWeaver, requiring no additional coding. |
Mobile Accessibility |
With mobile platform availability, Microstrategy ensures that visualizations, reports, and dashboards are instantly accessible on mobile devices, supporting on-the-go data analysis and decision-making. |
Advantages of Qlikview for Business Intelligence
Efficient Data Analysis
Qlikview's dynamic dashboards facilitate quick data interpretation, enhancing efficient analytics.
Collaboration and Decision Making
Facilitates team collaboration, fostering data-driven decisions.
Implementation and Usability
Known for its simplicity, Qlikview is easy to implement and use.
Data Security
Provides robust data security features.
Performance
Delivers high-speed performance and efficient in-memory processing.
Data Management
Features strong data compression and effective in-memory technology.
Visualization
Offers superior data visualization capabilities.
QIX Engine
Incorporates a powerful QIX Engine for enhanced data handling.
Cost-Effectiveness
Qlikview is a cost-effective solution for BI tasks.
Disadvantages of Using Qlikview for Business Intelligence
Inefficiency in Real-Time Data Analysis
Qlikview may not be the best fit for scenarios requiring real-time data analysis, potentially affecting timely decision-making.
Technical Expertise Requirement
Developing applications in Qlikview necessitates a higher level of technical expertise, which can be a barrier for users with less technical background.
Integration Challenges
Embedding Qlikview with other software might not be seamless, possibly leading to integration issues and reduced efficiency.
Limited RAM Optimization
Despite having less RAM limitations, Qlikview may still encounter performance bottlenecks, impacting the analysis of large data sets.
Customer Support Concerns
Qlikview's customer support has been critiqued negatively, which could lead to unresolved issues and prolonged downtime.
Outdated Tools and Interfaces
The use of older tools and interfaces in Qlikview could result in a less intuitive user experience and hinder productivity.
Cost Implications for Smaller Businesses
The expense associated with Qlikview may be prohibitive for small to medium-sized enterprises, affecting its accessibility and adoption.
Subpar User Satisfaction
Poor ratings in surveys suggest that users may have a less satisfactory experience with Qlikview, impacting its reputation and user retention.
Frequently Asked Questions About Qlikview
How much memory does QlikView use when running a script compared to working in the layout?
QlikView uses 3-4 times as much memory when running a script as when working in the layout.
Can QlikView handle large data sets, and if so, how much data can it handle?
Yes, QlikView can handle large data sets; it can manage a few million rows of typical transaction data on a PC with 512MB of RAM and up to one billion rows on large servers.
Can QlikView automatically join fields from different tables?
QlikView can automatically join fields with the same name and can join fields with different names using an alias or AS statement.
How can QlikView update a document with new data?
QlikView can update a document using incremental reloads.
What are the ways to share QlikView documents with others?
QlikView documents can be shared with others using QlikView Server or QlikView Publisher.
Use Cases for Qlikview
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Improving efficiency, customer service, and sales as demonstrated by Dominos Pizza
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Simplifying analytics with a company-wide portal as used by Intuit
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Boosting operational success in retail as shown by Urban Outfitters
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Lowering costs and reducing effort in converting loan prospects as implemented by Integra Financial
Advantages of Using Microstrategy for Business Intelligence
Versatility and Industry Adaptation
Microstrategy is highly versatile, serving multiple industries like finance, healthcare, and retail. This adaptability ensures that different sectors can customize the platform for their specific reporting and analytics needs.
Comprehensive Reporting Capabilities
The platform excels in creating detailed policy level reports and generating essential month-end summaries for general ledgers, aiding in financial decision-making.
Real-Time Data Visualization
With its robust visualization features, Microstrategy facilitates the creation of live dashboards, offering real-time insights for informed decision-making.
Advanced Data Analytics
Microstrategy's analytics capabilities are well-regarded for handling and reporting on large data volumes, providing valuable insights through good ad-hoc analysis and comprehensive BI solutions.
Usability and Performance
Users benefit from an easy-to-use interface, fast performance, and self-serve BI options, which streamline the process of data analysis.
Data Governance and Security
Microstrategy maintains a strong data governance and security layer, ensuring data integrity and regulatory compliance.
Mobile and Remote Accessibility
The software’s mobile BI capabilities allow for remote access to data, ensuring that insights and reports are available on-the-go.
Efficient Data Processing
Handling large volumes of data from multiple sources is streamlined with Microstrategy, thanks to its efficient data collection and access, as well as the caching of intelligence cubes.
Disadvantages of Using Microstrategy for Business Intelligence
Cost and Implementation
Microstrategy is known for being an expensive solution with high costs associated with implementation and licensing. The initial setup demands extensive configurations that prolong the deployment period.
User Experience and Complexity
The advanced features of Microstrategy can be difficult to use, presenting a steep learning curve. Additionally, the product has limited capabilities without considerable customization.
System Demand and Maintenance
Operating Microstrategy requires substantial data server resources, which can lead to high load and potential performance issues. Constant maintenance by an MSTR Administrator is mandatory to ensure the semantic layer remains updated.
Web Version Limitations
The web version of Microstrategy lacks comprehensive HTML5 support and fails to include all the customization options that the desktop version offers. Dashboards in the web version also do not support HTML5, impacting user experience and accessibility.
Functionality and Integration
Support and Community
The community forum for Microstrategy is not very active, which can be a disadvantage when seeking peer assistance. Additionally, the documentation for Web Services could be more comprehensive.
Alerts and Distribution
Configuring alerts and setting up email distributions are complex tasks within Microstrategy, potentially hindering efficient communication and reporting workflows.
Frequently Asked Questions About Microstrategy
What is Microstrategy?
Microstrategy is a Business Intelligence application and an enterprise-level Data Warehousing reporting tool.
What is the Microstrategy metadata composed of?
The Microstrategy metadata is composed of project settings, MicroStrategy object definitions, and data warehouse connection information.
Where does Microstrategy store its metadata?
Microstrategy uses a database repository to store metadata.
Can Microstrategy be used for creating ad hoc and graphical reports?
Yes, Microstrategy can be used to create ad hoc reports as well as graphical reports.
What are some analytical capabilities of Microstrategy?
Microstrategy can be used for analysis, conducting Composite Keys, and conditionally formatting metrics.
Use Cases for Microstrategy
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Streamlining data access for company representatives
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Enabling enterprise analytics strategies
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Democratizing data across organizations
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Informing commercial strategies with analytics
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Advanced healthcare data analytics
Why Sourcetable Is a Superior Choice for Business Intelligence
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Simplifying Data Analytics
Sourcetable offers a streamlined approach to business intelligence by integrating data from various services into a user-friendly spreadsheet interface. This simplification stands in contrast to QlikView's associative engine and visual discovery, which, while powerful, may present a steeper learning curve for users.
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Enhanced Data Reporting
With its spreadsheet-like interface, Sourcetable allows for immediate familiarity, reducing the time needed to generate reports compared to QlikView and MicroStrategy. This ease of use accelerates the reporting process, making it more efficient for businesses to analyze and act on their data.
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Real-time Data Syncing
Unlike the traditional BI tools like QlikView that require complex setup for data integration, Sourcetable syncs data in real-time across all services. This feature ensures that businesses always have the latest information at their fingertips without the need for manual updates.
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Accessibility and Collaboration
Sourcetable's intuitive design promotes accessibility, putting business intelligence in the hands of more people within an organization. This democratization of data is particularly advantageous over the AI-powered insights of Qlik Sense and Qlik Cloud Analytics, which may require more specialized knowledge to interpret.
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Cost-Effective Solution
By offering a unified platform that requires less specialized training, Sourcetable can be a more cost-effective solution for businesses. It eliminates the need for multiple analytics tools, such as QlikView for associative discovery and Qlik Sense for on-premises solutions, thereby reducing overall software costs.
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Comparison of QlikView and MicroStrategy
Analytics Solutions
Both QlikView and MicroStrategy are established analytics solutions, providing data visualization and business intelligence capabilities.
Data Visualization
QlikView and MicroStrategy offer visual discovery tools, allowing users to create intuitive and interactive dashboards to display data.
Deployment Options
Both platforms support cloud-based SaaS deployments and on-premises solutions, catering to a variety of business needs and compliance requirements.
Business Intelligence Accessibility
QlikView and MicroStrategy are designed to democratize business intelligence, putting data analytics in the hands of more people within an organization.
Real-time Collaboration
Both QlikView and MicroStrategy facilitate real-time collaboration and action, enabling teams to work together effectively on data-driven decision-making.
Artificial Intelligence
AI-powered insights are a feature of both QlikView and MicroStrategy, enhancing the analytics experience with advanced algorithms and machine learning.
QlikView vs MicroStrategy
Deployment Options
QlikView offers flexible deployment options, including both cloud-based SaaS with Qlik Cloud Analytics and on-premises solutions like Qlik Sense. MicroStrategy, while also offering cloud and on-premises options, may not provide the same level of flexibility in deployment.
Associative Engine
QlikView's distinctive associative engine facilitates intuitive visual discovery, allowing users to explore data connections dynamically. MicroStrategy uses a different data analytics approach that may not be as focused on an associative model.
User Intuitiveness
The intuitive visual discovery interface of QlikView democratizes data, putting business intelligence in the hands of more people without a steep learning curve. MicroStrategy, though powerful, might require more specialized training to utilize fully.
AI Integration
QlikView, especially through Qlik Sense, integrates AI to enhance data insights and promote real-time collaboration and action. In contrast, MicroStrategy's use of AI, while present, might not be as emphasized in driving user intuition and decision-making.
Real-Time Collaboration
QlikView's solutions are designed to support real-time collaboration, facilitating immediate action and decision-making. MicroStrategy also provides collaboration features, but the real-time actionability might differ.
Comparison and Contrast: Qlikview, MicroStrategy, and Sourcetable
Qlikview
QlikView is an advanced analytics solution known for its pioneering associative engine which revolutionized data usage in organizations. It offers intuitive visual discovery, enabling users to gain insights from data associations. QlikView's capabilities extend to both cloud-based SaaS deployments with Qlik Cloud Analytics and on-premises solutions with Qlik Sense. Qlik Sense enhances the analytics experience by incorporating AI-powered insights and promoting real-time collaboration and action. QlikView is suitable for a variety of deployments, making it versatile for different organizational needs.
MicroStrategy
MicroStrategy is a business intelligence tool that provides robust and sophisticated analytics solutions. It is designed to offer comprehensive reporting, interactive dashboards, and automated data discovery. MicroStrategy emphasizes scalability and enterprise-grade security, catering to large-scale business environments. It also supports a variety of deployment options, including cloud, on-premises, and hybrid models. MicroStrategy integrates with a wide range of data sources and provides mobile BI capabilities, allowing for analytics on the go.
Sourcetable
Sourcetable is a spreadsheet-based tool designed to integrate data from various sources, simplifying data analysis and reporting. It caters to users seeking a more accessible and user-friendly interface that leverages familiar spreadsheet functionalities. Sourcetable may not offer the same depth of analytics as QlikView or MicroStrategy but is designed for ease of use and quick setup without the need for extensive technical knowledge.
Comparative Analysis
In summary, QlikView is known for its associative engine and flexible deployment options, while MicroStrategy excels in enterprise-grade analytics and security. Sourcetable provides a more straightforward, spreadsheet-based approach to data integration and analysis.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sourcetable
What is Sourcetable and who typically uses it?
Sourcetable is a spreadsheet application that allows users to access data from most 3rd party applications, query data, and build live models that automatically update. It is typically used by growth teams and business operations teams.
How does Sourcetable update data from integrations?
Data integrations update every 15 minutes on the regular plan and every 5 minutes on the pro plan.
Is coding required to use Sourcetable?
No coding is required to use Sourcetable.
How much does Sourcetable cost?
Sourcetable costs $50 per month on the starter plan and $250 per month on the pro plan. Additional seats cost $20 per month per user.
Does Sourcetable offer a free trial?
All plans have a 14-day free trial period.
Qlikview Pricing Structure
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Standard Plan
Qlikview's standard plan is designed for a minimum threshold of 20 full users. It includes essential features such as data analysis with a 25 GB/year limit, integration with hundreds of data sources, interactive visualizations, dashboards, augmented analytics with AI, team collaboration tools, and round-the-clock customer support.
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Premium Plan
The premium plan extends the standard offering by doubling the data analysis capacity to 50 GB/year. It incorporates advanced features like automated report generation and delivery, additional data source connections, predictive analytics with automated machine learning, no-code automation triggers, and enterprise-level data governance.
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Enterprise Plan
For large-scale business needs, the enterprise plan includes all premium features, with an expanded data analysis limit of 500 GB/year and a personalized customer success plan.
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Additional Information
- Both premium and enterprise plans build upon the standard plan's foundation.
- Users receive alerts as they near their plan's data capacity limit.
Microstrategy Analytics Pricing Overview
Microstrategy Analytics initiates pricing at $600 per user.
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Microstrategy Analytics initiates pricing at $600 per user.
The software employs a one-time license pricing model, distinguishing it from subscription-based alternatives.
Potential users can explore the platform through a free trial before purchasing.
While Microstrategy Analytics is priced higher than Tableau, it remains more cost-effective compared to Google Analytics 360.
User Reviews and Ratings of QlikView
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Overall Impressions
QlikView is recognized as a powerful business intelligence (BI) tool with an overall rating of 4.3. It is praised for its functionality, with a 4.5 rating, and versatility in data visualization, making it a solid choice for creating sales and inventory dashboards. However, it is noted that its data visualization capabilities, while nice, are not the best in class.
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Usability
The software has earned a 4 rating for both ease-of-use and customer support, indicating a user-friendly experience and reliable assistance. Despite this, some users find the user interface (UI) to be clunky and the tool less user-friendly with certain data sources like BW and Big Data. It is also mentioned that QlikView’s integration with R is not possible.
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Performance
QlikView's performance is generally fast due to its in-memory processing, yet it has been noted to have a slow response with heavy data volume and a delay in real-time data sync. Users appreciate its speed in processing data, but the lack of write back to the database is a limitation for some.
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Value and Support
Regarding value for money, QlikView has received a 4 rating. It is considered expensive, yet it provides a ton of value and is great for students writing a thesis. A wide user group exists over the internet, including a support forum for community help.
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Functionality
Users value QlikView’s ability to integrate and combine data from multiple sources, automate report distribution and creation, and customize reports and processes using VBA or other programming languages. Despite this, it is noted that QlikView is not great for detailed reporting and does not allow exporting of a list of all currently licensed users.
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Comparison to Competitors
When compared to other tools in the market, QlikView is considered not as good as Qlik Sense, Tableau, or PowerBI, particularly in the area of visualization capabilities.
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Implementation and ETL
QlikView is easy to implement and has scheduled batch jobs for ETL (Extract, Transform, Load), which is a critical feature for businesses managing large datasets.
Conclusion
In summary, Qlikview offers interactive data visualization capabilities and is highly customizable, while Microstrategy provides comprehensive analytics tools with strong reporting features.
Both platforms have their unique strengths, with Qlikview excelling in user-driven exploration and Microstrategy in enterprise-grade analytics.
Sourcetable offers an alternative by delivering business intelligence through a straightforward spreadsheet interface, which allows for real-time data sync across various services.
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