QlikView vs ThoughtSpot: A Detailed Comparison
Introduction
Comparing Qlikview and Thoughtspot is essential for businesses seeking the right business intelligence tool. Qlikview offers robust data visualization capabilities while Thoughtspot provides an intuitive search-driven analytics experience.
Choosing between these platforms depends on specific business needs and user preferences. Each has its strengths in facilitating data-driven decision-making.
This comparison will also introduce Sourcetable, a modern alternative that combines a spreadsheet-like interface with powerful data synchronization, offering another viable option for reporting and data analytics.
What is QlikView?
QlikView is a guided analytics solution designed for the rapid development and delivery of analytics applications and dashboards. It is built with an associative engine that generates new data views on-the-fly, offering users a dynamic and interactive experience.
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QlikView is a guided analytics solution designed for the rapid development and delivery of analytics applications and dashboards. It is built with an associative engine that generates new data views on-the-fly, offering users a dynamic and interactive experience.
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Key Features
- Associative engine that allows for instant generation of new data views.
- Data compression and in-memory storage for efficient data exploration.
- Capability for multiple users to concurrently explore in-memory data.
- Direct connection to data sources for real-time data access.
- An associative experience across all data used in analysis, without predefined drill paths or dashboards.
What is ThoughtSpot?
ThoughtSpot is an AI-powered analytics platform designed to serve business and data teams. It offers a self-service environment where users can engage in data analysis, exploration, and sharing of insights. The platform is recognized for its search and AI-driven capabilities, which facilitate the asking and answering of natural language business questions.
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ThoughtSpot is an AI-powered analytics platform designed to serve business and data teams. It offers a self-service environment where users can engage in data analysis, exploration, and sharing of insights. The platform is recognized for its search and AI-driven capabilities, which facilitate the asking and answering of natural language business questions.
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Key Features
- Self-service analytics for business teams.
- Data analysis and exploration for data teams.
- Embedding of insights for customer products.
- Natural language query capabilities.
- Flexible, governable, and scriptable data model.
- Granular controls with end-to-end auditability.
- AI-powered pattern analysis for identifying trends.
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Functionalities
- Embedding of ThoughtSpot into third-party products.
- Replacement of manual report building with AI-assisted analysis.
- Complex ad hoc analysis with AI-assisted code writing.
- Design and integration of AI-powered analytics into various products.
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Key Features of QlikView
Associative Engine |
QlikView's unique associative engine enables users to probe all the possible associations within their data, offering a distinctive analytics experience. |
Visual Discovery |
The platform provides intuitive visual discovery capabilities for insightful data analysis, making data more accessible and actionable for users. |
Qlik Cloud Analytics and Qlik Sense Integration |
QlikView integrates with Qlik Cloud Analytics and Qlik Sense to enhance analytics with AI-powered insights, facilitating a transition from passive to active data analytics. |
Deployment Options |
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ThoughtSpot Analytics Cloud Release 9.10.5 Features
Liveboard AI |
Liveboard AI enables rapid insights and summaries, focusing on significant metric changes. |
Mode Connector |
Integrates AI-powered analytics with ThoughtSpot Mode datasets. |
Custom Sets |
Facilitates data classification into reusable sets for diverse analytical applications. |
Advantages of Using Qlikview for Business Intelligence
Efficient Data Analysis
Qlikview's dynamic dashboards facilitate quick and efficient data interpretation, enhancing business intelligence tasks such as reporting and analytics.
Collaborative Decision-Making
The tool fosters collaboration among teams, enabling data-driven decisions that leverage collective insights.
Implementation and Usability
With its simplicity, Qlikview is easy to implement, reducing the time and resources required to start benefiting from BI tasks.
Data Security and Performance
Qlikview provides robust data security, ensuring that sensitive information is protected during BI processes.
The in-memory technology and data compression contribute to Qlikview's high-speed performance.
Visual Data Discovery
Good data visualization capabilities enable users to discover insights through intuitive graphical representations.
Cost-Effectiveness
Qlikview is cost-effective, offering a competitive edge in business intelligence without excessive investment.
Disadvantages of Using Qlikview for Business Intelligence
Inefficiency in Real-Time Data Analysis
Qlikview may not be the best choice for real-time data analysis, potentially affecting timely decision-making.
Technical Expertise Requirement
Developing applications in Qlikview requires a high level of technical skill, creating a barrier for users without such expertise.
Integration Challenges
Embedding Qlikview with other software systems can be cumbersome, possibly leading to integration issues.
Customer Support Concerns
Users may experience subpar customer service with Qlikview, which could impact problem resolution and user satisfaction.
Outdated Design
The tools and interfaces in Qlikview may be outdated, making it less appealing compared to more modern solutions.
Cost Implications for SMEs
The expense of Qlikview may not be justifiable for small to medium-sized businesses, making it a less viable option for these entities.
User Feedback
Poor ratings in surveys suggest that users might have negative experiences or perceptions of Qlikview's capabilities.
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, what are the limits?
Yes, QlikView can handle a few million rows of typical transaction data on a PC with 512MB of RAM and up to one billion rows of transaction data on large servers.
How does QlikView handle field names when joining tables?
QlikView can automatically join fields with the same name and can join fields with different names using an alias or AS statement.
What are the sharing options available for QlikView documents?
QlikView can be shared with others using QlikView Server or QlikView Publisher.
Can QlikView restrict document access to certain users?
Yes, QlikView can limit who can use a document using section access.
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 through a company-wide portal as utilized by Intuit
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Boosting operational success like Urban Outfitters
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Lowering costs and reducing effort in converting loan prospects as shown by Integra Financial
Advantages of Using ThoughtSpot for Business Intelligence
Comprehensive Service Delivery
ThoughtSpot Professional Services offers a holistic approach to AI-Powered Analytics, ensuring complete project management from inception to delivery.
Expertise in Modern Analytics Cloud
The team's proficiency in the Modern Analytics Cloud aids clients in achieving their business objectives effectively.
Extensive Project Management
With end-to-end management capabilities, the team oversees all aspects of project delivery and staffing, ensuring seamless integration and execution.
Proven Consulting Experience
ThoughtSpot's team brings a wealth of consulting and solution delivery experience, adding value to analytics projects.
Modern Data Stack Knowledge
Their expertise encompasses the modern data stack, including cloud data platforms, data sources, ETL, data warehousing, data schemas, and analytics.
Dedicated Professional Team
Engagement managers and solutions architects are highly dedicated and experienced, contributing to the high success rate with customers.
Customer Success Track Record
With a history of assisting hundreds of customers, ThoughtSpot's track record affirms its capability to drive success in business intelligence tasks.
Disadvantages of Using ThoughtSpot for Business Intelligence
User Adoption Challenges
ThoughtSpot may present a steep learning curve for non-analytics business users, which can lead to prolonged onboarding times. Additionally, some users may never fully adapt to the platform, hindering its effectiveness as a user-friendly data search tool.
Organizational Limitations
The lack of a directory system for organizing reports can lead to difficulties in managing and retrieving analytics within ThoughtSpot, potentially impacting productivity and data governance.
Technical Limitations
Users may encounter bugs within the ThoughtSpot platform, which can disrupt data analysis processes. The absence of a report creation limit can result in an overwhelming number of reports, complicating data management.
Complex Data Model
Compared to other tools, ThoughtSpot's data model complexity may increase the effort required to perform data analysis, potentially reducing efficiency for teams with limited technical expertise.
Training Requirement
Comprehensive training is necessary to utilize all features of ThoughtSpot, which can be a barrier to immediate deployment and utilization in business intelligence tasks.
Visualization and Customization Constraints
Frequently Asked Questions About Thoughtspot
How can I find out which version of ThoughtSpot I am using?
You can find the version of ThoughtSpot by clicking on the information center icon and checking the About section.
Why am I not seeing certain columns or values in my dropdown?
You may not see certain columns/values in the dropdown if the index has not been built with the latest data or if the column is being dropped.
How can I verify if a certain column is available in ThoughtSpot?
To verify that a column is available, navigate to the Data page and check for the column there.
What should the INDEX PRIORITY value be set to for proper indexing?
The INDEX PRIORITY value should be set to 1.
Use Cases for Thoughtspot
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BI strategy
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Data visualization
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Self-service analytics
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AI-driven insights
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Data modeling
Why Sourcetable is the Superior Choice for Business Intelligence
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Simplified Data Integration
Sourcetable streamlines the process of data integration by syncing data from various services into a user-friendly spreadsheet interface. Unlike Qlikview's associative engine and Thoughtspot's search-driven analytics, Sourcetable's approach is intuitive for users familiar with spreadsheets, reducing the learning curve and accelerating adoption.
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User-Friendly Reporting
The spreadsheet-like interface of Sourcetable facilitates easier reporting compared to Qlikview and Thoughtspot. This design choice inherently makes data manipulation and report creation more accessible to a broader range of users, promoting inclusivity in business intelligence tasks.
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Real-Time Collaboration
While Qlikview and Thoughtspot offer real-time collaboration and action, Sourcetable enhances this capability within a familiar spreadsheet environment, which is a natural fit for collaborative efforts across various business units.
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Cost-Effective Deployment
Sourcetable provides a cost-effective alternative to the cloud-based SaaS deployment of Qlik Cloud Analytics and the on-premises solution of Qlik Sense. By consolidating all services into a single platform, Sourcetable reduces the need for multiple tools and training, thereby saving on resources.
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AI-Powered Insights
Sourcetable matches the AI-powered insights provided by Qlikview and Thoughtspot but does so within an interface that is already second nature to many users, making advanced analytics more approachable for decision-making.
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Comparison Between QlikView and ThoughtSpot
Both QlikView and ThoughtSpot are analytics solutions known for their innovative approaches to data processing and visualization. They offer intuitive platforms that cater to the growing demand for data democratization within organizations.
Both QlikView and ThoughtSpot are analytics solutions known for their innovative approaches to data processing and visualization. They offer intuitive platforms that cater to the growing demand for data democratization within organizations.
Associative Engine and Search-Driven Analytics
QlikView's associative engine allows for intuitive visual discovery, similar to ThoughtSpot's search-driven analytics. Both engines enable users to uncover insights through associative models or natural language queries, enhancing the decision-making process.
Visual Discovery and Interactive Dashboards
QlikView and ThoughtSpot prioritize visual discovery, providing users with interactive dashboards. These visual interfaces facilitate a deeper understanding of data patterns and trends, making complex data more accessible.
Cloud-Based and On-Premises Solutions
Both platforms offer flexibility in deployment with cloud-based and on-premises solutions. This flexibility ensures that organizations can choose a deployment that best aligns with their security requirements and operational preferences.
Real-Time Collaboration
QlikView's real-time collaboration features align with ThoughtSpot's collaborative analytics offerings. Both enable teams to work together seamlessly on data analysis, fostering a culture of data-driven decision making.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Both QlikView and ThoughtSpot leverage AI and machine learning technologies to provide insights and enhance human intuition. These AI-powered capabilities allow for more predictive and prescriptive analytics.
Business Intelligence Accessibility
QlikView puts business intelligence in the hands of more people, paralleling ThoughtSpot's mission to make analytics accessible to all business users regardless of technical skill level.
QlikView vs ThoughtSpot
Deployment and Integration
QlikView offers flexible deployment options, including cloud-based SaaS with Qlik Cloud Analytics and on-premises solutions like Qlik Sense. ThoughtSpot typically emphasizes its cloud-based analytics capabilities.
Data Processing Engine
QlikView uses an associative engine for data processing, which revolutionized data usage by allowing intuitive visual discovery. ThoughtSpot uses a relational search engine designed to simplify data analysis through search-driven analytics.
User Interface and Discovery
QlikView provides intuitive visual discovery, allowing users to navigate and understand complex data easily. ThoughtSpot focuses on a search-driven experience, offering a Google-like search for data analysis.
Artificial Intelligence and Collaboration
Both QlikView with Qlik Sense and ThoughtSpot incorporate AI to enhance insights. QlikView emphasizes real-time collaboration and action, while ThoughtSpot offers AI-driven insights through SpotIQ to automate the discovery of insights.
Target Audience and Use Case
QlikView is designed to put business intelligence in the hands of more people, promoting widespread data literacy. ThoughtSpot targets users who prefer a search-driven approach to data analysis, catering to those familiar with search engines.
Comparison of Qlikview, Thoughtspot, and Sourcetable
Qlikview vs Thoughtspot
Qlikview, a product of Qlik, is notable for being the first analytics solution from the company, utilizing an associative engine for data processing. This engine supports intuitive visual discovery, allowing users to uncover insights through visual representations of data. Qlikview promotes business intelligence expansion by making analytics accessible to a broader audience. Deployments can be cloud-based with Qlik Cloud Analytics or on-premises with Qlik Sense, which also incorporate AI-powered insights and real-time collaboration.
Thoughtspot, in contrast, emphasizes search-driven analytics, enabling users to query data using natural language. Its in-memory calculation engine and AI-driven insights provide a different approach to data analysis, with a focus on ease of use and instant answers to data questions. Thoughtspot also offers cloud and on-premises options, similar to Qlikview. However, its unique selling point is the search-first experience, targeting non-technical users to perform data analysis.
Qlikview vs Sourcetable
Sourcetable is a spreadsheet-like tool designed to manage work across various functions with a simple interface. It differs from Qlikview by offering a more familiar, spreadsheet-centric user experience, which can be more approachable for users accustomed to traditional spreadsheet software. Sourcetable integrates data from multiple sources, aiming to streamline workflows without the need for complex data analytics platforms.
Qlikview's associative engine and visual discovery tools cater to users needing advanced data analytics capabilities, with a focus on revealing hidden trends and patterns through interactive dashboards. Sourcetable's focus lies more in cross-functional project management and task tracking with data insights. Both provide collaboration features, but Qlikview's AI assistance and real-time analytics are more suited for in-depth data analysis than Sourcetable's straightforward, task-oriented interface.
Key Differentiators
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sourcetable
What is Sourcetable and who is it for?
Sourcetable is a spreadsheet application that is used by growth teams and business operations professionals. It is designed for users who need to centralize, analyze, and model data that updates over time without the need for coding.
How does Sourcetable integrate with other applications?
Sourcetable syncs data from over 100 applications and most databases, allowing users to access and query data from most 3rd party applications.
How often does Sourcetable update data integrations?
Data integrations update every 15 minutes on the regular plan and every 5 minutes on the pro plan.
What are the pricing plans for Sourcetable?
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 trial period?
All plans have a 14-day free trial period, allowing users to evaluate the service before committing to a subscription.
Qlikview Cost Overview
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Standard Plan
The Qlikview standard plan necessitates a minimum of 20 full users. It encompasses features such as the integration of hundreds of data sources, interactive data visualizations, dashboards, augmented analytics with AI, team collaboration tools, and 24x7 customer support. This plan provides a data analysis capacity of 25 GB per year.
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Premium Plan
Qlikview's premium plan extends the standard offering by doubling the data capacity to 50 GB/year. It includes additional capabilities like automated report generation, enhanced data source connectivity, predictive analytics with automated machine learning, no-code automation builder triggers, and enterprise-grade data governance. Users also receive a personalized customer success plan.
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Enterprise Plan
The enterprise plan is Qlikview's most comprehensive offering, with a substantial increase in data analysis capacity at 500 GB/year. It incorporates all premium plan features, catering to larger organizations requiring extensive data handling and advanced analytics.
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Capacity Alerts
Qlikview proactively alerts users as they approach their data capacity limit, ensuring they can manage their usage effectively.
ThoughtSpot Pricing Plans
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Small Teams Plan
Monthly cost: $95 Users: Up to 5 Data limit: 5 million rows Features: Natural language search, in-app/community support
- Monthly cost: $95
- Users: Up to 5
- Data limit: 5 million rows
- Features: Natural language search, in-app/community support
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Small Companies Plan
Annual cost: $1250 per month Users: Up to 20 Data limit: 25 million rows Features: Natural language search, automated insights, in-app/community support, row-level security
- Annual cost: $1250 per month
- Users: Up to 20
- Data limit: 25 million rows
- Features: Natural language search, automated insights, in-app/community support, row-level security
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Most Popular Pro Plan
Billing: Annually Users: Unlimited Data limit: 500 million rows Features: Natural language search, automated insights, in-app/24x7 support
- Billing: Annually
- Users: Unlimited
- Data limit: 500 million rows
- Features: Natural language search, automated insights, in-app/24x7 support
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Developer Plan
Cost: Free Users: Up to 5 Data limit: 3 million rows Features: Natural language search, in-app/Discord support, API/dev tools access, limited worksheets/answers/liveboards
- Cost: Free
- Users: Up to 5
- Data limit: 3 million rows
- Features: Natural language search, in-app/Discord support, API/dev tools access, limited worksheets/answers/liveboards
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Pro Plan
Users: Unlimited Data limit: 5 billion rows Features: Natural language search, automated insights, in-app/24x7 support, API/dev tools access
- Users: Unlimited
- Data limit: 5 billion rows
- Features: Natural language search, automated insights, in-app/24x7 support, API/dev tools access
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Enterprise Plan
Users: Unlimited Data limit: Unlimited Features: Automated insights, in-app/24x7 support, API/dev tools access
- Users: Unlimited
- Data limit: Unlimited
- Features: Automated insights, in-app/24x7 support, API/dev tools access
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Studio Plan
Cost: Free Designed for: Individual analysts
- Cost: Free
- Designed for: Individual analysts
QlikView User Reviews Summary
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General Ratings and Functionality
QlikView has garnered an overall rating of 4.3, with users highlighting its functionality at 4.5, ease-of-use, customer support, and value for money all at 4. Users appreciate its versatility in data visualization and its ability to combine data sources for complex reporting.
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Performance and Integration
Some users experience a slow response with heavy data volume and slight delays in real-time data sync. QlikView's performance in integrating with certain data sources such as BW and Big Data is considered less user-friendly.
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Usability and Support
Despite being powerful and versatile for creating various dashboards such as sales and inventory, QlikView's user interface is described as clunky, and it has been noted for not being the best in class for data visualization. However, it is praised for being easy to implement, fast, and intuitive, with in-memory processing and ETL batch job scheduling capabilities.
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Limitations and Comparisons
QlikView does not support exporting a list of all currently licensed users, R integration, or write back to the database. It is also considered not as effective for detailed reporting. In comparison to other BI tools, users feel QlikView falls short of Qlik Sense, Tableau, and PowerBI.
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Value and Community
Users find QlikView expensive but acknowledge the value it provides, especially for students and for automating report distribution and creation. It has a wide user group and an active support forum over the internet.
User Reviews and Opinions on Thoughtspot
Thoughtspot is recognized for its AI capabilities, a feature that is highlighted in user reviews. However, it is important to note that there is a competitive preference for PowerBI among some users. Despite this, a segment of users acknowledges that Thoughtspot appears promising. Details on specific reviews and ratings are not provided.
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Thoughtspot is recognized for its AI capabilities, a feature that is highlighted in user reviews. However, it is important to note that there is a competitive preference for PowerBI among some users. Despite this, a segment of users acknowledges that Thoughtspot appears promising. Details on specific reviews and ratings are not provided.
Conclusion
In summary, Qlikview offers robust data visualization and analytics, while Thoughtspot is known for its search-driven analytics and ease of use. Both platforms serve distinct business intelligence needs and preferences.
Sourcetable provides an alternative by offering a simplified business intelligence tool that integrates data in real-time from various services into a user-friendly spreadsheet interface. This can be particularly beneficial for users looking for a straightforward and familiar way to manage their data.
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