Even if you’re familiar with the leading analytics and data integration platform Qlik, you could have fallen prey to some of the misconceptions about moving from your on-premises environment to Qlik SaaS. You might fear that it will cause unnecessary disruptions to the way you do things, that it’ll introduce new costs and challenges, and that, ultimately, it simply won’t be worth it.
We’re here to tell you that these misconceptions are misguided, and these fears unfounded. Not only is the transition to Qlik SaaS smooth and seamless — you’re in the Qlik family after all — but it offers numerous benefits you simply won’t be able to access if you stay where you are.
Let’s set the record straight.
Firstly, what is Qlik SaaS?
Qlik SaaS — or Qlik Cloud — is a comprehensive, cloud-based data integration and data analytics solution. It offers data movement, data warehouse automation, data transformation, application automation, visualisation and dashboards, augmented analytics, AutoML, embedded analytics, alerts and reports.
Qlik SaaS is different from QlikView and Qlik Sense Client-Managed, which are largely business intelligence (BI) tools that only deliver reporting and analytics services. Qlik SaaS, on the other hand, is a data platform.
“When I’m trying to explain Qlik SaaS, I like to use Lego as an analogy,” says Kabir Rab, Tahola’s Head of Technology. “You can’t build anything meaningful with just a single Lego block, you need a collection of blocks to build a house. The more Lego blocks you have, the more things you can build, Imagination becomes your limit…
“That’s what Qlik SaaS is. It’s a collection of data tools that allows you to build an end-to-end solution that suits your customers’ or your organisation’s unique needs.”
What are some of the key characteristics of Qlik SaaS?
There are several key characteristics of Qlik Saas that set it apart. Here’s what you should know:
It’s agnostic, allowing for seamless integrations
Today, the SaaS market offers multiple tools to meet organisations’ various needs. There’s no one-solution-fits-all approach, and most businesses will depend on a range of platforms for the tools and services that are applicable to them.
Qlik SaaS knows this, and works effortlessly with other data sources and technologies you may already have in your arsenal, including Salesforce, HubSpot, Microsoft SQL Server, Snowflake and Github. This allows you to build a solution that’s tailor-made to meet your specific requirements and capable of providing the outcomes you need.
All your analytics in one place
Qlik SaaS’s microservice-based architecture allows you to host both QlikView and Qlik Sense in one place. In fact, you can open and use all of your Qlik apps in a single location. Qlik SaaS also centralises all of your documentation, providing a single portal for your users to access all of your analytics and reporting assets.
What’s more, the analytics and reporting are nothing short of world class. Qlik SaaS allows you to build real-time data visualisations and analytics that are accurate, relevant and fully interactive. This insight helps you identify gaps and opportunities, and understand outliers, so that you can make quick decisions and take timely action.
An easy and intuitive user interface
You access Qlik SaaS through a zero-footprint web browser interface, which is known as the Qlik Sense Hub. This interface makes all aspects of development, drag-and-drop content creation, and consumption possible, and simplifies the user experience from both an exploration and search, and an exploration and analysis perspective.
The responsive design automatically displays and resizes visualisations to fit your device. And since Qlik SaaS is built with recent standards of HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript and web sockets, you can build and use your apps on any device.
Cloud is where it’s happening
While on-premises solutions have their place, and are still widely used across businesses of every size in an endless variety of industries, there’s no doubt that the future is cloud based. The benefits of cloud far exceed the benefits of on premises in terms of upgrading capability, security, ease of use, and scalability.
For example, while Qlik Sense Client Managed is upgraded four times a year, Qlik Cloud is upgraded every week. This isn’t to say that some of the Qlik Sense Enterprise SaaS upgrades don’t filter down to the other apps, but you’re likely getting the best and most up-to-date innovations if your business approach — like Qlik’s — is cloud first.
Why choose Qlik SaaS?
QlikView and Qlik Sense Client-Managed stand out in a saturated market, and they’re proud members of Qlik’s impressive and established stable. There’s a reason why Qlik Sense sets the benchmark. But you’re likely only getting a portion of the full spectrum of Qlik’s capabilities if you opt for these solutions. Qlik SaaS, on the other hand, offers the full suite.
“Qlik Cloud is simply not the same product as Qlik Sense Client Managed,” says Kabir. “While some features, like the chart visualisations will likely become available in Qlik Sense over the course of the four annual releases, other advances, such as the application automation, simply won’t. Qlik Application Automation or Qlik AutoML are entirely new capabilities that will only ever be available on Qlik Cloud.”
Ultimately, it’s about having a deep understanding of your business needs — now, and into the future. With that information on hand, and with the right partner to guide you, you’ll be able to implement the right solution for you.
And that might be QlikView or Qlik Sense Client Managed. But if it is Qlik Sense Enterprise SaaS or Qlik Cloud, don’t let any misconceptions you may have get in the way. Instead, speak to Tahola today, and let us help you along your Qlik journey.