Differences Between QlikView and Excel for Data Analysis and Visualization

Introduction

When it comes to data analysis and visualization, two popular tools are QlikView and Excel. Both are widely used in various industries for data manipulation, but they serve different purposes and offer distinct features. This article compares QlikView and Excel, highlighting their primary functions, data handling, user interface, and collaboration features.

Purpose and Functionality

QlikView is a Business Intelligence (BI) tool specifically designed for creating data visualization dashboards and conducting data discovery. It allows users to create interactive reports and visualizations from multiple data sources, focusing on associative data modeling. Users can intuitively explore data connections without needing deep technical knowledge.

Excel, on the other hand, is a spreadsheet application that serves a broader range of purposes, including data entry, calculation, and basic data analysis. It is excellent for tasks like financial modeling, budgeting, and basic reporting. However, Excel is less specialized in creating interactive dashboards compared to QlikView, relying more on manual effort for sophisticated visualizations and charts.

Data Handling

QlikView is optimized for handling large datasets from multiple sources efficiently. It uses in-memory data storage, which allows for faster data retrieval and analysis, supporting complex data relationships and seamless merging of data from different sources.

In contrast, Excel has limitations in handling large datasets, as it is limited by the maximum number of rows and columns (1,048,576 rows and 16,384 columns in recent versions). While it is better suited for smaller datasets or specific calculations, it falls short when it comes to extensive data analysis involving complex datasets.

User Interface and Experience

QlikView features a sophisticated user interface tailored for data visualization and dashboard creation. Users can create interactive visualizations with drag-and-drop functionality, making it easier for end-users to explore data without extensive technical knowledge.

Excel comes with a familiar interface for most users, featuring a traditional spreadsheet layout. It offers charting and graphing capabilities but requires more manual effort to create sophisticated dashboards. Users often need to rely on formulas and pivot tables for data analysis, which can be more challenging for those unfamiliar with Excel's features.

Collaboration and Sharing

QlikView is designed for seamless sharing of insights across teams and organizations. It supports centralized data management and governance, making it easier to maintain data integrity. Dashboards can be published and accessed through a web interface.

In comparison, Excel allows for collaboration through shared workbooks, but version control can be a challenge. Recent improvements with Excel Online and integration with Microsoft 365 have made sharing more accessible, but it still lacks the centralized governance offered by QlikView.

Learning Curve

QlikView requires some training to understand its data modeling and visualization capabilities fully. The learning curve can be steep for users unfamiliar with BI tools.

Excel, however, is generally easier to learn and widely used, making it more accessible for everyday tasks. Many users already have a foundational knowledge of Excel, which makes it a popular choice for basic data analysis and manipulation.

Conclusion

In summary, QlikView is a powerful BI tool focused on data visualization and analysis, particularly suitable for larger datasets and interactive reporting. On the other hand, Excel is a versatile and widely used spreadsheet application that excels in general data management and basic analysis but may not be as effective for extensive data visualization tasks. The choice between the two depends on the specific needs of the user or organization.