Qlik Sense: Exploratory analytics and decision Support in Data Intelligence

Qlik Sense is a modern platform for data analysis and decision support (Business Intelligence, BI) that enables organisations to gather, analyse and visualise data from various systems – in real time. The purpose is simple but business-critical: to provide the right people with the right insights, at the right time, for better decisions.

For manufacturing companies, retail and other production businesses, Qlik Sense means that data from, for example, ERP (Infor M3), production systems, inventory, sales and finance can be linked together in a common analysis environment. The result is more fact-based management of the business – from operational level to leadership.

What is Qlik Sense used for?

In practice, Qlik Sense is used as a hub for analysis and follow-up in organisations where data is spread across multiple systems. Instead of working with separate reports for finance, production, and sales, the business can analyse the whole picture – and understand how different decisions affect each other.

For a production manager, it might be about tracking efficiency, stoppage times, and delivery precision. For a controller, it often concerns margins, cost drivers, and deviations. What they have in common is the need to quickly move from an overall view to details – without having to order new reports from IT.

Qlik Sense is built for this exploratory way of working, where new questions arise along the way and where analysis is not locked to a predetermined answer.

How does Qlik Sense work?

at its core, Qlik Sense consists of three parts:

1. data integration – Qlik Sense can fetch and combine data from many different sources: ERP systems, databases, Excel, cloud services and APIs.
2. associative data model – the platform's core is Qlik's associative engine, which makes it possible to see relationships in data across multiple dimensions simultaneously.
3. visualisation and analysis – data is presented in interactive dashboards, charts and tables that the user can filter and explore themselves.

the associative model is central. in practice, this means you can click through the data without "losing" information that doesn't fit into a predetermined filter. this is particularly valuable in complex operations where cause and effect are not always obvious.

What distinguishes Qlik Sense from other BI tools?

Many BI tools can visualise data, but the differences become clear when the analysis becomes more complex. In businesses with many products, facilities, customers and time dimensions, traditional linear reporting is rarely enough.

Qlik Sense is instead built on an associative analysis engine. This means that all relationships in the data are available simultaneously. When a user makes a selection, not only what matches is shown, but also what does not – which is often where the most interesting insights are found. For manufacturing and producing companies, where causes of deviations are rarely straightforward, this is a crucial difference.

Another important aspect is the balance between self-service and governance. Qlik Sense enables the business to analyse independently, while IT can ensure data quality, security and common definitions.

Qlik Sense in manufacturing and production businesses

In practice, Qlik Sense is often used to connect business data that otherwise lives in silos.

Manufacturing industry

• Production monitoring (OEE, downtime, scrap)
• Connection between planning, production and delivery accuracy
• Analysis of material flows and inventory tying
• Monitoring costs per product, order or customer

Retail and trading companies

• Sales analysis per store, channel or product
• Inventory turnover and shortage situations
• Campaign and price analyses
• Demand forecasts

In both cases, the value is not about more reports, but better decisions faster.

Who uses Qlik Sense?

A common misconception is that Qlik Sense is only for analysts. In fact, the platform is used by several roles:

• Management – for monitoring strategic goals and key performance indicators
• Managers – for operational control and prioritisation
• Controllers and analysts – for deep analysis and decision support
• Business users – to understand their part of the process

For IT, Qlik Sense often means less time on manual report creation and more focus on data modelling, quality, and architecture.

Common questions about implementing Qlik Sense

is Qlik Sense a cloud or on-prem tool?

Qlik Sense is available both as a cloud service (Qlik Cloud) and as an on-prem installation. the choice often depends on requirements regarding security, integration and IT architecture.

how long does it take to get started?

it depends on the level of ambition and data landscape. an initial solution can often be in place relatively quickly, but the real value is created over time as the analysis matures and is more closely linked to business processes.

does it require many IT resources?

Qlik Sense is powerful, but requires the right expertise in data modelling and structure. many organisations therefore choose to work with a partner who understands both the technology and the business.

When is Qlik Sense the right choice?

Qlik Sense is particularly relevant for companies that:

• have multiple business systems and data sources
• need to analyse complex relationships in data
• want to give more people in the organisation access to analysis
• work data-driven with governance, planning and follow-up

for manufacturing, retail and production businesses, this is often a prerequisite to be able to scale, streamline and make better decisions in an increasingly data-dense reality.

Qlik Sense in a modern data intelligence architecture

In a more mature data organisation, Qlik Sense is rarely used as an isolated reporting tool. Instead, it is part of a data intelligence architecture where data collection, data modelling, analysis and decision-making are connected in a cohesive flow.

In Elvenite's world, data intelligence is about:

• Creating a common and reliable version of the truth
• Linking analysis directly to business processes
• Enabling both operational and strategic management

Qlik Sense acts here as the primary analysis and visualisation layer – but value only arises when the underlying architecture is correctly built.

Data modelling: the real value creator

In manufacturing and production operations, data modelling is often the biggest challenge – and the biggest opportunity.

Examples of typical complexities:

• Different time dimensions (order date, production date, delivery date)
• Hierarchies for products, customers and facilities
• Relationships between planned and actual outcomes
• Historical tracking of master data

Qlik Sense therefore requires a deliberate and business-driven data model, not just technical ETL. When the data model reflects real processes, the analysis becomes intuitive even for non-technical users.

Qlik Sense and Infor M3 - more than standard reports

For organisations using Infor M3, Qlik Sense is often a strategic complement. Standard reports in ERP are excellent for transactions and details, but less suited for:

• cross-functional analysis
• historical comparison over longer periods
• correlation analysis between different modules

With Qlik Sense, data from M3 (and surrounding systems) can be modelled to answer questions such as:

• why do we miss delivery accuracy – despite full capacity?
• which products drive margin, not just turnover?
• how do planning decisions affect inventory binding and write-offs?

From reporting to management

A common maturity journey looks like this:

1. Descriptive analysis – what has happened?
2. Diagnostic analysis – why did it happen?
3. Predictive analysis – what is likely to happen?
4. Prescriptive analysis – what should we do?

Qlik Sense is strongest at steps 1 and 2, but also serves as a central platform when the organisation moves towards more advanced analysis – especially in combination with other components of the Data Intelligence stack.

Security, governance and ownership

In larger organisations, issues around data ownership and governance are crucial.
Qlik Sense offers:

• Row- and role-based security
• Governance of apps and data models
• Ability to separate certified data from self-service

This makes it possible to combine freedom for the business with control for IT – a balance that is often crucial for long-term success.

Common pitfalls we see in practice

Despite a powerful tool, many organisations do not achieve the value they expected. Often, this is not due to the technology but to how the initiative is managed.

A common pattern is that the focus shifts too early to visualisations – attractive dashboards are built on top of a data model that does not reflect the reality of the business. The result is analyses that look good but cannot be used for actual decisions.

Another pitfall is unclear ownership. When no one clearly takes responsibility for definitions, KPIs and priorities, the analysis quickly becomes fragmented. Finally, we often see organisations that measure a lot but use little. Too many key figures without a clear connection to decisions rarely leads to better governance.

When Qlik Sense becomes part of decision-making

the real value arises when Qlik Sense is used:

• in daily and weekly management meetings
• as a basis for planning and forecasting
• to follow up on the effect of decisions – not just the outcome

then analysis goes from being something you look at to something you act on.

at Elvenite, we work with Qlik Sense as an integrated part of our Data Intelligence offering. our starting point is always the business processes and decisions – not the tool. this means that we:

• design data models based on business logic
• integrate Qlik Sense with ERP, planning and production systems
• build analysis that supports actual management, not just reporting

for organisations in manufacturing, retail and production businesses, Qlik Sense is therefore not just another BI tool – but a structured step towards data-driven management.