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Power BI vs Qlik: Platform Comparison

There are a number of different business intelligence platforms available today, which can be both a good and a bad thing for businesses. It’s a good thing because it gives businesses more alternatives in regards to the business intelligence platform that they want to use, but the corresponding downside to this advantage lies in the fact that not all business intelligence platforms are created equally. That being the case, in an effort to help businesses make the right choice for them we’ve put together this platform comparison pitting Microsoft Power BI vs Qlik, and give you our team’s verdict on which of these two major business intelligence platforms is better.

Power BI vs Qlik: Platform Comparison

Introduction to Business Intelligence Tools

As the world of business evolves, the need for intelligent data-driven decision-making has skyrocketed. Business Intelligence (also known as ‘BI’) is an incredibly important part of modern business, and business intelligence tools like Power BI and Qlik have emerged as game-changers, enabling businesses to transform raw data into actionable insights. They empower organisations to make informed decisions, identify trends, and drive business growth.

Power BI vs Qlik: Platform Comparison

Data Visualisation

Data visualisation is a critical element in any BI tool. Power BI tools like TimeXtender excel in this regard because they offer a range of intuitive and customisable visuals, and an extensive library of visualisations – allowing users to create interactive dashboards and reports with ease. It’s fair to say that Qlik can match Power BI platforms when it comes to data visualisation, but is it better? We’d have to say no.

Power BI vs Qlik: Platform Comparison

Data Integration

Data integration is an essential aspect of BI. Power BI stands out here because it offers seamless integration with other Microsoft products. This obviously makes them an ideal choice for businesses already operating in a Microsoft environment, but these are by no means the only integrations on offer if you choose Power BI. Similarly, Qlik offers its own robust range of data integration capabilities – however, given the rather ubiquitous nature of Microsoft software, the ease with which Power BI platforms can be integrated with those Microsoft systems gives Power BI the advantage here.

Power BI vs Qlik: Platform Comparison

Data Analytics

When it comes to data analytics, both Power BI and Qlik offer robust features. Power BI’s DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) language and AI-powered analytics provide comprehensive data analysis. Qlik’s associative data model works well, but the truth is that both systems provide for interactive data exploration well, and after polling the opinions of the TouchstoneBI team, the consensus was that Power BI comes out on top in this key area of business intelligence.

Power BI vs Qlik: Platform Comparison

Data Discovery

Data discovery is another crucial factor in BI. Via its ‘QlikView’ product, Qlik provides self-service data discovery which enables users to create guided analytics applications and dashboards, but Power BI gives users an intuitive, user-friendly interface which helps to simplify the data discovery process As a result, because it provides tools that actually make data discovery easier to do, Power BI is the clear winner in our opinion.

Power BI vs Qlik: Platform Comparison

User Experience

You should definitely consider user experience choosing between business intelligence platforms, and Power BI’s intuitive interface and seamless integration with Microsoft products make it highly user-friendly. Qlik can offer a more interactive and immersive experience, but in order to do so things like the user interface can become more complex and hard to use. As a result, because it does what you need without being hard to use, Power BI gets our vote here.

Power BI vs Qlik: Platform Comparison

Pricing and Licensing

In terms of pricing, Power BI offers a more cost-effective solution. The ‘basic’ version of the platform is available for free, while Power BI ‘Pro’ and ‘Premium’ versions provide additional features at competitive prices. Qlik offers a more complex pricing model based on a token system, with pricing changing depending on the product you choose (QlikView or Qlik Sense) and the deployment method used. This approach provides flexibility, it’s true – but the additional complexity involved may be off-putting for some users.

Power BI vs Qlik: Platform Comparison

Connectivity & Data Sources

Both Power BI and Qlik can connect to a wide range of data sources. However, the fact that Power BI works so well with the many Microsoft platforms that reside within the modern business technology landscape again give it the edge in this area.

Power BI vs Qlik: Platform Comparison

Deployment Options

When it comes to deployment, it’s easy to pick a winner between Power BI and Qlik, and that winner is Power BI. The reason for that is because if you opt for a Power BI system like TimeXtender, you can also take advantage of TouchstoneBI’s implementation and support services to help you ensure that deployment goes well, and that your platform is supported well post-implementation.

Power BI vs Qlik: Platform Comparison

The Verdict:

In conclusion, while it would be unfair to label Qlik as ‘inadequate’, we can’t ignore the fact that when it comes to the core activities of business intelligence it cannot outperform a Power BI system. Qlik can match Power BI in some areas, but overall Power BI is definitely the better choice in our opinion. To learn more about Power BI platforms like TimeXtender, or to take the first steps towards implementing such a system, contact TouchstoneBI today.

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