Highlights from Qlik Connect: an overview by Agilos 

Beginning of June, the vibrant city of Orlando played host to Qlik Connect, an annual gathering that brings together Qlik enthusiasts, partners, and customers from around the globe. As an Elite partner of Qlik and member of the EMEA Partner Advisory Council, Agilos was on the ground to capture the essence of the event and bring back key insights and updates for those who couldn't attend. Here, we present the highlights from this dynamic convention, focusing on major announcements, emerging trends, and the future roadmap of Qlik products. 

Event Overview 

Qlik Connect 2024 was a bustling hub of activity with several thousand attendees participating both in-person and virtually. The event featured two main keynote sessions, numerous breakout sessions, and over 20 hands-on workshops. These sessions covered a wide array of topics, from technical deep dives and customer case studies to future product innovations. 

Qlik Answers and Qlik Talend Cloud 

Two significant announcements stole the spotlight at Qlik Connect. First, Qlik introduced Qlik Answers, a new feature seamlessly integrated within the Qlik Cloud. This tool leverages AI to provide users with intuitive and insightful data analytics searching through unstructured data, enhancing decision-making capabilities. It complements the capability of Qlik Insights to search through structured data.

The second major announcement was the full integration of Qlik Talend Cloud. Since acquiring Talend, Qlik has worked diligently to merge Talend’s robust data integration capabilities with its own cloud environment. This integration promises to streamline data processes, combining the power of Qlik’s front-end analytics with Talend’s back-end data management solutions. 

Key trend: Artificial Intelligence 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) was the most pervasive theme throughout Qlik Connect. From keynote titles to workshop topics, AI's influence was omnipresent. Nearly 20% of the keynote sessions included AI or machine learning in their titles, indicating its critical role in Qlik's strategic direction. Discussions ranged from modernizing analytics with AI to preparing data for AI readiness, reflecting a comprehensive approach to integrating AI into every facet of Qlik’s offerings. 

Product Roadmap and Innovations 

The roadmap session, a perennial favorite at Qlik Connect, drew a full house, eager to hear about upcoming features and enhancements. Some key points included: 

Augmented Analytics 

Qlik’s commitment to augmented analytics was evident, with new features designed to enhance user experience through AI. Recent updates include AI-generated expressions and natural language processing capabilities within Qlik Cloud’s Insight Advisor. Looking ahead, Qlik aims to automate dashboard generation and documentation using AI, making advanced analytics more accessible. 

Data Integration and Preparation 

Significant advancements are planned for Qlik’s data integration and preparation tools. The future promises enhanced no-code data preparation workflows and improved data connectivity options, including new connectors and functionalities for managing data hierarchies and transformations. 

Visualization and User Interface 

On the visualization front, Qlik is introducing features like overlay charts and enhanced pivot tables. Improvements in navigation, printing capabilities, and mobile application functionality are also on the horizon, ensuring a more user-friendly and versatile experience. 

Partnerships and Ecosystem 

Qlik continues to expand its ecosystem through strategic partnerships with industry leaders such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Snowflake. These collaborations are crucial in providing robust and scalable data solutions, enhancing Qlik’s offerings in cloud storage and data management. 

Conclusion 

Qlik Connect 2024 in Orlando was a testament to Qlik’s innovation and its unwavering focus on AI and customer success. With exciting new product launches and a clear roadmap for the future, Qlik is poised to lead the way in data analytics and business intelligence. 

Stay tuned to our blog for more updates and insights from Agilos, as we continue to bring you the latest from the world of Qlik and beyond.