Big data business QlikTech International has relaunched its cloud-based service offering with a new Qlik Sense Business platform.

Qlik is a business intelligence software specialist providing businesses the capabilities to visualize data in graphical forms and generate metrics to deliver useful insights.

The main technology includes a big-data analysis system that utilizes an open application program interface enabling access to an extensive number of software architecture, platforms, and languages. Qlik is capable of measuring data from up to 40 varied sources and generating automated results via artificial intelligence in a visual representation.

The latest offering from Qlik Sense includes an improvement to their Cloud Business product and intends to offer a more in-depth analytic experience than the previous version. One new function in the updated service includes a natural language processing feature, allowing users to query data via voice control.

Qlik explains that users can use the service to enter search criteria via natural language. The Qlike Cognitive Engine analyses the search string to understands the user’s intent and generate data and insights from this search process. Chief Technology Officer Mike Potter highlights that Qlik is creating a new generation of business intelligence systems with a cloud-focused SaaS analytics platform. Qlik Sense Business will support businesses significantly improve data processes and data-focused decision making via a system that expands their business analytical capabilities.

Qlik Sense Business is now available and the company is offering a free trial to businesses looking to test the new platform.

Leading global data analytics provider Qlik has confirmed the acquisition of CrunchBot AI-driven analytics bot as well as Crunch Data’s team of artificial intelligence and solution focused professionals.

Qlik announced the deal explaining that the acquisition will extend their current augment intelligence and cognitive potential by creating additional conversational analytics, enhancing its existing platform and open APIs. Qlik has stated that their customers can now interact and analyse their data by using natural language via Qlik Sense and within other popular tools such as Skype, Slack, Salesforce Chat and Microsoft Teams.

Mike Capone, the Qlik CEO has explained to media that by bringing CrunchBot and Crunch Data into Qlike, customers will find it easier to include data more frequently into workflows, ensuring analytics is a vital part in the daily process of decision making.

Capone states that Qlik is continually seeking new methods to generate augmented intelligence for its customers and to enhance overall data literacy. According to Capone, acquisitions like this one will improve the potential of their customers and partners to utilise data and insights even further, increasing the overall value of the data and their business.

Capone refers to a recent report by Gartner which suggested that by 2020, nearly 50% of analytical queries will be performed via search, NLP or Voice, or will be automatically created. Customers at Qlik already can benefit from augmented intelligence and natural language search options. Acquiring CrunnchBot expands those tools further via a specific conversational and natural language platform. Qlik believes CrunchBot will work uniquely with Qlik, connecting the gap between visual discovery and conversational analytics.

CrunchBot has been validated by Qlik for quality, functionality and has been developed upon Qlik’s open API framework and the supporting platform. CrunchBot allows users to perform the following:

• Create questions in a conversational style via the Qlik Sense UI or through other major tools such as Slack, Skype or Salesforce Chat.
• Analyse their data and ask specific questions via voice interaction developed and integrated with other mainstream services such as Amazon Alexa.
• Gain detailed answers and insights, as well as auto-generated charts, interpretations, calculations over specific periods and predictive analysis data.
• Simple access to Qlik Sense analytics apps to measure your results further.
• Utilise Natural Language Processing (NLP) which naturally learns and measure user inquiries over a space of time, as well as Natural Language Generation (NLG) which generates insights on what is currently happening, why, and what to do next.

In contrast to other specific search services, this service between Qlik and CrunchBot will provide the best of both worlds. It will allow customers to utilise the conversational experience and then shift to the visual side for a more detailed insight and understanding of the data. Customers and partners at Qlik will see an increasing uptake in analytics and data literacy due to a more efficient and simpler way to ask questions, generate insights and make informed decisions with CrunchBot.

Crunch Data will support further development of analytics and at the same time improve results for customers. The product will be integrated into Qlik’s existing platform, enhancing the ability to generate high value and managed services. The team of professionals at Crunch Data, which includes a range of AI professionals and offshore development experts, have a strong working record of delivering successful projects.

Nish Patel, the CEO of CrunchBot and co-founder of Crunch Data recently stated that Qlik is the leader in analytics and in delivering augmented intelligence and machine learning to its customers. Patel states how excited they are to be a part of their advanced services, supporting their customers and ultimately making it simpler for people to understand their data.

Throughout 2018 Qlik continued to accelerate its focus in analytics and business intelligence by delivering innovative AI, enhancing the potential of the Qlik platform for all its users.

In November 2018, Qlik released its Qlik Sense product, introducing new machine learning systems into its cognitive engine and platform. The machine learning system enables the Qlik cognitive engine to become more intelligent over a period of time, continuing to learn via user interaction and from other feedback sources. Qlik is the first analytics enterprise to combine the potential of AI and ML with human intuition in a manner that utilises the power of a user for further discovery.
A report by Gartner suggests that augmented analytics is gaining popularity very fast. Combined with this progression, is the rise of ML automation and AI techniques to use human intelligence and rapidly transform data management, analytics and BI.

The new learning potential of the Qlik model will be used initially in Insight Advisor which was introduced back in June 2018 as part of the Qlik Sense Enterprise release. Insight Advisor can automatically generate and suggest the most suitable data and insights to research based on the data set and the user’s search criteria. The system makes highly relevant insight suggestions based on the machine learning from the user’s overall analytics interactions. The users can educate the machine by manually selecting analytics, modifying what the machine suggests and adding feedback to the system.

Moritz Schieder, the Visual Analytics Practice Lead for Deloitte Consulting explains that more of their clients are requesting for cases where they can utilise artificial intelligence. According to Schieder, the Qlik augmented intelligence approach is a perfect example of how machine learning can be used to combine data and the human decision maker by supporting data tasks, selecting the most suitable visualisations and recommending insights to the user.

Qlik’s AI and ML features are innovative because they work specifically with the Qlik associative engine, integrating the features of AI with human intuition. As the associative engine understands a user’s context and the data related, the suggested insights are far more relevant. As some industry members have explained, the Qlik service provides an extended view that enables users to discover hidden insights that were previously overlooked. Qlik provides the strengths of AI, where both machine and human sides become increasingly empowered. Elif Tutuk, the Director of Research at Qlik explains that their considerable investment into AI and machine learning is a significant factor for their users. It enables a higher ability to move more fluidly between levels of data exploration with added confidence. At the same time, the user will know the system is continuing to learn simultaneously and that each new insight makes the overall system smarter and can result in further opportunities.