Qlik readies new Qlik Sense features for cloud, AI, big data

Self-service BI vendor Qlik is beginning to add a promised set of advanced functionality to its Qlik Sense software, but the features will be delivered in stages. A year ago, Qlik outlined long-term plans to add advanced cloud, AI and big data features to its self-service BI and data visualization software. Now it's starting to deliver pieces of what it promised -- and technology analysts say time is of the essence for the company. Qlik said at its annual user conference last week that some elements of the technologies appeared in an April update to its Qlik Sense software, with more to follow in a release next month. For example, the new Qlik Sense features due in June include the ability to publish analytics data from on-premises BI systems to cloud-based ones -- the first component of a "multi-cloud" strategy designed to let users seamlessly run applications across a combined on-premises and cloud environment. The Qlik Sense Enterprise June 2018 release will also build on an augmented intelligence feature set that aims to apply AI and machine learning functionality to assist users in analyzing and visualizing data. The April release included a feature that recommends chart designs based on fields selected by a data analyst; in June, Qlik plans to add an Insight Advisor tool that can point to key information in data sets.