It was plenty of very excited people in a very large room and very promising demo and presentation of Qlikview.Next, which actually will not be generally available until 2014. Entire presentation was done using new and capable HTML5 client, based on functionality Qliktech got when it bought NComVA 6 months ago.
I was alarmed when presenter never mentioned my beloved Qlikview Desktop and I when I asked directly about it, the answer shocked and surprised me. One of the most useful piece of software I ever used will not be part of Qlikview.Next anymore. As part of Qlikview 11.2, it will be supported for 3 years and then it will be out of the picture! I did not believe it and asked one more time during demo and 2 more times after presentation in-person during Networking and Cocktail Hour inside Qliktech offices. While food and drink were excellent, the answer on my question was the same - NO!
I have the utmost respect for very smart software developers, architects and product managers of Qlikview, but in this particular case I have to invoke 20+ years of my own advanced and very extensive experience as the Software Architect, Coder and Software Director and nothing in my past can support such a decision. I do not see why Qlikview.Next can not have both (and we as Qlikview users need and love both) Qlikview Desktop Client and Qlikview HTML5 client?
I personally urge Qliktech (and I am sure the majority of 100000+ (according to Qliktech) Qlikview community will agree with me) to keep Qlikview Desktop client as long as Qlikview exist. And not just keep it but 1st, keep it as the best Data Visualization Desktop Client on market and 2nd, keep it in sync (or better ahead) with HTML5 client.
In case if Qlikview Desktop will disappear from Qlikview.Next, it will be a huge gift to Tableau and Datawatch (and may be even Spotfire will benefit from it).
It will also almost immediately propel the Datawatch as a very attractive contender in Data Visualization market, because Datawatch got (when they bought Panopticon this year) the extremely capable Panopticon Desktop Designer
in addition to its own very relevant line of products.
Again, I hope I misunderstood answer I got 4 times during 4-hour meeting and during follow-up networking/cocktail hour or if understood it correctly, Qliktech will reconsider, but I will respect their decision if they don't...
So I have to disagree with Cindi Howson (as usual): even if "QlikTech Aims To Disrupt BI, Again", it actually will disrupt itself first, unless it will listen me begging them to keep Qlikview Desktop alive, well and ahead of competition.
You can find in Ted Cuzzillo's article here: http://datadoodle.com/2013/10/09/next-for-qlik/ the actual quote from Qliktech's CEO Lars Björk: "“We can disrupt the industry again”. My problem with this quote that Qliktech considers itself as the insider and reinventor of the dead and slow BI industry, while Tableau with its new motto "DATA to the people" is actually trying to be out of this grave and be inside own/new/fast growing Data Visualization space/field/market, see also blogpost from Tony Cosentino, VP of Ventana Research, here:
http://tonycosentino.ventanaresearch.com/2013/09/21/tableau-continues-its-visual-analytics-revolution/#!
You can see below interview with Time Beyers, who has own doubts about Qlikview.Next from investor's point of view:
Basically, Qlikview.Next is late for 2 years, it will not have Qlikview Desktop (big mistake), it still does not promise any Qlikview Cloud services similar to Tableau Online and Tableau Public and it still does not have server-less distribution of visualizations because it does not have free Qlikview Desktop Viewer/Readers similar to free Tableau Reader. So far it looks to me that QLIK may have a trouble in the future...
Couldn´t agree more... Qlikview Desktop version is "the" version
ReplyDeleteeven qliktech mantra was to have qv desktop installed in all windows based laptops in world.. so they will have alternative. so cool.
ReplyDeleteReally? This would be a massive change and an admission that they've lost the user and are focus on server deployments only.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post Andrei. I fully agree with your observations. I did see the demo of QlikView.Next and it was thoroughly impressive development effort by QlikTech team except removing the Developer Client. I strongly think Qlikview Desktop/Developer Client is the best to sell to new customers. I just hope QlikTech will change the strategy. Thanks again for great article.
ReplyDeleteCheers, DV, www.QlikShare.com
What I took from the demo of .next that I saw is that Desktop functionality will be there in the form of a web server installed on the client machine. This gives a consistent interface whether you are accessing your server or developing locally. Whilst not the same as having a full Desktop client it isn't that there will be no off line development capability.
ReplyDeleteWhilst I was skeptical about the new version I now believe the dynamic and fluid UI that .next is sporting will win over new fans. The fact the tried and tested associative engine is still intact under the bonnet should keep us old timers happy too. I hope to have some more .next thoughts on my blog soon, starting with this: http://www.quickintelligence.co.uk/further-qlikview-next-thoughts/
Steve
Dear Steve:
ReplyDeleteI understand your arguments but completely disagree.
Adding 1 or 2 extra layers will reduce the famous Qlikview's Ease of Use and therefore it is wrong architectural approach, which will create the advantage to Tableau, therefore giving to Tableau (and to Panopticon) an extra chance to win the sale in competitive situation (and I predict it will happen more the Qliktech wish!). In addition, HTML5 UI is not as good and not as Mature as True-And-Tried Windows UI. Again, it is wrong architecturally and it is wrong marketing-wise.
The Correct approach is to have the both HTML5 and traditional (still the best) Windows Desktop Client plus (as I insisted for many years) Qlikview needs ASAP to have Free Desktop Qlikview Reader (similar to Free Tableau Reader) to allow server-less distribution of Qlikview applications. Plus Qlikview.Next has to have free Qlikview Public (similar to Tableau Public) and Qlikview Online (yes, similar to Tableau Online with competitive pricing and storage) and during demo of Qlikview.Next I did not hear anything about those or similar Qlikview in the Cloud and SaaS offering. This is not well-thought approach or some other news and details will come later - I really hope so, because availability of Tableau 8 in Cloud and Spotfire 6 in Cloud making the creation of Qlikview in Cloud product a MUST to have.
Andrei
I completely agree that the Desktop edition is presently the best way to develop and (for small apps) consume QlikView documents. I do think that the ability to have a consistent interface across platforms is worth making a few sacrifices for though.
ReplyDeleteWhat is critical, in my opinion, is that all of the existing functionality is either retained or improved upon. Stories being an example of an improvement on Reports. My biggest concern was around building more custom interfaces utilising text boxes and careful placing of objects. Hopefully these concerns will turn out to be unfounded though.
When it comes to licencing and pricing options for QlikView, I am not a fan of the current model - and just hope QlikTech are aware of what their competitors are doing and are ready to move ensure they stay ahead of the curve.
QlikView in the cloud is being offered as a service by QlikTech partners (Rosslyn Analytics being a good example) which seems like a good move, allowing QlikTech to focus on product rather than infrastructure..
Steve
My understanding is that you will still be able to work offline with Qlikview. The truth now is that HTML5 has over taken Microsoft UI. Just look at the open source D3 library if you need proof of this.
ReplyDeleteJust because you are working in a browser doesn't mean you need to have an internet connection. The universal approach will greatly simplify and undermine anyone who is still attempting to sell (relatively) complex mixture of desktop/freeview/server interfaces. The true value and what this business is all about is time to delivery, with a HTML5 approach it is much quicker to add functionality than a multiplatform approach and puts Qlikview in a much better position to keep ahead of the competition and keep innovating. Not to mention it will make working as part of a team so much easier.
andre, i was wondering if i could speak to you ....comparing spotfire to tableau
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog and it is a treasure chest for anyone interested in data visualization. I am getting more and more impressed by the interfaces that can be created in HTML5 but it is something about it that does not feel like a native application. It will be interesting to see how betting the farm on HTML5 and not keeping the desktop client around will play out for QlikView.
ReplyDeleteStefan: agreed: the usage of HTML5 and toolkits like D3 requires more development, creates longer SDLC cycle, uses inferior UI and instead of replacing dead BI approach with modern easy-to-use Data Visualization, trying to reinvent BI, which is waste of time.
ReplyDeleteHTML5 client is a must, but not as replacement of proven Windows-based UI but as the additional option...