Unleashing the Power of Process: Navigating Data with Sankey Charts

Data is a valuable asset for any organization. It helps inform and drive decision-making processes across all areas of the business. But, managing data can be a challenge, especially when trying to visualize complex data sets. That’s where Sankey charts come in.

Sankey charts, also known as flowcharts with feedback loops, are a powerful tool for visualizing and navigating data. They provide a clear and intuitive way to understand the flow and transformation of data within a system. In this article, we will explore the creation and application of Sankey charts, and how they can help organizations better manage their data.

What are Sankey charts?

Sankey charts are a type of flowchart that were originally developed by an engineer named Helmut Sankey in the 1970s for process analysis and optimization. They have since been widely adopted for data visualization and analysis.

Sankey charts are designed to show the flow of goods, services, or information through a system, with feedback loops and branching paths. The chart is divided into three regions: input, process, and output. Flow is represented by arrows, and feedback loops are represented by double arrows.

The beauty of Sankey charts lies in their ability to provide a clear and comprehensive view of data. By mapping out the flow of data through a system, they help organizations identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement. Sankey charts are also scalable, making it easier to analyze large data sets.

Creation of Sankey charts

Sankey charts can be created using various tools such as Microsoft Excel, Lucidchart, or ProcessOn. These tools provide templates for Sankey chart creation, which can be easily customized to fit the organization’s specific data requirements.

To create a Sankey chart, follow these steps:

1. Identify the data: Gather the relevant data that needs to be visualized. This could include data on sales, production, or customer interactions.
2. Determine the regions: Identify the input, process, and output regions of the chart. These regions will represent the different stages of the data flow.
3. Create the chart: Drag and drop the data into the appropriate regions of the chart. Use arrows to represent the flow of data, and double arrows to represent feedback loops.
4. Customize the chart: Customize the chart as needed to fit the organization’s specific requirements. This could include adding annotations, changing colors, or adjusting chart layouts.
5. Analyze the chart: Use the chart to gain insights into the flow of data and identify areas for improvement.

Applications of Sankey charts

Sankey charts are a versatile tool that can be applied to various industries and use cases. Here are some examples of how organizations are using Sankey charts to gain valuable insights from their data:

1. Supply chain management: Sankey charts are often used to visualize the flow of goods from suppliers to customers. By mapping out this process, organizations can identify areas for improvement, such as bottlenecks in production or delivery times.
2. Process optimization: Sankey charts can be used to analyze and optimize business processes. By mapping out the flow of tasks and identifying areas for improvement, organizations can increase efficiency and productivity.
3. Customer experience analysis: Sankey charts can be used to analyze customer interactions and identify pain points and areas for improvement.
4. Marketing analytics: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of marketing campaigns and identify areas for improvement, such as which marketing channels are more effective.

Conclusion

Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing and navigating data. They provide a clear and intuitive way to understand the flow and transformation of data within a system, and can be applied to various industries and use cases. By using Sankey charts, organizations can gain valuable insights into their data and identify areas for improvement, helping them make more informed decisions and drive positive change.

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