Sankey charts are a type of flowchart that are used to represent the flow of ideas, concepts, or information between individuals, teams, or departments. They are particularly useful for visualizing and organizing complex systems and processes. If you’re new to Sankey charts, this guide will help you get started with understanding how to create and apply them.

What are Sankey charts?

Sankey charts are a type of flowchart that are used to represent the flow of ideas, concepts, or information. They are named after their creator, Charles Sankey, who invented the chart in the late 19th century. Sankey charts are particularly useful for visualizing and organizing complex systems and processes, and for identifying bottlenecks and areas where improvement can be made.

How to create a Sankey chart

To create a Sankey chart, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Determine the purpose of your Sankey chart: Before you start creating your chart, you need to decide what you want it to represent. This will help you determine the steps you need to take to create a chart that accurately reflects the flow of information or ideas that you want to visualize.
2. Gather data: Once you have determined the purpose of your chart, you will need to gather the data that you will use to create it. This may include information on the flow of ideas between individuals or departments, the steps involved in a particular process, or the flow of information through a website or marketing campaign.
3. Choose a chart type: Sankey charts come in several different variations, such as the basic Sankey chart, the flowmap, and the reverse Sankey chart. Choose the type of chart that best represents the data you have collected.
4. Draw the chart: Once you have prepared your data and chosen a chart type, you can start drawing your chart. There are several online tools and software programs available that can help you create Sankey charts, including Visio, Lucidchart, and Creately.
5. Customize and refine: Once you have created your chart, you can customize it to make it more useful and informative. This may include adding annotations, changing the colors or fonts, or customizing the chart symbols or labels.

Applications of Sankey charts

Sankey charts are useful in a wide range of applications, including:

1. Business process improvement: Sankey charts can be used to visualize and improve business processes, identify bottlenecks or areas where improvement can be made, and track progress over time.
2. Marketing and advertising: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of ideas or information through a marketing or advertising campaign, and to identify the most effective channels or channels for reaching target audiences.
3. Academic research: Sankey charts can be used to represent the flow of ideas or concepts within a research project or paper, and to identify areas where additional research or analysis is needed.
4. Social networks: Sankey charts can be used to represent the flow of ideas or information within a social network, and to identify key individuals or groups that drive engagement or discussion.

Overall, Sankey charts are a powerful and flexible tool for visualizing and organizing complex systems and processes, and for identifying areas where improvement or change can be made. With just a little bit of planning and customization, you can create a Sankey chart to help you better understand and improve almost any aspect of your work or life.

SankeyMaster

SankeyMaster is your go-to tool for creating complex Sankey charts . Easily enter data and create Sankey charts that accurately reveal intricate data relationships.