Sankey charts, also known as directional flow charts, are a type of data visualization that are used to represent the flow of data or material between different categories or entities. They are especially useful for showing the direction of the flow and the relative amounts of data flowing through each node.
Sankey charts are easy to create using various data visualization tools and software, such as Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, or DataGrip. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a Sankey chart in Microsoft Excel:
- Open Microsoft Excel and create a new worksheet.
- Enter the data that you want to visualize in columns. The data should represent the flow of data or material between different categories or entities.
- In the first row, enter the name of the category or entity that represents the source of the flow.
- In the next row, enter the names of the category or entities that represent the recipients of the flow.
- Enter the values or amounts of data that flow through each node.
- In the third row, enter the names of the categories or entities that represent the destinations of the flow.
- In the fourth row, enter the names of the category or entities that represent the sink of the flow.
- Use the Excel LEFT or RIGHT function to determine the direction of the flow.
- Use the Excel IF function to label the nodes with the appropriate names.
- To create the chart, use the Excel Sankey function.
Once the Sankey chart is created, it can be customized further by applying different themes and styles, or by adding filters or slicers to allow for further analysis of the data.
Sankey charts can be used for a wide variety of applications, such as:
- Marketing and sales analysis: Show the flow of customers or sales leads through different stages of the sales process.
- Inventory management: Show the flow of goods or materials through different stages of production or distribution.
- Supply chain management: Show the flow of goods or materials through different suppliers or distributors.
- Financial analysis: Show the flow of cash or investments through different accounts or regions.
Overall, Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing and analyzing complex data. With their ability to represent the flow of data in a clear and intuitive way, they can help you make better decisions and gain deeper insights into your data.
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