Streamlining Your Data Visualization with Sankey Charts: A Beginner’s Guide

When it comes to data visualization, Sankey charts are a powerful tool that can help you to effectively communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner. By using a Sankey chart, you can easily see the flow of data between different categories, resulting in a more understandable and actionable insights.

In this article, we’ll explore what Sankey charts are, how they can be used to visualize data, and what considerations you should keep in mind when creating Sankey charts.

What are Sankey Charts?

Sankey charts are a type of flowchart used to represent the flow of a particular process or set of events. Each chart consists of a central node, representing an origin or source, and multiple branches, representing the different steps or categories involved in the process. The branches are typically filled with data, allowing you to see how the data flows between different steps.

Using Sankey charts is particularly useful when trying to understand complex data, such as financial transactions or the movement of goods between different locations. This is because Sankey charts can help you to identify patterns and trends that might not be visible using other types of charts.

Applications of Sankey Charts

Sankey charts can be used in a wide range of applications, including:

1. Financial analysis: Sankey charts are particularly useful for analyzing financial data, such as investment portfolios or revenue streams. They can help you to see how different investments are connected, and how revenue is flowing between different parts of the business.
2. Inventory management: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of inventory between different locations or processes. This can help you to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies, and make improvements to the overall flow of inventory.
3. Supply chain management: Sankey charts can be used to study the movement of goods between different locations, such as manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. This can help you to identify potential problems and areas for improvement.

How to Create Sankey Charts

Creating a Sankey chart is relatively easy, and there are several software applications that can help you to do so. Some of the most popular applications for creating Sankey charts include:

1. Microsoft Excel: Excel has a built-in Sankey chart creator that allows you to create Sankey charts using a standard sheet of Excel.
2. Lucidchart: Lucidchart is a web-based diagramming tool that supports the creation of Sankey charts. It also offers a range of other visual management tools, including process maps, flowcharts, and Gantt charts.
3. SmartDraw: SmartDraw is a professional-grade diagramming tool that supports the creation of Sankey charts, in addition to a wide range of other types of diagrams.

When creating a Sankey chart, there are a few key considerations you should keep in mind:

1. Choose the right data: Make sure that the data you’re using for your Sankey chart is relevant and meaningful. Consider whether it is quantitative or qualitative data, and whether it is time-series or non-time-series data.
2. Use appropriate colors: Using different colors for your branches in the Sankey chart can help you to differentiate between different categories or time periods. Consider using a consistent color scheme to make the chart easier to read.
3. Label your nodes and branches: Make sure to include clear and concise labels for each node and branch in your Sankey chart. This will help readers to understand the meaning of each part of the chart.

Conclusion

Streamlining your data visualization with Sankey charts can be a powerful tool for

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