Streamlining Your Data with Sankey Charts

Sankey charts are a powerful and flexible way to visualize the flow of data between different entities or categories. They can be used to show the movement of goods, services, or information, as well as to highlight key trends and patterns in a dataset. In this article, we’ll explore the basics of Sankey chart creation, as well as some creative applications for data visualization.

What are Sankey Charts?

Sankey charts are named after the Dutch engineer and statistician Rudolph Sankey, who developed the first such chart in the early 20th century. Sankey charts are essentially flow diagrams that show the direction and magnitude of flows between different entities. They are particularly useful for visualizing the movement of goods between different regions or countries, as well as for analyzing the flow of information or resources.

Sankey charts can be created using a variety of software tools, including Excel, PowerPoint, and specialized data visualization software such as ProcessOn, DataViz, and Sankey Flow. Here are the basic steps for creating a Sankey chart in Excel:

1. Open Excel and create a new table or spreadsheet.
2. In the first row, enter the names of the entities or categories that you want to show on the chart.
3. In the second row, enter the direction of the flow (e.g. “in” or “out”).
4. In subsequent rows, enter the data for each flow by specifying the source entity, the target entity, and the magnitude of the flow.
5. Use the Sankey chart function or the SANKEY function to create the chart. This function takes the data in the first three columns and the names of the entities in the fourth column as input.

Once you have created your Sankey chart, you can use it to analyze and interpret your data in a variety of ways. For example, you might use it to:

1. Identify patterns in the flow of data: Are some entities or categories more important than others? Are there regions or areas where there is a high volume of traffic or data flow?
2. Understand the impact of different factors on the flow of data: For example, you might use a Sankey chart to investigate the effect of changes in tariffs or trade policies on the movement of goods between different countries.
3. Predict future trends: If you have data on the flow of data over a period of time, you can use a Sankey chart to identify patterns and trends that might suggest future changes or developments.

In conclusion, Sankey charts are a useful and versatile way to visualize the flow of data between different entities or categories. They can be used in a variety of settings to support data analysis and decision-making. With a little practice, you can easily create and use Sankey charts to streamline your data and gain new insights.

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.