Sankey charts are a powerful visualization tool that can be used to show the flow of goods, services, or ideas between different entities. They are called Sankey charts because they were originally developed by Richard Sankey in the 1960s.

Sankey charts consist of a central axis, which represents the source or sink of a particular good or service. The central axis is surrounded by a series of arrows, which represent the flow of the good or service from the source to the sink and vice versa. The arrows are directed along the central axis, with the length of the arrows indicating the magnitude of the flow.

One of the key advantages of sankey charts is their ability to show the relative flow of goods or services, rather than the absolute flow. This makes it easier to understand which entities are the primary sources or sinks of particular goods or services.

Another important advantage of Sankey charts is their ability to show the flow of goods or services over time. This can be done by using different colors or symbols for the arrows, or by drawing multiple arrows for each time period.

Sankey charts are commonly used in logistics, supply chain management, and other fields that involve the movement of goods or services. They can also be used to show the flow of ideas or information in a social network or other complex system.

To create a Sankey chart, you will need to have a dataset that includes information about the sources and sinks of a particular good or service, as well as information about the flow of that good or service. You can then use a charting software such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets to create the chart.

There are also several online tools that allow you to create and customize Sankey charts directly in your web browser. These tools can be very useful if you don’t have access to charting software or if you prefer working with a web-based interface.

Overall, Sankey charts are a powerful and versatile visualization tool that can be used to show the flow of goods, services, or ideas between different entities. With their ability to show relative flows and to show flow over time, they are a useful tool for understanding complex systems and making informed decisions.

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.