Sankey charts, also known as Sankey diagrams or flow diagrams, are a powerful type of data visualization that makes it easy to visualize the flow and connections between different categories or nodes. These charts are named after Captain Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey, who created the first Sankey diagram in 1898 to illustrate the energy losses in a steam engine.

While Sankey charts have traditionally been used in engineering and scientific fields, they are now often used to illustrate complex data relationships in business, economics, and social sciences. In this article, we will explore the many benefits of using Sankey charts and the different ways in which they can be created and applied.

What are Sankey Charts?

Sankey charts are a type of flow diagram that allows you to see how quantities of information, materials, or resources move between different categories. In a Sankey chart, each category is represented as a node, and the connections between nodes are shown as lines or arrows, with the width of the lines representing the quantity of flow between the nodes. This means that you can quickly see which categories have the highest flows, as well as the direction and magnitude of the flows between categories.

The Benefits of Sankey Charts

Sankey charts are particularly useful when you need to visualize complex flows and connections between different categories. Here are some of the key benefits of using Sankey charts:

1. Ease of Understanding: Sankey charts can help you quickly and easily understand the relationships between different categories. The visual layout of the chart makes it easy to see which categories have the highest flows and how these flows are distributed between different nodes.
2. Transparency: Sankey charts provide transparency into how resources, information, or goods flow between different categories. This means that stakeholders can see exactly where their resources are going and can identify potential areas for improvement.
3. Comparison: Sankey charts can easily be compared across different time periods, allowing you to see how flows have changed over time. This can be particularly useful for understanding how changes in behavior or policy have impacted flows between different categories.
4. Flexibility: Sankey charts can be used to visualize flows between a wide range of different categories, including people, goods, and information. This means that they can be used across a wide range of industries and applications, from supply chain management to social media analytics.

Creating Sankey Charts

Creating a Sankey chart can be a relatively straightforward process, but the key is to choose the right tool and data format. Here are the basic steps for creating a Sankey chart:

1. Choose the Right Tool: There are many different tools available for creating Sankey charts, including Microsoft Excel, Tableau, and Python libraries like Matplotlib and Seaborn. Choose the tool that best suits your needs, budget, and expertise.
2. Gather Your Data: Your data should be in a format that includes the source and destination of each flow, as well as the quantity or value of each flow. Make sure your data is clean and well-organized, with clear labels and units of measurement.
3. Organize Your Data: Most Sankey chart tools require you to organize your data in a specific format, typically including two columns for the source and destination categories and another column for the quantity or value of each flow. Make sure your data is correctly formatted and that you’ve included any necessary metadata.

Finally, use the tool to create the chart, adjust the legend and labels, and add any additional visual elements or filters as needed.

Applications of Sankey Charts

There are many different applications for Sankey charts across different industries and fields. Here are a few examples:

1. Supply Chain Management: Sankey charts can be used to visualize the flow of materials or goods between different suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors. This can help identify inefficiencies in the supply chain or areas for cost optimization.
2. Business Analytics: Sankey charts can be used to visualize customer journeys, revenue flows, or product categories within a business. This can provide insights into which products or services are driving the most revenue and which customer segments are most valuable.
3. Social Media Analytics: Sankey charts

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.