Sankey charts have become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly in the field of business analytics and data visualization. Designed to visualize data as a flow, they provide a unique way to display relationships and dependencies between different data points. In this article, we will explore the basics of creating and using Sankey charts, their applications in various industries, and some tips for improving visual clarity and accessibility.
What are Sankey Charts?
Sankey charts are a type of graph that uses flowlines to visually represent relationships and dependencies between different data points. The chart consists of multiple boxes, each representing a different data source or data item. The width of the box is used to demonstrate the relative importance of each data source, while the color of the box indicates the source or the quality of the data being presented.
Here are the four key elements of a Sankey chart:
– Source and Sink: These represent the starting and ending points of a flow, respectively. The size and color of the box around each source and sink is used to clearly define the path and direction of the flow.
– Segments: These represent the paths between the source and sink, connecting the various data sources and/or items.
– Bar Chart: This is a visual representation of the data represented by the boxes. It can also be used to represent the overall magnitude of the relationship between two sources or items.
Applications of Sankey Charts
Sankey charts have a wide variety of applications across industries, including finance, healthcare, public policy, and marketing. Here are some common use cases:
– Visualize business transactions: Sankey charts can be used to analyze and visualize complex business transactions, such as the flow of cash between different departments or regions.
– Analyze resource allocation: Sankey charts can be used to illustrate the relationships between different resource allocation systems, such as between different departments or teams.
– Research, development, and innovation: These charts can be used to track the flow of ideas, investments, and resources in research and development projects.
Tips for Using Sankey Charts
Creating and using Sankey charts requires some practice and can be challenging for non-linear data flows. Here are some tips for improving the clarity and accessibility of your Sankey chart:
1. Ensure a well-rounded data set: Make sure that the data set is balanced and well-rounded, with no gaps in the relationships between the data points.
2. Define the flow direction: Make sure that the direction of the flow is clear and consistent, and that the sizes of the boxes are proportional to the flow.
3. Use different labels: Use different symbols or colors to differentiate between different data sources, making the flow lines more visually distinguishable.
4. Include color legend: To help with accessibility, use a color legend to define the meaning of the different colors used in the chart.
5. Use tooltips: Adding tooltips to your Sankey chart provides additional information, such as the name of the source or the name of the sink, making it easier for viewers to understand the relationship between data points.
Conclusion
Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing relationships and dependencies between data sources. Whether you are analyzing business transactions or exploring the complex flows of ideas in innovation projects, a high-quality Sankey chart will help you communicate insights and insights that are otherwise difficult to convey through text. With practice and the right design tools, Sankey charts can become a valuable communication tool in any industry and are worth exploring for those looking to improve the clarity and accessibility of their data visualization.

SankeyMaster

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