…making the difference since 2002
Differentia Consulting Summer 2024 Newsletter
We wish you all a relaxing summer
#AI enabled #SmarterBI and more, in 2024
Welcome to the Differentia Consulting Newsletter Summer 2024. As we approach the summer break, Differentia Consulting would like to thank you for your continued partnership and custom.
Artificial Intelligence, (AI), Data Quality and enhanced reporting (see below) are now more crucial than ever before. For that reason, this edition will offer additional guidance in those areas. This includes the latest updates, events, and focused pieces on how your organisation can benefit from investing in your data and AI.
Everyone at Differentia Consulting would like to wish you a relaxing time over the summer and are eager to speak to you on your return about how we can help make a difference.
Strategy
As we learn to live with a fiscal squeeze caused by higher raw material and people costs, tense global politics, and a new UK government what better time to continue to fully control the type of decisions that are driven by your data.
Qlik introduced the term ‘Active Intelligence’; optimising the value that can be extracted from data as part of a hyperautomated, mature data eco-system. During late 2023 and early 2024 Qlik took that one step further with GenAI artificial intelligence integrations in Large Language Models or LLMs (various) and further still with its acquisition of Kyndi and introduction of RAG (context) capability when prompting AI calls, resulting in the announcement of #QlikAnswers at Qlik Connect 2024 (Orlando).
Qlik Answers is Qlik’s AI knowledge assistant for your unstructured data sources
2024 is already a focus year for adopting LLMs (and SLMs – small ‘internal’ language models), AI, and building trust in data, as organisations deploy systems to deliver service improvements and help mitigate cost increases using AI enabled technology. The opportunities to use AI that you can trust, over your data (SLM), that drive process improvements are literally everywhere.
The highly anticipated release of Qlik Answers affords GenAI capability over all of your unstructured data. Create a Knowledge Base, add an assistant and your questions will be answered. Click here for a thorough examination of Qlik Answers.
It is not just Qlik that has adopted AI, our composable platform partner Cyferd has its own AI capability, (Neural Genesis). Cyferd can be augmented with external AI engines LLMs and SLMs to create a full capability to improve processes and data quality for improved decision making. For example, clean data for you; to correct addresses, update and validate contact information etc. Further:
Using WhatsApp to make SLM and LLM in-app AI calls – enabled by Cyferd.
Qlik announced the acquisition of Talend at QlikWorld 2023, this has resulted in the merging of the two software businesses and the announcement at Qlik Connect 2024 of Qlik Talend Cloud Data Integration, (QTCDI) now generally available (GA). We look forward to discussing how this offering can help you do more with data, as not only does QTCDI come with data bundles it also comes with analytics too.
Talend withdrew support for its freemium Talend Open Studio product.
See: https://www.talend.com/blog/update-on-the-future-of-talend-open-studio/
We can help you with supported releases of Talend Cloud Data Integration that replace this free version.
See: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-migrate-from-talend-open-studio-cloud-jean-francois-monteil-lvuwe/
Elsewhere, many of our clients will be impacted by SAP’s announced enforced migrations to its latest offerings, Qlik has multiple Talend tools to help those that want to migrate and those that plan to look at alternative ERP solutions by 2027. (Qlik and SAP have incredible synergy).
See: https://news.sap.com/2020/02/sap-s4hana-maintenance-2040-clarity-choice-sap-business-suite-7/
Differentia Consulting with its ERP heritage can help advise and support you with both options. Please contact your account team for details.
2024 is also going to be another year of UK IT skills shortages and Differentia Consulting has pledged to keep its services available on an hourly basis, where possible, to help clients with their short-term needs. If you would like to discuss how we can help you provision or even fully manage your AI smarter BI data pipeline and analytics solutions, we are keen to hear from you. Remember that we can build apps too with Cyferd.
It’s official: you’re a VIP
Customer service is key for your business as much as it ours. We want to share two items with you:
The first is our own VIP programme. We would very much like to spend time with you to look at how we can partner more with you. As such our customer care team has introduced a Vision, Impact, and Partnership programme to ensure that we can strategically align with your organisation’s mission when it comes to #AI enabled #SmarterBI. Your account team will reach out to organise a free session with you.
Secondly, we have recognised a niche in the market for customised customer care platforms that make a difference. Combining data from your existing platforms we can compose (build) your own key account: – customer VIP management capability using Cyferd for forms processing and Qlik/ancoreShare for analytics and reporting.
Being able to manage your key accounts the way you want to
is more important today than ever before.
Call us or come to our customer day to find out more.
Our new strategic alliance – ancoreSoft, and Qlik Cloud migrations
Differentia Consulting met the team from ancoreSoft at Qlik Connect 2023 and they presented at our Qlik Customer Day in Reading last November. Since then, we have aligned and signed a global agreement to offer anocoreSoft products to Qlik customers that require them.
To leverage this relationship, we have been on a mission to understand the true value proposition to the Qlik customer base. This has been identified as being the golden-ticket or catalyst to enable the migration to Qlik Cloud. The problem that it solves is where customers are invested in reporting and need capability to be matched in Qlik Cloud before they can migrate to it. With ancoreShare they can. This means that not only can on-premises reporting be stopped, and cost savings made, but also the Qlik analytics architecture needed to support it, resulting in significant savings. Coupled with enhanced functionality; including integration to: Power Automate and WhatsApp ancoreShare can deliver.
As a result of this partnership we are working with Qlik customers across the globe to help them migrate to Qlik Cloud. Spreading the name of Differentia Consulting and ancoreShare.
Regarding Qlik Cloud, Differentia Consulting is helping many of its clients Migrate to Qlik Cloud and as such have gained significant expertise to become a truly trusted advisor on the subject. We published an article on the tools required to port to Qlik Cloud and this includes ancoreShare as well as our Harmony (Qlik Management) and Symphony (Qlik task chaining) Cyferd applications.
Adoption of Qlik Cloud is gaining momentum as it enables our clients to do more for less (which we call Lean IT). Qlik’s latest messaging is to encourage cloud adoption but recognise that for some a hybrid model is more appropriate and as such has relaxed timelines on migration. currently offering dual use capability for those that need more time to migrate. Please discuss with your account team.
Harmony for Qlik and DC Messenger
You might have heard about our new Cyferd based offerings Harmony for Qlik and DC messenger. Now see what they can do first-hand.
Here’s a demo where Hamza will quickly showcase Harmony for Qlik’s capabilities and how it seamlessly integrates with the Cyferd Platform to give Qlik admins more speed and control over their Qlik estate than ever before.
See Katelin demo how DC Messenger allows users to send messages and correspond via Meta through Cyferd (in this demonstration, WhatsApp). See how AI messages and alerts are not limited to tickets and emails, Cyferd can send real world, actionable messages to anyone and at any time.
Qlik News
Whilst there has already been a lot mentioned above about Qlik, strategically, we are pleased to share some of the more specific items that have helped make a difference.
Qlik Connect: Differentia Consulting exhibited with ancoreSoft
Differentia Consulting was delighted to exhibit at Qlik Connect with its strategic partner ancoreSoft.
The Differentia Consulting team had many conversations (200+) around reporting challenges with Qlik Cloud and client managed environments. We were delighted to demonstrate how these difficulties could be solved with #ancoreShare.
Key takeaways from Qlik Connect
Qlik Connect 2024, described by the team as the best Qlik event in recent times. The excitement for the product felt nostalgic just like in the early days of Qlik.
Qlik Connect 2024: We might just be looking at a Qlik renAIssance.
There was a strong international attendance with a focus on Qlik Answers and Qlik Talend Cloud integration. This included a new Qlik Cloud data integration solution, now unveiled. Qlik Stitch (Cloud ELT) will play an important role too.
As Adrian Parker commented:
“The point of everything we do with data integration is to deliver outcomes. Specifically, these outcomes need to be one of two things:
One is the ability to know what data you’ve got, in the form of a catalogue.
And second is the ability to orchestrate the management of data through your organisation for whatever your business requirements are.”
There are also key questions to ask of your data:
What’s in my data? What’s not there? What opportunities lie in my data? How do I protect my data as a valuable asset?
A new learning portal for learning analytics, data integration; Talend Cloud was also announced. The best part is, it will all be in one place…
For Differentia Consulting, an observation was that when conversations about Data Glossaries start, so should planning for data governance. We understand that this can be overwhelming, but we are here to help.
It was noted that there were cost savings when using Qlik that attendees were not taking full advantage of. From the feedback we received, many Qlik customers were unsure or not ready to migrate to Qlik Cloud. Qlik’s new dual use models should ease these concerns.
Additionally, the Differentia Consulting team present at Qlik Connect each passed the latest Qlik certifications at the event with flying colours (although it’s been said that ”Sean aced two”).
See keynote and other sessions from Qlik Connect 2024 here:
Qlik Connect On-Demand: Opportunity starts today (email address required)
Events
Qlik Customer Day November 2024 – call for speakers
Differentia Consulting will be hosting its annual customer day on the 26th November 2024. You can register and get a flavour for the day here.
The theme for the day will be ‘Cloud Control’, how to embrace AI (Qlik Answers) including for the non-initiated, and how to extend your current capabilities with Qlik Cloud (including reporting). As well as our brilliant customer sessions and guest speakers and Qlik tips and tricks.
Please contact Matt Parker, at [email protected] if you would like to speak, and to share your Qlik story.
Networking Opportunities
Differentia Consulting strives to encourage a supportive Qlik Community where we can share and support one another. Whether this is through events or direct introductions, please contact our Head of Customer Care to learn more: Mari Vartiainen, [email protected]
Social Media
To stay up to date with Differentia Consulting news, please subscribe to our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@differentia.consulting – we add new videos weekly and have split the content into meaningful playlists.
You can subscribe to Stuart Wannop’s playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5AaToO54hqZCIywjNTOBkk5LxCqWrlG4 for video content about Qlik Sense SaaS news, as well as analytics for sports.
https://www.differentia.consulting/feed/ (RSS feed)
Recommended LinkedIn groups
Qlik Application Platform Global User Group – https://www.linkedin.com/groups/72977/
With over 41,000 members, this independent worldwide group was created to help members connect with other Qlik professionals.
Qlik Application Platform Global UK User Group – https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1882895/
An independent UK User Group, for Qlik customers, partners, consultants and users, and those interested in the Qlik analytics platform product set.
Qlik and SAP – https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1891998/
This SAP & Qlik group is a place to share, learn, and network. Discussions can cover all aspects of SAP and Qlik QDI, and Qlik QDA platforms.
Recommended Qlik Community feeds
Qlik has consolidated much of its information, including self-service support information to the https://community.qlik.com site and we’d recommend that you subscribe to some of their feeds – in particular the Support Updates Blog.
Contact us
You can reach Differentia Consulting on the contact details below:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +44 (0) 1494 622600
WhatsApp: +44 (0) 7534 491 609 (Sales & Marketing enquiries & only)
Web: www.differentia.consulting
Your New Contacts and Contact Updates
Please tell us if you have changes with regards to the following contacts that we need to retain to do business:
– Primary point(s) of contact – you/your Qlik Champion(s)
– Support contact(s) including point of escalation, and any planned email domain changes
– Training contact(s)
– Development contact(s)
– DPO/CISO (Needed for DPIA need assessments)
– Purchasing contact or department email address to send quotes/tender responses etc to
– Accounting contact or department email address to send invoices etc to
– Maintenance contact(s)
– Software subscriptions contact(s) – for renewals processing
– Other relevant contacts you would like us to contact or have on file e.g., your line manager to contact in your absence.
Closing
We sincerely hope that the summer Differentia Consulting Newsletter 2024 has been insightful regarding utilising AI, and planning your VIP strategy and compliance for 2024. If you have any feedback, or would like to know more about a particular topic, please contact us at [email protected]
Stay smart, be smarter.
