The generation of readable on-demand reports is quite the challenge nowadays, as users from different domains have access to many data sources. One of the major advantages of the Qlik Sense Business Intelligence solution is Qlik NPrinting, which extends the standard capabilities of BI tools with automated reporting and notifications. If you are interested in streamlining analytics and reporting with solutions characterized by high scalability, read the article and explore the capabilities of NPrinting for Qlik Sense.
What is Qlik Sense Enterprise?
Qlik Sense is a modern data analytics and visualization platform that allows users to explore, analyze, and share data intuitively and interactively. The primary goal of Business Intelligence tools is to shift the focus from preparing reports (often requiring time-consuming exports from multiple systems, then combining and aggregating them, and finally preparing visualizations) to using this data for daily operations. This enables employees at all levels to make more accurate decisions based on current data rather than intuition.
Also read:
- Use data to make informed decisions. Understanding the Importance of Data-Driven Decision Making
- Self-service BI: What it is? Applications, Benefits, Risks, and Future with AI
- 5 of the most popular Business Intelligence tools
What is Qlik NPrinting?
In a standard Business Intelligence approach, users must log into the platform and open a specific dashboard to analyze the data contained therein.
Qlik NPrinting, however, enables automated reporting that goes beyond this – users do not need to check the dashboard themselves (though this is still an option for a broader context).
Understanding the basics of Qlik Sense NPrinting
Instead, users can receive a predefined report after each data reload or at a fixed time. This represents a further step in simplifying reporting and report distribution – from creating reports “manually” without BI tools, to a dashboard where data reloads cyclically but must be opened to view, to Qlik NPrinting, where the report is automatically distributed to a defined group of recipients, e.g., via email or the NewsStand portal. Qlik’s NewsStand platform serves to store up-to-date reports. This portal grants users the ability to preview and download reports and request automated updates.
Key features and functionalities of Qlik NPrinting
Qlik NPrinting is an add-on to Qlik Sense that allows the creation of a report template, which is then distributed to a defined group of recipients. This requires the following steps:
- connecting to the application that will be the data source for the report,
- preparing filters (if we want to send a report only from a specific region/data subset),
- conditions (if we want the report to be sent only when a specific condition is met),
- the report itself.
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Schedule a meetingFormats for Qlik NPrinting reports
Qlik NPrinting enables report generation in several formats:
- Excel
- HTML
- PowerPoint
- Qlik Entity
- Word
- Pixel Perfect
After loading the data and setting the scheduler, the created template is then attached to an email or placed on the NewsStand platform.
Benefits of Qlik NPrinting
Multiple formats
Qlik NPrinting offers a wide range of report formats, allowing for easy integration with other business tools tailoring reports to the specific needs of recipients. For example, financial reports can be generated in Excel for further analysis and data manipulation, while presentation reports can be created in PDF format for readability and a professional appearance.
Providing the right reports to the right people
Qlik NPrinting offers extensive report customization capabilities. Users can tailor reports to specific needs using templates and scripts. Personalization allows for the creation of reports that precisely meet the recipients’ requirements, containing only the information relevant to them. For instance, managers can receive reports summarizing key performance indicators (KPIs), while analysts can receive more detailed reports with raw data for further analysis.
Great-looking reports with NPrinting reporting capabilities
Qlik NPrinting enables users to create visually attractive reports based on Qlik data. Such appealing visualizations can be created and distributed effectively in an automated manner.
Not only can a user define an email message using the built-in editor, which allows the use of HTML tags, and add variables directly from Qlik (such as email addresses or a list of recipients that is dynamically updated with each data model refresh), but also, for example, attach an entire chart from the dashboard (as in the Supplier Performance Reporting paragraph). Additionally, they can format the attachment suitably – e.g., an .xlsx file – by appropriately coloring the columns:
Or by attaching a sheet with data to the output and an additional pivot table that will contain a summary of the data:
Of course, there is nothing to prevent formatting the data to meet the company’s internal standards regarding report layout (adding an image with the company logo, appropriate font and size, colors, etc.).
Qlik NPrinting – sample Business Intelligence use cases
Now that we know the basic capabilities in terms of reporting and distribution, it’s time to move on to specific applications made possible by the NPrinting engine.
Example 1: Automating sales reporting
Let’s imagine that every week we need to create a sales breakdown for individual salespeople and send such a report to each salesperson. Nothing could be simpler. Using Qlik NPrinting, we connect to the sales dashboard and configure the report with an attachment in the form of an Excel/PDF/HTML file containing the data snapshot. Additionally, we can fully customize the message, attach any graphics (or a chart directly from the dashboard), and also pull the current list of salespeople directly from Qlik using a variable.
The report can also be customized – salespeople from a given region can receive only the data relevant to them. Thus, Qlik NPrinting will generate as many messages as there are defined regions, the same number of attachments, schedule reports, and send them accordingly. It is as simple as that. This way, we eliminate the need for the manual preparation of weekly summaries and distribution to a specific group of recipients.
Example 2: Automatic notification system
Another interesting use case for Qlik NPrinting is an automatic notification system. Let’s now imagine that we have a dashboard collecting data on the current state of production, refreshed every hour. If the employee responsible for production metrics had to check it every hour, it would be inefficient and bear the risk of error. This is another excellent example of the application of Qlik NPrinting, saving time by creating a notification that will be generated only if a predefined metric drops below a certain level. In our example, the user responsible for monitoring the metrics will get an automatic notification as soon as one of the metrics falls below the set threshold.
Such a solution optimizes the employee’s time and, most importantly, shortens the time between the event, reading data from the dashboard, and taking action. It also reduces the risk of missing an event, as we are notified each time it occurs (and the recipient group can be broader than one person).
Example 3: Supplier performance reporting
Qlik NPrinting can also be used to distribute content outside the organization. Let’s say that as a manufacturing company, we evaluate our suppliers quarterly in an automated manner (based on data on delivery timeliness, quality, packaging errors, etc.). Without Qlik NPrinting, it would be necessary to manually export this data from the dashboard or have an external IT system that would pull it from the ERP system, calculate it, and send it to recipients. However, using the power of this Qlik Sense add-on, it is possible to quickly create a report, define filters, and automatically inform suppliers of their results each quarter.
Qlik Sense and QlikView NPrinting alternatives
Qlik NPrinting is not the only tool that extends the functionality of Qlik. One of the major advantages of the Qlik Sense environment is its ability to allow the community to create extensions and add-ons, making it possible to find alternatives for every solution – and this is no exception.
Mail & Deploy
One of the alternative solutions that can compete with Qlik NPrinting is Mail & Deploy, which was created by members of the Qlik community and later commercialized. This add-on has similar options to the product endorsed by Qlik, allowing for the creation of reports in various formats, sending notifications, and managing them in an administrative panel.
Qlik Cloud
When it comes to Qlik Cloud, the equivalent of Qlik NPrinting is Qlik Reporting. This tool is the successor to NPrinting. In the case of migration from an on-premises version to the cloud, it is possible to import reports from NPrinting, adapted to function in a cloud environment.Also read: Qlik Talend
Summary
Qlik NPrinting is a powerful tool that brings significant benefits to companies through advanced report generation capabilities, process automation, and flexible distribution options. Thanks to integration with the QlikView and Qlik Sense platforms, Qlik NPrinting enables the creation of accurate, personalized reports that support decision-making processes and increase operational efficiency.
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A certified Qlik Sense consultant with over 6 years of professional experience with Qlik products (both as a designer and developer), and an enthusiast of effective data visualization and out-of-the-box solutions. During the implementation of many Qlik Sense projects, he has gained extensive experience in various business areas. Privately, he’s a lover of the Podlachian dialect and bicycle trips.