Choosing InetSoft StyleBI Over QlikView-QlikTech

Differentiating Features

Enterprise Data Mashup - QlikView requires an ETL and database approach. InetSoft’s StyleBI is built upon an enterprise data mashup platform.  Enterprise data mashup refers to the ability to pull source data from any location and in almost any format and mash it up on the fly for dynamic information requests. The result is a structured virtual data model that consists of reusable data blocks that can be queried in real-time for presentation in StyleBI dashboards and reports, or used by 3rd party applications.

Data Connectivity - QlikView has out-of-the-box connection capabilities for data sources that adhere to ODBC and XML standards, as well as Excel.  InetSoft is able to connect to all of the aforementioned data sources and also supports JDBC, MOLAP (XMLA), POJO, text, Web Services (SOAP), and SAP.  Additionally, InetSoft’s data modeling features provide a toolkit for visually building data models and data queries to extract information from diverse data sources.

Open Standards - QlikView is Windows centric and can only be run on Microsoft Windows operating systems.  InetSoft utilizes open industry standards across its entire architecture deployments and can be run on any J2EE-compliant operating system, e.g. Windows (NT, 2000, 2003, XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10), Linux, Solaris, HP Unix, or Mac OS running JVM 1.6 or higher.  Since InetSoft is able to work within your existing infrastructure, upfront costs are contained. 

Security Authorization & Authentication - QlikView relies on MS Active Directory and NTLM for security providers. InetSoft seamlessly integrates with all security authorization and authentication products.  It also provides a default security provider to handle authentication, creation of users/groups/roles, and the storage of component permissions.

Database Writeback - InetSoft supports data input and database write-back capabilities - also known as full-lifecycle BI – enabling end-users to interact with dashboards/reports - by entering quotes, approving requests, adjusting forecasts, adding comments, uploading photos, scanning products, and more. QlikView has no data input and database write-back capabilities.

Enterprise Scalability - Thanks to its framework-based architecture InetSoft is massively scalable and equally as powerful within very small (5 users) to very large (1000’s of users) environments where data is multi-formatted, queried from different locations, or new data sources are regularly added. QlikView is powerful in small silo’d environments where the data is nicely structured in one location.

Server Functions - Since InetSoft operates in a zero-client web browser environment InetSoft’s server assumes the server-side responsibility for all InetSoft features including data mashup design, dashboard/report design and dashboard/report usage. It can also be clustered as required. QlikView’s server is designed solely for dashboard usage and all other functions need to be performed via a Windows desktop tool.

Mapping Capabilities - InetSoft has advanced mapping capabilities that allow interactive dashboards to display continuous measures such as population or sales volume by using color ranges across any geographically defined boundary on the local, state and national levels, and even custom-defined areas such as sales regions or political districts. QlikView has no built-in mapping capabilities.

Scheduling & Alerting - InetSoft features a state-of-the-art scheduling and alerting framework that goes beyond traditional business intelligence in order to provide common scheduled actions and alerting to end users via dashboards, SMS, e-mail or any other alerting mechanism when predefined thresholds are breached. QlikView has no in-built scheduling or alerting features.

Semantic Layer - QlikView offers limited metadata management. The absence of this layer requires organizations to invest additional resources into metadata management to create definitions, calculations, and dimensions for cross-functional analysis.  InetSoft provides out-of-the-box data modeling capabilities that allow you to expose business data to report designers and end users in a way that facilitates access to data and is easy for them to understand and use.

What Are Some Reasons to Migrate from Qlik to InetSoft's StyleBI?

1. Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

• Affordable Licensing: InetSoft offers more flexible and cost-effective licensing models compared to Qlik, especially for embedding and OEM use.
• Lower Infrastructure Costs: StyleBI can be deployed in lightweight environments, reducing server and cloud costs.
• Minimal Maintenance Overhead: StyleBI’s microservice-based architecture simplifies updates and reduces IT support needs.

2. Superior Embeddability and White Labeling

• Designed for OEMs and SaaS Vendors: StyleBI is purpose-built for embedding into third-party platforms, with deep integration and customization options.
• Full UI Customization: Unlike Qlik, InetSoft allows complete white labeling — from logo to layout and CSS-level theming.
• REST APIs and JavaScript SDKs: Full control for developers to embed, automate, and control visualizations within any app.

3. Microservice Architecture

• Containerized and Cloud-Native: InetSoft’s StyleBI is built for modern DevOps pipelines and container orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes).
• Scalability and Resilience: Each service can scale independently, unlike Qlik’s more monolithic architecture.

4. Flexible Data Architecture

• Real-Time and Federated Queries: Access live data without preloading — great for operational dashboards.
• In-Memory and Hybrid Options: Use both in-memory datasets and direct connections to operational systems.
• Custom Data Mashups: Combine disparate data sources without complex ETL pipelines.

5. Powerful Visualizations Without Lock-In

• Open Standards: InetSoft uses open standards like XML and JSON, making your investment portable.
• Advanced Charts Built-In: Bullet charts, heat maps, scatter plots, and other advanced visualizations are native.
• No Proprietary Lock-In: Unlike Qlik’s proprietary QVD/QVF formats, StyleBI’s data models are more interoperable.

6. Interactive Dashboards for Business and IT Users

• Unified Tool for All Roles: No need to maintain separate tools for developers and business users.
• Self-Service Capabilities: Business users can create and modify dashboards without IT dependency.
• Low-Code Customization: StyleBI allows for rich interactivity through expressions and scripting with minimal coding.

7. More Transparent Pricing and Licensing

• No Hidden Costs: InetSoft provides straightforward pricing without surprise fees for users, connectors, or features.
• Unlimited Users Option: Available flat-rate licensing supports large deployments affordably.

8. Proven Track Record with Complex Applications

• Used in Regulated Industries: InetSoft supports mission-critical dashboards in finance, healthcare, and government.
• Service-Level Management Dashboards: Especially strong in operational and SLA-focused environments.

9. Robust Security Model

• Granular Access Controls: Row-level, column-level, and object-level security.
• Integration with Identity Providers: Supports SSO, LDAP, OAuth2, SAML, and custom auth methods.

10. Faster Time to Market for Embedded Solutions

• Quick Setup: Microservice deployment, Docker images, and native REST APIs accelerate embedding and iteration.
• Template-Based Development: Build once, reuse across apps and customers.

Summary

While Qlik is a strong platform with rich features, InetSoft StyleBI appeals to organizations needing:

• Seamless embedding and white labeling
• Lower cost and lighter deployment
• Real-time operational dashboards
• Microservice deployment
• Open standards and flexible data integration