A Decade of Data: Our Journey with Klipfolio

28 February 2024 | 3 minutes of reading time

Introduction

Ten years ago, I embarked on a partnership with Klipfolio. A journey that would eventually lead to the birth of i-spark, which started as a spin-off dedicated to designing and implementing Klipfolio Dashboards. As we celebrate a decade of this partnership, I'm reflecting on the growth, challenges, and triumphs we've experienced together.

The Beginning and Evolution

Our journey started when I first got interested in APIs. At the time, I had experience in working with databases, but not so much with APIs. Klipfolio made it easy for me to start working with data in new ways.

At that time, Klipfolio provided the stepping stone to start working with API-data. Now, our team uses APIs all the time to deliver better data solutions to our clients.

Solving Real Problems

We've successfully created many dashboards for different clients. These clients include digital agencies who develop Klipfolio dashboards for their clients and  companies looking for a good solution for their own reporting requirements.

A particularly satisfying result for us was using Klipfolio for reporting out of SAP Business One. Reporting on SAP Business One is usually a cumbersome process. But we managed to make it a lot easier, leading to a much faster delivery.

Challenges, Innovations, and Realistic Perspectives

When I started working with Klipfolio 10 years ago, I was already an experienced data analyst, familiar with SQL among other analysis tools, and I thought mastering this new dashboarding tool would be straightforward. However, I can now say that I underestimated the learning curve. Klipfolio is a fantastic tool, but it indeed takes time to truly become proficient. I’ve realized this through my own experience and have seen it echoed among my peers. So, if you’re reading this and find yourself stuck, please don’t worry. You are certainly not alone.

Another important aspect to mention is that Klipfolio has limits for the size of data sources. To navigate these, we embraced creativity, which not only demonstrated Klipfolio's versatility but also our commitment to fully utilize data visualization tools.

Even though Klipfolio serves as a great starting point, we've seen a natural progression. Some clients, after starting with Klipfolio for its user-friendly setup, have explored more complex tools like Looker as their needs grew. This transition reflects the diverse requirements of our clients and Klipfolio's role in their data journey.

This shift highlights the varied needs across the business intelligence (BI) spectrum. Klipfolio Klips stands out as an excellent choice for those just starting with BI tools, thanks to its great value for money. Additionally, Klipfolio Powermetrics is particularly powerful, offering comprehensive data visualization that goes beyond a starter product.

A Personal Connection and Looking Ahead

Our work with Klipfolio has been about more than just technology. It has been a journey where we've grown, learned, and worked towards common goals. We truly value the connections we've made.

Looking ahead, we're excited about new developments in data management, especially the use of the dbt semantic layer, which promises to enhance our data strategies. Equally, Klipfolio's investment in Metric HQ, a tool providing clear definitions for common dashboard metrics, underlines their commitment to data clarity and user support. These initiatives make us optimistic about our future with Klipfolio, ready to embrace the advancements the next decade brings.

Conclusion

Looking back on ten years with Klipfolio, I'm thankful for everything we've done together and excited about the future. Our work together has changed as the world of data and how we show it has evolved. We've always focused on doing our best and being innovative. Here's to another decade of making data more accessible, insightful, and actionable together.