Qlik Connect 2025
– A journey through Data, AI, and a dash of Disney magic –
Written by: Alex Booth, Business Development Manager at Climber
Attending Qlik Connect 2025 in Orlando felt a bit like stepping into the future; one where data talks back, automations have personality, and keynote speakers casually include Olympic champions! Over three packed days, I joined Qlik, our partners, customers, and data MVPs from around the world, exploring Qlik’s latest innovations in analytics, AI, and, cloud. And yes, we finished off by flying on the back of a Banshee, more on that later.
Here’s a recap of my own experience, key insights, and what all this means for our customers.
Day 1 – Partner Day: Collaboration on another level
The event kicked off with a celebration of Qlik’s partner ecosystem. The Partner Day was all about recognition, enablement, and what comes next for those of us working closely with Qlik to deliver customer value.
There was a clear focus on making it easier for partners to engage, co-market, and co-innovate. Enhancements to the partner portal, increased access to Qlik, and more structured support around go-to-market motions were all highlighted.
What really caught my attention was the early glimpse into Qlik’s Agentic AI framework offering a future where automation agents do more than alert you; they take intelligent action. This isn’t just dashboards with some flair, it’s about embedding intelligence into business processes.
Day 2 – Innovation at Speed: AI, Cloud, and Customer Impact
The general sessions opened with a high-energy keynote from Qlik CEO Mike Capone, laying out Qlik’s direction. AI isn’t coming, it’s already here. Changing how we interact with our data.
A major announcement was Qlik Answers 2.0, which now leverages both structured and unstructured data sources. It means users can engage with analytics in plain language and get richer, context-aware responses. Ask a question, and instead of just throwing a chart at you, it explains why the data matters.
I also sat in on sessions around cloud migration strategy, an area that remains top of mind for many of our clients. Qlik’s approach is increasingly frictionless, with improved tooling and reference architectures to guide customers on their cloud journey. Whether you’re hybrid or all-in on the cloud, Qlik’s message is clear; with our partners we’ll meet you where you are.
A powerful panel – Women who Qlik
A standout moment was the “Women Who Qlik” panel, featuring an amazing group of women sharing how they got into data, their biggest challenges, and what keeps them motivated. It wasn’t just insightful, it was authentic and energising.
It’s these human stories that remind us data is about people first. Technology’s great, but it’s the diversity of thought, experience, and leadership that drives real innovation.
Day 3 – Customer Stories, Katie Ledecky, and flying through Pandora
The final day centered around customer success. We heard real stories of organisations using Qlik to drive operational excellence, fuel innovation, and navigating complexity. These case studies showed the versatility of Qlik across industries, from manufacturing and retail to healthcare and logistics.
Then came an unforgettable keynote from Katie Ledecky, 9x Olympic gold medalist and advocate for STEM education. Her story of discipline, resilience, goal setting, and preparation struck a chord. Success, in data or in swimming, requires focus, training, and the right team behind you. She even broke her own world record 12 days before joining us at Connect!
The conference wrapped up in style with an appreciation night at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. We explored the bio-luminescent world of Pandora, soared through the skies on a simulated Banshee (more immersive than it sounds!), and took on Expedition Everest not once, not twice, but three times. Who says techies don’t know how to have fun?
Key Takeaways for our customers
1. Smarter, more contextual AI with Qlik Answers 2.0
Qlik’s AI now understands both structured and unstructured data, enabling faster and more meaningful insights. This helps users across the business, from analysts to execs, make better decisions, much faster. With natural language querying and context-aware responses, it turns everyday questions into actionable answers — no deep technical expertise required.
2. Agentic AI: Automating actions, not just insights
Qlik’s new Agentic AI framework goes beyond analysis, allowing you to embed automation agents that proactively act. Think of less manual intervention, more intelligent workflows. These agents can monitor conditions, trigger alerts, automate responses, and even initiate cross system interactions based on business logic, blurring the line between insight and execution. The focus isn’t solely on answering questions anymore; it’s about enabling systems to take informed, autonomous steps towards resolution or opportunity, at scale.
3. Frictionless Cloud Migration and GTM Support
Whether you’re migrating scripts, workloads, or adopting a cloud-first strategy, Qlik’s tools and partner support make the journey smoother, with an emphasis on security, scalability, and speed. Qlik has further strengthened this offering with a recent acquisition from Stretch Qonnect, now launched as the Qlik Analytics Migration Tool. This helps automate the migration of apps, data connections, and reports from QlikView, Qlik Sense, and NPrinting to Qlik Cloud.
4. Empowered Communities and Human Stories
From movements like Women Who Qlik, Qlik Luminaries, Partner Ambassadors, and customer-led success sessions, the power of community and shared learning is central to Qlik’s approach. It goes beyond the platform, it’s about the people using it.
Final Thoughts
Qlik Connect 2025 wasn’t only about showcasing new features. It was about direction, momentum, and shared purpose. As we continue helping our customers modernise data and analytics platforms, events like this confirm we’re aligned with our partners, who’s innovating at pace with the right strategic direction to support our customers.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? CONTACT US!
Alex Booth
Business Development Manager
alex.booth@climberbi.co.uk
+44 203 858 0668
James Sharp
UK Partner Managing Director
james.sharp@climberbi.co.uk
+44 203 858 0668
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