How to Make a Sankey Diagram Circular ?

Sankey diagrams are a great tool for visualizing the flow of data or resources between different stages of a process. Typically, they are represented in a linear form, where the flow proceeds from left to right or top to bottom. However, in some cases, a circular layout may be more appropriate. This article will explore the particularities of circular Sankey diagrams, why they are not preferable for customer journey analysis, and how to create them using an online tool called SankeyJourney.

Circular Sankey Diagrams: What Are They?

Circular Sankey diagrams are a unique variation of traditional Sankey diagrams, which are commonly used to visualize the flow of data or resources between different stages of a process. While traditional Sankey diagrams flow linearly from left to right or top to bottom, circular Sankey diagrams follow a circular path. This allows the flow of data or resources to be represented as a continuous loop, which can be helpful in illustrating cyclical processes or emphasizing the interconnectivity between different stages of a process. Circular Sankey diagrams can also be used to create aesthetically pleasing visualizations, as the circular flow can be more visually engaging than a traditional linear layout. Overall, circular Sankey diagrams are a useful tool for certain types of data visualizations and can help to communicate complex processes in a clear and effective manner.

When are they used ?

Circular flow graphs are useful in some context, and not suited in others. 

Here are some examples of situations in which circular Sankey diagrams are commonly used:

1. Natural ecosystems: Circular Sankey diagrams can be used to illustrate the flow of energy and nutrients between different components of an ecosystem, such as plants, animals, and soil.
2. Power generation: Circular Sankey diagrams can be used to show the flow of energy between different sources, such as coal, gas, wind, and solar, as well as the different stages of energy production, such as generation, transmission, and distribution.
3. Water management: Circular Sankey diagrams can be used to show the flow of water between different components of a water management system, such as reservoirs, treatment plants, and distribution networks.
4. Financial transactions: Circular Sankey diagrams can be used to illustrate the flow of money between different accounts, such as savings accounts, checking accounts, and investment accounts.
5. Industrial processes: Circular Sankey diagrams can be used to show the flow of materials and energy between different stages of an industrial process, such as manufacturing, assembly, and distribution.

Overall, circular Sankey diagrams can be useful in any situation where there is a cyclical process or a need to emphasize the interconnectivity between different stages of a process.

Why Circular Sankey Diagrams are Not Preferred for Customer Journey Analysis

When it comes to customer journey analysis, circular Sankey diagrams are generally not preferred. This is because they can create loops that do not represent actual customer behavior. For example, a customer may not continue to cycle through the same stages repeatedly, as this would indicate an inefficient or frustrating experience. Additionally, loops can create confusion when interpreting the data, making it harder to identify the most critical stages of the customer journey.

Looping in SankeyJourney

SankeyJourney is an online tool that allows you to create both linear and circular Sankey diagrams.

In the specific context of customer journey analysis, it handles cycles in a very clever way.

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The looping feature is an essential tool for customer journey analysis, allowing you to consider successive events as one and only. For example, if a user triggers the Feed_scroll event multiple times, the looping feature allows you to group all these events into one Feed_scroll event. This simplification of the data can help to clean up redundancies and discover new patterns in the customer's journey. By using SankeyJourney, you can easily create circular Sankey diagrams and experiment with different layouts and designs to find the most effective way to visualize your data.

Conclusion

Circular Sankey diagrams are an effective way to represent cyclical processes or emphasize interconnectivity between different stages of a process. However, they are generally not preferred for customer journey analysis, as they can create loops that do not reflect actual customer behavior. By using SankeyJourney and its looping feature, you can clean up redundancies and discover new patterns in the customer's journey, making it easier to identify the most critical stages of the process. Whether you choose to use a linear or circular Sankey diagram, the important thing is to find a way to visualize your data that effectively communicates the information you want to convey.