Build a better dashboard...

I was speaking with a client yesterday, and he was asking about how they could start to use their BusinessObjects Edge deployment to deliver dashboards. This is generally best done using Xcelsius (though not exclusively). Here are a few tips:

• Xcelsius is a great tool for developing visually appealing and easily understandable data presentations, and it's pretty easy to use. If you have a 5 CAL license for Edge, you already own one Xcelsius designer license for use in that environment. (And if you didn't see my recent LinkedIn post SAP was giving away licenses for Xcelsius Present - the free version only works with Excel data sources, but it's a great place to begin learning Xcelsius)
• Xcelsius can use a few different data sources in an Edge deployment - Live Office, Query as a Web Service, and a custom Web Service. Each have their own pros & cons:
• Live Office  - Create a report using Crystal or Webi that gives you the data you want to visualize; then put Xcelsius in front of it. It's great when you need to present summarized data at a level that doesn't already exist in the data source. Be careful about performance of the report though - you may want to consider scheduling it.
• Query as a Web Service - QaaWS allows you to connect directly to a Universe to draw data into a report. It's fast and pretty simple to use, but it doesn't allow much flexibility - no ability to create summaries, so sometimes work needs to be done in Excel.
• Custom Web Service - A custom web service allows you to create the exact data source that you need, which is a big plus. On the other hand, you also need the technical skill to create the web service, so that's it's downfall. Can be great if you've got the skills, but most of our clients don't bother.
• Want to do some fancy things with Xcelsius? Her are a few tips
• G-Maps Plug-In from Centigon - Ryan Goodman's company has created a really neat tool to integrate Google Maps with Xcelsius visuals. It's not free, but if mapping is key to your requirements, it's worth a look.
• Xcomponents - Donald MacCormack originally made these Xcelsius Add-ins available (for free), adding a few new Xcelsius visuals to the mix. Some neat stuff here.
• XWIS from Antivia - Antivia has been doing great add-ons for BOBJ products for years, and XWIS is another great addition. Hard to explain well, but take a look at their video demo.
• Remember that you can now put Xcelsius content into Crystal Reports - we'll be testing it soon to verify that this now allows scheduled deliver of dashboards (by cheating - hide the Crystal Report detail and just show the Xcelsius widget)
• Keep in mind that a dashboard is NOT JUST about gauges and charts - the "Flashy" stuff! Sometimes a well designed report is a great way to present information; sometimes a simple chart works too. Pick the best tool for your requirement, not just the one closest at hand.
• And keep in mind that in an Edge dashboard, you can now link various pieces together for great interactivity. For example, clicking on an Xcelsius map could cause a Crystal Report, a crosstab, and a line chart all to update to reflect the customers on the map. Really cool stuff - requires some planning, but can deliver great benefit.

Anyway, hope that give you some ideas. If you have questions, feel free to contact me by email or phone.

jpayton@dynamicintelligence.ca
(519)745-0722 x111

Are you ready for BI? Test the waters first.

I noticed that a lot of the work we have done over the past few years has not necessarily been with a BI platform, such as BusinessObjectsd Edge. For sure Edge offers a whack of functionality for a great price, but in reality, especially in the SMB space, not everyone can afford it. Here are a few ways you can do Business Intelligence without buying a platform:

• Leverage the power of your database engine - most SMBs, somewhere in their business are using a SQL database of some sort. (If it happens to be Microsoft SQL, you're in great shape!) With a modest amount of technical skill, it is possible to use that platform to bring shape to your information. Some of our clients have created data mats using SQL, and we've helped some create multi-company consolidations. Are they as comprehensive and robust as they would be with a sophisticated ETL (Extract-Transform-Load) tool? No, but they're pretty darn reliable, and the cost of deploying and maintaining them was really quite modest - especially when you think of the value achieve.
  


• Use the Force! - I mean, "Use the Power"... of the technologies you already own. Let's face it - we both know you're going to use Excel. It's hard to deny it is a great tool for manipulating data, and with lots of ERP systems providing export abilities, it can be quite easy to get to raw data. Keep in mind when working with Excel that you are now disconnected from the data source, and this is where errors start to occur!!! I'm not saying don't do it, but do it with the knowledge that there is risk involved here.
  


• Let's be Crystal clear! - When we talk about the technologies you already have, I'm thinking you may/probably already have at least one license for Crystal Reports Designer. Now Crystal is not an end-user tool, and does require some understanding of data structures and links. But Crystal is by far the best tool I can think of for designing great-looking reports. And if you give people access to the Crystal Reports Viewer, they can review a report created for them, whether they're on a PC or Mac.
  


• Online Tools - While we're talking about Crystal Reports, did you know you can get a FREE five user start access to crystalreports.com? So with one person creating reports, five others can login securely and view them in a Browser. And like I said - it's FREE! It's one of the best ways I can think of to start testing the waters of Business Intelligence. Use it to gauge your readiness.
  

Hopefully that helps give you some ideas about how to move slowly towards integrating Business Intelligence into your operations. When computerized accounting systems first started to become available, many businesses were reluctant to jump on board because of the large up-front investment. Some tested spreadsheet programs (remember SuperCalc?), using it as an alternative, or as a way of getting some experience. The same kind of path is available for Business Intelligence. And I believe that in the next few years, Business Intelligence can have as profound an impact on your business as computerized accounting did ten or fifteen years ago.

Regards,

Jim