Welcome to the Data Visualisation
& Reporting Stream
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November, 2013 Birmingham
Creating a Pervasive BI Platform
with SAP BusinessObjects
Speaker: Kevin McManus
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• By consolidating reporting technology across applications a larger ROI can be achieved…
• By combining the benefits of a BICC, Data Warehousing, BI Platform and Adhoc Query to…
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Create a Common platform and standards for the creation and maintenance of reporting features that can be used acrossmultiple applications that need reporting
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Create value added ways for users to access, analyze, and interact with data using web based tools]
Introduction
19+ Years delivering BI solutions
Founder of LaunchWorks – SDK Solution provider
ASUG Central Texas SAP User Group BI Chair
ASUG Strategic SIG Chair
Roadmaps and Production Direction
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• You have a powerful reporting platform for creating reporting services that other web and mobile applications can tap into. • Many Fortune 500 companies are using the technique of an
Pervasive BI to integrate SAP BusinessObjects WebI and SAP Crystal Reports directly into the applications that end users need to report on.
• The flexibility of the universe and reports to connect to so many data sources make SAP BusinessObjects an excellent choice for connecting users to their data, no matter which application they are using.
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• Maintain a cohesive strategy by establishing
guidelines, standards and governance around
tool selection
• Reduce redundant effort/costs with new projects
by using a centralized set of technology and
services
• Reduce redundant effort/costs with new projects
• Reduce training costs with consistent User
Interfaces
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Architecture
Common Portal
ERP SFA HR / PM Ordering EIS
Pervasive BI Application
ODBC XML RDBMS Cubes DW Stored Procs
BI Platform
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The Data Warehouse Institute (TDWI)BI Maturity Model
Where are we?
Most organization’s IT have grown beyond running the company on
spreadsheets. The next challenge is moving the current BI strategy into an Adult level Enterprise Data Warehouse and Sage Level BI/Reporting Services .
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BI Platform
A platform supporting a layer of business logic on
top of one or more databases used for creation,
organization and sharing of canned reports, adhoc
reporting & dashboards
Reporting Tool
An application supporting reporting functionality
that is integrated into other applications to
support the needs of that application’s unique
requirements around operational and
management reports
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Adhoc Reporting
• Creation of new reports and queries where the tool, taking
instructions from the user, writes the query based on rules captured in the semantic layer
• How the query needs to join between tables, and which calculations to use in a formula, are designed into the semantic layer before
reports are created
• For example, the user is given control over the following features:
• Data Content, Report Layout, Query Filters, Prompts
Adhoc Query
• Creation of new results where the tool connects the user to the data source and allows the user to write the query from scratch
• How the query needs to join between tables, and which calculations to use in a formula, are written by the user
• The user is given control over the following features
• Tables, Joins, Database Columns, Query Filters
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Enterprise Reporting BUS
An enterprise reporting bus (ERB) is a reporting software architecture model used for designing and implementing the interaction and communication between software applications and reporting functionality.
Enterprise Reporting Portal
Also known as an enterprise information portal (EIP) or corporate
portal, is a framework for integrating information, people and
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Business Intelligence Competency Center (BICC)
A Business Intelligence Competency Center (BICC) is a cross-functional organizational team that has defined tasks,
roles, responsibilities and processes for supporting and
promoting the effective use of Business Intelligence (BI) across an organization
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Gartner BI Maturity Model
Source: Gartner (2008)
Are we here
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Shared Authorization Layer
Database, Active Directory, LDAP, SSO
Standardized User Interface
Report Lists, Report Menus, Integrated report calls, Scheduling
Standardized User Interaction Elements
Prompts, Parameters, Context
Report Execution
Initially – Crystal Reports
Future Potential – Web Intelligence, Dashboards, Analysis, etc
Output
Interactive Viewer, Email, Distribution, Export (PDF, XLS, CSV), Alerts
Best Practices
Authenticate & Authorize User Report List / Menu Prompts & Parameters Report Execution Report Output Interaction]
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Demo
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Your BI Platform already provides
1) SSO Authentication with AD and LDAP and SAP
2) Auditing
3) Report and Folder Security
4) Dynamic List of Values
5) Hierarchical and Cascading prompt support
6) Interactive Viewer that takes the query output and
provides
+ Grid View
+ Graph View
+ Column and sort control
+ User level Filters
Top 10 Features a Reporting Bus needs
….. that BOE has
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With an SDK based solution
7) Single click links to view / Print / Export reports and
access instances
8) Ability to access and embed report parts
+ For embedding into screens
9) User Controlled Prompt Sets
+ Gives ability to Save, Retrieve and Share
combinations of filter selections
10) Subscriptions to bursting publications
Top 10 Features a Reporting Bus needs
…..that BOE has
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• Data Availability
• Joining Data Sources
• Local Data Sources
• Ability to publish / share in an editable
format including viewing SQL and formulas
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Adhoc Query Feedback Loop
2) Source Identified 3) Attributes Defined 4) Query / Business Rule Developed 6) Results Published and Reviewed 7) EDW dimension attributes expanded 8) Training and Education on availability and use 5) Adhoc Need Met 1) Adhoc Need Identified
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Best Practices
Implement
Prepare communication of results of assessment to
key stakeholders Assist with implementation of recommendations as needed
Plan
Formulate plan for reaching future state Include applications, technology, and process components
Strategize Recommend technological changes Recommend process changes including governance
Establish guidelines for
tool selection and usage Present future state benefits
Assess State of Current Report Tools Report Types and Usage Functionality integrated into Applications Timeliness of
reports report creation Processes of
Skills being used for reporting
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Summary
Adhoc QueryBI Portal
Enterprise Reporting
Bus
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1) Establish a Business Intelligence Competency Center (BICC) that oversees the tool selection, design, and governance during delivery of new reporting projects
2) Support an Enterprise Data Warehouse
- accessed primarily by Web Intelligence for adhoc reporting - compliment with multi-source joining of data, dashboards and mobile
- enable evaluation of OLAP tool consolidation later
3) Establish and analyze reporting requirements through a standard set of tool selection criteria.
- Web Intelligence will access data in the Enterprise Data Warehouse for adhoc reporting.
