ProStix Business Intelligence (BI)

Level 1: Standard ProStix Reporting Modules

Level 2: NuVu Query, Dashboards and Reporting Database Level 3: Phocas BI Solution with predefined CUBES

Level 4: ComOps (Korellus) BI Solution with predefined reporting CUBES

O

O

ProStix operates on the Progress OpenEdge Relational Database which has a number of methods by which data can be accessed including a native SQL-92 engine. As such, most BI reporting solutions available in the market will operate with ProStix including popular solutions such as Crystal Reports, Yellowfin and many others.

If you are interested in

any of the solutions or

would simply like more

information on BI and

how it can benefit your

organisation please

contact Mark Stewart

[email protected]

WHAT’S NEXT

ProStix Business Intelligence (BI)

W

I

BI?

Business Intelligence (BI), according to Gartner, the global leader in technology research and IT services, is an umbrella term that includes the applications, infrastructure and tools, and best practices that enable access to and analysis of information to improve and optimize decisions and performance.

In basic terms Business intelligence (BI) simplifies information discovery and analysis, making it possible for decision-makers at all levels of an organization to more easily access, understand, analyse, collaborate and act on information, anytime and anywhere. With the changing business landscape more and more businesses are looking for ways to better improve sales, margin and inventory management; BI offers a framework by which data can be analysed and business decision taken with greater certainty.

BI solutions come in many forms and at many price brackets, each offering unique benefits and drawbacks.

This paper outlines the offerings available with the ProStix Enterprise application defining base benefits, limitations and cost indications.

Level 1 - Standard ProStix Reporting Modules

By direct definition the standard reports offered with ProStix are not a BI solution, however for many businesses they offer enough detail to make business decisions. The ProStix Reports include a variety of summarised and detail management reports across all business areas with many able to be output to CSV for direct manipulation within MS Excel and other spreadsheet programs.

B

:

 Lowest cost solution

 CSV output options for many reports

 No additional 3^rd party product knowledge or training requirements

 Fully integrated with the ProStix application

L

:

 Not a true BI solution

 Report details are static and difficult to alter

 Doesn’t allow manipulation of data or scenarios

 Reports are often lengthy and more operationally focused rather than designed for exception based reporting or decision making

Cost Indication License

$0 – included with ProStix application Options:

$2500 for Reporting Database Maintenance

$0 – included with ProStix application Services

Modification of standard reports may include additional development charges

Level 2 - NuVu Query, Dashboards and Reporting Database

NuVu has been a stable component of the ProStix application suite for over 7 years. Initially it was used to enhance the stationary formatting of ProStix to facilitate the removal of pre-printed stationary and move to laser forms and direct electronic transmission of reports results through email, fax and other means. NuVu Query was added to the product range around 4 years ago to supplement the existing ProStix reporting range, offer an “ad-hoc” reporting solution for customers and, with the introduction of Dashboards, enable a more simple and intuitive decision making solution. Combined with the ProStix Reporting Database (REDS) this is a viable BI solution for many businesses.

B

:

 Low cost solution

 Fully integrated with the ProStix application

 Many pre-packaged reports and dashboards available

 Limited training requirements for users and system administrators

 Ad-hoc reporting tool for creation of additional reports

 All reports can be output directly to MS Excel for further manipulation

 Drill-down available if designed into specific reports or dashboards

L

:

 Not a true BI solution

 Report details are static and difficult to alter

 Doesn’t allow manipulation of data or scenarios

 Reports are often lengthy and more operationally focused rather than designed for exception based reporting or decision making

Cost Indication License

$1250 for 5 users including Dashboards Options:

$2500 for Reporting Database

$1000 for NuVu Query Designer to generate customised reports Maintenance

$160 per annum for 5 users including Dashboards Services

First time installation costs range from $540 - $1200 depending on products and query requirements

Note: Additional implementation services maybe required

Level 3 - Phocas BI Solution

Sterland has recently signed a reseller agreement with Phocas Software and has integrated the Phocas BI solution into their software solution stack. The solution includes an integration engine to ProStix, which was created by Sterland to allow an overnight load of all relevant data to perform detailed and varied data analysis. This intuitive system allows organisations to easily navigate through an executive view of data into the core sales transactions picking up important trends and exceptions. Using algorithmic processing methods large volumes of data are able to be processed rapidly giving timely access to decision making data.

B

:

 True BI solution with massive capability and flexibility

 Fully integrated with ProStix

 Pre-built sales reporting CUBE

 Export to Excel, pdf, CSV and email

 Highly intuitive requiring minimal end user training

 Ad-hoc creation of dashboards and commonly used reports

L

:

 Overnight data transfer

 Some technical awareness required by end users to make full value of the solution

Cost Indication

Monthly Subscription Fees Up to 10 Users - $1150 Up to 15 Users - $1300 Up to 20 Users - $1500

ProStix Phocas Integration: $200 Services

Initial installation costs range from $3000 depending on product requirements

Note: Additional implementation services maybe required

Level 4 - ComOps (Korellus) BI Solution

The ComOps (Korellus) BI solution was integrated into ProStix around 3 years ago and is now used by 3 customers within the ProStix community. The offering includes an option to purchase a prebuilt suite of BI cubes and reports directly integrated to ProStix for a rapid go-to market BI solution.

The Korellus BI solution is a comprehensive offering that competes in functionality and features with the best available BI applications. The Korellus BI solution is a complete product suite for your entire reporting, query and analysis needs - designed around role-appropriate access and functionality which ensures both mass usability and powerful functionality. It gives organisations the ability to quickly and easily create, change and publish graphically rich and visually impacting information, whilst powerful dashboards ensure a timely and simple visualisation of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), so strategic decisions can be made based on solid data and analysis.

B

:

 True BI solution with massive capability and flexibility

 Already integrated with ProStix

 Pre-built reporting CUBES for merchandise, sales and finance available

 Dynamic ‘Drillpath’ enables navigation from any point to point

 Export to Excel, pdf, CSV and email

 More than 50 time-set, measure and member calculation templates

 Ad-hoc creation of dimension member groups and group totals

 System usage analytics

L

:

 High cost solution

 Requires medium technical skills to operate and manage

 Better suited to larger organisations with internal IT departments

 Ongoing annual costs around 20% of original purchase price

Cost Indication

A medium sized implementation including the pre-defined ProStix cubes and services would be around $75,000. However, in depth analysis of individual requirements would be required before an accurate price could be detailed.