SAP Business Intelligence Tools Comparison - Case Study Example

? SAP Business Intelligence Tools Comparison Part I SAP Business Intelligence Tools SAP Business Intelligence tools or solutions are important in that they simplify the manipulation of data that makes it easier for users to access, navigate, format, analyze and share information across the corporate environment. This may be through processes that allow for search and navigation to an advanced form of analytics, query of enterprise, reporting and analysis and management of information infrastructure amongst many other functions. One of the tools is the SAP Business Objects Business Intelligence (BI) platform, which provides a system that is flexible, used in the management of an enterprise BI standard that has a provision that allows those charged with administering it to deploy. In addition, have a standardized format on their business intelligence implementation on a service-oriented architecture that has been proven and scalable as well as adaptive. In the provision of easy, self-service access to decision-ready information with the SAP Business Intelligence platform, business users are empowered with unlimited access to key insights that are delivered in context. This increases responsiveness, reduces the costs of Information Technology (IT) and its work loads and drives faster and better decision-making in the organization. This is achieved by leveraging real-time business intelligence from any data and the increasing of user autonomy through the exposure of data thus ensuring that the consumption of information is simple, personalized and dynamic and that the enterprise benefits from a flexible and scalable information infrastructure. Key Features of SAP Business Intelligence According to Brogden (2012), the first key feature of SAP Business Intelligence is information design in that it uses graphical design tools in order to create the semantic layer also known as the universe. In SAP Business Intelligence, information access utilizes the business intelligence (BI) launch pad in the provision of access to the BI content, while widgets are used to deliver the BI to the desktop and BI workspace is used to assemble those contents that are used most of the time. In terms of publishing, it distributes the personalized BI content to a wider audience while it manages BI content throughout the lifecycle of development, testing and production. Platform administration is managed, configured and audited as well as deploying of the business intelligence from a central point or console. When it comes to portal integration, the content is integrated with Java-based and Microsoft Share-Point portals while it also integrates with other applications by extending the content to other applications with software development kits. Business Benefits of SAP Business Intelligence Tools The benefit of such tools is that it enables better-informed participants to make better decisions through simpler and personalized access to information while at the same time allowing faster deployment and optimized utilization of IT infrastructure within a unified BI infrastructure. It also allows tighter integration with the existing IT infrastructure and reduces the IT workload through simplified maintenance and administration options while the SAP business intelligence tools enables better use of the It resources by enabling business users with self service. Part II Oracle Business Intelligence (BI) Platform The Oracle Business Intelligence platform is designed mainly to eliminate the costs of redundancy through the standardization that is carried out on a single business intelligence platform. It serves all the users on the same business enterprise and ensures that the complete spectrum composed of reporting, analysis, modeling and forecasting is fulfilled as well as empowering the business users to quickly and easily create reports and queries without relying on IT. The Oracle Business Intelligence Platform also centralizes the definitions of all metrics and calculations amongst other parameters that gives a singular version of truth while at the same time embedding the business intelligence directly into the business process workflows. The benefits of the Oracle Business Intelligence platform is that it drives innovation through analyzing both structured and unstructured data and also optimizes the analysis with enhanced visualizations that include EPM, Analytic applications and mobile business intelligence. It also simplifies IT through engineered systems and the integration through technology stack (Oracle, n.d). IBM Cognos Business Intelligence (BI) This software is designed to enable businesses and their users who do not posses technical knowledge to obtain corporate data, analyze them and thereafter assemble the required kind of reports. It is composed of more than thirty products because it is built on open standards that allow the software products to be used with relational and multidimensional data sources from several vendors such as Microsoft, SAP and Oracle amongst others. The leading performance management tool under the Cognos is the Cognos 8 BI suite, which includes capabilities to report, analyzes dashboard and scorecards that are delivered under a service-oriented architecture based on the web. There is also the Cognos Express that is appropriate for small to mid-sized companies and allows such companies to make use of the functions of Cognos 8 BI while at the same time adding functions important for planning, budgeting and forecasting. IBM Cognos software for business intelligence and performance management ahs the advantage of integrating easily with Oracle software and systems that takes the business user from data to insight then to action. It allows reporting that is seamless, analysis, scorecards, dashboards, and capabilities for planning in a unified or central user experience that is important in the unraveling of relationships that are hidden, know the key trends and comprehend information that enables better decision-making. When combined together, the Oracle and IBM Cognos Business Intelligence platforms can enable the business enjoy a broad reach by opening access to data sources and creating an environment for the access of the required information. It also allows for the importation of hierarchies, levels, dimensions amongst other parameters to the same environment as well as the combination of Oracle ERP data with other data without extensive knowledge of the systems that underlie the platform and their complexities. It can also be advantageous as it enables the building of an interactive and personalized dashboard that is important in the tracking of performance and pointing out problems at an instance (IBM, n.d). Part III Predictive Analysis and ‘Big Data’ Capabilities Latest data on business technology in terms of big data indicate that retaining and analyzing more data is a major priority in most organizations from both the IT and business perspective. On the other hand, predictive analytics is important as it makes use of technology in order to foretell the future and influence it using performance data that has been used previously and utilizing technology to predict the future and influence it through the platform chosen. Organizations can use historical performance data to determine and make provisions about the future and take actions that will have a direct bearing on the results. With the increasing demand for predictive analysis software, companies must not only see the present but also sense the future with intention of shaping it to their advantage necessitated by the demand for actionable insights from the growing volumes of data and the broader access to predictive analysis. For example for SAP, the predictive technology allows it to enhance its applications that are used for the management of operations, relationships between customers, supply chains, fraud and other forms of risks. The SAP Business Intelligence software has a competitive edge for predictive analysis as it helps in the better understanding of the business’ customers and the provision of targeted products and services as well as the reduction of risks. This is achieved through the working with the existing data environment in co-operation with the SAP Business Objects BI platform that helps the enterprise mine and analyzes data while at the same time anticipating business changes for proper decision-making. This translates into the achievement of business goals faster by turning the dormant data into new opportunities and staying agile thus gaining a competitive advantage through efficient forecasting and planning. It also helps in the solution of problems before they occur as it exposes the hidden risks before they happen. The IBM Cognos Business Intelligence focuses on big data and predictive analysis through certain strategies that enable it achieve some of the desired objectives in business intelligence. Through discovery and visualization, it is able to unlock patterns that may be helpful in important areas and that it evolves to support new areas of visual discovery for big data. It also helps in big data and predictive analysis through the operational analysis that has got the ability to leverage networks of data sources that are instrumental that helps in proactive monitoring and immediate feedbacks. It also has the capability for data warehouse augmentation that stores and analyzes data that helps in the provision of information that is important in decision-making. Part IV Justifying the Need for BI Project The process of choosing the business intelligence platform should be deliberate and must consider the kind of data strategy that is to be implemented as the BI is always the statement of how the organization analyzes its information, reveals new opportunities and how it intends to respond to problems that are recurring. Businesses can therefore increase their chances of success with the BI projects through selecting, implementing and leveraging on the tools that must start with the predefinition of value and implementation of best practices. The businesses must thereafter leverage the successes with the shorter periods through use of the existing resources as well as focusing on the design and development of the business (IBM Data Magazine, 2013). Selecting the Right Vendor of BI In choosing the right vendor for the business intelligence platform for the business, it is important to consider certain factors that will enable the business to flourish in its objectives. It is important to choose a vendor that has the ability to mix and match in that the company is able to build its own tools that satisfies its unique needs. The business must also have the freedom or leeway to apply advantage with the chosen vendor that is supplying the business intelligence platform and the freedom to walk away or withdraw from its platform if the needs do not satisfy the needs of your business enterprise. The freedom to adopt better and more advanced tools is important in the changing or dynamic state of affairs in the technological field. It is important to consider the influence of customers in that the new platform must assure the customers of a stable platform (Cuzillo, 2008). In the selection of the vendor, it is important to consider the vendor criteria that must ensure that there is commitment and stability. This will put into consideration the pricing strategy that includes per user or concurrent pricing and a product scope that must provide a complete solution (Griffin, 2003). The vendor must be willing to answer questions as well as allowing prototyping and must have a future market presence predicated by level of R&D investment and vendor market image. The product criteria must also focus on the performance and functionality of the business intelligence platform in terms of factors such as flexibility, performance, reliability, security and functionality amongst other factors (Griffin, 2003). Implementing a Business Intelligence Platform The business intelligence platforms do change over the years but the company always needs data thus calling for the need to invest in solid data infrastructure that is in tandem with the trends in BI. Many companies base their data infrastructures on specific platforms and when it wants to implement or add a feature on the already installed one, they meet challenges and may at times cause redundancy and challenges in information gathering in the company. The first stage of the implementation is the planning stage that is then followed by the selection of the right bundle of tools for the business then the definition of the architecture for the business environment. Planning for the security is important in the implementation stage and it must involve the authentication process in order to maintain an environment that is secure for the platform put in place. Once the system in this case the Oracle Business Intelligence platform is installed and is secure, the business must embark on the optimization process that maintains efficient and monitor the activities of the server to ensure that it is operating at an optimal level (Yilmaz, 2013). References Brogden, J. (2012). SAP BusinessObjects Web intelligence: The comprehensive guide. Bonn: Galileo Press. Cuzillo., T. (2008). How to Select the Right Business Intelligence Vendor, eWeek. Retrieved from http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Enterprise-Applications/How-to-Select-the-Right-Business-Intelligence-Vendor/#sthash.8shJmpQa.dpuf Griffin., J. (2003). Choosing the Right Business Intelligence Software and Vendor, Information Management. Retrieved from http://www.information-management.com/issues/20030601/6815-1.html IBM Data Magazine. (2013). Defining Value in Your Business Intelligence or Data Strategy – Retrieved from http://ibmdatamag.com/2013/05/defining-value-in-your-business-intelligence-or-data-strategy/#sthash.Zt0QFD86.dpuf IBM (n.d). Cognos software for Oracle Enhance the value of your Oracle investment, Data, Insight, Action. Retrieved from http://www01.ibm.com/software/analytics/cognos/solutions/oracle/ Oracle (n.d). Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite. Retrieved from http://www.oracle.com/us/solutions/business-analytics/business-intelligence/foundation-suite/overview/index.html Yilmaz, C. (2013). Oracle business intelligence 11g R1 cookbook: Make complex analytical reports simple and deliver valuable business data using OBIEE 11g with this comprehensive and practical guide. Birmingham, UK: Packt Pub. Read More