1 Business Intelligence: Report Creation and Automation Using Business Objects Dylan Black University of Wisconsin – Platteville

2 About Me Senior – Majors: –Computer Information Systems –Business Administration IT Analyst – John Deere C&F Extensive Training / Experience in Business Objects Darlington WI

3 Overview What is Business Intelligence (BI) Business Intelligence Software Solutions Business Objects (BO) Overview Business Objects Report Creation Future of Business Objects Conclusion

4 Business Intelligence (BI) Defined Applications and Technology –Gather Data –Provide Access to Data –Analyze Data

5 Ultimate Goal –Improve Timeliness/Quality of Information Crystal Ball “Theory” –Business Intelligence Shows the Best Course to Take Reasons for BI

6 Eliminate Guesswork Enhance Communication Respond to Changes: – Financial Conditions –Customer Preferences –Supply Chain Operations Benefits of BI

7 Security – Access to Data Data Volume Data Retention Benchmark and Performance Targets BI Technology Requirements Key Issues -

8 Balanced Scorecard –Measures a Company’s Activities Visions Strategies Competitive Analysis Performance Management Many, Many More… BI Software Solutions

9 Business Objects

10 Leading Implementation of BI –More Than 39,000 customers –80 % of Fortune 500 companies 4,900 Employees Worldwide Business Objects Overview

11 Three Main Aspects –Report Creation –Report Scheduling –Report Access Business Objects Platform

12 User-Friendly Full Featured Application –Novice –Advanced Business Objects Platform – Report Creation

13 Two Levels of Variables –Universe Separate Application – Universe Designer Insulates Users From Raw Data Keeps Data Secure Allows Multiple Users to Access the Same Data in Different Reports Stored Procedure Business Objects Platform – Report Creation

14 –Report Level User Can Apply Conditions on Universe Level Variables Built-in Functions –Sum –Average –Standard Deviation –Comparable to Microsoft Excel, More Graphical Options Business Objects Platform – Report Creation

15 Business Objects Platform – Report Creation

16 Business Objects Platform – Report Creation

17 Business Objects Platform – Report Creation

18 Business Objects Platform – Report Creation “Slice and Dice” Panel

19 Three Options –Universe Executes Stored SQL Queries to Import Data From DB2 Tables –Excel Spreadsheets –Free-Hand SQL (FHSQL) Advanced Users Can Write Specialized SQL Queries To Access Data Data is Returned As A Variable Business Objects Platform – Data Access

20 Countless Options –Charts –Graphs –Compound Conditions –Visual Basic Macros Business Objects Platform – Data Manipulation

21 Business Objects Platform – Data Manipulation

22 BO Broadcast Agent Console (BCA) –Server Application –Scheduler –Report Repository Business Objects Platform – Report Automation

23 Scheduling Abilities –Intervals Monthly Weekly Daily Business Objects Platform – Scheduler

24 Business Objects Platform – Scheduler

25 –File Watcher Connects Old With the New! Legacy Programs Executed on Mainframe –Programs Manipulate Data in DB2 Tables »COBOL »SAS »JCL Utilities –When Complete, These Applications Create a File that BCA “Sees”  Triggers Report Creation Business Objects Platform – Scheduler

26 Visual Basic Macro –BCA Supports Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) –This allows to create PDF and Excel versions of Business Objects Reports. Reports Are Saved to Server so Users Can Access at Anytime. Business Objects Platform – Scheduler

27 Web Intelligence (WEBI) –Online Application Users Can Create and Send Reports to Other Users Reports Created by Scheduler Can Be Stored For Later Access Users Can View Scheduled Report Status Business Objects Platform – Report Access

28 Java Web Applications –PDF and Excel? –Create ‘Front End’ All Users Can Use to Access PDF and Excel Files Stored On Server and Display in Web Browser Business Objects Platform – Report Access

29 Business Objects + Microsoft Office –Revolutionary! –BO Reports Can be Embedded In PowerPoint, Excel and Word Documents –Real Time Access! –Available in Newest Version of BO – Business Objects XI Release 2 Business Objects Platform – Report Access

30 Implement New Technologies while still interacting with old. –VERY IMPORTANT Older Technologies / Languages Such As Mainframe COBOL ARE Going to be Around. –Too Expensive to Convert –Still Work! Must Find New Ways To Tie “Old with the New” Future of Business Objects and BI

31 Conclusion Business Intelligence – Quickly Growing Field –Job Opportunities Business and IT are No Longer Separate

32 References