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Selecting the Best Bi Tool for the Job at Hand

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1 Selecting the Best Bi Tool for the Job at Hand
The Business Intelligence (BI) Toolbox for Dynamics GP is chock full of great tools. With the myriad of choices, selecting the best tool for the job can be a challenge. Since there are over eight different Microsoft tools and the plethora of independent software vendor (ISV) solutions, matching tool’s functionality to the BI requirements and getting the optimum combination of functionality, cost and scalability requires a good understanding of what’s in your BI toolbox. We will review the selection of BI tools, their strengths and weaknesses and how best to align the right tool with the BI requirements. You will come away from this session with a good understanding of what’s available in your BI toolbox and how best to leverage these tools in your world. Jim Noblitt, MorphoTrust USA, LLC | John Kleb, Sikich

2 Tool Review Tools Native GP reports SmartList SmartList Designer
SmartList Builder Excel Reports SmartView SSRS Business Analyzer Jet Reports Management Reporter Power BI Data volume Small Medium Large Flexibility None Links & Tooltips Filtering Flexible Ultimate Skill None Excel Power User Table Structure Developer Data type GL Only Any GP Table Any On-Premise Cloud Audience Financial Non-Financial Operational Executive John: True to this session description, we will discuss 11 common tools that can be used to surface data from GP into your constituents hands. We will evaluate each of them based on a set of criteria so you can get a sense of when to use them. [CLICK] Is your data set small or large [CLICK] How flexible does the report need to be in the hands of the users? [CLICK] How skills are required to create with this tool? [CLICK] What type of data would be available for the report? [CLICK] Who would use this report? [CLICK] Where would I access this report? [CLICK] What display choices are there? Access GP MR BA Excel Web Display Paper Large Screen Desk/Laptop Tablet Smartphone

3 Native GP Reports When would I use this? Real world example
“I need a quick, standard report, off-the-shelf, with little IT or GP skill required.” Real world example Show me the current inventory of Item XXX listed by site. Data volume Data volume Small Small Medium Medium Large Large Flexibility Flexibility None None Links & Tooltips Links & Tooltips Filtering Filtering More Flexible Flexible Ultimate Skill Skill None None Excel Table Structure Power User Development Table Structure Complex Developer Data type Data type GL Only GL Only Any GP Module Any GP Table Other On-Prem Any On-Premise Cloud Cloud Audience Audience GP Users Financial Non-Financial MR Users Operational Other Users Executive John: GP comes with many reports, out-of-the-box. These reports are built using Dexterity, the language that GP is built upon. These reports don’t export to Excel and have limited filtering, many of these reports are now available in an SSRS or Excel equivalent. Jim: This is arguably the quickest but least flexible method of getting information out of GP. No IT Skills are needed and a minimal knowledge of the GP data structures are necessary to run a simple report. Data volume – small and medium data sets Flexibility – none and minor filtering Skill – none Data type – Any GP table Audience – GP users Access – GP Display – Paper, large screen, desk/laptop Access Access GP GP MR MR BA BA Excel Excel Web Web Display Display Paper Paper Large Screen Large Screen Desk/Laptop Desk/Laptop Tablet Tablet Smartphone Smartphone

4 SmartList When would I use this? Real world example
“I need a simple report, easily filtered and sorted that I can do myself.” Real world example Show me sales transactions over $10,000 sorted by customer. Data volume Data volume Data volume Small Small Small Medium Medium Medium Large Large Large Flexibility Flexibility Flexibility None None None Links & Tooltips Links & Tooltips Links & Tooltips Filtering Filtering Filtering Flexible More More Flexible Flexible Ultimate Skill Skill Skill None None None Excel Excel Table Structure Power User Power User Development Table Structure Table Structure Complex Developer Developer Data type Data type Data type GL Only GL Only GL Only Any GP Table Any GP Table Any GP Module Any On-Premise Any On-Premise Other On-Prem Cloud Cloud Cloud Audience Audience Audience Financial GP Users Financial Non-Financial Non-Financial MR Users Operational Operational Other Users Executive Executive Jim: Similar to native reports, but provides the ability to add/delete data fields (columns) and more robust filtering. Provides more flexibility than native reports, but limited to data within a module. SmartLists can be exported to Excel and Word, however these are static reports, not automatically refreshed. Rows can be selected for drill-back to the record in GP. No ability to perform calculations exists within SmartLists. Data volume – small and medium data sets Flexibility – Links, filtering and flexible Skill – Power User Data type – Any GP table (inter-module only, not across multiple modules) Audience – GP users Access – GP Display – Paper, large screen, desk/laptop Access Access Access GP GP GP MR MR MR BA BA BA Excel Excel Excel Web Web Web Display Display Display Paper Paper Paper Large Screen Large Screen Large Screen Desk/Laptop Desk/Laptop Desk/Laptop Tablet Tablet Tablet Smartphone Smartphone Smartphone

5 SmartList Designer When would I use this? Real world example
“I wish I could add data from another table to this smart list.” Real world example Show me sales transactions from all of my GP companies in a single SmartList; show me which invoices were applied to Check Number 123. Data volume Data volume Data volume Small Small Small Medium Medium Medium Large Large Large Flexibility Flexibility Flexibility None None None Links & Tooltips Links & Tooltips Links & Tooltips Filtering Filtering Filtering Flexible More More Flexible Flexible Ultimate Skill Skill Skill None None None Excel Excel Table Structure Power User Power User Development Table Structure Table Structure Complex Developer Developer Data type Data type Data type GL Only GL Only GL Only Any GP Table Any GP Table Any GP Module Any On-Premise Any On-Premise Other On-Prem Cloud Cloud Cloud Audience Audience Audience Financial GP Users Financial Non-Financial Non-Financial MR Users Operational Operational Other Users Executive Executive Jim: SmartList Designer – available from Microsoft as part of V It’s Microsoft’s replacement for eOne’s SmartList Builder previously offered by Microsoft as an add-on to TP. Enables the creation of custom SmartLists and enables intra-module reporting. Also drives Excel reports (refreshable Excel reports). Still no ability to perform calculations within SmartLists created using SmartList Designer. Data volume – Small and medium Flexibility – Links, filtering, flexibility Skill – Power user Data type – Any GP module (intra-module, reports across multiple modules) Audience – GP users Access – GP Display – Paper, large screen, desk/laptop Access Access Access GP GP GP MR MR MR BA BA BA Excel Excel Excel Web Web Web Display Display Display Paper Paper Paper Large Screen Large Screen Large Screen Desk/Laptop Desk/Laptop Desk/Laptop Tablet Tablet Tablet Smartphone Smartphone Smartphone

6 SmartList Builder When would I use this? Real world example
“I wish I could add data from another table to this smart list.” Real world example Show me sales transactions from all of my GP companies in a single SmartList; show me which invoices were applied to Check Number 123. Data volume Data volume Data volume Small Small Small Medium Medium Medium Large Large Large Flexibility Flexibility Flexibility None None None Links & Tooltips Links & Tooltips Links & Tooltips Filtering Filtering Filtering Flexible More More Flexible Flexible Ultimate Skill Skill Skill None None None Excel Excel Table Structure Power User Power User Development Table Structure Table Structure Complex Developer Developer Data type Data type Data type GL Only GL Only GL Only Any GP Table Any GP Table Any GP Module Any On-Premise Any On-Premise Other On-Prem Cloud Cloud Cloud Audience Audience Audience Financial GP Users Financial Non-Financial Non-Financial MR Users Operational Operational Other Users Executive Executive Jim: SmartList Builder – used to be part of the GP stack, but no offered only by the original ISV – eOne. Creates SmartLists that are added to the SmartList library and includes the same functionality as native SmartLists plus the ability to create intra-module reports. SmartList Builder does not provide the ability to perform calculations within the reports. Data volume – Small and medium Flexibility – Links, filtering, flexible Skill – Power user Data type – Any GP module (intra-module, reports across multiple modules) Audience – GP users Access – GP Display – Paper, large screen, desk/laptop Access Access Access GP GP GP MR MR MR BA BA BA Excel Excel Excel Web Web Web Display Display Display Paper Paper Paper Large Screen Large Screen Large Screen Desk/Laptop Desk/Laptop Desk/Laptop Tablet Tablet Tablet Smartphone Smartphone Smartphone

7 Excel Reports When would I use this? Real world example
“I wish I could distribute this SmartList to non-GP users.” Real world example Show me a refreshable Excel spreadsheet with customer contact information. Data volume Data volume Data volume Small Small Small Medium Medium Medium Large Large Large Flexibility Flexibility Flexibility None None None Links & Tooltips Links & Tooltips Links & Tooltips Filtering Filtering Filtering Flexible More More Flexible Flexible Ultimate Skill Skill Skill None None None Excel Excel Table Structure Power User Power User Development Table Structure Table Structure Complex Developer Developer Data type Data type Data type GL Only GL Only GL Only Any GP Table Any GP Table Any GP Module Any On-Premise Any On-Premise Other On-Prem Cloud Cloud Cloud Audience Audience Audience Financial GP Users Financial Non-Financial Non-Financial MR Users Operational Operational Other Users Executive Executive Jim: Became available as a part of GP V This is a set of out-of-the-box reports provided within the system. These are refreshable reports that automatically update when opened after being saved to your computer. This eliminates the need for users of the report to have access to GP. Data volume – Small and medium Flexibility – Flexible Skill – Excel, power user, table structures Data Type - Any GP module (limited to SmartList capability) Audience - Any users Access - GP, Excel Display – paper, large screen, desk/laptop, tablet Access Access Access GP GP GP MR MR MR BA BA BA Excel Excel Excel Web Web Web Display Display Display Paper Paper Paper Large Screen Large Screen Large Screen Desk/Laptop Desk/Laptop Desk/Laptop Tablet Tablet Tablet Smartphone Smartphone Smartphone

8 SmartView When would I use this? Real world example
“My SmartLists run so slowly.” Real world example Show me a way to speed up this SmartList that takes tons and tons of time to process or export to Excel. Data volume Data volume Data volume Small Small Small Medium Medium Medium Large Large Large Flexibility Flexibility Flexibility None None None Links & Tooltips Links & Tooltips Links & Tooltips Filtering Filtering Filtering Flexible More More Flexible Flexible Ultimate Skill Skill Skill None None None Excel Excel Table Structure Power User Power User Development Table Structure Table Structure Complex Developer Developer Data type Data type Data type GL Only GL Only GL Only Any GP Table Any GP Table Any GP Module Any On-Premise Any On-Premise Other On-Prem Cloud Cloud Cloud Audience Audience Audience Financial GP Users Financial Non-Financial Non-Financial MR Users Operational Operational Other Users Executive Executive Jim: This is another BI tool from ISV, eOne. SmartView is used in conjunction with SmartList Builder to enhance basic SmartLists and SmartList Builder by making these tools available outside of GP. SmartView also reduces the time required for SmartLists to render your data. Data volume – small and medium Flexibility – flexible Skill - power user Data type – any GP module (intra-module, reports across multiple modules) Audience – GP users Access – GP Display – paper, large screen, desk/laptop Access Access Access GP GP GP MR MR MR BA BA BA Excel Excel Excel Web Web Web Display Display Display Paper Paper Paper Large Screen Large Screen Large Screen Desk/Laptop Desk/Laptop Desk/Laptop Tablet Tablet Tablet Smartphone Smartphone Smartphone

9 SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS)
When would I use this? “I want a presentation quality report that displays more than GL data.” Real world example Show me an AR aging that lines up properly when exported to Excel with no page breaks. Data volume Data volume Data volume Small Small Small Medium Medium Medium Large Large Large Flexibility Flexibility Flexibility None None None Links & Tooltips Links & Tooltips Links & Tooltips Filtering Filtering Filtering Flexible More More Flexible Flexible Ultimate Skill Skill Skill None None None Excel Excel Table Structure Power User Power User Development Table Structure Table Structure Complex Developer Developer Data type Data type Data type GL Only GL Only GL Only Any GP Table Any GP Table Any GP Module Any On-Premise Any On-Premise Other On-Prem Cloud Cloud Cloud Audience Audience Audience Financial GP Users Financial Non-Financial Non-Financial MR Users Operational Operational Other Users Executive Executive Jim: SSRS is typically used by IT developers to provide very robust reports, graphs and dashboards. SQL scripts can be used within SSRS reports to enhance their functionality. Calculations may be performed as part of the report and SSRS reports can be exported to Excel, PDF, etc. Data volume – small, medium and large Flexibility – links, filtering, flexible Skill – development Data type – any SQL table including non-GP Audience – any user with access to SSRS (or SharePoint if report is presented there) Access – GP and web Display – paper, large screen, desk/laptop Access Access Access GP GP GP MR MR MR BA BA BA Excel Excel Excel Web Web Web Display Display Display Paper Paper Paper Large Screen Large Screen Large Screen Desk/Laptop Desk/Laptop Desk/Laptop Tablet Tablet Tablet Smartphone Smartphone Smartphone

10 Business Analyzer When would I use this? Real world example
“I want to display my SSRS reports in a graphical fashion.” Real world example Show me sales by state using a map of the United States with different colors for different sales volumes. Data volume Data volume Data volume Small Small Small Medium Medium Medium Large Large Large Flexibility Flexibility Flexibility None None None Links & Tooltips Links & Tooltips Links & Tooltips Filtering Filtering Filtering Flexible More More Flexible Flexible Ultimate Skill Skill Skill None None None Excel Excel Table Structure Power User Power User Development Table Structure Table Structure Complex Developer Developer Data type Data type Data type GL Only GL Only GL Only Any GP Table Any GP Table Any GP Module Any On-Premise Any On-Premise Other On-Prem Cloud Cloud Cloud Audience Audience Audience Financial GP Users Financial Non-Financial Non-Financial MR Users Operational Operational Other Users Executive Executive Jim: ?? Data volume – small and medium Flexibility – flexible Skill – power user Data type – any GP module (intra-module, reports across multiple modules) Audience – GP users Access – GP Display – paper, large screen, desk/laptop Access Access Access GP GP GP MR MR MR BA BA BA Excel Excel Excel Web Web Web Display Display Display Paper Paper Paper Large Screen Large Screen Large Screen Desk/Laptop Desk/Laptop Desk/Laptop Tablet Tablet Tablet Smartphone Smartphone Smartphone

11 Management Reporter When would I use this? Real world example
“I need to create presentation quality financial statements.” Real world example Show me an income statement, balance sheet, or statement of cash flows. Data volume Data volume Data volume Small Small Small Medium Medium Medium Large Large Large Flexibility Flexibility Flexibility None None None Links & Tooltips Links & Tooltips Links & Tooltips Filtering Filtering Filtering Flexible More More Flexible Flexible Ultimate Skill Skill Skill None None None Excel Excel Table Structure Power User Power User Development Table Structure Table Structure Complex Developer Developer Data type Data type Data type GL Only GL Only GL Only Any GP Table Any GP Table Any GP Module Any On-Premise Any On-Premise Other On-Prem Cloud Cloud Cloud Audience Audience Audience Financial GP Users Financial Non-Financial Non-Financial MR Users Operational Operational Other Users Executive Executive Jim: Management reporter works only with the GL tables. It provides a tree structure for developing financial reports such as Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Statement of Cash Flows. This application includes a purpose-built data warehouse which is recommended for most applications. Unless you have a very small data set, the application runs too slow when accessing the tables directly. Data volume – small, medium and large, but you should have a DW for medium and large data sets Flexibility – Flexible within GL only Skill – power user Data type – GL Audience – GP users Access - MR Display – Paper, large screen, desk/laptop Access Access Access GP GP GP MR MR MR BA BA BA Excel Excel Excel Web Web Web Display Display Display Paper Paper Paper Large Screen Large Screen Large Screen Desk/Laptop Desk/Laptop Desk/Laptop Tablet Tablet Tablet Smartphone Smartphone Smartphone

12 Power BI When would I use this? Real world example
“I need to create a dashboard and supporting pages for monitoring and decision making.” Real world example Show me our revenue by business unit; show me revenue by territory; show me costs by department. Data volume Data volume Data volume Small Small Small Medium Medium Medium Large Large Large Flexibility Flexibility Flexibility None None None Links & Tooltips Links & Tooltips Links & Tooltips Filtering Filtering Filtering Flexible More More Flexible Flexible Ultimate Skill Skill Skill None None None Excel Excel Table Structure Power User Power User Development Table Structure Table Structure Complex Developer Developer Data type Data type Data type GL Only GL Only GL Only Any GP Table Any GP Table Any GP Module Any On-Premise Any On-Premise Other On-Prem Cloud Cloud Cloud Audience Audience Audience Financial GP Users Financial Non-Financial Non-Financial MR Users Operational Operational Other Users Executive Executive John: How many of you have heard of Power BI? How many of you have actually played with it? How many of you use it in your daily life? Power BI is Microsoft’s entry into the self-service BI world. And they have entered with a bang. This product is a market disrupter. First of all, it is free to all. And if free doesn’t work for you, you can spend $120 per user per year for a version that can handle even more data. 5 seconds to sign up, 5 minutes to wow. Data volume – all, but a DW may be recommended for large sets Flexibility – links and tool tips, filtering, flexible, ultimate Skill – table structure Data type – Any On-Premise and Cloud Audience – All Access – web Display – Large screen, desk/laptop, tablet, smartphone Access Access Access GP GP GP MR MR MR BA BA BA Excel Excel Excel Web Web Web Display Display Display Paper Paper Paper Large Screen Large Screen Large Screen Desk/Laptop Desk/Laptop Desk/Laptop Tablet Tablet Tablet Smartphone Smartphone Smartphone

13 DW/BI architecture Normalized Denormalized A relational database
Minimize data redundancy Good for writing data Best for operational systems Denormalized “Flattening” Maximize read/query performance Best for business intelligence systems John: We mentioned a data warehouse in the last couple of slides. Let’s take a look at what we are talking about. First, a couple of definitions: Normalized Denormalized

14 DW/BI architecture Source Transactions Back Room Front Room
Presentation Area: Dimensional (star schema or OLAP cube) Atomic and summary data Organized by business process Uses conformed dimensions Design goals: Ease-of-use Query performance ETL System: Transform from source-to target Conform dimensions Normalization optional No user query support Design goals: Throughput Integrity Consistency BI applications: Ad hoc queries Standard reports Analytic apps Data mining and models John: Source transactions From anywhere – HRIS, ERP, CRM, Shop Floor, etc. You already own these tools Data warehouse ETL Goals Presentation layer – Enterprise DW Bus Architecture OLAP or Tabular Atomic so that all questions can be answered Design goals Visualization Layer Any tool you like

15 Other BI solutions GP Reports Viewer – Flexible Solutions Adaptive Insights Suite – Adaptive Insights BI360 - Solver Dynamics Report Manager - Rockton Budget and Analytics Maestro/Budget Analyzer – Centage PowerPivot/Query/View – Microsoft TARGIT – TARGIT A/S Tableau - Tableau Jim: There is a long list of other reporting tools available for pulling and presenting Dynamics GP data. Here is a list of some of the more popular ones.

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