Every business needs information to be presented in a particular manner so that it is understandable and can inform future decisions. Reports in the form of graphical representations help considerably in this aspect. For even the smallest of businesses, it is advisable to invest in business enterprise reporting software.
However, a big question is what type of reporting software you should consider because there are different options available in the market – web-based and desktop-based. Since the world is always on the move, it is not a very good idea to invest in offline, desktop-based reporting software any longer. The answer is web-based reporting software.
What Is Web-Based Reporting Software?
Online reporting software is server-based software that is accessible by any Internet-enabled device using only a web browser or mobile app. These software solutions allow your team to get access to any source of data all the time from any location. As these reporting tools are hosted in the cloud, private or public, they allow mobile sales professionals, telecommuters, and other users to gain insights as and when they need.
The majority of web-based reporting software and tools focus on enterprise reporting, delivering interactive reports. Very few also generate pixel-perfect production reports. And fewer have data mashup tools that help in connecting to and transforming data from unrelated sources.
Web-based reporting tools offer a few more advantages, so let’s take a look at those benefits.
No Need for Third-party Client Software
Since the reporting tools are web-based, you will not have to install additional client software on every computer in your company. Users would be able to access the software via the web-based portal using unified login credentials.
Latest Versions Always in Use
Inevitably new versions of a software application are released, whether to add new features or fix bugs. The great hidden cost of desktop-based software is the upgrade effort process. On the other hand, while using web-based reporting tools, you’ll always have the latest version once the server installation is updated. All of the extra effort of updating or maintaining the software, including backups, updates, upgrades, and related things are taken care of by the central administrator in the background.
Access – Anytime, Anywhere
These online tools are always accessible from any Internet-connected computer or mobile device. So, whether your staff is in the office or is on a business trip, they can check sales or other performance reports while on the go.
Scalability
The number of users who need access to the reporting software may increase and decrease as per your needs and requirements. Web-based tools offer an easier path of scalability running on commodity-priced servers that can be clustered with additional machines added as usage demands dictate.
Enhanced Security Features
Since web-based reporting software is available anytime, anywhere, it must be accessible only to authorized users. One of the primary security features that these reporting tools have are individual user logins. So, you can be at peace that your confidential data will not fall into wrong hands. Various vendors have many more security features to ensure confidentiality of the information, and existing access protocols can be re-used with options for adding even greater granularity of access as desired.
To Conclude
With too much on offer, web-based reporting tools are certainly the ideal software solution for a business of any size. Though you can readily find both traditional and web-based reporting software, you need to make a smart choice of which one is right for your business.
