Style Report allows IT professionals to create sophisticated production reports that can be deployed for server based, or desktop based applications. The small footprint and 100% Java architecture makes it an ideal solution for embedded ad hoc reports. It is based upon XML, JavaScript, and other open standards technology that allows IT to fully leverage existing skills.
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Best Practices for Integrating Ad Hoc Reporting into a Cloud Application
Integrating ad hoc reporting into a cloud application can provide users with the flexibility and power to generate custom reports on demand. Here are some best practices to consider when integrating ad hoc reporting into a cloud application:
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User-friendly interface: Design an intuitive and user-friendly interface that allows users to easily navigate and interact with the ad hoc reporting features. Provide a drag-and-drop interface or simple controls to select data fields, apply filters, and create visualizations.
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Secure data access: Implement proper authentication and authorization mechanisms to ensure that users only have access to the data they are authorized to view and analyze. Use role-based access control (RBAC) or similar mechanisms to manage user permissions.
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Data abstraction layer: Create a data abstraction layer that shields users from the complexities of the underlying data structure. This layer should provide a simplified view of the data, hiding the technical details and presenting a logical and coherent data model.
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Robust querying capabilities: Enable users to build complex queries and apply filters easily. Provide a query builder or a query language that supports common operations like joins, aggregations, sorting, and grouping. Consider using SQL or a similar query language for flexibility and familiarity.
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Performance optimization: Optimize query execution and response times to ensure that ad hoc reports are generated quickly. Employ techniques such as query caching, indexing, and data denormalization to improve performance. Monitor and analyze the usage patterns to identify potential bottlenecks and optimize accordingly.
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Visualization options: Offer a variety of visualization options to present data in a meaningful way. Provide charts, graphs, and other visual elements that can be customized based on user preferences. Interactive features like drill-downs and filtering within visualizations can enhance the user experience.
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Export and sharing capabilities: Allow users to export ad hoc reports in different formats, such as PDF, CSV, or Excel, to facilitate further analysis or sharing with others. Implement options to schedule and automate report generation and distribution to specific users or groups.
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Error handling and logging: Implement robust error handling mechanisms to handle unexpected scenarios gracefully. Log errors and exceptions to aid in troubleshooting and improving the system's reliability. Provide informative error messages to assist users in understanding and resolving issues.
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Scalability and performance testing: Test the ad hoc reporting feature under various loads and simulate concurrent users to ensure scalability and performance. Monitor resource utilization and response times to identify potential scalability bottlenecks and optimize system resources accordingly.
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User feedback and iteration: Continuously gather user feedback and iterate on the ad hoc reporting feature to improve its usability, performance, and functionality. Conduct user testing and collect feedback to understand user needs and pain points, and incorporate those insights into future enhancements.
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Five Must-have Features in an Ad Hoc Reporting Solution
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Drag-and-Drop Interface: InetSoft's ad hoc reporting software provided a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, allowing users to easily select data fields, apply filters, and arrange elements in the report layout. This feature simplified the report creation process and made it accessible to users with varying technical skills.
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Data Visualization Options: The software offered a wide range of data visualization options, including charts, graphs, and tables. Users could choose from various chart types, apply customizable colors and styles, and add interactive features such as drill-downs and filters within visualizations. This feature helped users present data in a visually compelling and meaningful way.
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Query Builder: InetSoft's software provided a query builder tool that allowed users to create complex queries without writing SQL code. The query builder offered a visual interface to specify filters, define joins, and perform aggregations. This feature enabled users to easily extract and analyze data from multiple data sources.
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Ad Hoc Calculations: InetSoft's ad hoc reporting software supported ad hoc calculations, allowing users to create custom calculations and derived fields within reports. Users could perform mathematical operations, apply formulas, and create aggregated calculations based on the available data. This feature enhanced the flexibility and analytical capabilities of the software.
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Collaboration and Sharing: The software included collaboration and sharing features that facilitated teamwork and report sharing within organizations. Users could collaborate on report creation, share reports with specific individuals or groups, and set permissions and access levels. This feature promoted collaboration and streamlined the sharing of insights derived from ad hoc reports.
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“Flexible product with great training and support. The product has been very useful for quickly creating dashboards and data views. Support and training has always been available to us and quick to respond.
- George R, Information Technology Specialist at Sonepar USA
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Additional Resources for Evaluating Ad Hoc Reporting Options
Analytical Business Tools Examples - Using InetSoft's analytical tools takes data analysis to the next level, giving the user a visual representation of the data in charts, graphs, and other various special features that can help decipher certain patterns and trends from the data as a whole. InetSoft's analytical tools is superior to any competitors due to its easy to use interface which allows any kind of user, whether beginner or expert to manipulate any kind of data. InetSoft's program requires very little training and meets most ad hoc reporting needs. Complicated data transformations and queries are also possible from an array of different data sources. Expensive BI experts or consultants are not needed, which eliminates additional costs...
Analytics for the Technology Industry - Technology companies face quite a few challenges today from shorter release schedules, intense competition, and being one of the main targets for cyberattacks. InetSoft's business intelligence tool can be a main weapon to win the battles. Dashboards and reporting have become increasingly important components of application software and web services. InetSoft's components can provide embedded information exploration and delivery within this context...
Barriers of a Successful Business Intelligence Project - A combination of modern technology and careful management can remove barriers that stand in the way of a successful business intelligence project. The biggest barrier is lacking of end user self-service. The technology for new business intelligence projects is similar to old BI systems in that it gathers and presents information to users, but it is different in a few areas...
BI Administration Reference - Administration Reference describes the Enterprise Manager, a web-based administration interface for the Style Intelligence server environment. The Guide covers server environment controls, user security, report deployment and performance tuning. Integration describes integration techniques for Style Intelligence products, and covers integration points for user interfaces, server deployment, security, and many other areas...
Brushing for Cross-Chart Highlighting - Another useful feature is the brush tool. This enables the user to highlight data in more than one dashboard chart. Highlighting the same pieces of data on different charts enables the user to see trends they could have never seen before. It lets the user see the data in various formats, making it clearer to the user how that data affects the overall data set...
Connection Between Outputs and Outcomes - So let me show you this model. What this model is basically demonstrating is the connection between outputs and outcomes. In other words, on the left using the logic model flow you will see various outputs in a retail environment. So let's picture a drug store for instance. So the outputs will be how the store looks, and you can measure that. The merchandise selection, you can measure that. Our associate's performance, we can measure that, customer service and the checkout process all are very measurable at kind of a tactical level...
Crosstab Report Wizard - When you create a crosstab report. Data is displayed in a pivot table, where it is grouped by row and column headers. Summary data is displayed at the intersections. When you create a table-based report, data can be displayed in plain tabular layout, or grouped and summarized. When you create a section-based report, sections are similar to tables, but provide layout control over individual fields...
Dashboard Design Wizard - But overall, we think dashboard design has really been given a great enhancement with this wizard and recommender. I think that that's really all we wanted to show for you. I mean I could do as many different visualization recommendations and play with the data for as long as we could possibly think of. I could spend an hour showing you different combinations, but I don't think that would really be practical, so I think what I'll do is I will turn it back over to Ben for questions. We'll see about addressing anyone's questions and wrap up the webinar from there...
Easy Ad Hoc Analysis Software - What is ad hoc analysis? It is the ability to explore data when either the question is unclear or a new question presents itself that has not been regularly answered before. This ad hoc analysis definition is especially relevant to business intelligence solutions since the nature of business is that not every question can be anticipated and codified in structured reports and dashboards. Therefore a good business intelligence solution is one that includes a powerful, yet intuitive ad hoc analysis software application...
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Flagship Dashboard Reporting Solution - Style Intelligence is InetSoft's flagship business intelligence platform that provides a dashboard, analysis and reporting solution that is easy. Enjoy a rapid implementation; minimum specialized IT expertise required Experience a shallow learning curve for business users; only Excel-level skills needed...
How Ad Hoc Analysis Coexists With OLAP Tools - Considered a common practice in business intelligence, ad hoc analysis provides users with answers to specific questions that haven't been touched upon or discovered. It is advantageous in the enterprise reporting environment as it allows users to explore reports more in depth while being cost efficient and effective...
How Ad Hoc Reporting Is Used By Marketers - Ad hoc reporting can be used in a variety of ways by marketers. For example, it can be used to track customer behavior and purchase patterns, allowing marketers to gain insights into customer preferences and buying habits. This information can then be used to create targeted marketing campaigns that are tailored to specific customer segments, increasing the effectiveness of marketing efforts and driving sales...
Power of Multi-Dimensional Charting - Multi-dimensional charting means being able to depict more than just two dimensions on a graph. The standard simple graph charts just two dimension, on the x and y axes. In a two-dimensional chart you can identify basic trends, such as time-based one: is a measure like sales, increasing or decreasing, but you can't see any other dimension that might help explain why...
Report Based Ad Hoc Analysis - In the enterprise reporting environment, ad hoc reports offer basic frameworks for analysis. InetSoft's Style Intelligence implements self-service enabled ad hoc analysis via end-user defined data mashup. This function you won't find among any other business intelligence solution. The key advantages of the Style Intelligence solution are...