Best practice Business Intelligence (BI) solutions for Human Resource / Payroll (HRMS) and Financials require a high performance reporting environment. That is, a well-designed technology infrastructure, effective data warehouses, powerful and robust software tools, such as, Cognos 8 & ReportNet, highly effective decision support and reporting applications, and a culture that promotes the use of state-of-the-art analytics, dashboards and queries to solve everyday business challenges.

Applied Business Systems (ABS) provides the knowledge and support programs to orchestrate all aspects of planning, designing and developing a best practice reporting environment that utilizes Cognos 8 & ReportNet software fully integrated with ERP systems, such as, SAP, and Oracle. For ABS clients this translates into many benefits – greater business insight, faster and more consistent decision-making, reduced cycle times, and lower operational costs.

Using expert consultants and well-proven techniques ABS resolves the management, application and technology challenges that commonly arise in BI projects within decentralized, diverse, global or high-volume organizations. Our Cognos 8 & ReportNet consulting services include:

	Business and Technology Planning for BI environments
	Cognos 8 Migration Planning
	Cognos software installation
	Cognos 8 and ReportNet training
	Needs analysis for HRMS and Financial reporting
	Architecture and Infrastructure Plan design
	Data Warehouse and Extraction, Transformation and Load (ETL) design and development
	Cognos 8 and ReportNet development

Business and Technology Planning:

ABS planning for BI reporting environments is a three-step process. First, we assess overall needs, opportunities, priorities and challenges; then, we design a vision for future decision support and operational reporting. Second, we identify specific goals and metrics to be achieved. Third, we develop viable strategies to address any infrastructure upgrade, data warehouse and ETL design/development, training, and Cognos 8 & ReportNet development. See our “BI Support and Solutions” page for details.

Back to Top

Cognos 8 & ReportNet Installation:

ABS maximizes the value of Cognos 8 & ReportNet software by ensuring that the reporting platform is efficient, stable and flexible. We achieve this by: selecting the most appropriate platform configuration options; conducting realistic proof of concept testing; and analyzing key factors, such as, reporting and environment dynamics, security, potential transaction volumes and numbers of users, network traffic, databases and hardware employed.

Back to Top

Cognos Training:

Hands-on classes for PowerPlay, Analysis Studio, Query Studio, Report Studio, Framework Manager and other Cognos tools optimize the productivity of project teams, service groups and operational staff. Client evaluations state five main reasons for top-rating ABS instruction. 1. Skilled ABS instructors have years of Cognos reporting experience in the field. 2. Classes utilize real-life data and workshops. 3. Training materials are comprehensive and easy to follow. 4. Group training costs are low. 5. Classes can be scheduled in 2 weeks. See our "Cognos 8 & ReportNet Training" page for more details.

Back to Top

Needs Analysis for HRMS and Financial Reporting:

ABS analyzes current, and potential future, business needs for BI environments with respect to application functionality, the technology infrastructure and delivery/service support. We can then design effective technologies and reporting solutions having obtained a sound understanding of enterprise-wide reporting needs, corporate technology plans, business processes, opportunities and challenges.

Back to Top

Architecture and Infrastructure Plan Design:

ABS designs a sound Architecture and Infrastructure plan to ensure that the hardware, ETL processes and network supporting the Cognos BI environment is effective, robust, scalable and economical.

Back to Top

Data Warehouse and ETL Design / Development:

ABS provides expert application and technical support to facilitate the logical and physical design of a dimensional data warehouse and corresponding ETL processes. To maximize performance we consider all factors that are crucial to the BI reporting environment. For example, primary reporting needs (e.g. forecasting, data mining, or ad hoc query), data updating frequencies (real-time, near real-time or periodic) and potential application growth.

Back to Top

Cognos 8 & ReportNet Development:

ABS knowledge and techniques integrating Cognos 8 (ReportNet)  with ERP packages and legacy systems helps our clients to maximize: the benefits of the reporting environment, the value of the HRMS/Financial applications, staff productivity and cost reductions. ABS clients also gain from: consistent design/development standards, productivity tips, report templates and staff cross-training. ABS supports all Cognos 8 & ReportNet tools including: PowerPlay, Analysis Studio, Query Studio, Report Studio, Cognos Connection, Visualizer, Impromptu and Data Manager (DecisionStream). See our "Cognos BI Solutions" page for more details.

Back to Top