| When decision making is based on all the information | | | | Understanding Platform Activity: Understanding how |
| available in the organization then business intelligence | | | | your deployment is being leveraged by end-users is |
| with sharepoint server is the right choice. In the era of | | | | vital to efficient management. Having access to |
| web 2.0 where the business need is to consume | | | | accurate and timely answers to the following questions |
| information in a unified manner which facilitates | | | | is critical to intelligent decision making. |
| information sharing across boundaries, then Microsoft | | | | On-Demand Analysis & Reporting: A centralized, |
| office sharepoint server is the most popular example | | | | customizable dashboard, delivering precisely the |
| of an integrated suite serving for this purpose. If you | | | | metrics is a very critical tool for business-intelligence. |
| want to access information any where anytime be in | | | | The features of Sharepoint (BI) are discussed below: |
| on desktop or web Sharepoint business intelligence | | | | The Report Centre: It provides a central location for BI |
| services is the answer. Office SharePoint Server | | | | related information. With the help of Report Center the |
| 2007 can link to business applications, such as SAP, | | | | users can search for item by using categories, they |
| Siebel, and Microsoft SQL Server 2005, allowing you | | | | can view a calendar of upcoming reports and |
| to easily publish reports, lists, and key performance | | | | subscribe to reports that are relevant. |
| indicators (KPIs).The information workers can | | | | Excel Services: It enables you to store an Excel |
| assemble data from multiple sources and publish that | | | | workbook on a server and then publish any part of |
| data on the Web with the help of sharepoint server | | | | that workbook on a web page. The users only need a |
| (BI). | | | | browser to view and interact with the live data. Its |
| Let us first describe what is Business intelligence. It is a | | | | main advantage is the calculation occurs on the server, |
| generic term that describes the processes and | | | | because of which the business logic in the workbook is |
| technologies whose primary purpose is to monitor, | | | | never exposed. |
| analyze and plan thereby driving the Business Process | | | | Key Performance Indicators: A Key Performance |
| improvements. Sharepoint (BI) shows all the spheres of | | | | Indicator (KPI) is a visual cue that communicates the |
| information and presents the right information at the | | | | amount of progress made toward a goal. By using |
| right time and in the right manner. It also enhances the | | | | Sharepoint KPIs, you can know where you are, how |
| productivity and decision making levels in your | | | | far or behind and what is the minimum task completed. |
| organization. With BI in SharePoint, you can easily | | | | Filter Web Parts: Office SharePoint Server 2007 has |
| access the information, use it, deploy it and maximize | | | | 10 Filter Web Parts that enable you to enter or choose |
| its ability to positively influence business decisions. It | | | | one or more values to change the contents of one or |
| also ensures security of data and information. | | | | more Web Parts on a page to display exactly the |
| There are three important components for sharepoint | | | | information you need. |
| BI: | | | | Dashboard: An Office SharePoint Server 2007 |
| Knowing Your Deployment's Health and Status: | | | | dashboard is a Web page template that allows you to |
| Information about your Microsoft SharePoint servers, | | | | assemble and display information from disparate |
| their functions, roles, services, and health is critical to | | | | sources such as reports, charts, metrics, and key |
| developing future procurement and management | | | | performance indicators. |
| strategies | | | | |