Reporting to data mining this tool does it
Updated September 30, 2015
Reporting to data mining this tool does it
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Software Version
7.7.03 / 8.0.08
Modules Used
- Developer Studio
- Application Studio
- ReportCaster
Overall Satisfaction with Information Builders WebFOCUS
WebFOCUS is used across the organization as a user development tool. Its purpose is to allow departments an easy way to design, create, schedule, and distribute reports and data stored in various types of tables. It is a tool that users are able to install themselves with an instruction sheet and pretty quickly be able to connect to and report from various data sources with a minimal amount of training for the amount of ability of the tool.
- Allows users to connect to and combine data from various sources
- Allows users to create HTML launch pages even if they don't have previous experience in developing web pages. Users can tie a launch page back to a report that they wrote for their workgroup to share data access.
- Saved queries can be scheduled to send the results so that data is automatically emailed in various formats (text, spreadsheet, Word document, etc.) as often as needed.
- Exception reports can be scheduled so that the necessary person is emailed only when needed.
- The newest versions of WebFOCUS have an unnecessarily complicated security layout that makes configuration difficult to accomplish without bringing in the vendor for installs.
- This software tries to cover too many bases allowing you to switch from writing code manually to creating reports using only GUI tools. This sometimes complicates screens and functionality where the two methods don't always work well together. -though its nice to have the choice.
- The sales force is not as top notch as many software companies
- Business Objects SRC,Crystal Reports
Business Objects -WebFOCUS is more centered towards the user accessing data without an administrator setting up reporting objects or setting rules on data access. Access is more free form and allows the user more freedom (for better or worse) to design and create the report they want.
Crystal Report -WebFOCUS is more intuitive and easier to use and has more powerful capabilities.
Crystal Report -WebFOCUS is more intuitive and easier to use and has more powerful capabilities.
ibi WebFOCUS Feature Ratings
Using Information Builders WebFOCUS
Finance
Marketing
Engineering
Labor Relations
Operations
Marketing
Engineering
Labor Relations
Operations
1 - To support this tool it requires an in depth expience with it and a working knowlege of the operating system it is installed on, webservers and some html, working knowlege of conneting to data sources that will be used. Query writing skills and concepts of efficient ways to configure and assist users to make good queries.
- Additional mobile reporting with the html5 capability.
- Report Library would be useful at storeing required documents and version control.
- Visual analytics in the newer version look promising.
- Finance getting regularly scheduled reports and documentation
- Operations getting near real time batch exception reporting
- Marketing seeing trends and customer information
- Sourcing accessing stock levels and purchase orders
- alerts going out to pagers by utilizing phone to text combined with exception reporting
- writing to tables in batch processes
- automating information updates such as webpages
WebFOCUS Implementation
- Implemented in-house
Change management was minimal
- Security in the newer version is complicated on how to access secured data though the scheduler.
- Good data with proper indexes on a robust database are necessary for efficient reporting.
- Getting users that have not seen the software before started requires some initial training.
WebFOCUS Training
WebFOCUS Support
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Quick Resolution Good followup Problems get solved Kept well informed Immediate help available Support cares about my success Quick Initial Response | None |
Yes - We use premium support that allows access to local representatives and the ability to open tickets with the home office. The home office tickets are assigned a severity level and are responded to based on that; I rarely use the highest level, but it gets fast response. Tickets will go to an expert in the area and they can call or even WebEx directly to your PC.
When we were doing the last upgrade, which was a major change, Information Builders sent a representative out to come on site and help with the install at no change. Local reps will share their email and often their cell numbers to be available to fix any issue that may arise. Many of the reps have years of experience with the product/company.
Using WebFOCUS
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Like to use Relatively simple Consistent Feel confident using Familiar | None |
- Drag and drop functionality on creating a report
- Formatting a report with fonts, colors, size, output formats
- Point and click webpage design
- Joining tables
- Customizing connectins between reports and webpages
- Going back to GUI after manually editing a report or vice versa
Yes, but I don't use it