Business Intelligence

Whilst certain business intelligence tools have been designed specifically for an ERP system others are quality business intelligence applications that work with pretty much any open data source such as Microsoft SQL.

Nectari (also known as Sage Enterprise Intelligence SEI), was written for SAGE X3 ERP and as such provides Sage X3 ERP users a huge start by providing as a part of the license modifiable data marts, brilliant templated financial and operational reports. Automated report distribution , OLAP, Mobility and seamless integration into the Sage X3 UI means Nectari is a valuable element of any Sage X3 ERP solution. SEI is now also available to use with Sage 300 and SAP Business One for Microsoft Windows. Sage Data & Analytics (SD&A) is one other Bi tool that is marketed to companies using Sage X3. Like SEI, it’s a powerful best of breed Bi tool.

SAP HANA Analytics are a part of the SAP Business One ERP eco-system providing system users with pervasive reporting and analysis. Users of SAP Business One for Microsoft Windows have plenty of built in reporting and dashboards using SAP Drag & Relate, SQL Query and direct integration with the Microsoft productivity tools. Then there is the Boyum B1Up application that includes some neat dashboarding that extends that which is available in the standard SAP Business One application. When more sophisticated reporting and analysis is required, maybe when there is a need to draw data from multiple data sources companies are often choosing to use SEI (Nectari), Microsoft Power Bi or Qlik Sense to deliver them the power to properly analyse related data from multiple data sources.

Most ERP systems use SAP Crystal Reports in some form. It certainly has its place in modern ERP systems however from an ease-of-use perspective creating new reports & dashboards, system users and report designers typically find using the available market leading Bi tools far easier than Crystal Reports Designer. SAP Crystal Reports Designer is included with every SAP Business One license, and it can be purchased through CitySoft as a part of a Sage X3 or Sage 300 license purchase. The standard SAP Business One, Sage 300 & Sage X3 license include Crystal forms and reports with runtime licensing.

CitySoft also use Microsoft Power Bi & Qlik when clients prefer these applications. The supply of the SEI Server license enables these tools to be more rapidly adopted as they can utilize the supplied data marts saving significant set up and preparation time otherwise required to understand the underlying data structures and relationships.