| There are many benefits to providing employees | | | | and training new staff members to use the products. |
| with easy access to key business data, but it's | | | | Software that can export iSeries data into Excel |
| important to examine whether your procedures are | | | | gives users the ability to manipulate the data in a |
| making it easier to control your iSeries data access | | | | program that they already know. Many BI software |
| while minimizing the time spent exporting that data | | | | products on the market require extensive time and |
| into useable reports. | | | | knowledge from the IT staff, which, again, takes IT |
| Many solutions on the market provide effective | | | | away from critical projects. |
| ways to manage your company's iSeries data, but | | | | The distribution method that you use for your |
| which one is right for your environment? More often | | | | internal documents can contribute to many |
| than not, business intelligence (BI) and document | | | | headaches. The best solutions provide the ability to |
| management solutions require a lot of technical | | | | distribute your documents with applications that you |
| expertise and/or programming skills. Implementing and | | | | already use. With programs that transfer data into an |
| maintaining the software can be an overwhelming | | | | Office product, users can easily send the documents |
| task. But many companies are finding that they can | | | | via email or fax, using the applications they know |
| bring key iSeries data into a program that their users | | | | best. |
| already know, providing them with timely access to | | | | A versatile solution provides the ability to transfer |
| information. | | | | iSeries data into various document formats. A solution |
| When it comes to easy report-generation, the first | | | | that offers the flexibility to create forms in Word or |
| solution that comes to mind for many users is Excel. | | | | present information in a PDF allows users to tackle |
| When this ubiquitous spreadsheet and reporting | | | | many tasks. |
| application is paired with software that can easily | | | | Once data is in a Microsoft Office document, the |
| transfer iSeries data into spreadsheets, users can | | | | ways to customize that data are endless. Users can |
| obtain the information they need and manipulate it | | | | create formulas, charts, graphs, and tables to make |
| with the powerful tools that Excel provides for | | | | documents visually appealing and to help them more |
| analysis, communication, and results-sharing. | | | | efficiently analyze the data. Programs that allow you |
| Many facets of your company's reporting procedures | | | | to set up an Excel template in advance--with all of |
| can generate cost savings. As an IT administrator, | | | | the formatting already created--can be especially |
| you may be creating numerous reports for | | | | helpful because they can save the user a great deal |
| employees throughout your organization: one report | | | | of valuable time. iSeries data is imported quickly with |
| for your executive team, a different report for | | | | one step, and the completed report is immediately |
| accounting, and others for administrative users. | | | | available. |
| Often, these reports are created by copying and | | | | Ideally, your iSeries-to-Excel solution should allow you |
| pasting data from hard-to-use file formats into Excel | | | | to set it up and forget about it. Look for a product |
| spreadsheets. By using a solution that easily and | | | | that lets you easily set up jobs that automate your |
| rapidly exports your data into pre-designed Excel | | | | reporting process. |
| templates, you can save aggravation and expense. | | | | To eliminate strains on your network, some solutions |
| Other savings may occur if your company is currently | | | | offer the ability to save IT resources by working in |
| using preprinted forms. By moving from preprinted | | | | batch overnight. Those solutions allow optimal |
| forms to a simple solution that exports data into | | | | performance of your iSeries during peak daytime |
| Office products, companies can save thousands of | | | | periods. |
| dollars each year by eliminating wasted, outdated | | | | As with any BI or reporting solution, your |
| forms. Major savings occur when your users can | | | | iSeries-to-Excel solution must limit access to sensitive |
| save their documents, print them on plain paper, and | | | | data and easily control access to the reports that |
| easily email them using Outlook. | | | | users can see. |
| It is IT's responsibility to provide tools that improve | | | | Users with no authorities on the database can |
| employee productivity. When data is held up because | | | | receive iSeries data easily in a spreadsheet format. |
| users have to depend on IT to create their reports | | | | This prevents you from having to provide authority |
| and IT is busy with other significant business tasks, | | | | to everyone who needs access to this data. You |
| problems can arise--particularly when mission-critical | | | | don't have to manage the access authorities because |
| data is needed immediately. Having both easy access | | | | the data is sent to the user from the system itself. |
| to key information and the needed tools to analyze | | | | The widespread knowledge of the capabilities of |
| that data are necessary to an organization's growth. | | | | Excel make it easy to explain the benefits of moving |
| When users are able to create their own reports, | | | | iSeries data into spreadsheets. When evaluating BI |
| they have access to the information they need when | | | | and reporting solutions, find one that can perform all |
| they need it. | | | | of the tasks your company requires in one complete |
| With some reporting, BI, and document-management | | | | solution while making it easy on your users. |
| software programs, valuable time is spent learning | | | | |