Basically, you need to have three things:

1. The data warehouse. It is a special data base which has a star-schema data model (info cubes). Also, this database is in read-only mode for users and it is optimized for reporting and multidimensional analysis.
2. Extraction, loading and transformation  process (ELT) which loads your data from OLTP system like Dynamics GP to your data warehouse. Generally speaking this ELT process “cleans”, transforms and loads your daily operation data from Dynamics GP into your data warehouse.
3. Tools to create analytical reports and KPIs based on data from your data warehouse.

There are alot of BI tools which can help you to create a whole process of these 1-2-3 steps. However, if you have ERP based on MS SQL Server (i.e. Dynamics GP – you have a simple way of studying the system and pretty powerful BI tool right out of the box! It is SQL Server Reporting Service (SSRS) which actually is the part of MS SQL Server installation.

So, let’s see what SSRS can provide you:

• Simple access to your Dynamics GP database and use it as a data warehouse, you just need to write a bunch of SQL-statements and SSRS will transform on the fly the results of these queries to BI reports
• Loading and analyzing data from MS Analysis Services which is a more powerful solution to build data warehouse from Microsoft
• Special tool for building, in drag-n-drop mode, your  BI reports – Report Builder 2.0  is free and can be downloaded from the Microsoft site
• Creating beautiful graphic dash-boards with KPI’s in Report Builder 2.0
• Different filters for your BI reports
• Access to your reports, dash-boards, and KPIs via Web; you can see all your BI stuff  in your internet browser
• Generating your BI reports in off-line mode and sending them via e-mail on a schedule. (Do you want to see some daily reports every morning in your inbox? No problem, SSRS will do it for you. Just create your reports in Report Builder, then publish and schedule them)
• Integration with your MS Share Point portal; yes you will be able to build reports and analyze data right in your portal
• Built in export of reports to Word, Excel, PDF and TIFF-format

MS SQL Server Reporting is very simple for installation and studying. You could get BI tool and start analyzing your data in Dynamics GP in two or three days. Simple, powerful, and ready for use right out of the box.

WebSan Solutions Inc. is a Silver Certified Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner, specializing in Online (SaaS) Dynamics GP in Canada.

SSRS – Creating BI Reports for your Dynamics GP Data is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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• What departments within your company need to work together? SSRS Server Reports is a server-based reporting platform that provides comprehensive data reporting from relational and multidimensional data sources. Reporting Services includes processing components, a complete set of tools that you can use to create and manage reports, and an application programming interface (API) that allows developers to integrate or extend data and report processing in custom applications.
• What time of day, week, and month do you need insight? You can create reports that retrieve data at scheduled intervals or on-demand when the user opens a report
• Who needs access to your reports? Reporting Services is a server-based solution, and thus provides a way to centralize report storage and management, provide secure access to reports, models, and folders, control how reports are processed and distributed, and standardize how reports are used in your business.

There are great blogs out there showing you the technical know-how of setting up SSRS Server Reports, but I hope this blog has helped you realize and implement the first step in setting up reports that fit your business needs. With any new solution, full analysis of your current processes helps you realize what you need and supports your growth into the future.

We are a Chicago IL Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and Microsoft Inner Circle member serving the Midwest specializing in the implementation of Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft Dynamics SL and Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Follow us on Twitter at @Sikich_Tech.

By Sikich, St. Louis Microsoft Dynamics GP partner

Developing SSRS Server Reports within Microsoft Dynamics GP to Fit your Needs is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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 But if you have some fairly advanced reporting needs including some complex grouping, sub-totaling, specific formatting and other “beyond-the-basics” needs, then you are really looking at two alternatives: Crystal Reports and SQL Reporting Services (SSRS).

Crystal Reports has been the king of the reporting hill for some time.  It offers the most powerful features of any report writer.  Having been an avid user of Crystal for many years (and a former Crystal Partner and Trainer), I feel it still represents the ultimate in reporting flexibility and power.

But Microsoft’s SQL Server Reporting Services has been gaining on Crystal Reports in many ways over the past few years.  It comes with the Microsoft SQL Server database so you do not have to pay any extra (unless you need extra SQL licenses for your report development users).  Being a Microsoft solution, it is the direction that Microsoft is heading for all its business application needs, as they have already incorporated it into the Dynamics GP product.  And that trend will continue to accelerate.  We are seeing much more interest and commitment to the SSRS reporting environment from many of our customers, across a variety of business applications.  And even this grizzled old Crystal guy has begun to like many of the aspects of the SSRS report designer tool.  We find that we are developing as many custom reports in SSRS as we do Crystal.

Although SSRS still trails Crystal from a technical capability comparison, I feel it is time for all companies and users with serious reporting needs to commit to learning SSRS.  Although its report design environment is actually Visual Studio which can be intimidating to some, it is not that difficult to learn.  An additional plus for SSRS is that as part of SQL Server you get a web-based Report Manager admin tool that can maintain report executions and delivery. 

 So I say it’s time to bite the bullet, take a deep breath, and dive into SSRS.  You might even like it! 

And if you are in the process of evaluating ERP solutions and taking a close look at Microsoft Dynamics GP, you should rest assured that you will have some very powerful reporting tools available.

In future posts I will talk a little more about the approach to take when designing a new report and some of the features to be aware of when creating an SSRS report within Dynamics GP.

Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have: Rick Feterick, Feterick & Associates, Inc  847-795-8200 x74 or rfeterick@feterick.com.

Submitted by Feterick & Associates, Inc –Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner in Indiana.

Crystal Reports vs SQL Server Reporting Services: Clash of the Microsoft Dynamics GP Reporting Titans is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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