The Web browser made business intelligence (BI) easy to use. With search, it's now easy to find as well. 数据挖掘实验室
The union of BI and search is poised to drive tremendous gains in productivity. Each year, according to BearingPoint, users spend between 104 and 520 hours searching for information.1 数据挖掘实验室
And there's no guarantee they'll find an answer. Even the simplest questions can send users into what Forrester calls a "a Gordian knot of constantly changing corporate portals, rogue departmental Web sites, data warehouses, document management systems, collaboration tools, CRM systems, ERP systems, HR systems, and more."2 数据挖掘研究院
Broader BI Use
BI search lets users quickly find data and information presented in analytics, reports and metrics. It also enables broader participation because non-BI users can access reports and other BI content in addition to their enterprise data. 数据挖掘研究院
I believe there are probably two kinds of user experiences that are important. There is: "This is where I am; show me where I can go in a logical way." Then there is the experience of the more current user that doesn't touch BI today. With new innovations, we're able to build a bridge between what the BI vendor already provides to what the search engine vendor provides.
Value in the Metadata
Enterprise search engines can access information assets. So why use a BI search engine? It is because of the ability to search through not just back-end data systems, but the BI and metadata layer itself. In the enterprise, the core assets of a business are described in models and in a metadata layer that are really inaccessible. So even though you've gone out and bought a Google appliance and let it get to all your unstructured assets, you can't get at all the language you put in metadata models. The understanding of that metadata is really locked in your BI tools.
Usability is Key
The hard line between consumer software and enterprise software is steadily disappearing, according to BearingPoint. Enterprise users now expect the same level of functionality, transportability and ease of use in the enterprise that they experience as consumers on the Web.3 数据挖掘研究院
Search is an interface anyone can use. Like Google's consumer (and now enterprise search offerings), some vendors provide a free form way to find information. BI users simply type in a keyword or phrase and click. The browser-based tool searches the full metadata and data content of cubes, reports, metrics and events - not just report names or descriptions.
Other search aids help users fine-tune their queries, while sophisticated ranking and contextual support of search criteria deliver the most relevant data. Users can also use familiar language, such as product or employee names, and aren't limited to "product line" or other metadata terms. 数据挖掘研究院
In terms of security, the search service is enabled based on user classes, so results will only show objects that users have access to. And all search results are fast - BI content is pre-indexed so users quickly find the right information, whether they're searching through hundreds or millions of reports.
We can all appreciate the ease and speed that come with finding information or answers to our questions by using traditional Internet search tools. With these new innovations, we can deliver traditional search benefits to the world of BI.
Search from an Enterprise Portal
When a non-BI knowledge worker searches on something like annual sales, they have the benefit of seeing BI report content and sales analytics in addition to other information they would expect to find. By combining knowledge assets with performance information, non-BI users gain a more comprehensive view of the business and can make better decisions. 数据挖掘研究院
The combination of search and BI provides an intuitive and efficient way to find BI information in reports, analyses, metrics and events. For existing BI users, it puts the right BI content at their fingertips. Beyond BI users, it also serves up BI information to other knowledge workers, so they too find answers to their business questions and experience the value of BI. This kind of search capability makes sense, especially as organizations look to drive broader BI user adoption and better decision-making across the enterprise.
