| Is it time for a Business Objects migration project at | | | | 1) Compliance - if you're not using BusinessObjects XI |
| your company? If employees use business intelligence | | | | R2, you won't be supported and won't be able to take |
| (BI) tools from Business Objects to slice and dice | | | | advantage of new technology and updates. |
| enterprise data and produce reports and metrics on | | | | 2) Improved functionality - the new product offers |
| corporate performance, the answer is likely to be a | | | | enhanced Web-based business intelligence, dashboard |
| resounding 'Yes'. | | | | capabilities that present a simplified view of key |
| In less than a year, the company will end support for | | | | performance indicators (KPIs), and integration with |
| older versions of its software, including | | | | Microsoft Office, so that information can be presented |
| BusinessObjects versions 5 and 6 and Crystal | | | | to users via familiar formats such as PowerPoint, |
| Reports versions 6 to 10. From June 2008, in fact, the | | | | Excel and Word. |
| latest version of its technology, BusinessObjects XI R2, | | | | 3) Future proofing - subsequent migrations to newer |
| will become the only supported version. | | | | Business Objects technology will become easier if |
| As a result, XI migration is now a high priority for many | | | | you're running the latest version. |
| companies, reports Mike Perks, senior consultant on | | | | 4) Reduced total cost of ownership (TCO) - the new |
| the business information services team at Logicalis. | | | | product combines both the popular BusinessObjects |
| But it is also a "substantial challenge", he adds. "In our | | | | and Crystal reporting tools, so that companies can |
| experience, a Business Objects migration project | | | | standardise on a single toolset, lowering TCO by |
| typically involves purchasing and installing new | | | | reducing maintenance, hardware, end-user training and |
| hardware, migrating complex reports, and setting up | | | | support costs. Also, because full reporting capabilities |
| new security models. Above all, you need an in-depth | | | | can be accessed via a simple web browser, there's |
| understanding of data management issues and the | | | | no need for software to be downloaded onto users' |
| information needs of the workforce in question," he | | | | PCs, which reduces desktop support costs. |
| says. | | | | 5) Performance, reliability, scaleability ‑ the |
| For these reasons, Logicalis been asked to work with | | | | distributed architecture of the new product makes |
| several clients, including a major high street retailer, to | | | | BusinessObjects XI R2 more robust, reliable and easier |
| smooth the transition. | | | | to scale vertically or horizontally than earlier versions. |
| Despite the effort involved, however, there are five | | | | . |
| good reasons to migrate: | | | | |