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Top 8 Acronyms Used in Business Intelligence and Corporate Performance Management

This article focuses on terms that will educate and help those who are new to the BI/CPM realm.

 

Have you ever started a new job in an industry you have no experience in? Learning the industry jargon can be overwhelming. I can personally attest to this because prior to working in the

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Business Intelligence (BI) and Corporate Performance Management (CPM) worlds, I was in the food, public relations, and entertainment industries, and did not have much experience in BI or CPM. If you have recently been exposed to BI tools, such as report writers, budgeting and planning solutions, dashboards, data warehouses (DWs) and you feel like a deer in headlights, there is no need to panic. In this article, we will discuss ten acronyms in the BI/CPM realm that will help you understand and enhance your experience with BI and CPM processes.
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Top Cloud-Based Budgeting Tools for Banks

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This article will focus on the Top Cloud-Based Budgeting Tools for Banks.
 
departmentalforecastWhen renting a furnished apartment makes sense – Many of us have had the joy of seeing our loved ones graduate college, get a job, and find an apartment.  We are more than happy to finally unload grandmother’s furniture that has been stored in our attic for the last fifteen years on our children.  It usually takes a long weekend of trips loading all the stuff into the back of a pickup truck or two to move everything out. Read more

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Top Cloud-based Financial Planning and Analysis Budget Tools for Banks

This article will focus on the Top Cloud-based Financial Planning &Analysis (FP&A) Budget Tools for Banks.

Image taken from Shutterstock.

Image taken from Shutterstock.


The way things used to be – When I first got into building a budget for a bank, we were using Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheets that were stored on 5¼ inch floppy disks.  The spreadsheet was basically a 24-month trial balance for each branch or department.  The first eighteen months contained historical balances.  The remaining eighteen months were the forecast for the rest of the current year and budget for next year.
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The Next Generation Cloud-based BI Tools

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The other day, I met with Solver’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Mike Applegate to talk about the next generation cloud-based tools. I made my way to his office, which is located right next to the kitchen – how convenient, right? His office has multiple brainstorming sessions of project ideas and notes on the white wall to your right when you walk in and simple black photo frames of his two beautiful children propped behind his desk.
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Security in the Cloud and on the Web for Business Intelligence Solutions

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This article will discuss the topic of security in the Cloud and web-based technology world, specifically for modern, powerful Business Intelligence software.

It seems like a truly endless list of elements to consider when shopping for the best Business Intelligence (BI) software to help you achieve dynamic analytics.  However, as technology in general moves to the Cloud and/or web-based platforms, with BI tools following suit, one aspect has always stood out as a leading concern for consumer.  This concern has relaxed over time, but security seems like a sensible question mark because we have traditionally worked with platforms that we can manage on-premises.  And while security is still an issue with on-premises solutions, perhaps the tangibility and possession of the solution makes us feel more comfortable – or maybe it’s just the newness of Cloud computing and web-based technology.  This article will approach the topic of security head on, specifically with a focus on Cloud and web-based BI solutions.
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Cloud-based Reporting and Budgeting for Microsoft Dynamics

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This article will discuss the intricacies of deploying financial reporting and budgeting solutions in the Cloud for more modern and flexible data management and analysis with Microsoft Dynamics.

Web-based reporting and budgeting, with Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms, are becoming more and more important for Microsoft Dynamics users, but for some, the whole concept might still seem a little bit confusing in regard to deployment, security, and functionality.  I understand this uncertainty.  Even though it seems pretty straightforward and is picking up momentum, we’re used to hosting our technology on premises, so we don’t have the hands-on experience of Cloud computing.  You probably have questions of access, cost, management, and security, which can be overwhelming.  Regardless, as Microsoft Dynamics customers, you have some powerful Business Intelligence (BI) options, and it will only give you a head start to know about the available solutions.  In this article, I will explore Cloud-based financial reporting and budgeting and some of the solutions for Microsoft Dynamics.
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Cloud Reporting, Budgeting and BI Options for Microsoft Dynamics

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Cloud BI software comes in different shapes and sizes for Microsoft Dynamics.  This article will discuss the options for deployment and compare the BI solutions on the market today.

While Cloud computing and Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms are growing in terms of popularity in the business sector, for some, it remains foggy at best.  I get this confusion.  It is a fast-moving evolution that makes a lot of sense, but if you are used to hosting your software on premises, as most of us have always done, the shift makes a lot of sense in theory, but not always so much in practice.  Questions of cost, security, access, management can start to pile up, and the frustration of confusion is exacerbated by the fact that some of us are inevitably going in the direction of the cloud, for parts of our IT solutions or the whole kit and caboodle.  However, there are some really impactful Business Intelligence (BI) options for Microsoft Dynamics users, and it never hurts to know your options.  This article will break down the facets of Cloud computing and explore a few Cloud BI options for Microsoft Dynamics.
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Business Intelligence: Cloud-based, On-premises, or Both?

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When deciding if an on-premises or SaaS platform is better for your company’s next business intelligence (BI) solution, there are several aspects to consider.  This article will discuss the pros and cons of both options, so that you can navigate to a decision a little easier.

One element of Business Intelligence (BI) software implementation you cannot avoid these days involves the debate about on-premise technology versus a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform.  The traditional software approach entails purchasing software, housing and managing it on-site.  However, as SaaS or Cloud platforms builds momentum as an attractive, relevant alternative, the conversation heats up for customers and vendors alike.
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