Preview: Microsoft and Google Analytics

Race for analytics is just getting heated up with Microsoft and Google trying to get ahead with their new products. But part of it considerably differs. While Microsoft's main focus remains on businesses, offline or online - primarily internal to organizations to help make better decisions. On the other hand, Google's target, as usual, is Web - mainly targeting web sites and its analysis.

MICROSOFT VIEW

Microsoft has now introduced PerformancePoint Server 2007 for Business Analytics. Following are the straight forward benefits that I saw while evaluating:

1. Integration with Business Scorecard Manager: Allows user to see filtered results in the form of a scorecard, providing each and every detail in form of numbers. This can be a summarized or deep drill down view of data, to levels desired by decision makers.

2. Tight Integration with SQL Server 2005: With latest capabilities of SQL Server, its just not a database anymore, but much more. Its a complete BI suite, with high capabilities of Analysis Services, Integration Services, Reporting Services, Notification Services and of course, Database Engine. The analysis capabilities has given analytics a complete new direction which PerformancePoint server thrives on.

3. Seamless Integration with Office 2007: Office 2007 has just evolved as never before. The data viewing and analyzing facilities has become awesome. PerformancePoint server connects seamlessly with Excel services and allows user to view and store data even offline. Facilities like Pivot Charts, graphs etc. make things more easy to understand and overall system as very much flexible.

4. Integration with SharePoint Server 2007: Share your data! This is an added advantage.

5. Integration with ProClarity Analytics: ProClarity is the one that sits in the middle of all this. Provides you facility to define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and do lots of custom stuff, rather than just following a pre-defined procedure.

6. Data Viewing: This is just the entertaining stuff, even if you see just figures. You will be thrilled! And I am sure, you won't believe me until and unless you see it yourself. Go and search it out. I bet, you won't be disappointed.

7. Create your custom parts: As a part of Microsoft strategy, build up anything using .NET and plug it dynamically. What else do you need?

8. Available as Windows as well as Web Application.

So, in a nutshell, You can define your requirements, keep track, summarize results or drill it, share data and can take complex planning decisions. Its highly recommended!!!

GOOGLE VIEW

Google is sticking to its plan pretty well - targeting web! Google Analytics is the tool that has been introduced. Just provide your details, create an account and get a script. Embed that script in your website and start analyzing from day one!

Here are few things I liked:

1. Easy Start: Just take your 5 line or so script and put it in your page. And you are ready to go!

2. Loads of Data: Data you find is just enormous with that single method call. But page never takes too much time to open - that's the best part!

3. Data Viewing: This loads of data is also very much organized and you can view it from different angles and in different ways. Only bad point - you can not define exactly what you want.

4. Integration with other Google products: Market is just about integration these days, where you are able to do any kind of work from just one product. And Google's AdSense, Blogs etc. fits well also.

This product is very nice even for a beginner and for analyzing a small domain - the website visits! Just sign up and here you go!

NOTE: I guess, Microsoft is also preparing for similar kind of launch, something called as Business Internet Analytics (BIA)

Thanks,
~Mohit

Dot Net Interoperability

Business Intelligence - Think Beyond The Obvious!

The companies are running behind tools for Business Intelligence - some are busy creating; others are busy evaluating; and some busy spending! In all this process, the actual definition of Business Intelligence is simply lost!

Is this what defines Business Intelligence? You simply just club your own data, check out aggregations and take a decision! This aggregated data can help you take decisions, agreed! But I don't believe this is intelligence. Even if it is to some extent, the overall process can't be termed as 1% of actual Business Intelligence.

Here goes few questions that is pinging my mind quite strongly:

1. Top Management take decisions; Developers defines the processes - I believe this is simply the biggest disconnect! I agree that it goes through a pretty strong process, but can developers think the way the management thinks? They can try to replicate, but not to a full extent!

2. Are BI tools available today doing something extraordinary, apart from following a routine pattern? Are they giving information which even management missed to give a thought to?

3. And above all, is there any logic that system in itself is working on based on little input? Or is it just taking whole bunch of inputs and then just doing procedural processing?

4. For past so many years, I have not heard Artificial Intelligence getting into action. Can we use it here to improve businesses?

One simple point, Business Intelligence should not be restricted to just defining few rules and searching data for the same. Let systems be capable enough to process data to help businesses make decisions! Is there any possibility? The arena is wide open! Business Intelligence thinking just needs to be revised! Think beyond the obvious!!!

~Mohit