Archive for the ‘ Business Intelligence and Reporting ’ Category

MOKABUG 2009 Session- Evisions and Argos Reporting Suite

This morning I attended the Evisions and Argos Reporting session at MOKABUG 2009. Through the session, the presenter provided an high level  review of the Evisions Argos Product. Overall the presentation was informative and provided the necessary information to adequately compare the features  and functions of Argos to other common reporting tools including Cognos.

Evisions facts

– Founded in 1996

– 100% dedicated to Higher Educatio

– Specifically built for the Banner platform

– 800 + Banner Higher Ed Customers

– Offer world class support – Technical support staff come from higher ed

– Advanced Collaborative Sungard Parter

– User Community Involvement in development prioritization

Argos Features

– Reporting solution with ease of use as the primary function

– Scheduling and Delivery with Report Bursting

– True enterprise license, across all users, types and database types

– Advanced Features – OLAP, ForeCasting

– Interactive Dashboards – Drill Down Functionality

– Advanced Features – Open  API for Integration within other Applications

Argos Configuration

  • OLEDB connectivity based (Access, Oracle, SQL Server, any OleDB accessible datasource
  • Datablock based system – Similar to Cognos Packages, Mid-Tier Data Access

Training and Professional Services

  • Online training is available to customers . Online, Live, Interactive, Recorded, Unlimited Free Access for existing customers.

Argos COOP

  • User Community. Online library of datablocks and reports – Free to Us

Perspective on the Argos Application

– Solid support/training and community available to customers. Customer generated data blocks (packages available for customer usage)

– Customer oriented support process

– Not as intuitive as Cognos 8

– Quick  view reports are terrific options for query pages to be delivered through SSB…. if possible?!?!

Regards,

TJ

2009
11/19
CATEGORY
Business Intelligence and Reporting
ERP
TAGS





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MOKA BUG 2009 – SunGard’s Future Direction

This morning, Paul Setze, SunGard VP of Services,  delivered the keynote address for the MOKA BUG 2009 Conference. The focus of the session was to review changes in service and support delivery. The following represents key points reviewed in the session.

Open Digital Campus: Vision for the Future

  • Past: Built business on core ERP systems built upon robust technology framework (Oracle).
  • Current Expectations: New products, services and suppor

Future: Provide Solution that better map to pain points and satisfy specific needs

  • Lighter modular functions
  • Flexible delivery models (SaaS)
  • Modern Tech Tools – SOA, RIA, Cloud Computing, Business Process Platforms
  • By keeping things modular, Sungard is able to scale solutions up or down depending on institutional needs

Shortest Distance to meeting customers needs

  1. Focus on Customers First
  2. Cultivate Community Involvement
  3. Extending Campus Environments
  4. Flexible, Iterative and incremental in delivery
  5. Innovating with new products and services

Issues:

  • Inconsistent UI
  • Usability Features
  • Not Enough Flexibility
  • Too Few Options
  • Current Solutions insufficient to meet all customer needs
  • Meaningful exchange between between customers and vendor
  • ability to share innovations (Community Driven)

UI Modernization Goals

  • User centric design approach
  • Improve usability through consistent, effective design
  • Deliver an appropriate
  • Move away from Oracle Forms…. Moving to Flex and HTML 5 for all product

Consolidation of user interfaces

  • Consistent streamlined and personalized user experience
  • Rich interactions.

Common Platform Planned for Q4 2009 (SSB)

  • Common UI Planform = Consistent User Experiences
  • Common header, footer, look/feel, nav and help
  • Transformed UI will run inside the platform
  • End of 2010 – Common UI delivered across all products

Sungard Strategies

  • Hosted Applications – Q4-2009/ Q1-2010 (SaaS)
  • Evaluation of the Banner Enrollment Management Suite – Q3-2009 (Modular Development)
  • Community-Source Unified Digital Campus – Q4-2009/Ongoing

New Products – SALES PITCH!!

  • Flexible Registration – Simple on Demand web based system; alows learners to register and pay for credit and non-credit classes; supports traditional and non-traditional learners; is an extension of banner; does not break existing processes; minimal administrative oversight; See Sungard Site for further information on the features!
  • Signals – Helps instructors identify at risk students early in the semester ; Early intervention leads to improved performance, increasing the number of Bs and Cs; Benefits – Early notification and behavior changes; integration to courseware.
  • Relationship Management – Change in strategy, open the environment for relationship management across the institution (Prospects, Students and Alumni), Bolt on Applications are coming
  • UDC Academy – Online interactive training program – Banner Finance, Student, Financial Aid and Human Resources – Instructional videos, tutorials, exercises, review questions

Technology Management Services

  • Tech Services Advisory Board – Made up of current customers to guide the development of professional services towards IT Management Professional Services. Areas of Focus – Security Management

Regards,
TJ

2009
11/19
CATEGORY
Business Intelligence and Reporting
ERP
IT Management
TAGS






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