With its free software initiative Seagate Software has enabled Microsoft BackOffice users to take their first steps into the world of business intelligence (BI) without the costs typically associated with such projects.
The offer, which comprises 50 seats of Seagate Analysis, single licenses of the Seagate Info development and administration clients, and a reporting and analysis CD useful to Microsoft BackOffice users. "The CD was developed for IT professionals and network administrators with a view to turning BackOffice data into useful knowledge," says Vivek Thomas, regional manager for the Middle East and Africa at Seagate Software.
"In the past BI has been perceived as a luxury few companies could afford but this initiative has provided end users with the opportunity to implement Seagate Software BI solutions at no charge. Visitors registering on the company`s web site (www.seagatesoftware.com) have the option to download the 50 MB file or order a CD for postal delivery."
Thomas says more than 100 pre-built reports enable networks and systems to be administered through the provision of information sourced from BackOffice data such as machine configuration, network traffic patterns and storage usage.
"The initiative provides an integrated suite of reporting, query and open OLAP tools able to pull data from Microsoft SQL 7.0 Server databases, among others," he adds. "Visualisation of multidimensional data is provided and data is easily exported to products such as Microsoft Excel."
In addition, an upgrade path that will allow users to extend their BI solutions is available through Seagate Crystal Reports (SCR). Thomas explains: "Where Seagate Analysis helps users to make sense of important information, SCR allows them to deliver that information in sophisticated presentation-quality reports."
Extending such functionality still further is also possible with Seagate Info; a product that is to the organisation what Seagate Analysis is to the individual. "Beyond the basics of BI, the challenge businesses face today is to link simple data browsing technology into an enterprise-scalable system for scheduling, processing and sharing valuable information.
"Seagate Info provides this link and adds value to the organisation through the productivity improvements realised by the elimination of such costly systems demands as redundant queries and report generation. It ensures people have the information they need, when they need it, in a format they and use and understand."
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