Leaderboard, a provider of visual intelligence, business management and product evaluation solutions, is broadening its penetration into the local market with the expansion of its dashboard expertise, or what the company terms `visual intelligence`. This has been made possible with the introduction of a new product from Business Objects, namely Crystal Vision, which integrates the popular Crystal Reports with the Xcelsius dashboard solution which it recently acquired.
Says Alan Mulaudzi, CEO at Leaderboard: "This new product offering will allow companies using Crystal Reports to access information in databases and applications across the organisation, creating visual reports and dashboards that are easily distributed to end-users. Leaderboard will leverage its implementation and consulting skills around the Xcelsius data visualisation product and its extensive expertise in the creation of visual intelligence solutions to assist these organisations to quickly leverage their investment in Crystal Vision.
Business Objects acquired Xcelsius in November 2005 in a strategic move to provide a dashboard front end to its enterprise BI suite and complete its offering with an entry-level business intelligence solution to the small and medium enterprise (SME) arena. Leaderboard has capitalised on this move by focusing on providing its implementation and consulting skills around the product to the market.
Mulaudzi explains: "We have already sold the Xcelsius solution into many organisations in the local market - some of them blue chip companies. As the product has a low entry price point, the value for Leaderboard lies in applying our experience in building dashboards to deliver strategic advantage to organisations. When Business Objects acquired the software and allocated distribution rights to local storage distributor StorGate, it provided us with a significant opportunity to assist companies that have purchased the solution to create and develop dashboards, as well as to provide them with the training they need to become proficient in dashboard authoring and development.
On a recent visit to South Africa, Joel Vestal, Business Objects EMEA distribution manager, explained the valued role that Leaderboard plays in its strategy to market with Crystal Vision. "Leaderboard provides Business Objects with a partner that understands the requirements of building dashboards, maximising customer investment in the product through the provision of consulting services. There is a lack of these skills in the market and having a partner that not only assists with the design and implementation of these solutions but also provides training, transferring these skills to the end-user client, is a considerable advantage.
"In addition, Leaderboard sold the most Xcelsius products throughout the entire EMEA region in Q1, further demonstrating its commitment and belief in the product.
Says Jonathan Nell at Leaderboard: "Xcelsius bridges the gap between data analysis and visual presentation, delivering the dual benefits of simplified comprehension of complex data and business discovery and planning. With Crystal Vision, organisations of any size can easily design compelling reports, create insightful dashboards and presentations, manage data in a secure environment and use that information live within Microsoft Office."
Nell continues: "These two distinct products integrate Crystal Reports, a stalwart in reporting technology, with Crystal Xcelsius, a data visualisation solution. Now small and large organisations alike can turn static data and reports into interactive dashboards that show exactly how their business is performing and where they need to improve operations."
The software is available in two versions: Crystal Vision, designed for individual users; and Crystal Vision Server, designed for managed environments.
Nell concludes: "There is a natural extension of functionality between these two products, allowing companies to unlock the power of their information assets. With one integrated solution, customers can access, analyse and share information from within their Microsoft Office applications. Organisations now have a powerful solution for reporting and can present information in visually compelling ways."
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