ProfitBase, the Norwegian developer of rapidly deployable business intelligence (BI) solutions, is to be one of the keynote presenters at Microsoft's Retail Day, to be held at The Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays on 16 September 2008.
ProfitBase, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, delivers ready-to-use business analytics, business system connectivity and a rapid configuration data warehouse that results in faster implementation and deployment of BI solutions.
ProfitBase is Microsoft's chosen global ISV partner in the retail sector, and recently entered the South African market through its local distributor, Harvey Jones. ProfitBase has taken the local market by storm with its mix of rapid delivery and in-depth functionality.
Microsoft and ProfitBase last year signed a strategic alliance, aimed at delivering an out-of-the-box, standards-based BI solution for the retail industry. Based on the Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS) data standard, the new data warehouse template includes facts and dimensions tailored for the retail industry such as retail-specific key performance indicators (sales, gross margin, sales per customer, and turnover per working hour, among others).
ProfitBase has used ProfitBase 2009, its template-based solution, with Microsoft SQL Server 2005 to develop the new data warehouse template for retailers.
The ProfitBase solution also uses Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 so dashboards, analytics and planning can be easily visualised and distributed throughout the organisation via Microsoft SharePoint Server 2007, providing retailers with increased control and insight into their day-to-day performance. ProfitBase has worked closely with ARTS and its Data Warehouse team to develop the new data warehouse solution, in line with the association's efforts to reduce the costs of technology through standards.
As retail standards related to the data warehouse evolve, the data warehouse solution will enable independent software vendors to find new ways to develop applications for the retail industry.
Olav Naess, CTO of Reitan Servicehandel, one of the leading Scandinavian retail groups that includes 7-Eleven Scandic, Narvesen and Pressbyran, was one of the early adopters to implement this new solution.
"We have been working with ProfitBase for many years," Naess says. "The ProfitBase organisation knows how to work with retailers, and its solution reflects this. The ProfitBase solution is totally configurable and eliminates any form of programming. We save up to 70% on development time when adding new dimensions or measures. The strategic alliance between Microsoft and ProfitBase, with respect to the adoption of retail standards, will add more and more retail specifics to the solution."
A representative from ProfitBase will present on: "Connecting Supply Chain Visibility". The event runs from 8am to 5pm. To register, call 0860 2255 67 or e-mail saevents@microsoft.com.
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