Following its global free software initiative, Seagate Software SA has released Seagate Analysis - an ad hoc business intelligence (BI) query tool which enables multidimensional data analysis (OLAP) and reporting.
Vivek Thomas, regional marketing manager at Seagate Software, says the product is a free, full-featured tool designed to access and analyse data from any ODBC source and can be tightly integrated with Seagate Info - the company`s BI software that allows information to be efficiently distributed across an organisation. "Seagate Analysis was created specifically to help lower the traditionally high barriers of entry in the BI market."
The software allows users to drill down on interesting information, view and modify base queries, slice and dice the data in an OLAP cube and export some or all the information to an Excel spreadsheet.
"Simplicity of use was the primary consideration during development of this product. It was designed to help anyone - regardless of job-spec, IT experience or knowledge - to be able to analyse and interpret important information," says Thomas.
The most beneficial feature of Seagate Analysis, however, is that it offers users a `first look` into the world of BI without the usual financial constraints.
"Basic data browsing - the use of ad hoc query, multidimensional data analysis and report viewing tools to understand information and identify trends - is not new," continues Thomas. "However, Seagate Software believes these essential tools, available from various vendors, are a commodity and should be treated as such.
"The real value-add lies in taking BI to the next level through integration with products for accessing, analysing and distributing information across the enterprise," he adds.
Positioning the product vis-`a-vis Seagate Software`s other BI offerings, Thomas says Seagate Analysis is to the individual what Seagate Info is to the organisation. "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.
0"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."
Thomas adds, where Seagate Analysis helps users to make sense of important information, Seagate Crystal Reports allows them to deliver that information in sophisticated presentation-quality reports.
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