Working on a project to deliver BI on Oracle sources
So I just came off a mini project working with a customer who is trying to solve a common problem. Integrating data across multiple sources for better insight to the business user. The difference: the customer prefers Oracle as their underlying database platform and any component of Microsoft technlogy stack should a) not include the SQL Server relational database and b) provide seamless integration of the 2 main Oracle databases that this customer has.
The answer of course is Analysis Services 2005. I was very very impressed as I worked through the proving but at the same time I learnt a lot. Here are the things I learnt and plan to share each learning in a subsequent blog:
1) Installing all the Microsoft components. Which order, what are the dependencies and what are the steps. I found there is a need for a little bit more simplification of the steps. For example, Installing Business Scorecard Manager, making sure the right client tools are installed for Oracle, getting Reporting Services and Sharepoint on the same machine etc..
2) KPIUTIL.EXE rocks!! Trying to centralize Key Performance Indicators in Analysis Services 2005 (BTW I plan to start using SSAS for Analysis Services ) so that many querying tools can access those KPI"S is a phenomenal idea. And if you are using Business Scorecard Manager (BSM) to deliver this KPI u want to use the KPIUTIL.EXE. I was very impressed how it just took a KPI in SSAS and published it to the BSM server. I will plan to write more about that.
3) Mappoint rocks!! Again, connecting to SSAS to deiver geographical data. Awesome.
Raheel
