PerformancePoint Server with Dynamics (GP and AX)
A while back I made a post about the PerformancePoint Server (PPS) Data Import Wizard (DIW) and data integration toolkit. It was bad and good news. The bad part was that the Data Import Wizard was decoupled from Dynamics AX. The good news is that any data provider (a managed .NET Framework class library for simplifying data retrieval) can be created to import data into PPS Planning. Well, Dynamics providers are now here ! The data provider for Dynamics GP, an accounting software package that runs on top of Microsoft SQL Server database is discussed here in Alan Whitehouse's Ramblings. For Dynamics AX, a general ledger application and one of Microsoft's enterprise resource planning (ERP) software products (in the Dynamics family), a NEW data provider is now available.
Reasons for connecting to ERP data
By plugging ERP, transaction level data into PerformancePoint Server, you do the following:
- Make ERP-resident data more useful for decision-making.
- Give decision makers a more strategic and forward-looking view of the business than they can get from ERP systems and answer questions like
- Should we sell more of this product?
- Should we go into this new sales territory?
- Should we open that store?
- Should we hire some more sales reps?
- Should we consider another supplier?'
"These are questions that are actionable, and BI software should help people think about these questions and take action." see http://www.itjungle.com/two/two060706-story01.html
Dynamics AX installation guidance for the data provider
Here is some general information for installing the Dynamics AX data provider
To integrate Microsoft Dynamics AX and PerformancePoint Server, you must have a server running Microsoft Dynamics AX and a server running Performance Point Server. (These applications can be installed on one server, if you want.)
Microsoft Dynamics AX server prerequisite tasks
Install Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 or 4.0 SP2, including the base components:
Database - Application files
- Application Object Server (AOS)
- Client
Complete the Microsoft Dynamics AX initialization checklist.
PerformancePoint Server server prerequisite tasks
Install PerformancePoint Server 2007, including these components:
- Planning Server
- Planning Business Modeler
- PerformancePoint Add-in for Excel
Run the Planning Server Configuration Manager wizard (Start > Programs > Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 > Planning Server Configuration Manager).
See PerformancePoint Server documentation on TechNet
Install the PerformancePoint Server Data Import Wizard.
Install the Microsoft Dynamics AX .NET Business Connector.
