Choosing the Best BI and Reporting Software for Your Money

Let's face it. In the age of information, there simply isn't any excuse for wild guesses anymore, or even educated guesses based on foggy speculation for that matter. Businesses are churning out more data than ever before, data that is crucial and relevant to the everyday business processes that ultimately determine the profit margin at the end of the day. It's important to not only quantify this data, but organize and decipher its meaning so you're not sailing the ship blind in a storm. Luckily, it's less "hocus pocus" than its sounds. Relax. When it comes to business intelligence solutions, the brainy types have already done the hard work for you. All you need to do is plug your data into quality reporting software that delivers everything you need to know in a way that is easy to understand.

Technology makes our lives easier, but it also means our lives contain more data than ever before. Luckily reporting software makes it simple to find the answers, solutions based on the real facts that guide your business and ultimately determine the company's cut at the end of the quarter. It's critical to realize, however, that not all business intelligence solutions are the same. Some have more glitz than guts, and it's critical to find the ideal solution that adapts to your own business challenges and equations.

Scalability: What Do You Really Need?
If you're shopping for reporting software, first sit down, take a deep breath, and consider what you truly need in your business intelligence solutions. Like grocery shopping, if you go in there blind without planning meals around your budget, you'll end up with too many cookies, thrills and tidbits than you really need or even want, for that matter. Some programs have frills the average small to mid-size company will never need, but fetch a high price tag. You don't need a Rolls Royce when a Dodge Caravan works fine, and in fact better accommodates your real needs with truly practical solutions.

Data Virtualization
This should be at the top of your checklist. If data virtualization isn't offered in a business intelligence solutions package, you're better of investing in the Brooklyn Bridge. You might as well buy that ancient Apple IIC on eBay and run your entire company off it. Reporting software without data virtualization is outdated technology, even before you break it out of the box. What's the point? Metadata might sound geeky, but it will require a team of geeks on your payroll, who'd be better off doing something else for a living, let's face it. The whole reason you invest in this technology is so your data is already automatic.

Alastair Houghton is the author of this article on reporting software and business intelligence solutions.