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web reporting

What to Look For in a Db2 Web Query Replacement

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Support for Db2 Web Query was pulled a few years ago, and many companies migrated away immediately. But, at COMMON PowerUP26 this spring, we were surprised by a couple of things:

First, we were surprised at the amount of people who said they were still running Web Query. They’re running without support until they’re forced to migrate.

Second, was the amount of people who tried to migrate and found it harder than they expected. There is a reason some migrations stall, and it’s worth understanding before you look for a Db2 Web Query replacement.

The big reason: Nothing is a true one-to-one swap for Web Query.

Whatever tool you pick, it will not reproduce your reports on its own. You’ll likely need to re-create those reports, and sooner or later you will hit something that the new tool does not handle out of the box.

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Choosing a Web Query Alternative: One Consultant’s Methodical Approach

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When IBM announced the end of Db2 Web Query for i, it caught many businesses off guard. Web Query was the go-to reporting tool for IBM i shops. Suddenly, those companies were left asking the same question: Now what?

Rick Flagler, an experienced IBM i consultant, heard that question from his clients almost immediately. They depended on Web Query for reporting and needed a reliable replacement that wouldn’t compromise functionality.

Rick approached the challenge with the precision you’d expect from a seasoned consultant. First, he created a “shopping list” of features that a Web Query replacement should include. He then dove into the landscape of BI tools built for IBM i, narrowing the field to those that ran natively and aligned with his clients’ needs.

From there, Rick didn’t rely on vendor claims or promises…he put each option to the test. He reviewed report designs, requested proof-of-concept demos, and evaluated each product’s ability to meet his criteria.

While I’m happy to say that his search led to m-Power, I’m just scratching the surface here. Rick wrote an article on the whole process, and goes into more details on his approach and criteria. You can read it here: “Life After IBM Db2 Web Query for i: Finding an Alternative.”

If you’re looking for a Web Query replacement, this article is well worth the read. It provides great insight into a thoughtful software evaluation process, what to look for in a BI replacement, and how an experienced consultant approaches this task.

To learn more about m-Power and how it can replace Db2 Web Query, check out this page: IBM Db2 Web Query Replacement

Video: Create web-based reports over a Snowflake database

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Snowflake is a popular data platform and data warehouse. It provides a cloud-based, relational database that businesses use to store structured and semi-structured data. Snowflake is known for offering data access at near-infinite scale, and is often used to store massive data sets.

The big question: If you use Snowflake, what are you doing with all of your data? Are you using this data to gain a clear view of your business and make informed decisions? Do you have an easy way to quickly create reports and dashboards over your data tables?

After all, what good is your data if you don’t use it?

The good news: Creating reports over your Snowflake data tables is simple! We just released a new video demo that shows how easily you can create reports, BI applications, and dashboards over your data. In just 5 minutes, we take you step-by-step through the whole process of creating a report over a Snowflake database table using m-Power. You can find the video below:

Want to see m-Power working over your data? Set up a custom demo here: m-Power Demo.

POWERCast Webinar Replay: Db2 Web Query Alternative – See m-Power in Action

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With IBM pulling the plug on Db2 Web Query, many customers are stuck looking for alternatives. While IBM states there is “no direct replacement for IBM Db2 Web Query for i,” there are options.

In this joint webinar with the COMMON User Group, we’ll take you through a live demo of one such alternative: The m-Power Development Platform. m-Power offers all of the reporting and BI capabilities of Db2 Web Query, and a whole lot more! In this webinar, you will:

  • Get introduced to m-Power’s reporting capabilities.
  • Watch m-Power build reports from start to finish.
  • See how easily you can set up scheduled reporting, security, portals, dashboards, and more.

Watch the webinar replay to learn how m-Power can replace what you’re doing with Web Query, and also deliver new capabilities! You can find the webinar replay here: Webinar Replay: Db2 Web Query Alternative – See m-Power in Action.

How to create web-based reports with a database reporting tool

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analyticsBusinesses collect and have access to more data than ever before. It’s a huge opportunity. They can analyze this data and use it to guide their strategic decisions.

The problem is, many businesses aren’t taking advantage of this opportunity. I see them making a couple of common mistakes with their data:

  1. First, they don’t use it. Their data just sits in their database (or in spreadsheets). As a result, they get no value from their data.
  2. Second, other businesses do analyze their data, but…do so very slowly. Often, reporting is still an IT function and there’s a backlog of report requests. Other times, they just don’t have the right tools to create web reports quickly. Whatever the reason, they’re stuck waiting around for their reports, which means they’re analyzing outdated data.

If you’re dealing with either of these issues, here’s a video to check out. It shows you how easily you can create web reports using a database reporting tool. In just under 7 minutes, you’ll see 3 different reporting types created…all without coding!

Want to learn more? Set up a demo here: Set up a demo.

5 canned reports that take the reporting burden off of IT

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analyticsIf end-user reporting is a burden on your IT department, you’re certainly not alone. The question is…how can you reduce the amount of time your IT department spends creating end-user reports?

One way to fix the problem: Create canned reports with run-time options for end users. This lets your users quickly access the data they need, while reducing the time your IT department spends creating reports.

Here’s how it works: Your IT department creates the initial reports with run-time filters for the users. The users can select which data to display, or filter their data however they wish when they run the report. With the right run-time filters, users can use a single report in many different ways. …

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How to create web reports that your executives will love

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EducationSummary: As business data explodes at a surprising pace, many companies still struggle with reporting. They create reports that confuse or overwhelm their executives–hampering their ability to make decisions. What do your executives think about their reports? In this article, we explore a few ways to give them reports that they love.
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7 essential elements of embedded analytics software

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EducationSummary: What is embedded analytics and why is it so important? What should you look for in an embedded analytics platform? While the requirements vary by company, I believe that certain elements are essential in a good embedded analytics tool. In this article, we explore 7 essential elements you should look for in any good embedded solution.
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6 essential elements of modern enterprise reporting software

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EducationSummary: What do you look for in a reporting tool? Obviously, the requirements vary by company, but I believe that certain elements are essential in a good reporting tool. In this article, we explore 6 essential elements you should look for in any good reporting solution.
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How to create a custom BI/Reporting suite (with write-back and data warehousing)

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EducationSummary: The m-Power Development Platform is a low-code development platform that lets you create enterprise-class web applications without coding. This video takes you on a deep dive into m-Power’s build process, walking you through a start-to-finish business intelligence and reporting project in under 2 hours.
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Webinar Replay: How to simplify self-service reporting

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EducationSummary: In many organizations, end user reporting runs through a single department or individual. They must build and customize the reports for end users—many of which want their reports customized in different ways. The problem: These customizations waste time. The report author often gets bogged down with countless change requests from end users—which delays the reporting process and hurts efficiency across the entire organization. If your business struggles with this issue, this webinar replay will show you how to simplify the self-service reporting process.
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Case Study: Breaking the application delivery bottleneck

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EducationSummary: Many businesses face an application development bottleneck. Application development efforts can’t keep up with business demands. As a result, business users are often stuck waiting around for the applications they need. Learn how one company solved this very problem, and how you can do the same.
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Why do 90% of spreadsheets contain errors?

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Save MoneyAccording to a number of different surveys conducted over the last few years, spreadsheets are still a commonly used tool for business intelligence. But, according to this article, 90% of spreadsheets contain errors.

Think about that for a second. Many companies still rely on spreadsheets for critical decisions, but most spreadsheets contain significant errors. In other words, critical decisions are made every day based on error-filled spreadsheets. How much does this hurt business? …

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The surprising benefits of custom ERP reporting

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EducationSummary: ERP systems rarely provide a perfect fit for your company’s unique reporting needs. While this may seem like a minor problem, it leads to serious issues. These issues not only waste time, they can even halt business growth. Learn how one company created custom reporting over their ERP system–and the surprising benefits they saw as a result.
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On-Demand Webinar: Real-time analytics and self-service reporting across multiple devices

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EducationSummary: While the importance of analytics is increasing, many businesses still struggle to give their employees access to the data and reports they need. Would you like to deliver real-time, self-service reporting to your business? Watch this on-demand webinar and learn how one company addressed this very problem.
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Learn how one company improved data access across their entire organization

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EducationSummary: Businesses collect more data than ever before. The problem is, many cannot easily access the data stored in their systems. By the time reports are created, the information is already outdated. Learn how one company dealt with this problem, and how you can do the same.
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The danger of departmental silos (and one way to fix it)

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EducationSummary: More than ever, data plays a critical role in the success of your business. Your ability to turn your data into meaningful management information and make it easily accessible across your organization can easily be a competitive advantage. The problem is, data still lives in silos across many businesses. Learn more about this problem, and one way to address it.
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Webinar Replay: Create custom reporting over your enterprise system

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EducationSummary: Enterprise systems (like ERPs) pose something of a “Catch-22.” If you don’t customize the system, it won’t perfectly fit your needs. If you do customize it, you’re locked into that system. If you’re facing this challenge, check out this webinar replay and learn how one company delivered custom reporting over their ERP system–without altering the system at all.
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