In an increasingly digital world, utilizing proper reporting techniques is essential to making sense of the increasing mountain of data we find stored on our computers.
The task of reporting on and identifying trends in this data is an exciting field that will only grow in importance as companies continue to take advantage of cheaper disk space and the growing capability of applications and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems that can track and record every last detail of conducting business.
As developers and consultants tasked with report writing, our goal is to provide the decision-makers in our organization with the tools and reports necessary to use this data in making key business decisions. We can help our end users unlock the trends found within the data being analysed. By providing accurate reports that bridge the gap between disparate information systems, we can provide users across the company with accurate, reliable information. In other words, we can provide them with a single version of the truth so that multiple end users can make decisions from the same set of data.
This book is intended for anyone who might be tasked with developing and creating reports, whether they are for personal use or for use by other report consumers. The term "developer" invokes an image of someone who is technically adept and possesses a unique understanding of the inner-workings of a particular piece of software. But, in the context of report-writing (and this book), the term developer has a much wider meaning. Instead, report developers can include those with more application experience such as senior accountants and day-to-day operations personnel. It can also apply to application consultants who are well-experienced with an organization's ERP application.
As we reach the end of this chapter, we should possess a better understanding of the following:
Taking advantage of the major trends facing report writers and developers in today's hyper-competitive environments
The end user driven challenges or requirements that exist when designing a report according to an end user's specifications
Organizational challenges that may help or hinder us from designing a report that meets the end-user's requirements
Weighing the pros and cons of numerous trends and challenges in light of each other in order to select the most effective report or reporting tool possible
While the focus of this book will primarily rest on reporting tools associated with the Microsoft Dynamics GP ERP application, the concepts required to design and build reports apply to the entire spectrum of ERP applications and various data repositories in general.