Business Intelligence & Reporting

The Matrix database builds a valuable storehouse of current and historical information on all the elements of your business activities. The historical data in most cases is archived for as long as you wish, while remembering that the capability is a function of disk capacity available. Disk storage is relatively inexpensive, especially when compared with the value of extra information it can store. Modular has ensured through the Matrix design that all the data is externally described, so that it is readily accessible by reporting tools.

In addition to historical files for sub-systems such as receivables, inventory, payables, etc., the Matrix software applications also store detailed images of key documents such as Purchase Orders, Sales Orders, Quotations and Invoices, which themselves become a rich source of useful information.

The critical requirement with this amassed data is to be able to interrogate, summarize and present answers to your specific business questions in a prompt manner. Different software tools are available to work with the Matrix database, offering varying levels of capability depending on each customer's needs.

The Matrix software products themselves each have inbuilt report modules, with a wide array of reporting options and summaries. The reports can be presented in hard copy with printing options to show all, ranges or specific items, or displayed on a workstation. Many customers find the Matrix reports to be appropriate for their needs.

Query-type report generators are available for you to produce ad-hoc inquiries and reports, often building one report from multiple data files depending on the complexity required. IBM's Query product, which is included with the server's operating system, is an example, as are highly flexible third party products such as NewGeneration Software's IQ400.

A step above the report generators are the Business Intelligence products, such as NGS Decision Assist which introduce much more sophisticated analysis tools.

The Modular system has full ODBC compliancy, offering a customer the flexibility of interrogating the Matrix database with any of the industry leading PC packages, such as MS Excel, Access, etc. Within Excel, and thereby MS Query, the Matrix database on the iSeries server becomes another on-line data source.

Modular Software holds training classes, either at your location or in a classroom setting at Modular, to ensure your staff have the knowledge and tools to achieve the level of data analysis and reporting you require. Our sales staff will also advise you as to each product's capabilities and installed price range, to satisfy your specific needs.

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