Posts Tagged ‘business analysis’

Introduction

We have implemented a flexible querying tool for a client to help them search and retrieve their business data. This solution integrates the Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Web Service with a .NET Windows desktop application to provide a flexible and intuitive search, sort and export system for their data.

We are able to describe this business search wizard generically although we are unable to release specific details of our client’s customized product.

Requirements

To provide an application to allow staff to query their company’s data with the following specification:

Selection specification

• A simple and intuitive selection screen
• Several parameters to select from (15)
• Easy selection (and de-selection) of criteria with drop down choice boxes where possible and a text translation for all coded fields
• Ability to select more than one value from a parameter where appropriate
• Date picker settings for date ranges
• Changeable default settings for all criteria
• Easy resetting of criteria to defaults
• Ability to choose which field set to be displayed
• Buttons to run or abort a selection

Display specification

• Data displayed in a data sheet manner on a new screen (Microsoft Excel style) after the selection is run
• A pre-determined list of fields returned and displayed in a pre-determined order
• Ability to sort on all or most fields after they are displayed
• Navigation to return to selection screen in order to refine selection
• A count of the records displayed

Export specification

• Button to export displayed fields to Microsoft Excel or other specified package
• Ability to choose the file name and location of the exported file
• Navigation to return to another screen

Solution

We integrated the SQL Server Reporting Services web service with a Windows Forms .NET application to produce a fast, easy to use, interface for our client to perform ad hoc data searches. Two screens were provided:

• Search Criteria interface screen with a wide range of named fields to select: some with drop-down lists; some with data range options and some facilitating multi-choice selection.
• Results Display Screen showing the returned records in datasheet format with options to automatically export to Microsoft Excel.

Benefits

• Users will be able to perform queries themselves without waiting for the availability of a SQL programmer.
• Users will be able to refine and fine tune their searches enabling them to directly answer management questions.
• Users will be able to sort the data file on any field of their choice.
• Users will be able to export the data to a file of their choice.
• Users will be able to spot and report data inconsistencies before data is released.

Overview

A search wizard is a valuable tool for any organization that has a database at the core of its business. It enables staff to answer the majority of questions that occur from day-to-day without needing to understand the database structure or language.

What is a database?

At the heart of all businesses, whether they are scientific, medical, educational, research-based or commercial, are data. Companies acquire data from their clients, patients, subscribers, customers and suppliers and from their own products and services. Businesses often require data from other sources as reference data for their own products or services. This reference data includes information such as: population and demographic data; stocks and share prices; consumer profiles; medical code lists; telephone and email directories. The key to a company’s success is how they organise their data.

When business data is kept in several disparate formats, manual intervention is needed in order to cross reference data or link one or more datasets to each other. When a company has lots of separate datasets it is challenging for any one individual to fully understand the company’s business. By analysing the company’s business with a view to bringing datasets together it is possible to document and display all the facets of a company’s data. Design methods are then used to arrange the different datasets in a manner that any grouping, search or calculation can be made across all a company’s datasets and the power of the data can be harnessed and fully exploited. This designed arrangement of data is called a database design. Once the design is agreed a database can be developed to provide an integral business solution.

The benefits of databases

Implementing a database solution for a business will enhance productivity and accuracy. Duplicated processes can be eradicated; data can be entered by several people simultaneously, data can be validated on data-entry; data-entry can be reduced by providing pre-typed lookup lists and duplicate records can be exposed and removed. Data can be displayed dynamically to anyone who has permitted access in a wealth of different formats and reports. When web based solutions are used, data can be securely, entered and viewed anywhere in the world. A company’s web site can be kept up-to-date from their database facilitating marketing and sales.

Interrogating databases empowers organizations to achieve their targets. Knowing which customers are also suppliers; calculating the effect of international exchange rates on product or component prices; deriving population based incidence rates or calculating the potential size of a company’s client base can be keys to marketing success; better sales margins; achieving research goals or business plan acceptance.

Who needs databases?

In short all businesses need to store their data in fully relational databases which will enable them to utilise and exploit their data. For some business models there is excellent ‘off the shelf’ software which will be perfect for their purposes, while for specialist and research businesses it will be necessary to request customised software developed by specialists such as Advent IT.