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How Data Warehouse Automation Can Save Your Dynamics AX BI Project

insightsoftware -
July 27, 2018

insightsoftware is a global provider of reporting, analytics, and performance management solutions, empowering organizations to unlock business data and transform the way finance and data teams operate.

Blog Dwa Automation Saves Ax Bi

There’s always a risk of implementing software that affects multiple areas of your business, and business intelligence (BI) for Dynamics AX is no exception. Your primary data source is your ERP solution, Dynamics AX, but your information likely resides in other areas including CRM, WMS, etc. In order for a BI solution to truly deliver what you need it to—which is accurate, easy to consume reports and dashboards—your business requires a data warehouse to centralize the data from all your separate sources to make it usable. A well-implemented data warehouse provides the foundation that will enable BI to transform your data into actionable information for your business.

Project delays, cost overages, and operational disruption are common outcomes of a BI project gone astray because of the sheer amount of planning, development, and training required for a successful implementation. Why? Because there is a traditional approach to building a data warehouse that relies heavily on manual code creation and testing. In other words, there’s a lot of room for error. Over the last few years, however, a modern approach to building data warehouses has emerged and it’s saving business owners and management a lot of time, money, and headaches. Here is an overview of both options:

  1. Traditional Data Warehousing Approach
    Building a data warehouse is largely an effort in writing mass amounts of SQL code. This code is what moves data from a source system, like Dynamics AX, to a target system, like a data warehouse. Using the traditional approach, SQL code writing and data mapping are done by a team of developers. On top of the extensive up-front analysis, design, and modelling, it is a highly resource-heavy approach that is time-consuming and error-prone and ends up leading to extended timelines, increased expenditures, and general dissatisfaction. The bottom line is this: Using the traditional methodology to build a data warehouse is a long, tiring, and expensive approach.
  2. Modern Data Warehouse Automation (DWA) Approach
    DWA is a technology and approach designed to build data warehouses efficiently. It reduces resources, costs, and project risk by automating your entire data warehousing life cycle from planning, analysis, design, and development to operations, maintenance, and change management. The idea behind DWA is that if you can automate these time-consuming tasks, then your project team can focus on the components that require more intellectual input than raw technological horsepower. This results in a higher success rate for BI projects, and most importantly, it allows for faster, better, and more cost-effective delivery of BI output to the business.

DWA can help you successfully adopt BI in your organization and avoid costly delays. Download the “Avoid 3 Common Mistakes That Cause AX BI Project Failure” whitepaper to learn more.

Although the analytics framework in Dynamics AX has improved extensively over time, many businesses don’t have the technical capabilities in-house to make it their own. Whether you’re struggling with meeting your business goals or experiencing huge productivity losses, a third-party BI solution is designed to easily access your Dynamics AX data and transform it into profitable business action. If you’re considering adopting a BI solution within the next few months, it’s important to get prepared. Download this whitepaper for a detailed look at DWA and what exactly you need for a successful BI implementation.

Learn How to Avoid 3 Common Mistakes
That Cause BI Project Failure