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 Challenges
Why Choose the Microsoft Office System?
Microsoft Office System Products
ChallengesFinancial managers depend on current and complete information to make sound business decisions. As companies collect more data in their line-of-business systems, financial decision-makers are demanding better access to that data. But these managers are usually unable to access the information themselves; instead, they rely on the IT department to run reports for them. The IT department produces standard reports, but often those don't meet end user needs, and IT staff can be overwhelmed with requests for special "one-off" reports. In order to reduce the workload associated with these requests, IT teams are looking for ways to improve end user access to the information locked inside line-of-business systems. However, they quickly realize that doing so can be a challenging undertaking. Technical challenges that a company could face while building a solution to access their enterprise data include: | • | Different data connection requirements. Each system that holds business data often requires a different approach to data access. There is no consistent integration method. | | • | Custom user interface development. IT teams will be required to build custom, user-friendly methods of accessing data. | | • | Extending systems with collaborative capabilities. Most systems are focused on just the core data, but have no capability that allows a business user to share that data with other team members. | | • | Access to current data. Business users often request the latest information, but providing access to current data in transactional systems is often a challenge as well as a risk to data integrity. |
Why Choose the Microsoft Office System?To address the challenges of financial dashboard reporting, it is crucial to choose a platform that is familiar to end users, has deep development tools support, and a broad partner network. The Microsoft Office System is an ideal platform choice for a financial reporting dashboard solution because it provides the following benefits: | • | Interoperates with other systems using XML and Web services. This ensures that the existing financial and other line-of-business systems can integrate quickly and easily. | | • | Uses existing software applications that are in place and are preferred by end users. Most finance users already use Excel and other Microsoft Office System products and technologies every day. This familiarity keeps training costs low and ensures that financial workers can start using the solution quickly. | | • | Deploys quickly with minimal IT impact. Deploying SharePoint Products and Technologies Web Parts for use in dashboards is simple, straightforward, and can be done quickly. | | • | Lowers total cost of ownership as a result of using existing investments in Microsoft software products. | | • | Offers a rich network of partners well-versed with Microsoft Office technologies and the needs of finance professionals. |
Microsoft Office System ProductsThe Microsoft Office System is an integrated set of products, technologies, services, and solutions that enable customers to increase their organizational, team, and personal productivity. For a financial dashboard solution, these are the common technologies that could be used: Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003 Microsoft Office Excel 2003 Microsoft SharePoint Products and Technologies
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