Data Management Services (DMS) is pleased to provide an update on the Ad Hoc Reporting Project (ARP). The ARP’s mission is to improve the ad-hoc reporting capabilities for Harvard data citizens by providing tool options and a migration strategy for the ~250 BRIO / Hyperion IR users.
Over the summer and early fall, DMS facilitated a bake-off for the four final vendors (Microsoft BI, Oracle Data Visualizer, QlikSense, and Tableau) to showcase their offerings and for representation around the university to evaluate the tools. BRIO / Hyperion IR users from across the university participated in this bake-off. Our recommendation is to move forward with Tableau for BRIO / Hyperion IR users. Tableau stood above the rest when we considered user assessment scores, total cost of ownership, and other key criteria in the context of Ad-hoc usage. Additionally, there are some key features available only with Tableau that hold the promise of significantly simplifying integration with and re-use of investments made in the Finance and Sponsored OBI solution – which will be a huge win for users, stewards, and custodians of those data.
Over the coming months, Data Management Services will continue to make progress towards the completion of Phase I of this project. These steps include:
- Identifying the specific services DMS will offer for Tableau – more information to come shortly
- Submitting an ITCRB proposal for Phase II of the project: implementation of Tableau
- Negotiating the license structures and cost with Tableau (software and consulting)
- Working to ensure the best outcome for Harvard University as a whole
DMS will continue to share information as we have it. In the meantime, for more information about the Ad Hoc Reporting Project, please visit our wiki page.