Ad Hoc Reporting Project Update

December 13, 2018

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.