Category Archives: Business Intelligence

D & B and GlobalSoft Partner with Informatica to Power-Charge Customer Master Data

Image representing Informatica as depicted in ...

D&B announced that GlobalSoft, a global software consultancy, and D&B have partnered to launch D&B360 for Informatica MDM. This marks the first time that D&B has used its Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) solution to integrate its unequaled database with an MDMsolution, enabling companies to automatically update and streamline their data across the enterprise to increase productivity, reduce costs and maximize ROI.

“With the increasing volume, complexity and volatility of data, it has become a struggle for companies to not only effectively manage their data, but to gain the insight necessary to act upon that data to drive real business change,” said Mike Sabin, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing Solutions at D&B. “D&B360 for Informatica MDM helps companies get ahead by delivering timely business data with actionable perspective to provide a competitive advantage.”

D&B360 for Informatica MDM provides true data stewardship and entry-point integration, making it easier to address data consistency and quality issues. In addition, D&B360 for Informatica MDM automatically embeds the industry-standard D&B DUNS® Number and all related business data via the cloud, ensuring users have timely access to a current and complete source of data, enabling them to quickly synchronize information across other business systems.

“At the recent Gartner MDM Summit, a common theme on the minds of attendees was the need to evolve current MDM tools to support the ‘day in the life of the data steward’,” said Andrew White, research vice president and agenda manager for MDM and Analytics, Gartner. “An MDM solution that couples business information like credit rankings and revenue performance can help IT leaders deliver a compelling business case for the value a holistic data view offers to company executives.”

Specific customer benefits include:

  • Faster and easier data management: D&B360 for Informatica MDM
    can be used to match, group and master records more quickly.
  • Improved data stewardship: Timely matching service can
    automatically route records that meet specified criteria for more
    effective and efficient distribution of information.
  • Entry Point Integration: D&B360 for Informatica MDM Adapter
    eliminates data quality issues and duplicate challenges at the entry
    point, to dramatically enhance data quality, decrease MDM processing
    time, improve decision making and drive lower total cost of ownership.

“Together, as we expand our long-standing relationship with D&B, we continue to help our customers and the industry improve and unlock the true value of their data,” said Dennis Moore, senior vice president and general manager, MDM, Informatica. “Our combined offering allows companies to leverage their data more effectively to make better business decisions that benefit their customers – and the bottom line.”

D&B360 for Informatica MDM will be available in the United States beginning in May 2012. For additional information about D&B360 DaaS Solution for Informatica MDM, please visit: www.dnb.com.


New Mobile Cloud Technology and Analytics Revitalize Next-Generation ERP Implementations

VAI, an ERP software provider, unveiled two new white papers — authored by renowned IT consultant Michael Dortch — that provide top-line guidance on how to maximize the value of existing ERP implementations with new innovations in mobile cloud technology, analytics and business intelligence. The papers, exclusively available from VAI at www.vai.net, outline specific steps that both business and IT professionals should take to add new functionality and value to ERP deployments while leveraging existing investments with minimal user disruption.

Dortch, long recognized as an ERP implementation expert for the past 25 years from his post at DortchOnIT.com, offers his advice to business leaders in the IT + “ERP3” = More Business Value paper and to IT staff in the “ERP 3” = From Enterprise Resource Planning to Enabling Rock Solid Processes. Both papers can be downloaded here at the VAI news page.

Among the key highlights of both papers is a look at how key industries will be transformed by adding new mobile cloud technology to their ERP implementations. Below is a quick snapshot of how five industries will benefit:

  • Distribution: workers at any point in the value chain will
    access real-time inventory information, uncover slow-moving or
    out-of-stock items, and improve order fill rates, inventory turns and
    responses to customer demands
  • Food Service: workers will hasten production and lower
    operational costs by replacing manual, error-prone paperwork with
    integrated solutions for tablet sand smartphones
  • Manufacturing: mobile networked devices and on-demand software
    will enable seamless integration, tracking and optimization of tasks
    from inventory, shop floor and warehouse management to capacity and
    materials planning and product quality control
  • Retail: automation of tasks and processes will improve
    inventory, purchasing, warehouse management and customer relationship
    management at point of sale, both in-store and online
  • Service: improved integration of customer interaction and
    product-related information will ease and hasten superior service and
    repair, increasing customer satisfaction dramatically

“Mobile cloud technology will improve cost and operational efficiencies while expanding collaboration with customers, vendors and partners,” said Dortch. “That, coupled with new innovations from IBM’s Websphere portal and Cognos Business Intelligence, can ignite existing ERP implementations with graphically rich personalized dashboards and easy-to-use yet highly functional e-commerce applications.”

In both papers, Dortch offers specific guidance on how to get started with adding new functionality to ERP implementations such as:

  • Embrace Customization as a way to reinvigorate existing ERP
    investments
  • Conduct an Audit to examine your organization’s readiness to
    add mobile cloud functionality
  • Develop Specific Criteria for upgrading ERP systems based on
    detailed feedback from both IT and business stakeholders
  • Create an ERP Playbook that outlines ERP goals, processes and
    supporting IT resources that will be embraced by both IT and business
    teams.