Broad Functionality of BI
The BI solution is broadly divided into Dashboards, Interactive Analytical applications, Flexible Reporting applications and Utilities component. 

Dashboards
The Dashboards focus on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which are significant predefined measures that provide individuals with the information they need to assess previous actions. They target performance and provide the ability to assess past performance. KPIs allow individuals to focus on those areas that require attention, thereby, managing their time more efficiently. 

Defining and creating KPIs can be very challenging because the individuals tasked with creating them must understand the goals of the organization, the business questions that must be addressed and where to obtain the data. 

Interactive Analytical applications
Analytical applications are business intelligence solutions that facilitate the access and maintenance of KPIs and other important metrics of an organization. The users can dynamically drill down to details in areas where the KPIs are violated or exceptions are noticed. They can thus instantly focus on causes of deviations and take corrective measures.

Designing Interactive Analytical applications requires defining information perspectives which allow the users to get an overall view as well as specific insight into consistently managed data from diverse sources.

Flexible Reporting applications
The Flexible Reporting applications provide users with a wide variety of flexible reporting options with just a click of a button. Flexible Reporting applications eliminate to a large extent, random manual effort in compiling reports by downloading data from Transaction Processing and other systems. Further more, the reliability on Flexible Reporting applications, which are consistently compiled from original data sources directly, without any manual interference, is very high. 

Utilities Component
This aspect of BI solution is related to services, which are available to the users of all the above BI functionality. This is the communication arm of a BI solution. An intelligent BI user should instantly be able to act on information and communicate within and outside the organization in order to optimize the use and value of information. The Utilities component include exporting data into various formats and broadcasting data to appropriate set of users for whom the information is critical.

BI Application Development Lifecycle
 
The following activities are generally undertaken by Pranali Consultants to implement the solution:

1) Data Strategy - Connecting to data sources and defining Data- ETL strategy.
2) Understanding and defining Business Hierarchy in the Application.
3) Customization of Application Functionality to suit the company.
4) Security - defining Security Hierarchy and synchronizing it with Business Hierarchy.
5) Deployment Management.
6) Testing, UAT and Implementation.

For more information on our Dashboard and BI Perspectives see the documents :
 
1) Dashboard
2) BI Perspectives