Gaining Insights – Part I - By Sanjay Jotwani

Introduction

We live in a digital world!! Every interaction is a “transaction”, and recorded into the computer’s storage.

So, what is the primary need of capturing this transactional data?

·         Proof of Interaction

·         Grain for Business Analysis

·         Case for Predictive Analysis

As we have digitized every piece into a bit, the challenge faced today is more in terms of

·         Volume of Data and,

·         The disparate forms of Data in a Domain.

As mentioned, data has a purpose to serve; the major is that of participating in analysis, leading to the intelligence required by the business to make informed decisions.

In this multi part blog series, we will try to cover the need, along with the design & implementation practices for a Business Intelligence Application.

The Framework for Business Intelligence

A Business Intelligence Application, from a layered architecture perspective would be represented as shown in Figure 1.

This framework is conceptual, and technology agnostic.

Figure 1.

1.       The Data Integration will result in the Consolidated Data Storage

2.       Data Analysis and Rich Visualization such as decomposition trees will use this Consolidated Data

3.       The Consolidated Data can be termed as Data Warehouse OR Data Mart.

 In the next blog, we will explore the Application Data Layer.

Until then; Cheers!!

Microsoft to update Office Communications Server

Microsoft to update Office Communications Server

Microsoft plans to release a new version of its OCS (Office Communications Server) by the latter half of 2010, according to Gurdeep Singh Pall, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Unified Communications Group.

The new version of the software will include new features such as E911 (Enhanced 911), deeper integration with Microsoft SharePoint 2010 and Microsoft Exchange 2010, as well as enhanced voice recognition capabilities.

The new software hasn't been officially given a name yet, though Microsoft's official working name is Communications Server 14. Pall did not say what the "14" stands for. OCS is software that provides instant messaging, Internet telephony, video conferencing, presence notification and other communications capabilities to large organizations.

When connected to a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) trunk or a PSTN (public switched telephone network), OCS can replace an office's PBX (private branch exchange) equipment. That can cut the costs of long-distance calls and telephony in general, Pall argued. "This is a complete VoIP [voice over Internet Protocol] solution," he said.

One new feature is E911, which allows a user, no matter where they are located, to dial 911 and get local assistance.

Another new feature is call parking, or the ability to put a call on hold and then resume the call from any other phone on the system.

The Communicator client has been simplified and outfitted with new features as well, Pall said. When integrated with Microsoft SharePoint 2010 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, the client can offer a deeper level of search. Previously, users could search the internal directories for names, but now they can search for expertise and knowledge areas as well, he said. The software uses the SharePoint directories to harvest this expertise data. Once you find an expert, you can call them directly from the desktop, using a USB headset. For the recipient of the call, the area of expertise serves as the subject line of the incoming call notification.

Using speech recognition software, the Communicator client can also transcribe voice mails so they can be read on screen.

Speaking at the VoiceCon2010 conference in Orlando on Wednesday, Pall expressed optimism for the growing adoption of unified communications, or the ability to intermingle multiple forms of communications.

By Joab Jackson on Infoworld.

  Microsoft SharePoint 2010 is the next release of Windows SharePoint Services, the collaboration platform from Microsoft. It offers a lot of new features and enhancements over Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, the earlier release.  It is also the foundation set of services on which the SharePoint Server 2010 is built. This release of SharePoint is highlighted with some important new features like Business Connectivity Services, UI Enhancements, Client Object Model, Sandboxed solutions, Claims based security, Services Architecture and Performance Point Services.