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Home » SQL Server 2005 » Business Intelligence » Cognos impromptu
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malcolm.garbett
Posted Thursday, November 01, 2012 5:45 AM
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Hello all,

My first post - so be gentle!

We use SQL Server 2008 R2 and I'm just beginning to explore BI for our business.

New guy in Accounts - so non-IT - used Cognos impromptu at his last place.

Questions:

Is it any good?
How much does it cost?
With the SQL Server 2008 built-in BI capabilities I'm just beginning to read about, do I actually need Cognos impromptu or anything like it?
Post #1379756
GSquared
Posted Thursday, November 01, 2012 6:23 AM


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I haven't used it, but I think you can start getting some answers here: http://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/cognos/products/series7/impromptu/

Looks like it's got a pretty good install-base, with a lot of companies using it.

Pricing looks like it's "call IBM for a quote", not listed on the site. Might be able to get a free trial copy, so you can do your own evaluation of it.

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Post #1379775
Greg Edwards-268690
Posted Friday, November 02, 2012 6:22 AM


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I assume that you are on SQL 2008 R2 even though this is a SQL 2005 thread.
This version of SQL server has a number of BI enhancements.
You might want to check out SSAS cubes and Reporting Services.
You already own them as they are part of the server product.
Check this out to get you started.

Some of our sites use Cognos, some use the SQL features.
Budget, platform, and what the people have skills in are all part of the equation.
It seems every tool has strong points and weaker ones.
Testing against your data and how you wish to view it also is a good idea.
Post #1380318
malcolm.garbett
Posted Friday, November 02, 2012 11:02 AM
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Greg Edwards-268690 (11/2/2012)
I assume that you are on SQL 2008 R2 even though this is a SQL 2005 thread...



Oops!

Yes, 2008 R2. Never really explored the BI capabilities but I see there are a bunch. Why I'm wondering if I should even entertain anything else. Single Server - single ERP instance sitting on SQL 2008 R2. Should have everything BI-wise I need. Shouldn't it?
Post #1380514
Greg Edwards-268690
Posted Friday, November 02, 2012 11:45 AM


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Even if everything is available and installed, it may not run well on the same server.
But you should be able to see what you own.
It is always good to look at more than 1 tool / vendor.
Someone who has used Cognos might just reccomend it as that's all they've been exposed to.

We occassionally see what else is out there, if for no other reason than see what other platforms have to offer.
BI landscape seems to be evolving quite a bit in the last 5 or 10 years.
Post #1380534
EdVassie
Posted Monday, November 05, 2012 7:50 AM
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If your site already has in-depth skills using Impromptu, then keep on using it. The install costs of Imprompu will be dwarfed by the costs of migrating to another platform.

If there are little or no Impromptu skills on site, then SQL 2008 R2 has a reasonably good BI stack (but not nearly as good as the SQL 2012 BI stack), and the major components of SSAS and SSRS come free with SQL Server. SharePoint is helpful and costs extra, but is not essential for most of the SQL BI components.

If you go with the SQL 2012 BI stack, you still get SSAS and SSRS free with SQL but you also need SharePoint to fully exploit this stack, whick has added costs and admin skill requirements.

You can get a similar BI experience to the SQL 2012 stack without SharePoint using alternatives products such as Tableau (good and cheap-ish) or MicroStrategy (probably the best BI product out there but costly). Impromptu is closer to Tableau in functionality and MicroStrategy in cost.

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Post #1381088
malcolm.garbett
Posted Monday, November 05, 2012 10:15 AM
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EdVassie (11/5/2012)
If your site already has in-depth skills using Impromptu, then keep on using it. The install costs of Imprompu will be dwarfed by the costs of migrating to another platform.

If there are little or no Impromptu skills on site, then SQL 2008 R2 has a reasonably good BI stack (but not nearly as good as the SQL 2012 BI stack), and the major components of SSAS and SSRS come free with SQL Server. SharePoint is helpful and costs extra, but is not essential for most of the SQL BI components.

If you go with the SQL 2012 BI stack, you still get SSAS and SSRS free with SQL but you also need SharePoint to fully exploit this stack, whick has added costs and admin skill requirements.

You can get a similar BI experience to the SQL 2012 stack without SharePoint using alternatives products such as Tableau (good and cheap-ish) or MicroStrategy (probably the best BI product out there but costly). Impromptu is closer to Tableau in functionality and MicroStrategy in cost.


No in-depth skills on anything actually. Just a new Accountant who has used at his last job - so won't fully comprehend the setup required, nor costs involved. And a single IT resource - me - who has some SQL Server ability and is currently reading up on the BI stack in 2008. It could be that something like Powerpivot will give the accounts all they need.
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