The front end you choose can depend upon a number of items such as:
Level of reporting needs - This ranges from basic adhoc queries to the creation of dynamic and complex user calculations.
Level of user experience - If typical users are managment and above then a tool that allows the use of complicated mdx may not be needed, however if complicated MDX is needed for upper managment then a possible thick/thin client implementation.
Current features - What tool has the features you and your users desire. Items such as Dimension Search capability, Report Scheduling, Alert mechanisms, user created calculations.
Ease of adding custom features - Not all tools are created equal and it is not likely that anyone tool has everything a user may be after, so you want to ensure that you have the ability to create custom features such as search utilities or report schedulers.
Security - Does the applications security model meet your needs.
Cost - Typically a big issue but if possible it is better to go for the one that best suits your needs and invest a bit more, rather than buying based solely on price.
A good way to approach this is to
1) Find out the needs of your users.
2) Research the available products to find their offerings olapreport.com is a good place to start.
3) Contact the vendors that seem to best suit your needs and request further technical information if needed.
4) Create a document comparing features and cost
5) Present to managment with your recommendations
Cognos, Business Objects, Panorama Novaview. Proclarity, AlphaBlox, Excel3 (Excel cubed) are all wonderful produts each with their own strengths and weaknesses, along with probably a dozen other tools.
"Shoot Me! Shoot Me NOW!!!"
- Daffy Duck