Web Intelligence VS. Crystal Reports 1

[moonknightt]

We are starting a new implementation of Business Objects XI. There is a debate going on on which product is more beneficial to our customers Crystal Reports or Web Intelligence. When is it better to use one over the other and why. If you have one do you need the other?

Thanks

 

[MJRBIM]

The questions you need to ask are -

1.) What kind of users do I support?
2.) How many are developing/updating report content?
3.) How many are running/viewing existing reports?
4.) How technically capable are the users?

CRYSTAL REPORTS is the best tool for pixel-perfect reports that are going to be Printed/PDF-ed. It can go directly against multiple datasources, and can return results against pre-defined parameters. Those reports can also be easily embedded into applications via the SDKs. Downside - Report Developers need to have CR-knowledge and a solid understanding of the various databases.

WEB INTELLIGENCE is the best tool for "unstructured" reporting. It is dependent on a DEVELOPER having created a UNIVERSE for the users to access the underlying data. The UNIVERSE is a Meta-Data layer that "hides" all the database complexity from the end-user. The drag-and-drop web interface for WEB INTELLIGENCE allows end-users to create their own reports on-the-fly within the limits of what is available in the UNIVERSE. Downside - (1) the output methods for print and PDF are not as attractive as CR, (2) end-users can often get "lost" in a Universe no matter how much you simplify it.

In our environments, we give pre-defined Crystal Reports content to 95% of our end-users, and limit Web Intelligence to the 5% of analysts who actually need to create new report content "on demand". If a report is needed for executive sign-off or compliance purposes, it is ALWAYS a Crystal Report.

 

[MJRBIM]

You can also look at the definitions of "Content Technologies" on the DIAMOND site...

http://diamond.businessobjects.com/node/18620

 

[blom0344]

MJRBIM,

That's a pretty good dissertation on CR/Webintelligence. Have a star for the effort!

Ties Blom