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The Power of Embedding Analytics

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The integration of BI solutions within business process applications or interfaces has become a modern standard. Over the past two decades, Business Intelligence has dramatically transformed how data could be used to drive business and how business processes can be optimized and automated by data. With ML and augmented analytics movement, BI applications are vital to every organization. Analytics embedding enables capabilities such as interactive dashboards, reporting, predictive analytics, AI processing and more within the touch of existing business applications. This differs from traditional standalone BI applications that put all the capabilities of business intelligence directly within the applications on which users have already relied. Now you may ask, when should I consider embedding to maximize my ROI?

Embedding Use Cases

Bar graph with upward trend     Business Process Applications

In this case, the integration of data & analytics is embedded into applications used by specific personas. For instance, embedding historical client information into a CSR application. One outcome will be improved decision-making based on readily available customer insights and higher levels of user adoption.

Shopping cart    Software / OEM Solutions

Digital transformation is all about software. Data visualization, forecasting and user interactions are must-have features of every application. Save the time you would spend coding. Embedding analytics in software not only saves cost greatly but also prominently enhances functionalities of software application.

Forest scene     Portals / Websites

Integration of data into your website or portal is another popular option. The benefits are obvious – information sharing provides your customers with valuable insights through a unified platform; you are able to go to market much faster since you are reaching customers directly. It helps your customers access the data they need to make decisions better, quicker and within their fingertips.

Embedding flow for embedding for your customers

Prepare for Embedding

Ready to get started? Let’s take a look at things to be considered. At a high level, the following areas to be carefully examined before design begins:

  • What are the embedding integration options? Especially with regards to security, how do you enable other application access to your secured BI assets? What are the options to manage authentication and authorization for thousands of users, both internally and externally?
  • Which functionalities will be open and accessible to BI embedding specifically? Typically not all UI functionalities are supported via embedding. Verify that critical functionalities are supported. Map your requirements to embedding functionalities and features.
  • Cloud vs On-premise hosting. Besides management and cost concerns, your organization may have cloud strategies and road-maps in place already. If that is the case, most likely no exception for BI application including embedding. Plus source data cloud modernization is another big driver to go with cloud. 
  • Cost – yes, no surprise there is cost associated with BI embedding. Each BI vendor may collect fees differently but legitimately you will need to pay BI embedding based on consumption pattern even when a single application user account is leveraged. Do the math so you know how much it will be on the bill. 

 Next let’s examine the tool differences. 

Embedding API by Leading BI Vendors

VendorAPIFunctionalities
IBM CognosSDK – Java, .NetMashup Service (Restful)New JavaScript API for DashboardNew REST API   Full programming SDK is almost identical to UI functionalitiesSDK can execute or modify a reportMashup service is easy to web embedding, limited report output formats are supportedJavaScript API and extension for dashboard, display/editNew REST API for administration 
Power BIREST APIJavaScriptREST: Administration tasks, though clone, delete, update reports are supported tooJavaScript: provides bidirectional communication between reports and your application. Most embedding operations such as dynamic filtering, page navigation, show/hide objects 
TableauREST APIJavaScriptREST: manage and change Tableau Server resources programmaticallyJavaScript: provides bidirectional communication between reports and your application. Most embedding operations such as dynamic filtering, page navigation
AWS QuickSightSDK – Java, .Net, Python, C++, GO, PHP, Ruby, Command lineJavaScriptSDK  to run on server side to generate authorization code attached with dashboard urlJavaScript: parameters (dynamic filters), size, navigation

BI embedding opens another door to continue serving and expanding your business. It empowers business users to access data and execute perceptive analysis within the application they are familiar with. Major BI vendors have provided rich and easy to use API, the development effort is minimum, light and manageable while the return benefits are enormous. Have you decided to implement BI Embedding yet? Please feel free to contact Ironside’s seasoned BI embedding experts to ask any questions you may have. We build unique solutions to fit distinctive requests, so no two projects are the same, but our approach is always the same and we are here to help.

Ironside appoints Paul Hardy to Executive Vice President of Professional Services

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Ironside, a Boston enterprise data and analytics service firm, announced this week the appointment of Paul Hardy to Executive Vice President of Services. He has been promoted to this role following his tenure as Vice President of Advisory Services. In his new role, Paul will oversee all of Ironside’s service practice areas: Data Advisory, Information Management, Business Analytics, Advanced Analytics & AI, and Managed Services. Paul will also join Ironside’s executive leadership team.

“Since joining the team in 2019, Paul has earned immense respect from his Ironside colleagues and clients. His thought leadership has helped many organizations we work with transform. Bringing Paul onto our Leadership Team will accelerate our ability to assist our clients as they manage, govern and flourish with the abundance of data accessible in a well-architected analytics strategy,” said Ironside CEO Tim Kreytak.

Ironside’s team is thrilled to have Paul assume this role. His skills will complement Ironside’s focus to continue our strong reputation for client-focused collaboration, and lead his team of senior consultants in helping clients achieve their modern analytic vision. Ironside’s pragmatic consultation approach helps clients take a step-wise approach to getting their data and analytics to a better place — while reducing risks and costs and extracting maximum value along the way. Our team supports clients on their ongoing journey, helping them address today’s needs while paving the way ahead for tomorrow’s new demands.

Hardy shares that he is looking forward to the new opportunities 2021 will bring:

“The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital technologies and increased clients’ appetites for pursuing new competitive differentiators.  Analytics and artificial intelligence are proving to be the most leveraged digital tools for creating leaps in business value from today’s growing proliferation of data, enabled by new, agile platforms and tools. With 20 years of experience, Ironside has unmatched abilities to develop those differentiators and transform our clients’ analytic infrastructure and organizations to create sustainable advantage and cultural change.  I’m thrilled to be leading our team of experts in this pursuit.”

About Paul Hardy

Paul brings over twenty-five years of consulting and P&L experience, selling and delivering transformation services encompassing strategy, people, process, partnerships and technology to clients of all sizes and across multiple industries. Prior to Ironside, Paul was a partner and practice leader of the IT Strategy practice at Information Services Group (ISG) where he transitioned the team for digital revenue expansion, developed digital strategy and methodologies for successful digital transformation engagements (e.g. cloud computing, automation/RPA, AI, IOT, Agility, DevOps, etc.)

Prior to that, he had led multi-tower ITO (application and infrastructure) and BPO transformation engagements and sourcing transactions. Paul had P&L responsibility for the Outsourcing Advisory practice at Alsbridge, and co-led post-acquisition integration of previously competitive practices when acquired by ISG in December 2016.  He also led the Financial Services Business at Perot Systems – a technology outsourcer – and was a start-up CEO in the B2B e-procurement marketplace.

Paul holds a BS in Systems Engineering from University of Arizona, and a Masters in Electrical Engineering from Cornell, as well as a MBA from The Wharton School.

About Ironside

Founded in 1999, Ironside is an enterprise data & analytics solution provider and system integrator. With decades of expertise, we guide businesses translating goals and challenges with expert consultation and technology solutions that enable insightful analysis, data-driven decision making, and continued success. Our team will help you structure, integrate and augment your data, while transforming your analytic environment and improving governance.