Crystal Enterprise 10 *New Version Launch! Crystal Enterprise adds some great key new capabilities that we've all been looking forward to, here are a few highlights: • Business Views - new metadata layer for reporting, with data security rules • Report Packages - schedule groups of reports together • Business Calendars - schedule reports to follow your own custom calendars Note that all the APOS Add-Ins for Crystal Enterprise have been successfully migrated to Crystal Enterprise 10, please refer to the list below. Click here to review a complete listing of what's new in Crystal Enterprise 10! Migrating from Seagate Info to Crystal Enterprise? *We Can Help Some aspects of migrating from Seagate Info to Crystal Enterprise are challenging. APOS has the tools and experience to assist. Click here to request additional information on Seagate Info migration services. Business Objects Update *Crystal & Business Objects Roadmap Five members of the APOS team attended BOBJ’s road show event at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto. This is the first of a global seminar and awareness campaign to be done in 11 different languages, 80 seminar cities, 29 countries, and an expectation of 16,000 attendees—quite a launch.  The message came through with crystal-clear clarity—Business Objects is actively fusing the technology strengths of the two organizations in ways that will benefit not only existing Crystal customers, but all customers who are considering business intelligence as a path toward improving organization performance. If size is important, the acquisition of Crystal Decisions makes Business Objects the undisputed leader in business intelligence technologies. More importantly however: The message was clear when Chris Caron, VP Corporate Product Marketing,  presented  the product roadmap as a public event. Only companies who are prepared to be judged over a two-year period by both customers and industry analysts are confident enough to articulate their plans in such a public way.  The message was also clear when Business Objects chose Crystal Enterprise, Crystal Analysis, and Crystal Reports as core components for the overall solution architecture. When combined with Business Objects components, this architecture is the most comprehensive and powerful in the market place today.  Certainly, as Crystal Decisions experts, we walked away feeling enthusiastic and optimistic about Business Objects and the role it will play in BI. Our optimism is well placed when a global independent IT research analysis company like IDC projects an ROI and payback as illustrated in this graph: (click on the image to enlarge)   We’ll be happy to discuss BI’s future with you. Please contact us at apos@apos.on.ca
Case Studies *Success Stories As you may know, APOS Systems is focused on working with customers to fulfill their information requirements through implementation of Enterprise Reporting and Business Intelligence solutions. Below is a condensed version of the case study of one such customer scenario. Feel free to contact us to discuss the impact such a solution could have on the effectiveness and profitability of your organization.
Case Study - ALTANA Pharma “The Crystal suite of products is a very good technology platform. And APOS is a great solution provider. They are always service-oriented, easy to get along with, and prompt,” ... Dave Slaney, Manager, Information Technology

"We still use APOS for complex issues and find that they are always improving on their knowledge and services with respect to Crystal”

. . . Dave Slaney, Manager, Information Technology

Background:

A 125-year global pharmaceutical organization—headquartered in Germany and with approximately 9000 employees worldwide - ALTANA Pharma Inc. was established in Canada in 1997 as Byk Canada. ALTANA Pharma Inc. participates in research and development for new pharmaceuticals, along with commercial leadership. Canada is one of the core countries for the international development of new chemical entities.   

Business Issue: Understand market positioning

IMS Health collects pharmaceutical prescription and sales data from pharmacies and hospitals across Canada. It is one of the ways that companies like ALTANA can track drug treatment and utilization trends. “It is important for our industry to understand physician prescribing habits from a drug adoption perspective as well as a drug loyalty perspective,” Mr. Slaney mentioned.

Solution: Implement a Business Intelligence solution to improve marketing initiatives

ALTANA chose APOS Systems Inc. as their key technology partner to implement an information reporting and delivery system based on Crystal Decisions products.  This solution-provider role also included software licensing and fulfillment, designing and building reports and training services.  APOS continues to play a pivotal role by providing implementation services, upgrade services, and ongoing training and report development services. Taken as a whole, these professional services streamline operations and build local competencies.

Although APOS did not create the original data warehouse, they were used extensively in the strategic implementation of it, especially on how to get data out. In addition to other internal and external data sources, the IMS data, including postal code information, is loaded into the data warehouse at regular intervals.

Results: Accurate and timely bottom-line information for upper management

The primary beneficiaries of this solution—Marketing and Sales Development— is now able to manipulate the reports and deliver bottom-line information to upper management effectively. The Market Intelligence group has found the data to be relevant and helpful in establishing strategies. “We are still in a development phase, but I believe we are starting to cut, analyze and interpret our data faster as well as in an integrated fashion, as opposed to an individual source basis. This integrated view enhances our capacity to help guide direction in terms of marketing and sales programs. It will also help us better understand the ROI of those programs,” reflected Beverlee Searle, Manager, Marketing Intelligence.

Why APOS?

ALTANA was using Crystal as their primary report writer for Financial and Sales applications. So, when Frank Murphy, VP Finance and IT, wanted to learn about Seagate Info a few years ago, he contacted APOS Systems Inc. APOS helped ALTANA understand what the Seagate Info platform provided and how APOS could add value to the solution. “Since we forged our partnership with them we have found that they have strong expertise in the Crystal Decisions suite of products. We still use APOS for complex issues and find that they are always improving on their knowledge and services with respect to Crystal,” said Mr. Slaney.

To read the full ALTANA Case Study or view others, click here.

We hope you're joining us in New Orleans on May 26-28, 2004 - a number of APOS team members will be there and participating! If you're attending, please look us up at the Vendor Fair where we're showing all our Add-In solutions - with some new add-in solutions being show for the first time! As well, please look for the track sessions we're presenting in and participate if you can! Click here for additional information and to register.

On-Line Solutions Presentations *Web Demos

Find out more about the Enterprise Reporting and Business Intelligence solutions from Business Objects by attending one of the online presentation times shown below, or contact us to arrange a presentation specifically for you and your company associates . . .

1:00 PM

March 23, 2004

3:00 PM

12:00 noon

1:00 PM