Business Technologists: The “new” IT ambassador for today’s evolving companies?

Written May 31st, 2011 by Ryan Robitaille
Categories: BI, Information Technology, Out of The Box
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Business Technologists: The “new” IT ambassador for today’s evolving companies?

Like Bob Dylan said in 1964, “The Times They Are a-Changin’”.

Everyone knows the old often-heard adage about the IT Department being more or less a neccessary evil – while this isn’t exactly true – many companies have operated that way over the past decade or so (many to their detriment, unbenowst to them).

Not only that, but the ever increasing convergence of tech and media has led companies to make technology purchasing decisions without involoving IT at all – only to roll it back on to the backs of already overburdened IT workers, sight-unseen.

There needs to be an organizational shift in the way companies view the traditional Business / Technology split among their own departments. Read the rest of this entry »

Microsoft SQL Reporting Services

Written May 2nd, 2011 by Dave Howard
Categories: ETL, MS SQL Reporting Services
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ReportingServicesWith the prevalence of reporting tools available out there it is sometimes scary how many people do not realize that if you use or own ANY version of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 or Microsoft SQL Server 2008, even the free EXPRESS edition, then you have at your disposal a pretty powerful reporting solution.

It is interesting how many organizations that we walk into struggle with reporting.  We will be implementing a large – scale application implementation with the database platform being SQL Server and inevitably someone will say, “Well, I guess we need to find some Cognos licenses, or go buy Crystal Reports or Business Objects.”  Not the case, if you have SQL Server, you have Reporting Services.

Sample conversation:

Client:  “Well, it’s called Microsoft SQL Reporting Services, I can only use the tool to create reports against SQL Server data, right Dave?  You mean to tell me that I have to automate moving my data from my Oracle and DB2 databases to use this reporting framework….too much work. Why exactly am I paying you again?”

Me:  “Let’s table that last question.   Well, while the Reporting Services Engine will use 2 databases that have to be on SQL Server you can develop reports directly from your Oracle or DB2 databases, or really any type of database platform that you have.  While in some cases it IS useful to move some of your data over to SQL Server, you really do not have to.”

Client:  “So how do people access these reports?  I probably have to run them myself or have one my people do it and then email them right?  That does not seem so Web 2.0?”

Me:  “Web 2.0…really?  Anyways, no, you will not run the reports, Reporting Services includes a reporting portal interface right out of the box.  Your folks open up their web browser and they have access to all the reports that are there based upon their permissions.  It’s really pretty slick.  Also, you can schedule reports to run on their own, keep snapshots of reports, and also have the system email the reports automatically to your clients.”

Client:  “You got an answer for everything, huh?”

Me:  “Yup.”

So the moral of that little diversion is that Reporting Services really is pretty powerful and most of you already have it already.

HOW TO: Business Intelligence, Data Mining, SQL Server, and Major League Baseball – Part 1

Written April 28th, 2011 by Ryan Robitaille
Categories: Analysis Services, BI, ETL, Out of The Box
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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HOW TO: Business Intelligence, Data Mining, SQL Server, and Major League Baseball – Part 1

Let’s be honest – we’re data guys. “Geeks” to be more exact. But, we’re also sports guys – and if there is ANY sport out there that prides itself as being massively data-centric… its Baseball. Data goes with baseball like Barry Bonds and… um, Home Runs (yeah, that’s it). Data collecting is an integral part of baseball culture and has been going on way before the internet or relational databases were even invented.

“Business Intelligence” is a term that’s been kicked around around for some time now, and basically just means “analyzing data from your past, in order to BETTER make better decisions in the future (or to better steer it in realtime)“. Its all about strategy, learning from mistakes (and successes), and being able to actively monitor / measure the health of your business. We might use this data to ask important business related questions: “Is Suzi Salesperson performing up to par this quarter?” or “What line of products have the biggest margin this time of year?”.

However, its not too far of a stretch to imagine someone who works for a Major League Baseball team sitting in front of a computer at the head office thinking: “What is the ROI of our pitching staff this year? Are they performing to expectations?” Its really no different then the business and reporting scenarios many of us encounter every single day. The exciting part is not only being able to read what has happened out on the ball field yesterday – but what might happen tomorrow. Boom. “Bizball Intelligence” anyone?

Read the rest of this entry »

Formotus

Written April 28th, 2011 by Dave Howard
Categories: Partners
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formotusWe are truly excited to announce that we have formed an official partnership with Formotus, Inc. (http://formotus.com) as a preferred solutions and subscription partner. This solution framework will greatly enhance our mobile frameworks and enhance our Sharepoint solutions focused on the BI space.

The benefits of a connected mobile workforce are many, but the cost and effort of developing custom mobile solutions has precluded many organizations from making the move. Formotus offers a breakthrough solution that can connect your workforce directly to your business data sooner and with less up-front investment than ever before.

The Formotus Software + Services platform allows businesses to rapidly create and easily deploy powerful custom applications for mobile phones to connect field workers with real-time business data. The per-user subscription model lets you scale up your project as quickly or gradually as you want at the lowest possible level of cost and risk. You can also leverage your existing investment in the Microsoft Office system by using InfoPath as a rapid application development tool and SharePoint as an out-of-the-box solution for collaboration between your back office and your mobile workforce. The robust standards-based XML technologies at the heart of the Formotus solution make it compatible with any business systems that can be exposed as Web services. You can connect mobile workers with your own backend servers, whether running SAP, Oracle, SQL or Dynamics. Or you can connect to cloud-based solutions such as Google AppEngine, Amazon WS, or Microsoft SDS. Formotus is unique in its ability to rapidly create, customize and deploy rich data applications on Windows phones for the mobile workforce in any industry. General-purpose applications as well as industry-specific applications can be deployed swiftly using the powerful platform of Formotus Software + Services.

Formotus is the gateway to custom mobile business applications that are fast and affordable, with enterprise-grade reliability and security. Formotus solutions are device-independent and can be used by companies of any size.

Solution Description
We can help you create their own custom business forms without writing any code and run the same form on all kinds of devices including iPad, iPhone, Galaxy Tab, Xoom, and even ruggedized Windows Mobile 6.x devices. Not browser-based, these robust native apps are optimized to work well offline. This hosted mobile business application platform from Formotus works seamlessly with the Verizon Wireless network.

Top Reasons to Buy

  • Go paperless. The easiest and most cost effective way to convert your mobile work force from paper to electronic forms.
  • Go mobile. Use SharePoint or XML Web services to extend your office systems workflow out to your people in the field.
  • Go fast. Forget app development, Formotus solutions are rapid to create, easy to manage, and work across many platforms.

For more information contact us and we will be happy to help mobilize your workforce.

New York State Procurement Contracts

Written April 28th, 2011 by Dave Howard
Categories: Services
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While not specifically focusing on the public sector, our location in Albany, New York, the capital of the state, lends itself to doing a great deal of work with many State Agencies.  The current C&C New York State procurement contracts that we currently hold include:

  • CMS092A – New York State OGS IT Services Backdrop Contract NY%20State%20Contract
  • C000110 – New York State OFT Project Management MASA
  • C000123 – New York State OFT Microsoft Support Services MASA
  • HSN Agencies – New York State OTDA ITTPS Backdrop Contract

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Our Services

Written April 8th, 2011 by Dave Howard
Categories: Services
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C&C Computer Solutions has been a long-standing, Gold-certified Microsoft Partner since 2007 and is focused solely on delivering Enterprise Solutions centered on Microsoft Server Products that include:

  • SharePoint 2007
  • SharePoint 2010
  • Infopath Forms Server / SharePoint Integration
  • ASP.NET, WPF, Silverlight, Windows Mobile Enterprise Application Development
  • SQL 2005 / 2008 Database and Business Intelligence Platform (Reporting Services/Analysis Services / Integration Services
  • Microsoft Dynamics CRM
  • Exchange 2007
  • System Center
  • MS Office Communications Server

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