QlikTech Aims to Ease Large BI Roll-Outs

Published: October 31, 2006

by Alex Woodie

QlikTech is seeking to streamline large-scale deployments of its QlikView business intelligence software with a new release of QlikView Publisher, the sidekick to QlikView Server that handles the dirty work of preparing data for loading, enforcing security controls, and distributing reports to users.

QlikTech's Windows-based QlikView Server allows users to create graphical reports, perform data manipulations, and view key performance indicators (KPIs) for data originating from a variety of sources. The fact that it comes with a wizard that generates ETL scripts for popular OS/400-based ERP systems has helped boost QlikView's popularity among iSeries customers in recent years.

Last week at its annual Qonnections conference in Philadelphia, QlikTech announced QlikView Publisher version 4, a new release the company says will help customers doing large-scale deployments of QlikView. Among the enhancements are new job management features that make it easier for users to focus on specific management tasks.

New data security control features have also made their way into this release. With version 4, QlikView Publisher will automatically make "data-driven" reductions of QlikView documents based on criteria established by the administrator, and then distribute the shrunken documents to the relevant users, thereby protecting sensitive information.

The new release also introduces a new way to access QlikView applications: the QlikView AccessPoint Web portal. Using this portal, administrators can ensure that users have an easy way to access the reports for which they have been cleared to view. Lastly, the new product also brings new scheduling controls to ensure that users have the most up-to-date data.

QlikTech customers are already using Publisher 4. For example, Aggreko, a global provider of temporary power, temperature control, and oil-free compressed air solutions--and a Lawson Software M3 (formerly Intentia Movex) customer--is relying on QlikView Publisher to increase the size of its deployment of QlikView in North America and to prepare for a global rollout.

"The addition of Publisher 4 has provided us with the tools necessary to manage all of our QlikView applications through one program," says John Sarkies, business support manager for Aggreko. "This has allowed our employees to have instant access to the information they need to make decisions, without having to dedicate additional IT resources. QlikView Publisher 4 is a significant step forward in allowing us to scale our QlikView deployment."