NGS Business Intelligence Now a Solutions Edition Option

March 15, 2011 Dan Burger

The IBM i Solution Edition program provides an opportunity for companies to save some money on a new Power7 server when paired with the purchase of an IBM-certified, third-party ERP software that runs on that server. Last week, New Generation Software‘s business intelligence software was added into the package, giving companies that are happy with their current ERP an opportunity to upgrade to Power7 while increasing their BI capabilities.

New Generation Software’s business intelligence software, NGS-IQ, covers a lot of territory. It includes ad hoc query; production and Web reporting; online analytical processing (OLAP); business performance dashboards; summary-to-detail drill down; native access to DB2 on i (also known as DB2/400); remote real-time access to SQLServer, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, and other data sources; output distribution via e-mail and FTP; meta-data; change management tools; auditing; and security.

“Solutions are why people buy IBM Power and IBM i,” says NGS President and CEO, Bernard Gough in a prepared statement. “IBM is investing heavily in BI technology and helping people understand its potential through programs like the recent Watson campaign. It’s the perfect time for IBM and NGS to come together to make BI for IBM i on IBM Power7 more affordable than ever.”

IBM has more than 30 independent software vendors (ISVs) involved in the Solution Edition program, which offers discounted deals on hardware-software combination sales. The IBM i Solutions Editions website lists participating ISVs.

For IBM i shops with the objective of managing business intelligence from IBM i rather than transferring data to another server and another database optimized for another operating system, the IBM-NGS combo comes at the right time.

NGS has an array of packaged analytical templates specific to sales, inventory, financial reporting, and healthcare. NGS-IQ’s Web-based reporting and dashboard development features provide the capability to modernize cumbersome and annoying reporting methods while bringing information to Web pages and smartphones. The software is available as an integrated suite or by individual modules aimed at specific needs.

There are three IBM Power7 server configurations available at the reduced Solution Edition prices. The entry-level system is a model 720 Express with four processors and a CPW rating of 23,800. For this P5 model, IBM waives the processor activation charge for the first three processors, reduces the per-user entitlement charge for the operating system from $250 to $70, and includes an unlimited license of IBM i Access, which normally costs $2,750. IBM also includes one no-charge service voucher. This configuration would allow a customer supporting 25 or more IBM i users to recoup the $6,500 minimum NGS-IQ software, services, and/or maintenance (required by IBM) costs.

The mid-tier IBM Solution Edition is a model 720 Express that can be ordered with six or eight processors and a CPW rating of 34,900. IBM activates five processors at no charge, offers a $180 per-user savings on IBM i user entitlements, an unlimited user license of IBM i Access, and a service voucher. To qualify for this pricing, a customer must invest a minimum of $25,000 in NGS software, services, and/or maintenance.

The largest IBM Solution Edition is a model 740 with from four to 16 processors and a CPW rating of 46,300. IBM activates half the number of ordered processors at no additional cost, waives the IBM i processor licensing fee, includes an unlimited license of IBM i Access, and a service voucher. Customers ordering the NGS-IQ solution to run on this server must invest a minimum of $60,000 in software, services, and/or maintenance.

For more information on NGS products, see www.ngsi.com. For more information on the IBM i Solution Edition program, see www-03.ibm.com/systems/power/hardware/editions/solutions.html.