NGS Unveils BI Development Kit for Under $500
May 22, 2012 Dan Burger
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Business intelligence on IBM i goes beyond DB2 Web Query or Cognos and it goes well beyond the most commonly used reporting tool, the old Query/400. If that’s all you know about BI on i, then you need to know about New Generation Software (NGS), which used the recent COMMON conference as a springboard to announce a new BI software development tool that costs less than $500. NGS has marketed its products as the more affordable option to IBM software and is eager to demonstrate a better return on investment, which the company suspects will jump start business intelligence deployments. To put a little extra honey on that biscuit, NGS introduced the NGS Software Developer Kit with a heavily discounted price so that companies can begin testing BI options, gather feedback from users, and set priorities with a minimum expense. NGS president and CEO Bernard Gough expects the SDK to be a good fit for power users in small shops and for independent consultants who support multiple IBM i clients. For a cash outlay of $475–low enough to avoid the budget-approval process–a single IBM i developer gains the capability to create and deliver graphical, on-demand Web reports in formats that can be viewed on PCs, smartphones, and tablets as well as distributed via email and FTP. The SDK includes both an IBM 5250 interface for those who still prefer it and a Windows point-and-click, drag-and-drop development interface for users who prefer that environment. NGS also provides a Query/400 API to execute and extend the function of legacy IBM Query/400 queries. Built-in features for Web reports include charts and drill-down hyperlinks, and integration with Web portals and customized Web pages will likely shorten deployment time compared to DB2 Web Query. Another convenience is that managers and users have the capability to select at run-time their choice of Excel, PDF, HTML, CSV, TXT, XML, and print output. Security of all reporting functions–including Web and mobile data access–is controlled from the IBM i. The NGS SDK includes one concurrent license of IQ Server, which includes NGS-IQ’s 5250 query developer, administrator, and Web query interface. The SDK also includes one Windows seat license of IQ Client, which is NGS-IQ’s desktop query and Web report development module. A developer kit purchase, which must be made by June 30, also provides 90 days of software maintenance, free Web-based education and live walk-throughs to get companies started. Users can also access NGS’ 40-plus hours of on-demand educational videos. NGS is based in Sacramento, California, and claims to have more than 25,000 IBM i users. For more information see www.ngsi.com. RELATED STORIES NGS Updates IBM i-Based BI Suite Aberdeen Examines BI in the Supply Chain IBM and ISV Partnerships: What’s In It For Us? NGS Business Intelligence Now a Solutions Edition Option Business Intelligence Biz to Grow But Cool Off a Bit New Gen Drives Web Features into Version 7 of BI Suite NGS Bolsters IQ of BI with Link to Non-AS/400 Data NGS Launches Another BI Product for i OS Varsity Teams with NGS for New BI Product NGS Delivers Prebuilt BI for Healthcare
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