19 of the most frequently asked questions

No doubt everything we have told you will have raised many questions in your mind. Attached are 19 of the most frequently asked questions we receive.

However, we are equally sure that you will have questions that apply specifically to your own organisation. You can pick up the phone and call 0870 116 2500, and we'll be delighted to respond to any queries you may have.

Alternatively, if you prefer, email your questions to info@infoflow.co.uk.



Why is Business Intelligence so important?

When businesses were small, family run concerns, the owner knew everything that was happening. Which products were successful, what was annoying customers, which new trends were taking off - and a thousand other things - were all glaringly obvious.

Not so for large organisations today. Their workforces are not only vast, but also often spread across the country - or even the world.

Feedback simply is not quick enough, is not focused enough, and certainly is not secure enough.

Back to top

What exactly does Infoflow do?

It provides simple and cost effective access to reports from any system. It delivers centrally managed enterprise wide scheduling and distribution with intelligent content management providing users with access to a unified view of their reports from across the enterprise.

Infoflow automates and simplifies the management and distribution of reports from all systems across the enterprise. It intelligently filters report content to ensure that all report information is relevant and focused to each user and the roles they perform. Reports are delivered, or made available in the portal, at the required time on any required frequency without end user action.

Infoflow also provides a 'self service' facility to enable users to run and request information from reports and also subscribe to key information. It enables users to quickly and easily search for specific content or metadata within the reports they have access to.

Infoflow additionally archives reports to enable users to access previous versions without the need for technical assistance. It also offers a comprehensive audit trail for monitoring the production and usage of reports across the enterprise.

Back to top

Can't our existing systems do that?

Not really. Different reporting systems have no way of communicating with each other - they have to be accessed one by one so users can not get a unified view of their reports, in addition to requiring additional expensive training, installation and access processes.

Neither is there any way which reports can then be collated and tailored to the needs of each person.

Back to top

Surely giving everyone access to information is a security risk?

Quite the contrary. Infoflow processes every report and filters the content for each individual or role in the organization, the filtered reports are then stored in the Infoflow secure repository and accessed via a standard web browser.

Single Sign On also enhances Infoflow security ensuring that a user may only access information relevant to their role, additionally synchronizing with any Active Directory or similar LDAP provider to provide control information for each user.

When users log in they only see the information relating to their roles within the organisation as assigned within Infoflow.

For example, take a branch manager who is responsible for a number of branches. Infoflow will ensure that this branch manager sees only the information that relates to their particular branches.

However, although the information is limited by role, it is not limited by source. The branch manager would be able to see all their relevant information from all reporting sources.

The company is secure - the manager is better informed.

Back to top

Can it really capture information from any system?

As far as we know. Below is a list of the ones it has been tested for. As you can see, it is pretty comprehensive.

However, we always test for compatibility before we install. Up until now, Infoflow's track record has been a hundred per cent.

If your system isn't listed, please call us as we are continually adding new adapters.

Back to top

Some reporting applications are pretty complicated. Isn't that a problem?

You're right - at least for people who are not expert with a particular type of reporting application - and who try to access it directly.

However, when they use Infoflow, the complications are removed.

The reason for this is that Infoflow does all the work and produces the information and makes it available in the first place. However, users can also run and re-query reports from any reporting system, and because it comes with one interface - which they use on a continuous basis - they rapidly become very familiar with it.

Back to top

Is this process automatic?

When you want it to be - which is probably most of the time. After all, the automatic provision of up-to-date information to the person who needs it - without delay - is one of Infoflow's most important benefits.

Infoflow has a very comprehensive scheduler which takes into account updates to tables or data warehouses before processing reports. It also has built in calendars you can assign to schedules to enable you to cater for Bank Holidays and holiday shutdowns etc.

Back to top

What effect will Infoflow have on my existing reporting systems?

None. It is completely non-intrusive. Infoflow only uses existing reports and then stores the processed reports in its own repository.

The result is that there is no impact on any operational or reporting system and there is no need to re-engineer any data.

Back to top

Does it integrate with SharePoint?

Infoflow will populate documents and reports generated from any system directly into SharePoint document storage. It will go to the folder locations specified for the role.

This allows these documents and reports to participate fully in normal Sharepoint processes - such as indexing, security, retrieval, version control and so on.

Back to top

Can it send information by SMS?

Infoflow can send high impact text reports from any supported product as an SMS message - with relevant role-based and personalised content.

This requires access to an appropriate SMS gateway service, generally made available by your communications provider.

Back to top

Can it bring information from different reports together?

Information from any number of sub-systems, reporting tools and databases can be brought together within the Infoflow portal for viewing.

Infoflow's dashboard facility enables this, allowing information from different reports and from different sources to be integrated into role specific, graphical dashboard views.

Back to top

Can users pull information?

In addition to directly distributing information and reports, any report that has been given the appropriate permission by the Infoflow administrator can be run by users directly.

This enables authorised users to request, refresh or re-query new information using any required parameters associated with the report.

Infoflow also keeps the user informed of progress of any report they run so they can see when their report will be processed, enabling them to make best use of their time.

Back to top

Can you search for information within the Infoflow repository?

All documents and reports that are processed are fully indexed when they are stored in the Infoflow content repository.

This allows full free text searching over any Infoflow produced report - and includes wild card and proximity searching. Furthermore, Infoflow's security model only permits users to search for reports within the roles they have been assigned to.

Additionally, on opening a report that has been retrieved, all occurrences of the text being searched will be highlighted.

Back to top

Does Infoflow decide who gets what information?

No. It is you that decides who gets what information. Infoflow simply follows the rules that you set.

Having said that, Infoflow always delivers the reports in an easily understood form that allows each person to access further information - if they are permitted to.

For example, in the sales department, the sales director, regional sales manager and the sales force would each get the information you have decided is relevant to their job. It wouldn't just be one sales report. It would be three separate reports, using information from any of the applications you have on your system.

This of course is only one example of sales, but this could equally apply to any other part of the enterprise such as manufacturing, purchasing, HR etc.

Back to top

Can role-based reports be delivered in different formats?

Yes. They can be published in a variety of formats. However, this depends to a large extent on the capabilities of the original format. Generally, though, most of the following formats can be provided:

Back to top

Can these role-based reports be delivered by different methods?

Yes. They can be delivered to any of the following:

Back to top

Is Infoflow of any use for regulatory compliance?

It certainly is. When Infoflow is used as an automatic process, it ensures that information that has to be read and acted upon is delivered on time - and to the right person.

But it does more than that. Infoflow also provides a full audit trail of everything it manages, allowing you to quickly identify the information that was generated.

It also lets you see who it was sent to - what format it was sent in - and what means was used.

Infoflow then allows you to monitor who has read the information - and see what action they should have taken.

This is important. After all, even with a system as advanced as Infoflow, the information it provides only has real value when someone acts upon it.

Back to top

To summarise how can Infoflow save my company money?

Well, first of all you don't have to pay for more licences just because you want more people to be able to access your Business Intelligence information. Indeed, over time, you should be able to reduce the number of licences you need.

There are no additional training costs - Infoflow is the only solution you need to access the information on all of your databases - and it is very easy to use.

There are also savings to be made in collation and distribution.

However, Infoflow is not just about saving money. The biggest financial benefit you will receive is through its ability to provide information from any source to any delivery channel.

In short, it will make your organisation more efficient and more customer-friendly.

Back to top

Is it possible to see for myself how Infoflow works?

No problem. You can arrange a Webex demonstration for up to 25 people. Each person can experience the demonstration from the comfort of his or her office or home, the choice is yours.

Alternatively we will come along to meet you and your colleagues at your offices to provide a full presentation. We provide a projector, so all you need to provide is a room with power and suitable wall or white board to project onto.

There is one other option. That is to have Infoflow installed on your system for a 30 days trial. Unlike the previous two demonstration options, this is not free. Rather it is fully supported consulting - where we help you to put Infoflow to the test against pre-agreed criteria.

Back to top