How Infoflow works - a step-by-step explanation

  1. Infoflow is a highly automated information capture, storage and distribution system.
  2. It begins by accessing your data. This is both the data that has been generated internally - and that which has come from outside sources.
  3. This data can be on any number of systems. It is probably in different departments - such as HR, Finance, CRM and ERP. Each department will also probably manipulate this data.
  4. In large organisations, this data usually then goes into a data warehouse where it is managed by IT or BI specialists.
  5. The information then leaves the data warehouse via such BI tools as Business Objects, Cognos or Hyperion. Now, though, Infoflow brings about an important change.
  6. Instead of being delivered directly to those who have the training and the licences to access the information, the data is now delivered to Infoflow.
  7. Infoflow takes this data and stores a copy in its own storage facility. Your original data remains intact and untouched. In fact, Infoflow is entirely agnostic of the systems it extracts information from.
  8. It doesn't matter what system was used to store your data, Infoflow can work with it.
  9. It now assesses the information according to rules that you have set up - and distributes specific information to people by their role within your organisation.
  10. At this stage, Infoflow checks the addresses of the people the information is intended for, puts it into the required format - and confirms the delivery date.
  11. Infoflow does this by applying filters to arrive at the rules we mentioned - those which you have put in place.
  12. This now delivered to the ordinary users in a way that they can easily read - with no need for them to be able to use the reporting tools for each system.
  13. It could arrive by e-mail, a PowerPoint, Word or Excel document, a PDF, direct to a printer - or increasingly, these days, via the Web or intranet with an alert for the user so that they can download it when it suits them.
  14. Allocating information by role allows for maximum flexibility. For instance, if someone takes on extra responsibility - albeit for a short period of time - the additional information associated with those responsibilities is also sent to them.
  15. Apart from being allocated by role, though, information can also be sent to individuals by name, region, group - or many other ways.
  16. Although reports normally arrive automatically, if someone wishes to access additional information, they can. Remember, with Infoflow they only have one simple system to understand.
  17. Infoflow also manages all of the administration, taking a considerable weight off the IT department's shoulders.
  18. Managing Infoflow is extremely simple. Permissions are granted via a simple form.
  19. So, if you are using the recommended role based approach, then when someone's job changes, so do the reports they receive. No additional management time is needed.
  20. Infoflow operates without the expense of additional licences - so any number of people within your organisation can receive the information they need to do their job more effectively.
  21. Power users lose nothing. They can still analyse data with the original program if they want to.
  22. Infoflow also ensures that your data remains secure. There is a complete audit trail of where the information has come from right through to the person it has gone to.
  23. Infoflow also stores all reports, including back copies. So, providing that someone has the right authority, they can extract the information from the archive.