Exchange Home > Reporting & Analytics
FEBRUARY 2008
Maximize the Potential of EliteŽ Reporting and Analytics Foundation
When considering our powerful, flexible Reporting and Analytics Foundation (RAF) solution, customers often inquire about the customization process. What is involved? How long does it take? How do Thomson Elite consultants, working with firm management and technical professionals, deliver a comprehensive, intuitive solution? Exchange Magazine spoke with John Callahan, Director, Product Management, Thomson Elite, about how clients can customize RAF to meet their unique business needs.
TE: How long does an RAF customization project typically last?
JC: Most customization projects take between four and six months. We begin with a strategy/planning session, and then move on to the development, implementation and training phases. Once customizations are complete and the firm's technical professionals are fully trained on the new features and enhancements, the customizations go "live" firm-wide.
TE: What motivates firms to replace their current reporting solution with RAF?
JC: Many firms use an ExcelŽ reporting package, or a smaller scale solution with limited capabilities. As a fully customizable and flexible solution, RAF can be customized to meet the needs of any firm.
TE: How do RAF customizations directly benefit professional services firms?
JC: The RAF data warehouse can be modified to fit the specific structure and requirements of any firm. Customized reports enable firm management to make decisions more quickly, based on up-to-date, accurate information. The RAF dashboard is also customizable. For example, firms looking to consolidate revenue reporting across their international offices can create color-coded dials that help determine the status of individual regions, offices or timekeepers against firm-derived benchmarks. They can also create standard reporting schedules and formats and automatically convert to multiple currencies.
TE: How do Thomson Elite consultants help firms with strategic project planning and development?
JC: Firms usually have specific ideas regarding how they want RAF to work. Thomson Elite consultants listen to the firm's business needs and long-term goals and provide concrete, workable suggestions. RAF consultants also train firm technical professionals on how to run the new system.
TE: Describe the amount of new features and enhancements Thomson Elite consultants can develop in a typical project cycle.
JC: We can customize the dashboard to show only the information and dials that are relevant to a user's security level in the company, and we can easily create 15–20 customized reports in a typical project cycle.
To learn more about Elite Reporting and Analytics Foundation, read the related data sheet.
When considering our powerful, flexible Reporting and Analytics Foundation (RAF) solution, customers often inquire about the customization process. What is involved? How long does it take? How do Thomson Elite consultants, working with firm management and technical professionals, deliver a comprehensive, intuitive solution? Exchange Magazine spoke with John Callahan, Director, Product Management, Thomson Elite, about how clients can customize RAF to meet their unique business needs.
TE: How long does an RAF customization project typically last?
JC: Most customization projects take between four and six months. We begin with a strategy/planning session, and then move on to the development, implementation and training phases. Once customizations are complete and the firm's technical professionals are fully trained on the new features and enhancements, the customizations go "live" firm-wide.
TE: What motivates firms to replace their current reporting solution with RAF?
JC: Many firms use an ExcelŽ reporting package, or a smaller scale solution with limited capabilities. As a fully customizable and flexible solution, RAF can be customized to meet the needs of any firm.
TE: How do RAF customizations directly benefit professional services firms?
JC: The RAF data warehouse can be modified to fit the specific structure and requirements of any firm. Customized reports enable firm management to make decisions more quickly, based on up-to-date, accurate information. The RAF dashboard is also customizable. For example, firms looking to consolidate revenue reporting across their international offices can create color-coded dials that help determine the status of individual regions, offices or timekeepers against firm-derived benchmarks. They can also create standard reporting schedules and formats and automatically convert to multiple currencies.
TE: How do Thomson Elite consultants help firms with strategic project planning and development?
JC: Firms usually have specific ideas regarding how they want RAF to work. Thomson Elite consultants listen to the firm's business needs and long-term goals and provide concrete, workable suggestions. RAF consultants also train firm technical professionals on how to run the new system.
TE: Describe the amount of new features and enhancements Thomson Elite consultants can develop in a typical project cycle.
JC: We can customize the dashboard to show only the information and dials that are relevant to a user's security level in the company, and we can easily create 15–20 customized reports in a typical project cycle.
To learn more about Elite Reporting and Analytics Foundation, read the related data sheet.
