Direct Access to Enterprise Information – Without a Data Warehouse
There is a widely held presumption in the business world that enterprise performance management and business intelligence initiatives must be supported by a data warehouse. Conceptually, the data warehouse provides a central point where a copy of data from multiple systems or locations is stored and optimized for reporting. In practice, however, the data warehouse model frequently proves to be complex, unwieldy, and expensive. Recognizing this, Exact Software has developed an innovative solution, called Direct Access, which delivers powerful business intelligence, analytics, and reporting, without relying on a data warehouse. Exact's Direct Access solution dynamically accesses data stored in enterprise transaction systems and delivers it to the user in a fully integrated, business-focused information view. Direct Access leverages existing functionality in the source databases, as well as Exact's own patent-pending technology.

The Direct Access solution has been successfully implemented for numerous customers, who have realized immediate business benefits, including:
  •   Lower overall costs
  •   Decreased time to value
  •   Increased business agility

Several Exact Software customers with data warehouses in place are currently phasing them out and replacing them with Direct Access.

Graphical Performance Series (GPS) Architecture:
The graphic below provides a high-level illustration of the solution architecture of GPS business intelligence solution. Enterprise data sources, including multiple ERP databases, legacy systems, or spreadsheets are dynamically accessed via a server-based middleware application, called the Real-Time Data Integration Server. The information is then delivered to users in one of four flexible, fully integrated user interfaces. Each of these environments is designed to intelligently support the business requirements of different types of users, ranging from Executive Dashboard Users to Power Business Users.

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