Have you ever found yourself in the situation that you need some information from your ERP but the standard reports that are included can’t provide it? Or have you tried to create a report with the built-in tools just to realize that it does not allow you to query the data you need or, if it does, the resulting query is just too slow or even crashes?
Sounds familiar? The good news is, that you may already have some alternative tools you can use in your office. One example is Microsoft Access which natively connects to many popular database systems. Even if you have a more “exotic” database system like Sage ERP 100 there should be a driver available that allows you to connect. Once connected you have the power of Microsoft Access available to create queries, analyze your data and build reports. You can even easily export the data to Excel, if you feel more comfortable with that platform.
If your database is Microsoft SQL Server, you can also use a free tool called Sequel Server Reporting Services or SSRS. It must be installed on your SQL Server, but it can be used from any computer that has access to the server. Any report created in SSRS can be published internally and then accessed on any workstation in your organization simply by using a web browser.
Using an independent reporting tool will also allow you to mix data from your ERP with other data you may have from different sources in your organization. This will open a whole new dimension for your reports and analysis.
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