Migrating from Cognos to Microsoft BI


Corporate Renaissance Group has robust capabilities in migrating Cognos BI customers to the Microsoft BI platform. CRG was a Cognos BI partner for the past 15 years and has worked with the various components of the Cognos BI platform including PowerPlay, Impromptu, Visualizer, Decision Stream, Framework Manager, Report Studio, Analysis Studio, Query Studio, Metrics Studio, etc. As a Microsoft Gold Certified partner with competencies in Business Intelligence CRG has been working with the Microsoft BI platform for 10 years starting with SQL 2000 to the present. We leverage our deep insights in both the Microsoft and Cognos BI platforms to help clients move from Cognos to Microsoft BI.

  • The table below presents a high level overview the key BI functions, how they are addressed in the Cognos platform and how they will be addressed when migrated to the Microsoft BI platoform.
    BI Need How Addressed in Cognos How it will be Addressed in Microsoft BI
    Data Management – Data Marts, Data Warehouses, etc. IBM RDMS, SQL Server SQL Server
    Data Integration – Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) of Source Data Decision Stream Integration Services
    Information Access – Portal and Content Delivery Cognos Connection SharePoint Server
    Production-type Reporting, Guided/Parameterized Reporting Impromptu, Report Studio Reporting Services, Report Builder 3.0
    Analytics PowerPlay, Analysis Studio PerformancePoint Services, PowerPivot, Excel Services
    Ad hoc Querying Query Studio Report Builder, PowerPivot, PerformancePoint Services
    Performance Management – Dashboards, Scorecards, KPIs, Advanced visualizations, etc.
    		 Metrics Studio, Visualizer
    		 PerformancePoint Services, PowerPivot
    Data mining SPSS (with recent acquisition) Analysis Services, Excel
    Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) engine PowerPlay Cubes, Framework Manager Models Analysis Services OLAP cubes, PowerPivot models

    Benefits of Migrating from Cognos to the Microsoft BI

    Some key benefits include:

    • Cost advantages – Most of the components of the Microsoft BI platform are bundled with SQL server – which most organizations already own. One can get started on the BI journey for usually fractions of the cost of alternative solutions.
    • Performance – the Microsoft BI platform performs exceptionally well. The OLAP engine is optimized to handle massive amounts of data.
    • Continuous improvement of BI platform – Microsoft has not been acquired and its BI roadmap is clearly well defined. In fact, SQL Denali is currently in the works with exciting new features. With the IBM acquisition of Cognos and other BI vendors (including SPSS), it is not clear if or which Cognos BI components may be shelved.
    • Robust Support Ecosystem – Microsoft has a great support ecosystem.
    • Resource Availability – there is a big pool of people with the Microsoft BI expertise and skills

 

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