Freehills implements leading edge core business intelligence infrastructure
01 December 2006Maintaining an ongoing focus on meeting and exceeding clients’ needs, Freehills has successfully overhauled its current financial reporting system to replace it with cutting edge technology built upon Microsoft’s innovative SQL 2005 Analytics and Reporting platform. Developed in conjunction with leading information systems solution provider, Aderant, and Microsoft Gold Partner, Unique World, the conversion means Freehills is the first professional services firm in the Asia Pacific region to take advantage of the latest Microsoft technologies.
The new core business intelligence infrastructure, Executive Office Analytics, was implemented in October across the firm. It provides a more efficient, flexible and controllable approach to data warehousing and OLAP (online analytical processing) cubes, for financial reporting purposes. Microsoft’s SQL Server Reporting Services, Windows SharePoint Services and Office Web Components were used to create the user interface.
In discussing the implementation of the new technology, Freehills’ Director of Information Services, Russell Wright, explained that the firm is now able to reduce the previously labour intensive manual process that was often required to extract data from our production systems, produce standard reports and allow much more granular and specific analysis of our financial and other data.
'We’re very pleased the firm decided to invest in this new technology, and our close involvement in its development has resulted in a truly tailored and really innovative solution. We can now easily meet the increasingly complex demands of the firm and our clients in terms of the types and frequency of reporting,' said Mr Wright.
Aderant developed the analytics solution built upon the Microsoft SQL 2005 Reporting and Analysis Services products and Microsoft’s Business Scorecard Manager 2005. The solution provided a good foundation for data extraction routines and methods for the creation of the reporting cubes, which provide the foundation for viewing and reporting Freehills data in a myriad of different ways. From this starting point, Freehills and Aderant collaborated to further develop the solution to refine the Aderant product. Components of this solution will be incorporated into Aderant’s future releases of core business intelligence infrastructure in the future. Unique World worked with Freehills to create the final reports viewed by staff.
The firm’s Chief Financial Officer, Janet Young, said that the revolutionary technology gives Freehills the flexibility to produce more sophisticated and timely reports, enabling business decisions to be made efficiently and effectively.
'The system has reduced labour intensive processes, increased the "self-service" approach, allowing staff to customise and create their own reports, and improved controls. In addition, the solution provides a basis for future implementation of business scorecards and other aggregated reporting approaches, including the potential to draw in data from other sources,' said Ms Young.
Background information
Summary of benefits to the business
- The new reporting system has provided increased confidence in data accuracy and hence has enabled more informed decision-making by executives.
- The CFO, financial analysts, executives and partners have timely access to accurate data for business evaluation and strategic decision-making purposes.
- The system facilitates a comprehensive financial overview of the business through increased functionality and better system tools.
- A vast array of financial data is available, to help decision-makers better understand the business drivers via key financial criteria.
- Cutting edge technology provides real-time data to support accelerated decision-making.
- The system promotes enhanced communication through a collaborative system interface and mutual accountability.
- It also aligns core business processes with the firm’s overarching business strategy.
Benefit to clients
- The system is specifically designed with clients’ needs in mind.
- This new advanced technology will facilitate enhanced client service, through accurate and timely reporting, and even deeper data analysis.
- The system enhances the capability to manage workflow: clients will benefit from being more informed as a result of increased information interchange.
- Through responding to client feedback and evaluation, this new business intelligence will assist the business to meet and exceed client expectations.
SQL Server 2005
- SQL Server 2005 is a comprehensive data management system designed to facilitate the needs of the most demanding enterprise applications. Providing Freehills with a standardised data platform, the SQL Server 2005 will enable the development, management and operations of relational data.
- The key features of the new solution include an integrated, firm wide data warehouse that will automatically update Freehills’ existing system. Additionally it will provide Freehills with detailed financial and operational data for the firm, office, practice group, and professional, as well as near real time information for analytical purposes and secure reporting.
Public Affairs Manager
arriarne.kemp-bishop@freehills.com
+61 3 9288 1119+61 414 311 331
