Services
NorthPoint evolved from the idea that the business analysis and development skills needed to integrate Cognos performance management software are highly specialized and often outside the realm of a company's regular operations. Most projects are usually of a temporary, labour-intensive nature and NorthPoint provides the benefit of transitional project teams who fill the skill and resource gap and train up permanent employees before a project's completion. Here are the key service areas where we provide high value to our clients:
Cognos 8 Updates
If you are currently working with version 7 or earlier, we highly recommend that you explore the benefits of Cognos 8. We also recommend that you consult with the experts at NorthPoint who have intimate knowledge of making this significant upgrade. We have completed several successful conversions and have developed ‘best practices’, consistent with the Cognos Approach, to ensure that each and every one of our client upgrades run as smoothly as possible.
Contact us today, for a complementary visit from one of our Consultants to review your unique requirements and to discuss our approach and recommendations for your organization.
Data Warehousing and BI Reporting
This service is for organizations that have a requirement to develop reporting capabilities that their current system(s) are unable to provide or not feasible to do. We only work with the most current version of Cognos 8, the worldwide industry leader for performance management software.
We work closely with our clients on all aspects regarding the integration of the Cognos performance management software into your organization. From analysis to implementation and from installation to training, we will identify all of the steps necessary to completing a successful project.
Enterprise Planning
This service is for companies looking to integrate the Cognos Planning software into their organizations budget and forecasting systems and processes.
Our consultants are knowledge experts on the corporate planning side, as well as the technical aspects of integrating the software.
Contact us today, to arrange for a complementary review of your unique requirements and to discuss our approach and recommendations for your organization
Our Approach
At NorthPoint our goal is to make the customer successful. This entails:
- A solution that meets or exceeds requirements
- Delivered within a timeline that fits the customers schedule
- Documented at a level that is comfortable for the customer
- A handover that ensures long-term success
Here are the steps in our process:
1.) Intent to proceed
A Business problem exists, along with an approved budget. NorthPoint has a high-level understanding of the opportunity and feels capable of providing a winning solution.
2.) Requirements Analysis
Information is gathered to further clarify the problem statement and solution concept.
3.) Project Proposal
The proposal is prepared with a scope, resource, budget, and schedule statements. Upon acceptance the project proceeds to:
4.) Detailed Analysis
The solution concept is solidified and phases planned in detail by the project team.
Deliverables: Project Charter if one does not exist, Functional & Non-functional Requirements, Systems Architecture, and Test Plan.
5.) Design & Build
Using rapid application development techniques (RAD) the solution governed by a change control process the solution is designed, built, tested and validated by the project team.
Deliverables: design documents, test results.
6.) Deploy
The solutions acceptance criteria is met and promoted to production. Knowledge transfer and sustainment procedures are in place.
Deliverables: Operational "how to" documents.
7.) Post Project Review
This final step run by a facilitator is to review lessons learned. This document deliverable is vital to improving both parties ability to deliver winning solutions.
Deliverable: Lessons Learned document.