Palo Server facilitates high speed by keeping processed data in memory (In-Memory OLAP). Queries for base and also aggregated data cells take place in real-time and provide results quickly. With that, Palo Server provides a great contrast to popular multidimensional databases, which are based on relational technologies (ROLAP). Further, in-memory planning – both top/down as well as bottom/up – is supported by the functionality to write-back data into the cubes.

“Speed is one of the most frequently mentioned BI application requirements and, interestingly enough, is among its top points of criticism. Data queries that take longer than two to three seconds are no longer acceptable to most users. This threshold is not exceeded by Palo Server 2.0; data query results are generally displayed within milliseconds”, Kristian Raue, CEO of Jedox GmbH, explains.

Palo Server 2.0 is particularly suitable as the data engine for Microsoft Excel. Palo extends Excel by the missing back-end technology and thereby standardizes the data basis of Excel applications distributed throughout the corporation. The multi-dimensional data server centrally maintains any number of spreadsheet cells, which may be spread across several data cubes. The resulting Enterprise Spreadsheets ensure consolidation, control and distribution of the Excel data, while users continue to benefit from Excel’s advantages. The Worksheet Server technology offered by Jedox allows for Palo data to be queried and entered via the Web.

Version 2.0 enables data- and structure-driven analyses of corporate figures, e.g. ABC and Top/Down Analyses. Such instruments, adjustable to meet individual requirements, are a great tool for users to conduct specific situational and planning analyses. The resulting figures facilitate executives in their business decision-making.

The open API provided by Jedox facilitates the development of interfaces that connect Palo Server with other applications.

The Jedox team provides consulting and support services to their clients to assist them in implementing Palo Server 2.0 quickly and enable them to fully utilize the server’s flexible application capabilities.

A combination of Spreadsheet-Software plus a capable server for Business Intelligence and OLAP becomes more and more popular. While Microsoft offers the combination of MS Office and Office PerformancePoint Server as a comprehensive BI solution, there is a sophisticated and free alternative: the Open Source based Palo Server. For Palo version 1.5 there already is a free Add-In available which helps convert Excel 200, XP, 2003 and 2007 into a server based solution for analysis and planning.

More and more companies are realizing the value of using Open Source software in the enterprise. Since Palo was launched around a year ago, this Open Source product has not only been embraced by a large number of individual users, but also various larger organizations, such as the German Chamber of Commerce (Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag), ALTANA Pharma Germany and now also De Bortoli Wines, one of Australia’s larger privately owned companies.

De Bortoli Wines are now going a step further. After IT head Bill Robertson learned that German software producer Jedox is ready to develop an Add-In for the OpenOffice.org spreadsheet module Calc, De Bortoli opted to be the first company on the list of sponsors to support this project. De Bortoli makes wide use of Open Source software and have previously sponsored a small number of select Open Source projects. As strong believers in Open Standards, De Bortoli Wines standardization on the Open Document File format (ISO/IEC 26300) for Office Applications has been a strategic reason behind their adoption of OpenOffice.

The Palo Add-In for OpenCalc will be finalized as soon as a few more sponsors have committed to contribute to the new project. Further information about sponsoring options can be found under www.palo.net.

ALTANA Pharma Deutschland GmbH utilise Palo (www.palo.net) for their “Selling Excellence Program”. Palo, an Open Source database developed by the Jedox (www.jedox.com), is used as a centrally accessible data storage in an application which, based on Key Performance Indicators, depicts and analyses sales performance and trends for 36 sales regions with more than 400 sales districts.

In order to achieve this, Altana elaborated a catalogue of KPIs based on the “European Best Practice Approach”. These KPIs now serve as measurement categories for success and competitiveness. The scorecards, which are based on these KPIs, not only show quantitative measures but also visualise current trends in dynamically generated arrow charts. All scorecard data are held centrally in the multidimensional data model of the Palo server. Scorecards were rolled out to the field sales reps with the help of Worksheet-Server, an Excel-to-Web solution also offered by Jedox. Data are thus accessible for evaluation to all authorised team members through both Excel and a web browser.

“With Palo & Worksheet-Server, we have managed for the first time a system rollout during which User-Trainings and the information content, but not the technique were the main subject. With a small but efficient team of specialists plus Jedox, this project was realised in a uniquely short time”, says Gerhard Klingele, Director Finance and Controlling at ALTANA Pharma Deutschland GmbH.

Further information about this project is available on Jedox’s home page www.jedox.com, together with information on the whole range of solutions offered in the field of business analysis and planning.