Category Archives: PR Agency

IBM Cognos TM1 – Resource efficiency for Complex planning models

Cognos TM1 / Planning Analytics, is a powerful in-memory, online analytical processing (OLAP) database technology used to model and process large sets of data.  The database uses a calculation and consolidation engine that together process complex calculations and feeds the results to multiple cubes within the database as well as other databases as required.

While the design of the database allows for good performance on cube calculation results ‘out-of-the-box’, the performance of a Planning Analytics system can be significantly enhanced through code and cube design as well as the efficient management of feeders; essentially minimising over-feeding and avoiding under-feeding.  Bold Shore developers have managed to achieve this by using one or more of the following techniques:

  • Adopting ‘Global’ cube rules for the management of planning versions – this technique allows one to preserve plan data without making any further ‘calculation’ demands on server resources
  • The use of multi-threaded queries in both the rule engine as well as in the Turbo Integrator (ETL) layer – this maximises utilisation of available resources and thereby enhances overall system performance
  • The use of Configuration cubes, and feeding from these cubes – this allows for system configuration flexibility without the need to continuously alter code when changes are required, while still achieving efficient feeders

The result of efficient rules and feeder statements is a database that provides enhanced performance and maintains the flexibility that allows users to configure their system, but which requires less memory and CPU cycles to run.  By utilising these techniques, Bold Shore has managed to create complex planning analytics models that have a relatively small hardware resource requirement when compared to a typical planning system.

A further method of creating resource efficiency in a planning system solution is to adopt a distributed architecture – both in terms of database and web layer distribution, as well as the creation of multiple database instances for different operations within a group of companies.  The database and web layer distribution allow for the separation of the database calculation load and web server processes across multiple servers, while different instance distribution ensures that individual model sizes remain manageable and capable of calculating results efficiently.

In order to mitigate any perceived risk and/or workload to maintain multiple database instances, Bold Shore utilises Task Automation software to monitor log files in different locations that generate notifications if user-related or system error messages are detected, allowing for a proactive approach to issue resolution.

From the planning of the infrastructure on which the Planning Analytics software runs, through the implementation of Cube Rules, Feeders and TI processes, to the use of specific 3rd party applications, Bold Shore provides an efficient, powerful and flexible planning solution that allows end users to Plan and Analyse Budget and Forecast data with ease.

By Murray van Rooyen
Bold Shore Consulting – Making Financial Performance Reporting Easy
www.boldshore.com

House PR & OpenTable Top 50 Restaurants UK

On Tuesday 30th June 2015 House PR and OpenTable, the main organization for online eatery bookings, declared the conclusive 2015 Top 50 Fit for Foodies eateries in the UK. This run down, which House PR publishes annually, considers more than 400,000 surveys from OpenTable users in more than 4,300 eateries over the UK.

House PR - best restaurants

Best restaurants in London – House PR

 

The current year’s champ, The Chef’s Table situated in Chester, were praised for achieving the top position and beating rivalry from top culinary hotspots in the UK’s foodie capital, London. The Chef’s Table were given the accolade at the Restaurant Magazine’s National Restaurant Awards function.

 

Main 10 Fit for Foodies eateries:

  1. The Chef’s Table, Chester
  2. Writing Room, London
  3. The Dairy Bar & Bistro, London
  4. Stovell’s, Chobham
  5. The Gardener’s Cottage, Edinburgh
  6. The French Table, London
  7. Medlar, London
  8. Dust Street Social, London
  9. The Ledbury, London
  10. Kurobuta Chelsea, London

The Top 50 Fit for Foodies eateries was produced utilizing more than 400,000 user ratings gathered from confirmed OpenTable users in the previous year. Qualifying eateries were scored and sorted by score 1-100 which ‘Fit for Foodies’ was chosen as a unique component. In light of this strategy, OpenTable had the data to publish an authoritative run down of the Top 50 Fit for Foodies eateries in the UK. See the full list here:

The Top 50 Fit for Foodies eateries

House PR helped secure a variety of local and national media for this including Hospitality and Catering News & Eat Out Online.

More about House PR here: http://houseprlondon.tumblr.com/

House PR projects: https://houseprlondon.wordpress.com/