Our online service uses a custom built Job Board, which is tied to our accounting software (Kashflow) and Ticketing software (Helpscout). We also have analytics, a Wordpress blog, and extensive data in our MySql database.
We're interested in a business dashboard / BI - that helps us bring out the core business metrics together, so it's readily available for staff and management.
I've tried the softwares available like GeckoBoard, but they don't have integration for the software we use.
I'd like to know if you can recommend any software / service we could use (open source, installable or SAAS), or whether it's advisable to build the feature into our existing custom built job board.
First let me state up front that I h ave a clear bias in this arena - I've been a Crystal Reports user (and Consultant) for years, and I swear by it.
Crystal Reports has excellent capabilities for accessing any structured data source, including the combination of multiple data sources in a single report.
Translation: IF your data is structured - as it is in your MySQL database, you're golden. It can also tie in supplementary data you likely have in spreadhseets, Access, etc. 'Structured' simply means that the data is stored in some kind of format (Database, spreadsheet, notepad, etc) which has a way of differentiating one data column from the next, and one row from the next.
Next you'd want to consider what programming tools you are using internally. It's entirely possible that the Crystal Engine is available to you within your SDK - MS Visual Studio for example. That would allow you to utilize the power of that reporting engine and build your own interface around it.
Of course, you also have the option of using the off the shelf Crystal Reports Writer. For report distribution and consumption you have similar options. (Crystal Report Writer is analagous to Adobe tools for creating PDF's - you need it to make the original, but subsequent distribution and consumption only requires a reader).
SAP has tools which support Crystal Reports viewing and distribution over a web environment, but may be over priced and over engineered for your needs. There are a number of 3rd party applications on the market that serve reports and deliverer them to your team on schedule or on demand in a number of formats (excel, pdf, web, etc.) and are extremely cost effective.
Naturally, there are other analytics solutions out there. I'm just advising you on the one which I have expertise with.
If this sounds like it might meet your needs and you want additional, more detailed guidance please feel free to reach out and arrange a call.
Good luck!
