Clarity Server Process Overview - Step 5 and Step 6

Clarity Server Process Overview - Step 5

          Administrator client machines not only communicate with the Clarity Server in the same way end user clients do (accessing the Clarity Web interface), but they also communicate directly with both the OLAP and relational database servers. This is so administrators can design and create templates and reports, as well as establish database security parameters and other administrative tasks. 

             B - Relational database server

            C - OLAP database server

            D - Clarity database environment

            E - Clarity Server

            F - End user client

            G - Administrator client 

In addition to having access to the Web interface on the Clarity Server, administrator client machines also have network access to template and report files.

Clarity Server Process Overview - Step 6 

               At the end of a budgeting and planning cycle, the new data stored in the Clarity database environment can be transferred back into the company's ERP systems, if required. 

      A - Existing data sources (G/L, HR, and so on.)

      B - Relational database server

      C - MAP database server

      D - Clarity database environment

Data is loaded back into the ERP system using the utility extraction tool of the specified ERP system.

Clarity Server Process Overview - Step 3 and Step 4

Clarity Server Process Overview - Step 3 

         The Clarity Server communicates with both servers in the Clarity database environment. It relays requests for data to both databases for information retrieval, and requests updates to the same information.

   

    

                  

                  B - Relational database server   

                  C - OLAP database server

                  D - Clarity database environment

                  E - Clarity Server

Clarity Server Process Overview - Step 4   

                  From a client machine, you can access the Clarity Web interface by entering the URL of the Clarity Server in your browser's address bar. Any changes or requests you make will be relayed back to the Clarity database environment through the Clarity Server.

                     B-Relational database server

                     C-OLAP database server

                     D-Clarity database environment

                     E-Clarity Server

                     F-End user client

Clarity Server Process Overview

Clarity Server Process Overview - Step 1 

Existing data sources encompass all existing company ERP systems (human resource systems, general ledgers, and so on.) This includes data regarding business transactions, employee salaries, and so on.

Information is extracted from these sources and transferred into the Clarity database environment (which consists of the OLAP and relational database servers).

A - Existing Data Sources (G/L, HR, and so on.) 

A-Existing Data sources(G/L,HR and so on.)

Data is typically extracted using the extraction tool native to the ERP system. It is then imported into the Clarity database environment using load rules for the OLAP database server, and DTS packages for the SQL Server, or their relational database equivalent.

Clarity Server Process Overview - Step 2 

The Clarity database environment consists of the OLAP and relational database servers. Information is extracted from existing data sources and allocated between the two databases.

  

   A - Existing data sources (G/L, HR, and so on.)

   B - Relational database server

   C - OLAP database server

   D - Clarity database environment

In most cases, transaction and salary-type data are stored in the relational database (tabular data structure), while account-level data is stored in the OLAP database (cube data structure). The relational database also stores some Clarity-specific data such as template and hierarchy security permissions.

TECHNICAL ARCHITECTURE

Clarity is a corporate performance management solution that enables you to create standardized corporate reports and data entry templates based on existing company data. These templates and reports are then distributed to a user community for enterprise-wide financial processes, such as budgeting, planning, forecasting, and corporate reporting.

Clarity allows users to report and analyze company data using their Web browser over a corporate intranet or the Internet. It leverages the power of both OLAP (IBM DB2 OLAP, Hyperion Essbase, and MS Analysis Services) and relational (MS-SQL Server, Oracle, and DB2) databases.

This section contains information about Clarity and how it can be used to view, modify, and otherwise manipulate summary data to create a budgeting and planning solution for your organization. Also included in this section is a high-level architectural overview, and information about the mechanics of Clarity's software and server processes.

HOW CLARITY PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT WORKS

Because Clarity is a Web based application, it has certain advantages over traditional software, which include ease of deployment and accessibility.

Web based applications do not require software to be installed on a PC in order to run them. To run Clarity, all you need is Internet Explorer and the URL of the Web server which hosts Clarity.

Clarity uses a series of server processes in order to coordinate communication from your Web browser to the database environment.

Clarity consists of the following server processes:

• The Clarity Server

• The OLAP database server

• The relational database server

Other important components in the Clarity solution include both administrator and end user client machines (used to communicate with Clarity), and any existing company ERP systems such as general ledgers and human resource systems (from which existing data is extracted).

The following pages illustrate a series of steps to show how data is transferred from your organization's existing ERP systems into the Clarity database environment, and how you can use Clarity to view and modify that data.

IBM Clarity Online Training

Integrated corporate performance management software

IBM Clarity 7 is a financial management solution that integrates budgeting, planning, reporting, Accessing, analytics, scorecards and dashboards in a single, unified application. The Clarity 7 interface features a look and feel similar to Microsoft Excel to encourage rapid adoption and provide an intuitive user experience in a web-based application.

Budgeting, planning and forecasting: Enables users to create standardized corporate reports and data entry templates based on existing company data. These templates and reports are then distributed to a user community for enterprise-wide financial processes, such as budgeting, planning, forecasting and corporate reporting.

scorecards and Dashboards: Provide visually intuitive information on business performance with overall or targeted views of both financial and operational data.

Strategy management: Generate initiatives, evaluate progress toward strategic objectives and provide project management functionality to close the loop between strategy and execution.

Profitability modeling: Create comprehensive profitability models with flexible reporting and advanced financial modeling to deliver actionable insights into both cost and profitability.