Efficient data analysis is critical to making informed decisions. Acumatica ERP offers a suite of tools designed to streamline data analysis, making it easy to extract meaningful insights from their data.
The core data analysis tools available within Acumatica include Generic Inquiries, Dashboards, and Side Panels. Let’s take a look at these tools in more detail.
Generic Inquiries (GIs) in Acumatica serve as the backbone of data exploration, providing a way to view, manipulate, and analyze data within the system. A GI is essentially a customizable list view of data that users can filter, sort, and group according to their requirements.
One of the primary benefits of GIs is their flexibility. Users can start with a pre-existing inquiry, such as viewing the top 10 sold items in the last 12 months, and then modify it to display additional information, such as the top 10 states by sales. This process involves adding new data fields, such as geographical information, to the inquiry and using Acumatica's customization tools to ensure the inquiry meets specific reporting needs.
For instance, when tasked with providing a visual representation of sales by state, a user can easily add state information to an existing GI by joining relevant tables and fields. This process can be further streamlined using Acumatica’s "Add Related Table" feature, which automatically suggests and forms the necessary table joins.
Dashboards in Acumatica take the data from Generic Inquiries and present it in a visual format, making it easier for users to understand trends and patterns at a glance. Dashboards can include various types of widgets, such as charts, KPI stacks, and data tables, all of which can be customized to display the most relevant information.
For example, after creating a GI that lists sales by state, this data can be used to populate a dashboard widget. A donut chart might be used to visualize the top 10 states by profitability, providing a clear and immediate overview of the most profitable regions.
The flexibility of Acumatica dashboards is one of their strongest features. Users can create filters within the dashboard, allowing them to drill down into specific data points, such as viewing only the sales data for a particular state. This ability to filter and focus on specific data makes dashboards an invaluable tool for decision-makers.
Side Panels in Acumatica enhance the usability of data by providing additional context without requiring users to navigate away from their current view. When viewing a dashboard or GI, users can click on a data point to open a side panel that displays related information, such as invoice details or customer information.
This feature is particularly useful in scenarios where users need to drill down into detailed information quickly. For instance, after identifying the top profitable states in a dashboard, a user might want to view the specific invoices contributing to that profitability. With side panels, this information is just a click away, enabling more efficient data exploration and analysis.
One of the strengths of Acumatica’s data analysis tools is the ease with which they can be customized and shared. Once a GI or dashboard has been created and customized, it can be published to the user interface with appropriate security settings. This ensures that only authorized users can view or interact with the data, while others may have limited access depending on their role.
This customization capability extends to dashboards as well, where specific widgets can be hidden or made visible based on the user's needs. This level of control ensures that users have access to the data they need without being overwhelmed by unnecessary information.
Acumatica ERP’s data analysis tools provide a robust framework for businesses to extract, visualize, and act upon their data. These tools can help businesses can gain deeper insights into their operations, improve decision-making processes, and ultimately drive greater profitability and efficiency.
Whether you're just beginning to explore Acumatica's capabilities or looking to enhance your current data analysis processes, these tools offer the flexibility and power needed to meet your business goals.