Exploring Blue Mountain RAM Integrations and Automation for Maximizing ROI

Bill Lucas, IT Systems Architect / Sr. Software EngineerSeptember 18, 2013

Integrations & Automation Best Practices

Planning and preparation Maintenance and monitoring Deployment Measuring resulting

ROI

Sample Demonstrations

Active Directory integration for personnel record automation

Using Excel to retrieve BMRAM data for analysis Using reporting services for multi-cycle planning Using web services for document management

integration Processing time based notifications

and escalations asynchronously

Active Directory Personnel Integration

Leverages existing SQL Server technologies Integrates through a flexible view based

mechanism Adds new users as soon as they are discovered

by the integration Updates existing users after edit as soon as the

integration detects them

Active Directory Personnel Benefits

Eliminates the need for double data entry Active Directory can be validated as the master

Identity Management System Automates the BMRAM personnel logon

creation process Enhances compliance as ongoing changes are

automatically synched to BMRAM.

Excel Integration With BMRAM Data

Leverages familiar office tools most people are already comfortable with

Integrates easily with database views for Rapid deployment

Integrates easily with stored procedures to allow for preprocessing of data

Can be used with Microsoft Query for ad hoc data discovery

Excel Integration Benefits

Allows users to use tools with which they are already familiar

Exposes BMRAM data to powerful BI tools within Excel like pivot tables, charts and slicers

Spreadsheets can be saved for reuse and their data refreshed at the click of a button

Once deployed the system can be extended without development resources

SQL server security model provides a built in means of controlling access

Multi-cycle Scheduling Views

Leverages existing application reporting services Leverages “baked in” application features in new

and useful ways Can be exposed within the BMRAM interface

using the existing reporting tools Can be developed to support query based

reporting

Multi-cycle Scheduling Benefits

Provides an intuitive calendar view for browsing projected scheduled activities

Provides drill through capabilities to allow viewing activities from monthly to daily levels

Provides advanced notice of potential resource bottle necks

Can account for weekends and plant closures

Web Service Integration

Most enterprise applications provide out of the box web services for use

Leverages non compiled code to connect other enterprise systems with BMRAM

Loosely coupled integration can be managed largely independent of both systems.

Provides connectivity without the need to modify either BMRAMor the partner application

Web Service Integration Benefits

Automates the synchronization of data between disparate enterprise system

Eliminates the need for duplicate data entry Enhances compliance through a validated

mechanism Up to date information is used

consistently across applications

Asynchronous Processing Integration

Simple to implement and integrate Leverages simple scheduling tools like Windows

Scheduler or SQL Server jobs Can be configured to monitor queues or service

broker objects Implemented through familiar TSQL objects Utilizes built in application

processing functionality

Asynchronous Processing Benefits

Eliminates the need for end users to monitor the system’s time based information for manual intervention

Provides a solution for time based or “past due” problems

Provides a means of escalating issues in a time sensitive manner

Allows for automating batch processing similar to the batchwork engine

Group Discussion

Questions / Comments