Cross-Source Report Combination via Graphical Field Mapping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional business computing systems limit users' ability to easily incorporate fields or key figures from a second data source into a report associated with a first data source, preventing the discovery of answers to business questions that cross business areas, such as Payments and Delivery, due to the inability to facilitate the combination of reports from different data sources.
Innovation Solution
The system allows users to select and combine fields and key figures from multiple data sources by graphical representation and intuitive user interface elements, enabling the creation of a combined report through data source mapping and logical relationships, using metadata models and multi-dimensional analytical views to support different business solutions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users are restricted to viewing predefined reports from a single data source, then system complexity is reduced and ease of operation is maintained, but the ability to answer cross-business-area questions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the report creation process into separate selectable components (fields and key figures from different data sources) that can be independently chosen and combined. Users can select from multiple data sources (Payments, Delivery, etc.) and individually add fields or key figures to their report, rather than being constrained to predefined single-source reports.
Solution Approach 2:
The report generation system is designed to work with multiple data sources universally. The same report interface and field selection mechanism can access and combine data from any connected data source, making the system multi-functional across different business areas without requiring separate systems for each data source.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system allows combining fields from multiple data sources, then adaptability to answer complex business questions is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to increased complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service functionality by automatically managing the complexity of combining multiple data sources. Once users select their desired fields and key figures from different data sources, the system handles the data integration, mapping, and report generation automatically without requiring users to manually configure complex data relationships or write queries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing connections to multiple data sources and pre-organizing available fields and key figures for selection. Data sources are pre-configured and validated, and the interface pre-presents compatible fields and key figures that can be added to the report, reducing the operational complexity during actual report creation.
3Loss of information
If conventional predefined reports are used, then ease of operation is maintained, but information completeness is lost for cross-business questions
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges data from multiple data sources into a single unified report. Users can combine fields and key figures from different data sources (e.g., Payments and Delivery) in one report, achieving information completeness for cross-business questions while maintaining operational simplicity through the unified report interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A system may include reception of a selection of a first report, the first report based on a first data source defining a first plurality of fields and defining a first at least one key figure, the first report including at least one of the first at least one key figures and at least one of the first plurality of fields, presentation of a first graphical representation of the first data source, the first graphical representation comprising a first graphical icon representing the first at least one key figure, and at least one second graphical icon, each of the at least one second graphical icons representing a respective one of the at least one of the first plurality of fields of the first report, reception of a selection of a second report, the second report based on a second data source defining a second plurality of fields and defining a second at least one key figure, the second report including at least one of the second at least one key figures and at least one of the second plurality of fields, presentation of a second graphical representation of the second data source, the second graphical representation graphically linked to the first graphical representation and comprising a third graphical icon representing the second at least one key figure and a plurality of fourth graphical icons, each of the plurality of fourth graphical icons representing a respective one of the second plurality of fields, reception of a selection of one of the plurality of fourth graphical icons representing one of the second plurality of fields, and generation of a third report comprising the at least one of the first plurality of fields and the one of the second plurality of fields.