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Integrating Crystal Reports with SharePoint -Things to Keep in Mind

The popular business application, SharePoint, is now widely preferred by most software companies. With the newest versions coming up, this web application platform is used for a number of purposes, out of which the sharing of electronic documents and images of the scanned paper documents are the most prominent ones. SharePoint enables developers to create websites, which further allow an easy uploading as well as managing of documents. Even the communities can be formed around particular functions, necessitating access to the documents. These documents then become ready for searching, collaboration, management, updating or archiving.

The Need for Integration

While SharePoint with its multiple functionalities is of immense use, it cannot be denied at the same time that it is not so useful when it comes to the business intelligence system. It is here that the integration of SharePoint with Crystal Reports becomes necessary. The integration largely helps in making the information accessible as well as ready to analyze from the organization. Once the integration is done, the data can be drilled into different sets, which makes the process of categorizing them easier. The integration supports accomplishment of the following tasks:

  • Analyzing data in thorough details
  • Identify the relationship between costs as well as revenues of your organization
  • Identify processes and products that are adding value as well as reducing the margins.

Now, there are few things to be considered to ensure that the integration of SharePoint and CR goes off well while also paving the way for the required benefits.

Points to Consider for Successful Integration

To begin with, a CR scheduler should be incorporated, which allows scheduling of reports that need to be sent at specific date and time to the particular business users in the desired format. The incorporation of the Crystal Reports scheduler offers the members of the organization with the required information without a wastage of time and efforts and they can, therefore, engage in quick decision making. The reports created by the business users can also be stored centrally with the help of SharePoint and accordingly, accessed by the staff members who are in need of the same. Crystal Reports pave the way for scheduling reports on the use of SharePoint to get an idea about how the web application platform is influencing the work of the staffs.

Yet another important factor that has to be considered in this regard is that of using the SharePoint system in the automation of business process. The newly integrated report scheduler, if used, on an event-driven basis, enables a rather process automation. Consequently, modification to files or databases lead to a chain of actions, saving the hard work that had to put into the task otherwise by an employee.

The events include receiving orders from customers and triggering an automatic sending of the packing slip to the warehouse, reducing of the inventory levels, ordering the new products along with materials to fill up for the lack of stock, scheduling delivery of the given order and also billing the customer. Earlier, these actions had to be not only performed by the individuals but also necessitated the inputs from several professionals belonging to the various departments of the organization. Now, the automation is done electronically, saving the transactions that seem to be lagging behind, cost of staffing and the obvious chances of human errors.

Considering the importance of the integration of SharePoint with Crystal Report, companies are now going for Crystal Reports Distribution or what is also known as CRD. CRD can actually work wonders in reducing costs while at the same time, increase the margins and efficiencies. Scheduling and automation of information across any organization is easier than ever before. Custom sharepoint development teams can help you build projects within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide SharePoint application development services. If you would like to talk to one of our certified SharePoint developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.