What is our primary use case?
I use it for supplying and developing business intelligence (BI) solutions, data management and reporting applications, and for the development of complete web-based applications. It's a versatile and very powerful toolset that covers a lot of ground.
How has it helped my organization?
We focus on empowering businesses to unlock their data to support productivity, efficiency, managing risks, and informed decision-making. WebFOCUS is ideal for that. It provides a scalable data and analytics software platform.
We use it for all sorts of applications - data analysis, data capture, reporting applications. Most of our clients have intricate needs, and that's why they went with WebFOCUS. Simpler tools just wouldn't suffice.
What is most valuable?
WebFOCUS goes beyond just dashboards. It's also used for operational reporting, making it crucial for mission-critical systems. In fact, a core strength is that it's not "just" a BI tool; it can be used to build complete applications.
It is the best tool because of its all-in-one nature. Data integration, ETL, data migration, everything is handled within the same platform. Then, on the front end, it offers portals, reporting, distributed analysis, and more.
For customers who have data in the right structure and right format, the WebFOCUS Designer tool is very powerful. It allows them to create self-service reporting applications.
What needs improvement?
Documentation could definitely be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using software from ibi (Information Builders) since 1987.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate the stability at least a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would rate the scalability a ten out of ten. It's highly scalable and can handle significant data volumes.
Our customers in southern Africa range from medium sized businesses to large enterprises.
WebFOCUS handles growing data volumes in terms of scalability. In this aspect, I would rate it a nine out of ten because it does ultimately depend on the scalability of the underlying data source.
How are customer service and support?
We don't always reach the right person. Sometimes, we get junior-level reps who aren't as knowledgeable as we are.
Additionally, when we log calls, they usually involve advanced requirements, and the resolution timeline isn't always fast enough.
How would you rate customer service and support?
How was the initial setup?
I would rate my experience with the initial setup an eight out of ten, with ten being easy.
While the actual installation and configuration might take only a few hours, the real work lies in connecting to and understanding data sources, which can vary depending on complexity.
The majority of our clients opt for on-premises deployment.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I would rate the pricing a five out of ten, with ten being expensive.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate the solution a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Reseller