{"id":943,"date":"2019-04-17T15:46:42","date_gmt":"2019-04-17T22:46:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lightsondata.com\/?p=943"},"modified":"2019-07-03T19:17:14","modified_gmt":"2019-07-04T02:17:14","slug":"what-is-ad-hoc-reporting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lightsondata.com\/what-is-ad-hoc-reporting\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is ad hoc reporting?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ad hoc<\/span><\/i> means \u201cfor this\u201d in Latin and refers to something done for a specific purpose. <\/span>Ad hoc reporting<\/b>, then, is the process of creating reports for a specific occasion (as opposed to for general use). In business intelligence<\/a>, ad hoc reporting supplements <\/span>canned reports<\/b> by enabling end users to either duplicate and edit premade reports or build entirely new ones from scratch without assistance from IT. <\/span><\/p>\n

BI analysts typically provide their end users with a library of pre-made, general-purpose reports that will satisfy business needs <\/span>most<\/span><\/i> of the time. Some of these regular reports will be fully static; all end users can do is select the report and run it. Others, however, may be parameterized, giving end users the ability to customize one or more variables affecting the report\u2019s output. <\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to distinguish <\/span>parameterized reports<\/b> from ad hoc reports. A parameterized inventory report, for example, might permit the end user to select a date range and warehouse but would prevent her from changing anything else about the report. Parameterized reports are <\/span>somewhat<\/span><\/i> customizable; ad hoc reports are <\/span>completely<\/span><\/i> customizable and indispensable to executives and managers looking for swift, targeted insights.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Canned Reports<\/b><\/p>\n

Pre-built reports stored in a report library and intended for general use. They may or may not be parameterized, and their core definitions cannot be altered.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Parameterized Reports<\/b><\/p>\n

Canned reports equipped with customizable settings such as such as sorts, filters, parameters, and styling options. Their core definitions cannot be altered. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Ad Hoc Reports<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reports created for a specific occasion rather than for general use.<\/p>\n

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Ad Hoc Reporting Example<\/span><\/h2>\n

The value of ad hoc is in its flexibility and expediency. Bob is the regional sales manager for a magazine company, and he uses an application called MagaZone to keep track of all his team\u2019s ad sales. MagaZone\u2019s reporting suite includes a premade parameterized sales report that will show him how much each member of his team has sold into which publications over a specified period of time, but he needs more detailed information this month.<\/span><\/p>\n

This month, some of his company\u2019s magazines have introduced a new type of print ad called an advertorial, and he wants to see how many of these new ads his agents have sold and to whom. With ad hoc reporting, he could either make a copy of the original sales report and add the newly pertinent data fields (such as <\/span>AdType<\/i> and <\/span>ClientIndustry<\/i>), or he could build and run a brand-new report <\/span>expressly for that purpose<\/i>. In either case, he\u2019d have the tools he needed to get a pulse on the new ad campaign, and he wouldn\u2019t need to wait for technical assistance to do so.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Features of Strong Ad Hoc Reporting Solutions<\/span><\/h2>\n

Ad hoc reporting solutions vary in functionality, so it\u2019s important to look at the details when evaluating a BI application. Here are capabilities to look for as you browse.<\/span><\/p>\n