By Candace Taylor, Marketing Coordinator for PerformanceG2
 
While Q4 is right around the corner, so are some of the industry’s must-attend Business Intelligence, performance management and Cognos events. To make things easy, here is a list of those events with information on how to register. Most of these are free events, that you don’t want to miss – the events will increase your knowledge in the world of business analytics, will provide industry trends and what to expect for the rest of the year, as well as Cognos tips and tricks, and upcoming Cognos training courses – take advantage of these valuable events today.
 

FREE Virtual Summit: IBM Cognos Midsize Business Analytics Virtual Summit
Date: Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Time: 6:00 AM EST, 12:00 PM EST or 8:00 PM EST
Location: Virtual
Cost: Complimentary

Description: If you’re interested in learning how technology can help your organization turn data into insight, to help manage costs and drive business growth, then join us on Wednesday, September 15 for the third quarterly virtual summit. IBM Cognos will be unveiling the newest capabilities of IBM Cognos Express reporting, analysis and planning software that’s purpose-built for midsize companies.

Through this online simulated conference and expo, you will:
* Learn how adopting integrated business planning increases the accuracy, agility and adaptability that midsize companies need to compete in today’s volatile global economy
*Hear how Everlink Payment Services Inc. implemented BI for quick benefits and is now adding planning capabilities for a totally integrated environment
*See IBM Cognos Express in action, featuring the newest product capabilities for easy to use planning, budgeting and forecasting
*Network and chat live with peers, colleagues and industry experts
*Visit the PerformanceG2 virtual booth to download rich resources, connect with PerformanceG2’s expert team members and more

Whether you’re a technical, financial or business manager, you won’t want to miss this event! Register today – thousands have participated in the previous events. See what it’s all about on Wednesday, September 15.

Check out this FREE virtual summit event to learn more about business analytics and Cognos Express!

FREE: Query Studio Online Training Course
Date: September 16, 2010
Time: 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM CST
Cost: Complimentary
 

Description: The Cognos 8 Query Studio course is designed for business authors who want to learn how to create, modify and organize ad hoc reports. This covers how to use different report capabilities and the appropriate use of each, how to graphically display the data and how to create reports with the same look and feel through the use of templates. The course also covers basic administrative tasks, such as scheduling reports and delivering reports in different formats (HTML, PDF, Excel, etc.). Sign up for this complimentary online training course today!*

*Space is limited
*Only one registrant per company available

Two-Day Report Studio Online Cognos Training Course
Date: Wednesday, September 29 and Thursday, September 30, 2010
Time: 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM CST
Location: PerformanceG2 Online Classroom
Cost: $795 p/person

Description: The C8 Report Studio Course starts with an introduction to Cognos Connection, report management through Cognos Connection, basic and intermediate report building techniques, and ways of enhancing, customizing and managing professional reports in Report Studio. Through hands-on demos, you will also learn advanced techniques for creating, modifying and distributing professional reports using Report Studio and Cognos Connection. In addition, you will learn the proper techniques for creating Cognos 8 Dashboards.

Sign up for this two-day Report Studio training course.

Two-Day Report Studio Online Cognos Training Course
Date: Wednesday, October 20 and Thursday, October 21, 2010
Time: 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM CST
Location: PerformanceG2 Online Classroom
Cost: $795 p/person

Description: The C8 Report Studio Course starts with an introduction to Cognos Connection, report management through Cognos Connection, basic and intermediate report building techniques, and ways of enhancing, customizing and managing professional reports in Report Studio. Through hands-on demos, you will also learn advanced techniques for creating, modifying and distributing professional reports using Report Studio and Cognos Connection. In addition, you will learn the proper techniques for creating Cognos 8 Dashboards.

Sign up for this two-day Report Studio training course.

IBM Information On Demand/Business Analytics Forum 2010
Date: October 24 – 28, 2010
Location: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
Cost: Use PerformanceG2’s Conference Code, G10PERFG2, and Save $800

Description: Join PerformanceG2 at this year’s premier conference for information and analytics – IBM’s Information On Demand and Business Analytics Forum 2010 – and use our exclusive discount code to save a total of $800 off registration!

Register before August 31, 2010 to receive an instant $500 off registration, follow the instructions below and use the exclusive PerformanceG2 registration code to save a total of $800 off your registration:

1. Visit the IBM Information On Demand 2010 Web site registration page
2. Enter your email address and choose the registration type
3. Select the sessions and activities you are primarily interested in attending and continue to the next page
4. Select the relevant attendee type and complete the requested attendee information
5. Under the ‘Promotion Code Information’ section, enter the PerformanceG2 code G10PERFG2 to save an additional $300
6. Complete the remaining fields on the enrollment form clicking ‘Continue’ at the bottom of each section
7. Click ‘Submit Registration’ to finalize your registration process

For more information or questions on registering, please contact Candace Taylor at candace.taylor@performanceg2.com.

For more information on these Business Intelligence events, or other events, visit http://performanceg2.com/events/.
 
 
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By Candace Taylor, Marketing Coordinator for PerformanceG2
 
Do you know the current health of your organization’s Cognos environment? Is your Cognos system mature, up-to-date and conforms to industry standards? Is your Cognos platform efficient and organized? Do you want to be dedicated to making sure your Cognos system is healthy?

While organizations focus on utilizing Cognos software to its fullest through training and best practices, it is also important to think about your Cognos system’s overall health to ensure that the architecture is stable, logical, clean and fully-functional.

Through PerformanceG2’s complimentary Cognos Health Check service, your system is assessed by certified technical specialists who know what they are doing, know what they are looking for and can provide recommendations on how you can get your system cleaned up. They do this by reviewing the overall system and architecture through a validation process, scan the content store for corruption, check for broken reports and inconsistencies, identify broken links and run a variety of other diagnostics to offer a full-view, and grade of the health of your Cognos platform.

To take advantage of our Cognos Health Check service, call us at (877) 742-4276 or email us at info@performanceg2.com and see how you can get started.
 


 
 
 
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By Candace Taylor, Marketing Coordinator for PerformanceG2
 
It’s about that time of year again, to start thinking about, and planning for, IBM’s premier conference for information and analytics – IBM Information On Demand and Business Analytics Forum 2010. This year, the event will take place at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, October 24 and 28 and will host 9,000 plus attendees, provide 600 IT and Cognos skill building sessions, and include 110 industry-focused business and IT leadership sessions – making it the must-attend Cognos, BI, Information On Demand and CPM event of the year. To make the event even better, if you register before August 31 and use the exclusive PerformanceG2 promo code, G10PERFG2, you can save $800 off of your registration. To take advantage of this limited time offer, click on the image below, or follow the below instructions.
 

 
Register before August 31, 2010 to receive an instant $500 off registration, follow these instructions and use the PerformanceG2 registration code to save a total of $800 off your registration:

1. Visit the IBM Information On Demand 2010 Web Site Registration Page (https://www-950.ibm.com/events/IOD/IOD2010/secure/regWizard.do?step=begin)
2. Enter your email address and choose the registration type
3. Select the sessions and activities you are primarily interested in attending and continue to the next page
4. Select the relevant attendee type and complete the requested attendee information
5. Under the ‘Promotion Code Information’ section, enter the PerformanceG2 code G10PERFG2 to save an additional $300
6. Complete the remaining fields on the enrollment form clicking ‘Continue at the bottom of each section
7. Click ‘Submit Registration’ to finalize your registration process
 
For more information, or questions on how to register, contact me at candace.taylor@performanceg2.com Don’t miss out on this year’s premier Cognos and business analytics conference!
 
 
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By Candace Taylor, Marketing Coordinator for PerformanceG2
 
For many years, Cognos Enterprise Planning has been made the market choice for budgeting and forecasting – providing users with a powerful alternative to spreadsheet-based financial modeling. However, the core of the EP application was built more than a decade ago, and lacks the scalability and flexibility necessary to deal effectively with the increasing volumes of financial data that are now common in most organizations. The result is that EP is often difficult to change and costly to manage.   

Cognos TM1 is designed to fix many of the current EP challenges. The time is now to make your Cognos EP to TM1 conversion, and with IBM’s limited time offer of an EP license trade-in promotion, you can receive a TM1 Contributor license for every EP Contributor license you currently own, making the process easier and cost-efficient for your organization.
 

 
Why convert to Cognos TM1? Here are just some reason why your organization should make the move:

1. TM1 allows for a more scalable solution which provides for easier handling of increased volumes of data, unlike its predecessors
2. TM1 functions in real-time, providing on-demand updates and forecasting capabilities
3. TM1 incorporates the breadth of Cognos 8 Studios for optimal reporting capabilities
4. TM1’s cutting edge financial analysis and reporting capabilities is backed by its powerful database engine that delivers comprehensive views of your organization’s financial picture
5. Migrating Cognos EP to TM1 could never be easier and more cost-efficient with IBM’s limited time conversion offer

Read more about the TM1 Advantage, TM1’s new features and how you can start your EP to TM1 migration by downloading our EP to TM1 Fact Sheet. Learn more about how you can save and get started with your migration, also get all of your questions about the process answered - connect with one of our TM1 experts today by emailing us at info@performanceg2.com or call 877.742.4276.
 
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By Candace Taylor, Marketing Coordinator for PerformanceG2
 
Are you a Business Intelligence Admin looking for more transparency in your BI environment? This awesome app by Motio, MotioPI FREEware for IBM Cognos, allows you to investigate your BI environment’s components, users, content, report details, schedules, dependencies and more. It is the perfect tool to become familiar with a new environment, identify constraints, monitor usage behavior and ensure that your IBM Cognos BI environment is aligned with your resources and infrastructure for optimal performance.

The best part about this app, is that it is a free tool, designed with IBM Cognos BI admins in mind. Watch this short MotioPI demo to learn more about the app and what it can do. Or to start using the free tool, click here to download it.
 

Motio and PerformanceG2, together provide complete and comprehensive solutions and products for organizations to achieve maximum return on their BI and Financial Planning investments. For more information on the Motio and PerformanceG2 partnership, visit performanceg2.com/about/partners/
 
 
And if you are interested in learning how PerformanceG2 can help meet your needs with BI solutions, email us at info@performanceg2.com or call 877.742.4272. Or for complete access to BI, CPM and Cognos industry news, updates and tips and techniques, follow us on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, watch our YouTube Videos or connect with us on LinkedIn.
 
 
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By Candace Taylor, Marketing Coordinator for PerformanceG2
 

Clark County Nevada, the United States’ 15th largest county and home to the world-famous Las Vegas Strip, provides regional services to its more than 2 million residents and employs more than 8,000 people in 38 departments. Clark County Family Services Department is the local public agency whose role is to help keep children safe, as required by the Federal Adoption and Safe Families Act. The department runs numerous services – from child protective services to foster care services to adoption services – all of which require a large amount of data input and access via a case management system. Executive management, BI analysts and child welfare staff all use the system frequently to run ad hoc and daily reports.

Clark County Family Services Department needed to implement a BI solution that would not only streamline reporting, but also help comply with new state regulations. IBM Cognos 8 BI worked with the statewide system to improve the department’s reporting process, benchmark new services and measure business performance.

“In light of a fast-growing state population and struggling economic climate, we were able to not only boost our quality of service, but also generate about $4 million in new revenue. The IBM Cognos solution, with its ability to help identify bottlenecks and improve business processes, was instrumental in these successes – so much so that other county departments are now implementing the solution and mirroring our BI infrastructure.” – Eboni Washington, QA/QI Supervisor, Family Services Department, Clark County
 

 
To read more on this client success story and how IBM Cognos and PerformanceG2 were able to help Clark County, click here.

And if you are interested in learning how PerformanceG2 can help meet your needs with BI solutions, email us at info@performanceg2.com or call 877.742.4272.
 
 
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By Candace Taylor, Marketing Coordinator for PerformanceG2
 
Convenient, cost-efficient and valuable, new ONLINE Cognos training opportunities

Imagine learning from the comfort of your home or office with out having to worry about traveling hassles or costs. Imagine having an in-depth Cognos learning experience that is personalized and customized to meet your needs and answer your questions.

Now, you don’t have to imagine. PerformanceG2 announces the newest offering to their solutions, ONLINE Cognos training, affordable, convenient, high-value training sessions, all delivered by our award winning, Cognos certified instructors through our easy-to-use virtual classroom.

Take advantage of our first online training class on April 21 and 22, 2010 – Two-Day Report Studio Course. For $795, you can learn C8 Report Studio, report management through Cognos Connection, intermediate report building techniques and more, all through hands-on demos.

Sign up today or for more information, visit performanceg2.com/solutions/online-cognos-training/

And if you are interested in other upcoming online Cognos training classes, email us at info@performanceg2.com.

 
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By Candace Taylor, Marketing Coordinator for PerformanceG2
 
Now is the time to be proactive with your BI efforts. Now is the time to network with local business colleagues to collaborate and expand your knowledge on Cognos software. Now is the time to BInvolved (‘B’I Involved) – and luckily, this resource is free, just need to set aside some time in your day.

What am I talking about? I am talking about joining local Cognos user groups in your area because they are developed for you and your organization. These Cognos user groups are valuable forums set up for local organizations, fellow Cognos developers, BI Analysts, Framework Managers and industry professionals to connect, network, exchange information and encourage the effective use and development of Cognos Software.

Check out local user groups on IBM’s site. Or, if you live in the Las Vegas area, check out the user group information below, and become involved!
 

 
 
FREE Cognos Local User Group Meeting: Nevada Local User Group Kick-Off Meeting
Date: Thursday, April 8, 2010
Time: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM PST

Description:This group is dedicated to provide:

* A technical forum that encourages the effective use and development of Cognos Software
* A networking forum that connects with local organizations and fellow Cognos developers, BI Analysts and Framework Managers
* An information exchange forum that shares tips and tricks, valuable information and user experiences

This meeting with include:
* Introduction/Reviews/LUG Goals and Objectives
* MGM/Mirage, StationCasinos, The Sands, Clark County overview of their use of Cognos PM/BI tools
* Data governance program
* Security
* Cognos 8.4, 8.4.1 Demo- by PerformanceG2

Register for this Local User Group Meeting to connect and network!
 
 
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By Candace Taylor, Marketing Coordinator for PerformanceG2
 
For this month, there are a series of complimentary performance management and business intelligence events, dedicated for you to expand your knowledge, to finish the first quarter off strong and stay on-top of the evolving industry. Check them out below, and attend!
 
Virtual Summit: IBM Cognos Midsize Business Analytics Virtual Summit
Date: Thursday, March 11, 2010
Time: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM OR 8:00 to 11:00 PM EDT

 
Description: Join IBM Cognos and Advanced IBM Business Partner, PerformanceG2, for a complimentary, three-hour IBM Cognos Midsize Business Analytics Virtual Summit.

Whether you are new to business analytics or have been using it for some time, the IBM Cognos Midsize Business Analytics Virtual Summit can show you how to transform insight into action for better business outcomes. This virtual summit is the first in a series of quarterly, interactive forums focused on reporting, analysis and planning solutions for midsize companies.

The session will include:
* Keynote address- “Why Should You Care About Business Analytics?”
* Customer session and live case study overview
* Business analytics workshop: IBM Cognos Express
* Virtual expo hall, an interactive exhibit area- connect with PerformanceG2 here with any Cognos Express questions

Learn more and register
 
 
Forum: New Intelligence
Dates: Thursday, March 11, 2010- Dallas, TX
Tuesday, March 16- Columbus, OH
Thursday, March 18- San Francisco
Time: 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM

 
Description: Join IBM and PerformanceG2 to learn how to transform your company’s information into a strategic asset to optimize business performance. Learn first hand how IBM is changing the game by providing leading edge information management and delivery capabilities tailored to your industry’s ever-changing demands. Gain insight into how lead organizations are finding success using new and innovative techniques for unlocking the business value of information including:

* Business Intelligence and performance management
* Data quality, governance and integration
* Master data management
* Data warehousing
* Predictive, text analytics
* Data visualization, enterprise mashups
* Enterprise content management

Interact with IT and business decision-makers grappling with similar information management and business analytics challenges you face.

Learn more and register
 
 
Want instant event invitations sent directly to your inbox? If so, simply sign up here: http://ow.ly/19YDs. Or email us and we will be sure to include you on our event invitations.
 
Looking for other ways to meet those performance management goals? Connect with us at info@performanceg2.com or call 877.742.4276. We will work with you and provide options on the best BI, CPM, FPM, data warehousing, consulting and staffing solutions out there.
 
 
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By Candace Taylor, Marketing Coordinator for PerformanceG2
 
The February edition of PerformanceG2’s eNewsletter, InSight, is now available – this month includes must-read BI articles, Cognos TM1 and Cognos Express Webinars, as well as free upcoming events.

Sign up to receive our BI and CPM industry newsletter here: http://ow.ly/19YDs. Or email us and we will personally send you the most recent edition.
 

 
Looking for other ways to meet those performance management goals? Connect with us at info@performanceg2.com or call 877.742.4276. We will work with you and provide options on the best BI, CPM, FPM, data warehousing, consulting and staffing solutions out there.
 
 
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