In case you haven't been keeping up with Longview product versions, Khalix has long stuck to a version control system that ostensibly went from 1.0 through the most recent 3.55 edition. After LV's acquisition by Dutch entity Exact Software, the next release will be called Khalix 7.
The ratonale for this can be debated but almost certainly revolves around two major aspects, that of product placement (marketing) and the level of changes wrought within Khalix under Exact's tutelage.
Using "Khalix 7" does sound to the layman as if more development has gone into the product. Competitor products all currently are above or near 10 (Cognos 8.4, Hyperion 9 before it became OBIEE 10, Business Objects XI, Peoplesoft 8, Oracle 11g, etc). Simple math says that 3.5 x2 gives you 7. The point that LV evidently wants us to take away is that the new version is a significant departure from older versions and is purportedly a major step forward, if not twice as good. Experience alone will tell us if that is the case or if it is largely a marketing campaign.
As far as changes to the Khalix product, there are a few:
- Longview has stated that it has adopted an SOA framework. Being that Service-Oriented Architecture is the in-vogue term being batted about nowadays, this could be true or could be propaganda. There are many people and products out there that claim this but what does that mean? A simple definition would be that systems group functionality around business processes and package these as interoperable services, usually Web Services. When talking about SOA, products usually refer to applications exchanging data with one another using a middle business process layer and possibly using messaging. Having said that, in its simplest form, SOA means having a group of services communicate with each other. Could that therefore be any application? The Khalix servers were already setup in a format that could ostensibly be said to mimic some of this. As to whether they implemented a BP layer and specifically use messaging and queuing of requests for service communication, or if they added web service extensibility, is unknown at this point. My guess is that the truth falls somewhere in-between and that they may have updated the Khalix set of servers (application) such that communication between the servers was abstracted. This is a logical step that would help them in the future such that every time they added a new modular server, such as a Tax server, they could more easily bring it into the scheme of things instead of recoding all the other servers to interact with it.
-Users working with dashboard objects, somewhat of a painful process in the past, will now have Longview Optix unveiled. LV's website says "Longview Optix is a data visualization and analysis suite that enables you to create a wide range of charts, maps, and widgets to embed in your Longview dashboards. The extensive library of graphics provided within Longview Optix enhances the value of Longview applications by providing meaningful visual analysis capabilities to user communities." In other words, they have enhanced the dashboard creation process, providing drag-and-drop interoperability and hopefully making the process simpler, if not better looking. This was probably long overdue and would reflect similar steps made by competitor products, such as Cognos Go Dashboard making use of Flash for ease-of-use.
-Tax updates. Much as many companies jumped on the Sarbox/Sox bandwagon (and prior to that the Y2K bandwagon), Longview is being forward-thinking in focusing on upcoming tax changes (see prior post "Dialog to take place in Dallas this year, focus on IFRS convergence") to steer itself toward success. Consequently, Khalix will reportedly have several new modular tax updates for accounting folks.
-Application Framework. I'm certain that there will have been some upgrades to allow for easier or more robust application framework modelling, although I have no specific evidence. The use of server-side processing as opposed to client-side modelling has too many performance benefits to ignore.
-Consolidation. There has been mention of top-down target setting in Khalix 7, among other things, that may help in the monthly reconciliation process. LV mentions the use of hierarchies, workflow and proft modelling but these have been integral to the product for some time.
I hope that gives an overview of new product highlights. If any of you have anything you can add, please feel free!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Dialog to take place in Dallas this year, focus on IFRS convergence
Longview will be hosting its annual conference--Dialog--in the US this year. I guess they got tired of skiing in the Canadian rockies or have decided to target the US market more strongly as Dialog will be taking place at the Four Seasons in Los Colinas (Dallas), Texas in May.
One of the main thrusts will obviously be pitching/demo-ing Khalix 7. But sessions, and break-out sessions, will still be held around how to effectively manage your Khalix 3 Series (specifically the most recent pre-7 edition 3.55) instance.
As far as marketing, Longview has chosen to focus on a theme of "convergence," hoping to advocate upcoming tax changes in IFRS, GAAP and XBRL as a reason to jump to Khalix 7. As you may or may not know, accounting policy makers in the US and internationally, including Canada as an early adopter, have chosen to try to eliminate differences in tax standards among nations. Consequently, Canada has chosen to adopt IFRS standards as early as 2011 and the US is purportedly expected to head in that direction 2013-2015 with voluntary adoption for US registrants allowed as early as January 2009.
A quote from CA Magazine illustrates the change:
"Canada’s move means Japan and the US remain the only members of the G8 that haven’t adopted IFRS. The US continues tohold fast to its Financial Accounting Stan-dards Board rules-based standards that have been globally panned. However, the FASB and IASB are working closely to converge their standards where possible"
For Khalix, this means an opportunity to benefit from the tax environment by making the changes easier for companies utilizing Series 7.
One of the main thrusts will obviously be pitching/demo-ing Khalix 7. But sessions, and break-out sessions, will still be held around how to effectively manage your Khalix 3 Series (specifically the most recent pre-7 edition 3.55) instance.
As far as marketing, Longview has chosen to focus on a theme of "convergence," hoping to advocate upcoming tax changes in IFRS, GAAP and XBRL as a reason to jump to Khalix 7. As you may or may not know, accounting policy makers in the US and internationally, including Canada as an early adopter, have chosen to try to eliminate differences in tax standards among nations. Consequently, Canada has chosen to adopt IFRS standards as early as 2011 and the US is purportedly expected to head in that direction 2013-2015 with voluntary adoption for US registrants allowed as early as January 2009.
A quote from CA Magazine illustrates the change:
"Canada’s move means Japan and the US remain the only members of the G8 that haven’t adopted IFRS. The US continues tohold fast to its Financial Accounting Stan-dards Board rules-based standards that have been globally panned. However, the FASB and IASB are working closely to converge their standards where possible"
For Khalix, this means an opportunity to benefit from the tax environment by making the changes easier for companies utilizing Series 7.
Monday, November 19, 2007
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