DEPARTMENT: Information Technology
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Purchase SplashBI Database Software For Oracle Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning And Human Capital Management
end
PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize the Information Technology (IT) Chief Information Officer (CIO) to purchase SplashBI Enterprise Business Reporting and Analytics software.
SUMMARY
The County’s implementation of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution, Oracle Cloud ERP and Human Capital Management (HCM), creates new data needs for reporting and interfaces. With the data residing in the Cloud, IT staff do not have access to retrieve data directly from the database tables that hold the data for the new ERP system. Data from the new ERP system is needed in the County Data Warehouse to meet business reporting requirements and for use in the many interfaces between other business systems and the ERP system for daily transaction processing. Furthermore, Finance, Budget, Employee Relations, and Payroll staff have significant reporting needs as we go live with the new system.
SplashBI offers software that will allow for the replication of Oracle Cloud ERP data that IT staff can access directly to meet business needs of County departments. In addition, they offer a robust set of pre-written reports that staff can leverage as is, or extend to meet their needs with no assistance from IT. The software also provides added data views over and above what is delivered with our new ERP solution allowing for more logical creation of reports against an otherwise massive, very complex database behind the new system.
By Resolution No. 21-499 (October 19, 2021), Dakota County IT purchased software from SplashBI Enterprise Business Reporting and Analytics in 2021 to allow IT development staff to transition interfaces from the current ERP solution, OneSolution, to the new ERP system which will go live in January of 2023. The software purchased included the capability to replicate the database behind the new ERP solution and allow Dakota County IT developers to directly access the database necessary to re-point the various interfaces needed for our financial transaction processing.
A new one-year contract with SplashBI Enterprise Business Reporting and Analytics including data replication and a connection to real time data, pre-developed data views, and pre-developed reports across all of the modules we use within the new ERP solution, and support as we develop new reports, will cost $98,800 from January 3, 2023 through January 2, 2024.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board authorize the IT CIO to purchase the SplashBI Enterprise Business Reporting & Analytics software for support of the new Oracle Cloud ERP/HCM system.
end
EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
The $98,800 for the SplashBI Enterprise Business Reporting and Analytics contract are included in the previously approved ERP contingency budget.
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
body
WHEREAS, the County is implementing a new cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Human Capital Management (HCM) system, Oracle Cloud ERP/HCM; and
WHEREAS, Oracle Cloud ERP/HCM does not allow direct access to the cloud hosted database; and
WHEREAS, staff need direct access to the database hosting the data for the County’s Oracle Cloud ERP/HCM system for development and maintenance of interfaces to local systems and to support business reporting needs; and
WHEREAS, software produced by SplashBI will allow County IT staff access to the real time database behind the County’s Oracle Cloud ERP/HCM system as well as hosting a near real time copy of the database as well as real time hosting the data for the County’s Oracle Cloud ERP/HCM system; and
WHEREAS, the Splash BI Enterprise Business Reporting & Analytics software will cost $98,800; and
WHEREAS, cost includes a one-year agreement, software set up, training, and support costs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Information Technology Chief Information Officer to purchase the Splash BI Enterprise Business Reporting & Analytics software, in the amount of $98,800, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form.
end
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
21-499; 10/19/21
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: None.
BOARD GOALS
☐ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☒ Excellence in Public Service
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT LEVEL
☐ Inform and Listen ☐ Discuss ☐ Involve ☒ N/A
CONTACT
Department Head: Dan Cater
Author: Dan Cater