Datasheet

Chapter 1: Introducing Reporting Services
9
specifications, you save this report to a PDF file and then choose the customer sales inquiry history
report. Looking up this customer, you learn that someone named Julie from this very company made an
inquiry about two months ago regarding video media backups.
Looking around the room, you find a name card with Julie ’ s name on it. You explore the details of this
call, and you find that she had asked if you offer a solution comparable to a very expensive product from
a competitor. Checking the competition ’ s web site, you discover that the competing product Julie had
mentioned uses older technology, has a smaller capacity than the new system, and costs considerably
more. You save a report with all the pertinent specifications to your memory card, hand the card to the
administrative assistant sitting next to you, and ask that he make printed copies of the PDF file it
contains.
Your colleague finishes her presentation and then introduces you. Taking another quick glance at the
new product specs, you begin your introduction (see Figure 1 - 2 ).
Figure 1 - 2
You explain that one of your team ’ s greatest strengths is your real experience and understanding of how
business can change direction from day to day. In order to be responsive and competitive, it ’ s necessary
to adapt to these changes. You show the brochure for the midscale product and explain that this product
would be an excellent solution for a company that just scans documents. But for digital video, a more
capable solution is required. You share the product specification and qualify the product to meet your
customer ’ s needs. During your presentation, the administrative assistant returns with the printed
specification report. Not missing a beat, you distribute copies to everyone and conclude your
presentation. You make brief eye contact with your colleague, who raises an eyebrow just before your
customer ’ s chief decision - maker, Julie, aggressively shakes your hand and thanks you profusely for your
time and the extra effort you made to understand their needs. After the big sale is closed, the promotion,
the new company car, and corner office . . . you get the idea.
Solution Types
One of the things I ’ ve learned in the business consulting field is that giving people a lot of choices
doesn ’ t necessarily solve their problems. An impressive aspect of Reporting Services is that there are so
many different ways to implement it into a business environment. The fact that reports could be
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