When Search and BI Collide

Enterprise search tools now index more than Web pages and text and image files; they can index any data volume, including structured databases, metadata, and transaction feeds. Given the pervasiveness of enterprise search and its ease-of-use, many wonder if search offers a revolutionary new approach to end-user data access. Some believe that search, with its familiar and simple keyword interface, is the next generation ad hoc query tool. Others see a role for search in helping guide users to relevant information within reports and data repositories and integrating diverse data sets on the fly without need for traditional data integration. Thi...