The Bizcovery application server consists of four main components/functions: the analytic engine, decision flow engine, application components library, and web server integration.

Each of the four components that make up the application server interacts to provide seamless and streamlined delivery of analytic data from the Bizcovery data store to the application modules. The following sections describe the purpose of each component and the various benefits that the Bizcovery application server architecture provides Bizcovery analytic applications users.

Analytic Engine. Bizcovery Foundation features a powerful analytic engine, with capabilities including hybrid online analytical processing (HOLAP), data mining, publish and subscribe capability, statistical and ad hoc analysis.

HOLAP Solution. Bizcovery Foundation provides a robust platform for performing HOLAP (Hybrid OLAP) analysis. Bizcovery supports both ROLAP (Relational OLAP) and MOLAP (Multidimensional OLAP) analysis unlike many analytic application vendors on the market. The Bizcovery solution has advanced ROLAP functionality by supporting Microsoft Analysis Server with end-to-end metadata integration.

This feature provides two important benefits:

(1)   greatly increased scalability and

(2)   flexibility of data volume and analysis.

Data Mining and Statistical Analysis. Algorithms such as top N, N-tile, propensity, affinity analysis, and induction are included as part of Bizcovery standard functionality. These algorithms are built entirely in C++, Java, and SQL and are compartmentalized for reuse in applications.

With Bizcovery Foundation, one can quickly create a new analytic application that answers critical business questions.

Standard and Ad-hoc Reporting. Ad hoc queries may be performed through a simple "drag-and-drop" process. Bizcovery "active" ad hoc reporting functionality includes drill-downs, pivot tables, chart building, and detail reporting.

Publish & Subscribe Capability. Bizcovery application server supports publish and subscribe capabilities. Users may publish the analytical reports they create. They may also request published reports. Users can subscribe to a report and specify a schedule for reports to be "pushed" to their desktop. These reports may be delivered on a regular basis via e-mail or printed copy based on a subscriber list. By viewing or selecting from a list of reports, business views or the columns in a business view, users may build their own queries, reports and analytics.

The analytic engine is one of the most important components of the Bizcovery system architecture and significantly enhances the power of the analytic applications built on Bizcovery' Foundation.

Decision Flow Engine. Bizcovery Foundation incorporates a Decision Flow Engine. Decision flow in analytic applications is the equivalent of workflow in operational or transactional systems. For example, workflow in operational systems may involve routing of forms such as supply order forms or authorizations request forms between back or front office systems such as Peoplesoft or Clarify.

However, decision flow involves routing the results (data set) from one report viewed by a user to the next report requested by the user. In this way decision flow is the analytic equivalent of workflow.

Decision Flow Functions. The decision flow engine enables decision flow functions such as organizing analytic reports or functions, sharing information among views and reports and identifying or executing actions based on analysis. Each application can be readily enhanced through the use of the decision flow engine.

Supports Business Roles and Procedures. The decision flow engine supports business roles and procedures. Decision flow applies standard Bizcovery or customer defined business rules to user roles (e.g., marketing manager or business analyst) defined in the Bizcovery system. These rules are applied against user roles to support an organization's business practices, policies and procedures.

Decision flow is a powerful feature. This functionality significantly enhances application functionality by making the applications intuitive and easier to navigate. Decision flow adds intelligence to otherwise unintelligent and static reports.

Application Components Library. Bizcovery provides a library of application components that may be used to create an analytic application. For example, Bizcovery provides templates for building various types of data views (e.g., bar charts, pie charts, grids, tables, etc.).

Bizcovery's extensive application component library allows customers to reuse components to create new applications. This component library also helps Bizcovery’s customers develop new applications quickly and helps its partners to leverage their industry know-how and shorten the time-to-market to develop packaged analytic applications.

Web Server Integration. Bizcovery utilizes third party web servers to accept actions or page requests from users and deliver results or pages to users. Bizcovery currently integrates with Microsoft's IIS web server. Bizcovery provides a superior web server integration architectural design that utilizes industry standard and industry leading web architecture components. Through Bizcovery web server integration powerful relational and multi-dimensional functionality is provided through a common web browser.