Business intelligence for IBM i and complex ERP data
MBI
Practical dashboards and operational reporting for IBM i, iSeries and SQL Server.
MBI helps organisations turn valuable operational data into clear, usable insight. Build dashboards, grids and reports over the systems that already run the business, while giving users the freedom to explore data without constant developer support.
Target Systems
IBM i, iSeries, SQL Server
Core Use Cases
Dashboards & Reporting
End Users
Self-Service Insight
Deployment
Desktop-First
Product Guide
Download the MBI Product Guide
Get the full MBI guide covering IBM i and iSeries reporting challenges, dashboards, operational grids, saved layouts, related reports and how MBI works with existing ERP data.
The Reporting Gap
The data is there. Practical access to it is often not.
Many manufacturers, distributors and service businesses still rely on IBM i, iSeries or System i ERP platforms. These systems continue to run the business, but reporting often depends on exports, spreadsheets and technical staff.
MBI is aimed at the gap between rigid ERP reports and expensive enterprise BI projects. It gives users useful dashboards and serious operational grids over existing ERP data.
Generic BI expects cleaner data
Short field names, non-standard keys, mixed naming conventions and hidden business meaning rarely map neatly to a plug-and-play connector.
ERP replacement is not the sensible answer
A full platform replacement can be expensive, risky and unnecessary when the immediate problem is reporting access.
Spreadsheets fill the gap badly
Exports and spreadsheet packs create version drift, hidden logic and dependence on the few people who know how the data fits together.
What MBI Does
A reporting layer built for real operational data
MBI is a Windows desktop business intelligence application. It presents user-defined queries as interactive dashboards and customisable grids, working with client data where it already resides.
Target system data
IBM i, iSeries, System i, SQL Server and existing ERP tables.
MBI definition layer
Table definitions, field definitions, master relationships, roles, groups and access control.
User-facing analysis
Dashboards, grids, saved layouts and related reports without users needing to write SQL.
Key Features
Built for real-world reporting, dashboards and operational analysis.
Interactive Dashboards
Create dashboards that present complex business data clearly, helping users monitor performance, spot trends and identify exceptions at a glance.
Operational Grids
Give users detailed grid-based reporting with filtering, grouping, sorting, summaries and line-level investigation for day-to-day operational analysis.
Data Model Administration
Define tables, fields, joins, master relationships and calculated values centrally so reporting stays consistent, governed and easier to maintain.
Dashboard and Grid in One Report
Use the same report as both a management dashboard and a detailed operational grid, reducing duplication and helping users move from overview to investigation.
Saved Layouts and Views
Let users personalise how they work with data by saving filters, layouts, groupings, summaries and preferred views for repeated use.
Role-Based Access
Control which users, groups and roles can access specific reports, dashboards, functions and data areas, supporting a secure and manageable rollout.
Dashboard + Grid
One report can serve management and operations
MBI does not force a choice between visual BI and detailed operational analysis. A report can be viewed as a dashboard for overview and as a grid for line-level investigation.
Dashboard view
Fast visual interpretation using cards, charts, parameters, comparisons and exception indicators.
Grid view
Operational detail with filtering, grouping, summaries, saved layouts and route-through to related reports.
Saved Layouts
A grid becomes a reusable analytical workspace
Users can arrange a grid around the question they are answering, then save that arrangement as a named layout. The saved layout becomes a one-click view for later use.
Read More in the GuideGroup the data
Example: ship method → warehouse → city.
Choose fields
Show the columns needed for the decision.
Summarise
Choose Sum, Min, Max, Count, Average or None.
Save layouts to the gallery
Store multiple named layouts and restore any one with a single click.
Contextual Related Reports
Move from one answer to the next question
Operational reporting rarely stops at the first answer. MBI can use selected grid values to find related reports and open them with the right filter already applied.
1. Right-click selected grid data
The user selects a value such as a customer and opens the related-report menu.
2. Open the related report already filtered
For example, a sales overview can route into shipments for the selected customer.
Built for IBM i and iSeries
Designed around the realities of long-lived ERP data
MBI is useful where the business data is valuable, but the structure is not packaged for a modern plug-and-play BI provider. Administrators describe the ERP data once, then users work with it repeatedly.
Libraries and schemas
MBI scans selected libraries or schemas and stores table and field definitions.
Master-data understanding
Administrators identify master tables such as Customer, Supplier, Product and Warehouse.
Legacy naming tolerance
Different tables can hold the same business entity under different field names.
Automatic joins
Mapped relationships help MBI create useful queries over related tables.
Calculated fields
Calculated fields can be attached to tables and reused when users create reports.
Access control
Reports and dashboards can be assigned through users, groups and roles.
Governed Flexibility
Control for administrators. Freedom for users.
MBI separates data definition and access control from day-to-day report use. The business gets controlled data access without reducing users to passive report consumers.
Administrator-controlled foundation
- •Define environments and target systems.
- •Scan libraries or schemas and store table/field definitions.
- •Map master tables, keys and field relationships.
- •Create calculated fields and assign reports to groups or roles.
- •Create standard dashboards for approved users.
User-controlled analysis
- •Run available reports from the front-end menu.
- •Switch between dashboard and grid views.
- •Group, filter, sort and summarise grid data.
- •Save named layouts for repeated analysis.
- •Create personal dashboards where permitted.
Pricing
Affordable Intelligence. Zero Surprises.
Choose the MBI plan that fits your current business needs. Start with the tools you need now and upgrade as your reporting requirements grow.
Starter
£249
/ mo*
- Up to 15 user definable dashboards
- Up to 50 user definable grid layouts
- Header/detail reports included
- Free format SQL queries
- Up to 3 definable user groups
- Up to 1 definable environments
- Report scheduler included
- Composite reports included
Professional
£799
/ mo*
- Up to 50 user definable dashboards
- Up to 50 user definable grid layouts
- Header/detail reports included
- Free format SQL queries
- Up to 10 definable user groups
- Up to 3 definable environments
- Composite reports included
Business Entity Plan
£1999
/ mo*
- Up to 2000 user definable dashboards
- Up to 10000 user definable grid layouts
- Header/detail reports included
- Free format SQL queries
- Up to 500 definable user groups
- Up to 1000 definable environments
- Composite reports included
Free trial requires payment details. You will not be billed until the trial ends. Annual subscriptions are billed upfront and can be cancelled at any time.
What is MBI
MBI is a business intelligence platform designed for organisations that need more than static reporting. It provides a practical reporting layer over operational systems, allowing teams to create dashboards, queries, grids and drill-down reporting in a controlled way.
Many businesses already have valuable data inside IBM i, iSeries, System i, SQL Server and other operational systems, but struggle to make that data accessible without exports, spreadsheets or technical bottlenecks. MBI bridges that gap by making existing data more visible, navigable and reusable.
MBI separates administrator-controlled data structure from user-led analysis. Administrators define the tables, fields, joins, relationships, calculated values and access rules. Users then run approved reports, explore dashboards, reshape grids and save layouts without needing to write SQL.
Product Structure
Admin Setup
Configure source systems, tables, fields, joins, master data, calculated fields and access rules so users work from a reliable and controlled reporting foundation.
Dashboards and Grids
Provide both high-level dashboard views and detailed operational grids from the same reporting structure, helping teams move from summary insight to line-level investigation.
Saved Layouts and Related Reports
Allow users to save preferred layouts, groupings and summaries, then move from selected data into related reports with filters already applied.
Ideal for organisations that need to
Improve reporting over IBM i, iSeries, System i or SQL Server data
Reduce reliance on manual reporting and spreadsheet-heavy processes
Give non-technical users better access to business data
Create consistent reporting across departments and teams
Support both high-level dashboards and detailed operational analysis
Work with established ERP systems without replacing them
Give administrators control while giving users more reporting freedom
Turn awkward legacy data structures into reusable reporting assets
See MBI working with real ERP reporting scenarios
Book a focused demonstration to see how MBI can help your organisation turn operational data into dashboards, grids, saved layouts and practical business insight.