How did we improve lease and platform performance?

Improvements in IBM TRIRIGA Performance

By Rick Rhea & Jay Manaloto

What has the IBM TRIRIGA performance team been up to? Over the last few years and last few releases, our performance team has focused on areas that aren’t normally covered by our standard benchmark tests, and on tools that can help customers to resolve performance issues on their own. If you’re interested, here are a few of our recent improvements in lease and platform performance.

• Lease Benchmark Testing: Not only are database server and process server resources especially important, but using multiple process servers improves performance.
• New Recommended Indexes: Several additional indexes were identified and added to the best practices to obtain the best response times and resource utilization of the database server.
• Lease Journal Entries: By redesigning journal entry processing with parallel and batch processing, and multiple process servers, our test results took only about 2.5 hours instead of over 90 hours.
• Platform Enhancements: Dynamic workflows can now pass and return parameters, the Query task can now return the number of records instead of the actual records, and the Trigger Action task can now run the asynchronous event that occurs after the transition by a user other than the currently logged-in user.
• BIRT Reporting & Lease Disclosure Reports: In Version 3.6.1, the reporting was modified to improve running on a separate BIRT server, and to avoid the problematic “params.displayText”.
• Performance Analyzer Tool: In Version 3.5.3, this tool was introduced to allow a customer to run specific logging types without using the Admin Console, and to view easy-to-read reports.
• Module Level Associations, Early Adopter Feature: In Version 3.7.0, the platform was enhanced to support Module Level Associations (MLA) tables where the records in the IBS_SPEC_ASSIGNMENTS table are distributed into smaller tables that are created by module type.

By applying the above finding and tools, our recent IBM TRIRIGA 10.7.0 / 3.7.0 release has demonstrated a significant improvement in performance over previous releases. But we’re not done yet! Our performance team will continue to dig deeper into weaker areas or potential opportunities to make our products stronger or faster. So stay tuned for any upcoming developments!

Note: For future releases, “Module Level Assignments” will be renamed “Module Level Associations”.

References:

• (1) PDF: Chapter 5.3: IBM DB2 Database
• (2) Video: 10.6.1 Journal Entry Performance
• (3) PDF: BIRT Reports with a TRIRIGA BIRT Server
• (4) PDF: Performance Analyzer Overview
• (5) PDF: Performance Analyzer Runs & Logs
• (6) PDF: Workflow Analysis Utility
• (7) HTML: Converting to Module Level Assignments
• (8) Video: 3.7.0 Module Level Assignments

[Admin: This post is related to the 07.27.17 post about the Performance Analyzer. To see other related posts, use the Performance tag.]

UX: What is the use of Instance ID in the Application Metadata form?

Can someone elaborate what is the use of the Instance ID field in the Application Metadata form? Why does it have to be -1? Also, can it be modified (say, using a workflow) at a later point of time while using the application?… Is an instance created when we put -1 as the Instance ID, which changes later on? If yes, can that be explicitly changed by some means? And what is the purpose behind it?

If you specify an application instance ID, that value will be used as a context ID for the primary data sources on your model. It works the same way as using the triplet-ds-context-id for child data sources. The difference is that application instance ID is a fixed value for the application and it will not be changed. The value -1 means that the instance ID is not used for this application. This is an application metadata, so there is no reason for a workflow to change that value.

[Admin: This post is related to the 02.25.26 post about building an app in the UX framework, and the 12.11.15 post about the UX framework. To see other related posts, use the Metadata tag or UX Designers tag.]

How can you enhance TRIRIGA Workplace Services Apps with A.I.?

Introducing the TRIRIGA Assistant: Enhancing TRIRIGA Workplace Services Apps with Artificial Intelligence

By Alex Melamed

Wouldn’t it be nice if your office started to act more like a team player? For employees, that would mean effortless engagement with workplace services. For facility managers, that would mean more engaged and delighted occupants who provide feedback to keep the workplace not just humming but evolving.

IBM TRIRIGA just announced numerous enhancements to the workplace experience in the latest release (10.6.1). Among these enhancements, the all new TRIRIGA Assistant. The TRIRIGA Assistant is a smart, conversational A.I. assistant, which is the same frictionless technology that we all have in our homes, and which is another way to meet the ever-growing expectations of the workforce. This A.I. assistant can help users find and reserve meeting rooms, report maintenance issues correctly, and even locate where a colleague sits. And that is just the beginning.

With the introduction of the TRIRIGA Assistant into the facility management portfolio, IBM has invited Watson to the office. The TRIRIGA Assistant is powered by IBM’s Watson Assistant platform. It’s robust and able to be extended to support custom A.I. skills and capabilities within an enterprise-grade secure cloud…

[Admin: Although it’s not an official IBM offering, here’s an intriguing avatar POC demo from the same Assistant team.]

How can I make my facilities even smarter?

By Kendra DeKeyrel

A.I. also helps deliver a more engaging workplace experience. That’s why we included TRIRIGA Assistant in this new release. It’s a smart, conversational A.I. assistant that allows users to engage with the spaces around them. Imagine how much time employees can save by simply asking an app to reserve a conference room, order catering, submit a service request or locate an office. It’s the same frictionless technology that we all have in our homes, and another way to meet the ever-growing expectations of your workforce…

UX: How do you use triplat-route to navigate back to the main page?

I’ve been following the video tutorials on the UX framework, and I think I understand how triplat-route works now. However, I’m unsure how to navigate back to the main page from one of my elements in the iron-pages tag. Do I need to have a universal menu across my whole app? I’d prefer not to do that, if possible.

If you defined, in the root page, a home route like this:

<triplat-route id=”homeRoute” name=”home” path=”/”></triplat-route>

Then, inside a child page you can do this:

<triplat-route id=”homeRoute” name=”home”></triplat-route>

…

_navigateHome: function(){

this.$.homeRoute.navigate();

},

[Admin: To see other related posts, use the UX tag or UX Framework tag.]

Where are the latest lease accounting videos?

This wiki lists our lease accounting videos. The IBM TRIRIGA Lease Accounting team presents the key features and enhancements of our lease accounting tools from 10.5.0 through 10.5.3.1, including partial payments, FASB/IASB setup, ASC 840/842, GAAP/IFRS leases, and index adjustments.

[Admin: This post is related to the 02.22.16 post and 09.29.14 post about finding information on TRIRIGA lease accounting. To see other related posts, use the Leases tag or Accounting tag.]

Serraview: Wayfinding is essential for increasing work productivity

Instead of trying to increase productivity and engagement with supplemental tactics, progressive corporations are introducing wayfinding solutions to alleviate daily headaches for employees. Wayfinding is the leveraging of integrated building technologies to deliver employees real-time visibility into the availability of high demand resources, such as conference rooms, desks, and even colleagues.

According to Steelcase Inc., 40% of employees waste up to 30 minutes a day looking for meeting space. And with most employees attending 62 meetings per month, that’s a lot of valuable time lost! Wayfinding tools show employees what rooms are available now, when the room is booked, and what amenities and technologies are available per room. When employers make it simple for employees to find the type of space they need, it not only improves the employee’s overall experience in the workplace, but allows them to be more productive with their time.

In fact, according to CBRE’s 2017 Americas Occupier Survey, 53% of organizations name “promoting collaboration” as the main driver for their workplace strategy. To collaborate effectively, employees not only need the right resources but also must be able to find their fellow co-workers quickly and easily. Wayfinding tools simplify locating a colleague, and contacting them, by pulling in the employee directory. It’s as simple as searching for the person you need and clicking “call” or “email” to be instantly connected, making each collaborative session more efficient and effective.

To learn more about how wayfinding addresses these issues, watch our video…

[Admin: This post is related to the 04.13.17 post about the impact of IWMS 2.0 on today’s workplace, and the 05.17.16 post about the rising use of meeting rooms (and collaborative overload). To see other related posts, use the Serraview tag.]

Serraview: IWMS 2.0 achieves true integrated best-in-breed systems

With the emergence of new workplace models and technologies, we are starting to see a shift away from traditional Integrated Workplace Management Systems (IWMS) to stand-alone software systems integrated through common APIs in order to achieve true best of breed capabilities across multiple service needs. In fact, one of the original founders of the IWMS concept, Michael Bell, has defined this shift as IWMS 2.0. According to Mr. Bell, IWMS 2.0 has the potential to achieve lower costs, faster implementation and valuable data-driven insights…

At Lighthouse.io, we are strongly aligned with Michael Bell’s IWMS 2.0 vision. We are focused on solving very specific challenges for facilities managers… For a facility manager, these challenges form only one part of their overall remit. Whilst it’s tempting to build out a system that covers the entire facilities management function, we realize that by doing so we would be sacrificing the quality of our core product. Therefore, our preference is to integrate with complimentary products that are best of breed and solve a different set of challenges for facilities managers.

To illustrate the IWMS 2.0 model in practice, let’s explore how Lighthouse.io could integrate with another best in breed software product – Serraview. Serraview is a leader in space planning and management. Lighthouse.io is a leader in commercial cleaning software and optimizing delivery of facilities services. Combined, these two products can provide facility managers with an end-to-end solution for managing employees, assets, and delivery of facilities services…

[Admin: This post is related to the 08.01.16 post about the competitors of IBM TRIRIGA. To see other related posts, use the Serraview tag.]

ValuD: How do you locate a specific report in IBM TRIRIGA?

Your IBM TRIRIGA system can provide you with a wealth of information, if only you know where to look. For instance, did you know that the TRIRIGA system offers you over 12,000 reports? Reports play an important role in helping you make accurate and timely business decisions. But locating a report from this mine of information can be a tricky affair.

Let’s say that you want to access and edit a particular report. The flexibility offered by the IBM TRIRIGA system allows you to access the report in several, different ways, some of which you might already be aware. But if you are wondering if there is a quicker and easier way to locate the report, then take a look at our “clip-tip” below to learn how…

[Admin: This post is related to the 03.29.17 post about another ValuD “clip-tip”.]

ValuD: How do you reassign organizations in IBM TRIRIGA?

Organizational changes are quite common… Let’s say the sales department moves from one business unit to another in an organizational shuffle. What happens to those notifications and approvals associated with the sales department? What if there are hundreds of records assigned to a contact role in that department?

It is critical that the organization’s facilities software reflects this new organizational structure. This means that associated sales resources (like people, assets, etc.) will need to reflect the organizational hierarchy of the new business unit. Making these changes can be cumbersome and some of the records might get missed.

IBM TRIRIGA allows you to accomplish these tasks easily and effectively. Expert TRIRIGA knowledge is not needed. A basic understanding of Microsoft Office products is all it takes for your administrator to perform these tasks in the TRIRIGA system. Take a look at our “clip-tip” below to learn how…

To know more on how you can do similar tasks with IBM TRIRIGA, enroll in ValuD’s IBM TRIRIGA Portfolio Administration course. This one-day training course will give you an overview on the application of data templates, TRIRIGA security, TRIRIGA licensing, and an introduction to approvals and document manager.

This course is one of our most-highly sought-after courses and helps serve as a foundation for students to learn the capabilities and limitations of the system. We are offering this class either virtually, on site at your location, or at our training center in Dallas. To learn more, please email training@valudconsulting.com.

[Admin: This post is related to the 09.27.16 post about the ValuD training catalog, and the 07.05.16 post about ValuD training for facilities management.]

UX: What is the issue with this triplat-ds-search-input code?

I watched the TRIRIGA 3.5.2 video by Raphael on triplat-ds-search-input, but I could not entirely follow it. I’m new to TRIRIGA UX, and would like to play around with this feature. I tried to follow as closely as I could, but I seem to get the following issue…

As you can see, it gets stuck on loading results (expecting 2 records to show as there are 2 people records with name that has “Hui”). Currently, snippets of my codes can be seen here related to <triplat-ds-search-input>… I noticed that the [[appendFilters]] is actually an empty array. Is that how it’s supposed to be? Also, would there be any sample source codes uploaded for our reference?