While databases have proved adept at holding vast sums of really useful information, they have lagged when it comes to serving up data in a way suited to human consumption.

Two changes, though, have come to the rescue.

The first was Online-Analytical Processing (OLAP), which let users slice and dice data in all kinds of sophisticated ways. The second change is taking place right now: reporting delivered as a web-based service, which is altering the ways users share information.

Crystal Reports, owned by Business Objects and now SAP, is putting its 24-years' experience in relational data and OLAP online with crystalreports.com, which lets users publish and share reports and queries.

To find out more, check out the sponsored white paper Crystal Reports 2008, From OLAP to SaaS: The Evolution of Reporting here.®