Glossary Term

Reporting Semantic Layer

A governed layer of shared reporting logic used to keep IBM i reporting consistent.

Definition

A reporting semantic layer gives Power BI and other reporting tools reusable definitions for common measures. Instead of every report rebuilding logic from raw Db2 for i tables, the semantic layer centralizes approved calculations and relationships.

  • Sales
  • Margin
  • Inventory
  • Backlog
  • Customer status
  • Aging

This reduces dashboard drift and unclear ownership.

  • Conflicting numbers
  • Uncontrolled extracts
  • Weak security assumptions
  • Refresh confusion

Example

A governed sales measure can be reused by finance, operations, and executive dashboards without each team rewriting the formula differently.