Standard reports usually have a fixed format, are parameter-driven and, in their simplest form, are prerun. Standard reports provide a core set of information about what's going on in a particular business area — sounds dull, but these reports are the backbone of BI applications. Examples from different industries include YTD Sales vs. Forecast by Sales Rep, Monthly Churn Rate by Service Plan and Direct Mail Response Rates by Promotion by Product.
The standard reporting system consists of several technology components. You must have a tool for the report designer — either someone in IT or a skilled business user — to define reports. You need management services for report storage, execution and security. Finally, your reporting system should have a navigation portal that helps users find the report they want.