In embodiments, systems and methods may involve using a platform as disclosed herein for applications described herein where the systems and methods involve receiving a dataset in an analytic platform, the dataset including fact data and dimension data for a plurality of distinct product categories. It may also involve storing the data in a flexible hierarchy, the hierarchy allowing the temporary fixing of data along a dimension and flexible querying along other dimensions of the data. It may also involve pre-aggregating certain combinations of data to facilitate rapid querying, the pre-aggregation based on the nature of common queries. It may also involve facilitating the presentation of a cross-category view of an analytic query of the dataset. In embodiments, the temporarily fixed dimension can be rendered flexible upon an action by the user.