Hi,
Any external 3rd party reporting platform can be used; SQL Server Reporter, Crystal Reports etc. What it means is that you are simply transferring the running of the SQL data recordset queries in the 3rd party reporting app and using that to present and manipulate how you need.
I recommend that you build your report within the Orion Report Writer or at least the core of the data report and click on Edit > Show SQL in the file menu in Report Writer to see the raw SQL code, which you can then use as a foundation in your external app. Note you will always need to change any time/date syntax.