SAN MATEO, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—October 11, 2007 — The last year of vendor consolidation in the Business Intelligence (BI) and Performance Management industry involving, among others, Oracle (ORCL), SAP (SAP), Business Objects (BOBJ), Cognos (COGN) and Microsoft (MSFT) has elevated concerns about the safety of existing and new investments, not to mention customer service and satisfaction. These substantial changes in the BI market, greater than organizations have experienced in the last 20 years, will have significant impacts on organizations. Addressing these concerns, Mark Smith, Ventana Research‘s CEO & EVP of Research, will open Connections 2007 with a no-holds-barred session called “BI and Performance Management 2010 – Rationalizing Vendor Chaos.” The session will discuss the reality of the vendor landscape and choices for organizations to take control of their BI and Performance Management strategy.
Connections 2007 is Ventana Research’s BI Conference for Operational and Customer Performance Management being held October 22, 2007 at the San Francisco Airport Marriott.
Get information and register for Connections 2007.
“Vendor consolidation will have a direct impact to your BI and Performance Management technology, which is required for meeting the needs of your people and processes,” said Smith. “While billions of dollars have been spent across Business Objects, Cognos, Oracle, SAP and Tibco, organizations should prepare themselves for the dark side of consolidation which will impact your vendor relationship, technology direction and customer support.”
This consolidation will impact every organization that adopts BI and Performance Management from today through 2010. Smith predicted these acquisitions in his executive blog and over the last year has addressed the likely impacts to future market activity. Here is a short list of his points on industry activity in 2007 that will be discussed at Connections 2007 on October 22, 2007.
SAP Shakes Up Market with Business Objects - “While SAP plans to have Business Objects as a separate organization the reality is that there will be significant changes to existing products to ensure they integrate effectively with SAP.”
Business Objects for Sale?– “Is the BI market ready for more mergers and acquisitions? For you, this may mean, you will experience the slower product release cycles and innovation which is typical of large software providers.”
Is the BI Battle Over?– “…and SAP might make you think they have everything you need for Business Intelligence. Unfortunately the maturity of the BI market and these vendors technologies have yet to evolve to have any one of them be the total answer to your complete set of requirements.”
Oracle Boasts Leadership Position in BI & Performance Management – Should We Believe Them?– “The complete and integrated Oracle BI and Performance Management applications and technology is a work in progress so proceed cautiously until we see more product releases that demonstrate the integration of technologies.”
SAP Improves Outlook on Financial Performance Management– “The historical challenge for SAP has been to offer a first-class performance management platform that its customers can implement and use without having to make significant changes to the existing releases of their applications.”
Financial Technology Shifts Ownership: Business Objects Announcement and Oracle’s Hyperion overshadow SAP Reseller Deal– “…there remains uncertainty whether SAP is prepared to compete head-to-head against the new Business Objects with Cartesis, Cognos, Infor and Oracle with Hyperion for the financial performance management market.”
Oracle Scores Big with Hyperion; SAP Must Respond–“ For SAP to be taken seriously as a strategic player in BI and performance management, it will have to make something happen.”
Is SAP Ready to BI?– “SAP has declared it understands the importance of BI, but it has yet to offer cutting-edge products that meet the needs of today’s intensely competitive organizations.”
Ventana Research will present the actions for organizations on dealing with vendor consolidation chaos at the upcoming conference:
Connections 2007
The BI Conference for Operational and Customer Performance Management
Monday, October 22, 2007 at San Francisco Airport Marriott, Burlingame, CA.
About Ventana Research
Ventana Research is the leading BI and Performance Management research and advisory services firm focused on the intersection of people, processes, information and technology to enable breakthrough performance. By providing expert insight and detailed guidance, Ventana Research helps clients operate their companies more efficiently and effectively. To learn how Ventana Research Performance Management workshops, assessments and advisory services can impact your bottom line, visit www.ventanaresearch.com.
Media Contact: Marisela Reynoso
(925) 242-2579 marketing@ventanaresearch.com
