Suppliers of business intelligence software are shifting
focus towards offering performance management applications that are
linked more closely to business needs than traditional BI tools,
according to Gartner.
Speaking ahead of the analyst firm's BI Summit in London next
week, Gartner research vice-president Nigel Rayner said that
business intelligence software had to be linked to real business
needs, and suppliers would probably focus on this challenge by
developing business intelligence applications.
"Over the next two years, Business Objects, Cognos, Hyperion and
SAS will shift from traditional business intelligence to business
performance management applications," Rayner said.
One reason for the shift is the availability of open source
business intelligence tools. Components that users originally paid
for as part of their business intelligence package - such as
reporting and analytical tools - now exist as open source tools
that IT directors can incorporate into their own business
intelligence systems.
Another factor is Microsoft's foray into business intelligence
applications with the launch later this year of Office
Performancepoint Server 2007.
The product combines Microsoft Office Business Scorecard Manager
2005 with recently acquired Proclarity technology to provide a
single, integrated performance management application.
According to Microsoft, Performancepoint can be used to improve
operational and financial performance. The product, which can be
downloaded as part of Microsoft's community technology preview
programme, will offer scorecarding, analytics and planning.
Rayner said that the many firms that used Excel to monitor
business performance needed to move on.
"Excel is not a suitable tool to do corporate performance
management," he said.
The open source option
Birt (Business Intelligence and Reporting Tools) is an open
source Eclipse-based system that integrates Java/J2EE applications
to produce reports. Users can add the runtime component to their
application server.
There is also a chart designer. Find out more at:
www.eclipse.org/birt/phoenix
More information:
Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server
Gartner Business Intelligence summit
Taking business intelligence to the masses
Microsoft metrics mean business
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