Distribution Business Articles

Many companies over the last dozen or more years have upgraded their core systems, made updates for the Year 2000 bug, and then blissfully run through a number of upgrades and improvements adding components from reporting, to web dashboards, HR systems, CRM systems, contract management, logistics and reverse logistics systems and more.

All those systems, all those modules and components and add ons have increased the need for a severe build out in Business Intelligence tools that can put all those systems together and tell a company what is going on within their organization and all the touch points in their corporate partnerships from supply chain to sales.

Last year (2005) SAP saw a 130.9 percent growth over the previous year in sales of business intelligence tools.  This increased their market share from 3.8 to 7.6 percent.  A group of normally heavy hitters in this area from Business Objects, Cognos, SAS and Hyperion saw increases in their revenues.

Microsoft walked appears however to be the horse in the rear that is getting ready to make its move as it comes around the turn.  It saw revenues increase last year from $213 million up to $290 million, then proceeded to start rolling out SQL Server 2005 with new and improved analytics tools, then it made an even greater effort and agreed to acquire ProClarity in May.  With improvements in OLAP tools and many plugins, Microsoft is now positioned to compete head on with the top providers in their home turf, selling BI tools directly to SAP customers and more.


Technorati Tags: Microsoft Business Intelligence Moves, BI grows year over year