BI vendors are in a rapidly changing and cut-throat market, but analysts say it is maturing. This time last year the trend was consolidation. Arbor bought Hyperion and became Hyperion Solutions. Now Microsoft has arrived on the scene with Office 2000, which can act as an entry-level Olap client. According to The Olap Report, Microsoft's spreadsheet application in Excel's PivotTables can now work directly with a server and can build and use local cubes, previously the sole domain of BI clients.
Cubes are multi-dimensional representations of business data selected for the purpose of analysis.
Zambonini was bullish about Cognos's plans, saying the group was looking for acquisitions in the planning area. In a year's time it'll be much easier to see the changes we're making. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of ZDNetUK is prohibited. ZDNetUK and the ZDNetUK logo are trademarks of Ziff-Davis Publishing Company.