Recently in Evalubase Findings Category

When asked about which factors were most important in selecting one data management solution over another, users are indicating that performance and functionality characteristics of candidate solutions were paramount. View Evalubase chart

With data volumes, velocity, and variety continuing to grow at a staggering pace, it’s no wonder why buyers of data integration and database products, for example, currently rate these factors most significant.

Following performance and functionality in importance were stability, cost-of-ownership, and ease of use. Least important in the decision are scalability, ease-of-integration, and vendor reputation.

Conversely, those involved in selecting and purchasing business intelligence tools have paramount concerns about tools' abilities to integrate with other solutions. View Evalubase chart

Next most important to BI buyers is product stability and cost of ownership. Least important are scalability and vendor reputation. So why aren't BI buyers concerned (relatively speaking) with scalability? These solutions are already proven to be scalable? Web-based implementations are naturally scalable? Probably a little of each.

See you at the upcoming TDWI and and Wilshire/DAMA events this month!

Just telling IT like it is,
Doug

Be sure to make your voice heard, get instant peer comparison scorecards, and qualify for complimentary access to all Evalubase research. Submit a confidential evaluation or two of your favorite (or least favorite) BI products today: www.evalubase.com

According to current results from Evalubase's ongoing peer study of the enterprise technology market:

When considering key metrics such as functionality, efficiency and reliability, BI solutions receive the lowest technical marks, compared to ERP, CRM and E-commerce solutions. We believe that business intelligence solutions continue to suffer from an elevated level of hype, while more realistic expectations of ERP and CRM technologies have settled within those markets. View Chart

Similarly, BI vendors show lesser levels of overall credibility, ingenuity and support than other forms of business applications. Particularly in terms of ingenuity, IT professionals believe that business intelligence vendors have plateaued. View Chart

The optimist in me suggests that you BI tool buyers and users out there are sending a necessary message to the BI vendor community to start delivering better products and behaving better. I wonder, however, if a CIO with limited budget looking at ratings like these might opt for putting the money toward the less risky types of projects. What do you think?

In future entries, we'll look at other technical factors such as scalability, maintainability and usability; and other vendor ratings such as licensing practices, experience, marketing and services.

Just telling IT like it is,
Doug

Be sure to make your voice heard, get instant peer comparison scorecards, and qualify for complimentary access to all Evalubase research. Submit a confidential evaluation or two of your favorite (or least favorite) BI products today: www.evalubase.com

According to current results from Evalubase's ongoing peer study of the enterprise technology market:

Enterprises selecting business intelligence solutions have become more concerned with ease-of-integration above all other factors. Clearly this this is due to the variety of data sources that BI solutions must plug into combined with the increasing need for BI solutions to be embedded into existing business applications.

View Chart

I'm sure in 2005 hardly anyone is building stand-alone BI solutions anymore, right? ;-) I currently have 34 windows open and really don't want even one more. Maybe your users feel the same way?

But what of the relatively luke-warm importance buyers place on BI solution scalability and functionality? It would seem that the majority of BI solutions may have achieved a certain technical parity other than in the areas of data sourcing and app integration. Interesting how times are changing in the BI market.

Telling IT like it is,
Doug

Be sure to make your voice heard, get instant peer comparison scorecards, and qualify for complimentary access to all Evalubase research. Submit a confidential evaluation or two of your favorite (or least favorite) BI products today: www.evalubase.com