San Jose, California and Paris, 07 Mar 2007
Business Objects (Nasdaq:BOBJ)(Euronext Paris ISIN code: FR0004026250 - BOB), the world's leading provider of business intelligence (BI) solutions, today detailed a significant expansion of its mid-market business intelligence strategy. To better address market momentum, the company today launched a new business intelligence product line for mid-size companies and expanded partner opportunities in this area. Now growing companies have easier access to affordable business intelligence solutions that will help them improve processes, discover new opportunities, and gain a competitive edge.
Over the past year, Business Objects has seen a significant increase in the use of BI software by small and mid-sized companies - those with less than R1 billion in annual revenues or fewer than 150 information seekers. Competitive pressures affect smaller companies as much as enterprise organizations. With fewer resources than their larger competitors, mid-sized companies must act smarter, move faster, and make better business decisions without the benefit of armies of analysts and consultants. With this environment in mind, more and more mid-sized companies are turning to business intelligence to help them gain a competitive edge.
"Large organizations have reaped significant benefits from business intelligence deployments over the last decade and, as it happens with many technologies, demand for these solutions is growing among companies of all sizes," said Robert Anderson, research VP for small and midsize businesses at Gartner. "We expect to see mid-market companies increasing their adoption of BI, as vendors offer more targeted products that are tailored for organizations with fewer IT resources and smaller budgets."
New Business Objects Crystal Decisions(r) Product Line Targeted at Mid-Size Companies
In a separate announcement today, Business Objects detailed the introduction of Business Objects Crystal Decisions, Standard Edition (www.businessobjects.com/releases/midmarket). This is the first solution from a suite of products targeted at the specific business intelligence needs of mid-size companies. Business Objects Crystal Decisions, Standard Edition is designed to introduce companies to the benefits of intelligent reporting, query, analysis, and dashboards - in a single affordable solution that is flexible and fast to deploy. Additional solutions in the Business Objects Crystal Decisions product line that incorporate functionality for data integration and performance management are planned for launch throughout the remainder of the year.
The Business Objects Crystal Decisions suite of mid-market products extends the business intelligence solutions Business Objects already offers mid-sized companies. Previously, Business Objects launched Crystal Reports(r) Server, which provides small and mid-sized companies with a packaged reporting platform they can easily deploy and manage, and crystalreports.com, an on-demand report sharing platform. These solutions have been well received in the market, with crystalreports.com securing more than 10,000 subscribers in the first nine months of availability, and Crystal Reports Server winning an award from VARBusiness as a Mid-Market Product of the Year.
Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals is one example of the increasing number of mid-sized companies benefiting from Business Objects business intelligence solutions. As a specialty pharmaceuticals company, Morton Grove focuses its efforts on maximizing profits while bringing the best quality prescription drugs to market. The company uses Business Objects to improve efficiency and make more strategic business decisions.
"As a growing company, we needed a BI solution that would support our long-term goals. We chose Business Objects and our investment has certainly paid off," said Charlie Sanders, senior business system analyst at Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals. "One initial improvement came in our accounting and finance departments, where we used Business Objects to automate month-end reporting and reduce the process from three days to one overnight. In addition, we now have more than 100 reports available for self-service, so individuals throughout our company can gain fast and easy access to critical business information. We certainly appreciate the value that Business Objects has provided, as well as its ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of mid-sized companies such as ours."
New Partner Initiatives to Provide Expanded Opportunities in the Mid-Market
With more than 2,300 partners and resellers worldwide focused on the mid-market, Business Objects has an unmatched network to address the needs of small to mid-sized companies. These partners are an important component of the company's go-to-market strategy and provide significant added value to customers. In 2007, Business Objects is planning to roll out a variety of new initiatives to expand the opportunities for partners in the mid-market and deliver a broader suite of mid-market BI solutions for customers.
Business Objects is already working closely with its Solution Provider Partner community to extend the Business Objects Crystal Decisions product line through additional certified solutions targeted at various vertical industry segments. These solutions will be developed and delivered by the partners, and will help mid-market companies to quickly apply business intelligence to existing line of business applications or vertical industry needs. These tailored solutions will include templates and data connectors that help speed and simplify the deployment of relevant and results-driven business intelligence.
In addition, Business Objects has also announced a shift in its partner engagement model for global services at mid-sized companies. Mid-market professional services will now be driven primarily through the company's extensive network of proven partners. This will provide a significant expansion in services opportunities for Business Objects partners-enabling them to drive additional revenue while delivering added value to Business Objects customers.
"Small and mid-sized companies are looking for BI solutions that are full-featured, affordable, and provide a rapid time to value," said Bob Vander Woude, vice president of sales and marketing at Preferred Strategies, a leading software company that integrates business intelligence software with enterprise resource planning systems and a Business Objects Gold Solution Provider Partner. "Business Objects is really taking a leadership role in delivering a new business intelligence product line specifically designed for the mid-market. This also creates a solid foundation for Business Objects partners to build on top of to provide a total solution tailored to the specific industry or line of business needs of mid-market customers. We can supply these growing companies with a complete business intelligence solution that is low cost, delivers immediate time to value, yet empowers their management with full function reporting and ad hoc analysis capabilities."
"With seventeen years in the industry and more than 30,000 mid-market customers, Business Objects is uniquely positioned to help mid-size companies transform their organization through intelligent information," said Todd Rowe, vice president and general manager of worldwide mid-market business at Business Objects. "Over the last year, we have expanded and strengthened our team, our partner organization, and our product portfolio to support the increased demand from these companies for solutions that deliver insight into business data and support faster, more informed decision-making."
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