IBM has rolled out business analytics software called IBM Cognos Express, which is an all-in-one business intelligence (BI) and planning solution designed for medium-sized companies.
David McWilliam, regional manager of BI and performance management at IBM Software Group sub-Saharan Africa, says the market is ripe for IBM and Cognos to release a BI solution to the mid-market. He was speaking during a recent IBM channel partner conference at the Westcliff Hotel.
“Remaining competitive in today's economy not only requires these tools to be implemented, it is also imperative to link BI to planning, so an information-driven culture can be created, insights gained through the early identification of opportunities and issues through analysis, and action taken to align resources with strategic and business decisions through the planning aspect,” he said.
Harnessing data
McWilliam added that BI solutions are no longer limited to the large enterprises. “Mid-sized organisations are the engines that will lead the global economy back to growth and prosperity. Even in today's unsettled landscape, mid-sized companies are striving to better harness their information so they can continue to innovate and grow.”
According to McWilliam, the IBM Cognos Express solution can be deployed within a few hours, and offers a low-cost and low-risk integrated approach to planning, analysing and reporting performance, identifying trends, and helping businesses make smarter decisions.
The IBM Cognos Express portfolio includes Express Reporter, Express Advisor and Express Xcelerator. The solution also comes with an in-memory analytics server that allows clients to centrally manage data, business rules, and calculations.
Pre-configured business analytics and planning capabilities are offered via a centralised, Web-based console that manages installation, deployment and ongoing management. According to IBM, this reduces the need for in-house IT staff assistance.
The solution allows clients to easily build reports, analyses, dashboards and multi-dimensional plans on their own, ensuring they remain responsive to competitive pressures.
Mid-market on-track
The mid-market is the fastest growing market segment worldwide, contributing 65% of the total global Gross Domestic Product. According to IBM, mid-size companies employ 90% of the world's workforce.
The IBM Global CIO Study, involving 2 500 CIOs from 78 countries, found 83% of mid-market executives ranked BI and analytics as their top priority for improving competitiveness and cutting costs.
Share