I am sure most of you know by now that Cognos recently acquired Applix to create the second-largest independent business intelligence (BI) company, a situation that lasted only a few days, since IBM in turn has now acquired Cognos for about $5 billion, in a move that is the largest undertaken by IBM.
This latest acquisition escalates IBM into the BI space big time and is in line with IBM`s information on demand strategy, a cross-company initiative announced in February 2006 that combines IBM`s strength in information integration, content and data management and business consulting services to unlock the business value of information.
Integrating Cognos will enable new business insights to be delivered to a broader set of people across an organisation, beyond the traditional users of BI.
Together, IBM and Cognos will become the leading provider of technology and services for BI and performance management, delivering the industry`s most complete, open standards-based platform with the broadest range of expertise to help companies expand the value of their information, optimise their business processes and maximise performance across their enterprises.
This purchase of Applix allows Cognos access to the flagship TM1 product, an in-memory multidimensional (OLAP) server that is well suited for the rigors of complex financial analytics and is a favourite among finance departments because of its Excel-based interface.
Cognos CEO Rob Ashe called this acquisition "a terrific strategic fit for Cognos" as it gives the company a new in-memory, read-write OLAP analytics architecture capability for its other CPM products. TM1 would provide Cognos` CPM users with finance self-service capabilities such as business rules management and entry into new areas, like profitability analysis and planning optimisation.
Following completion of the acquisition, IBM intends to integrate Cognos as a group within IBM`s Information Management Software division, focused on BI and performance management. IBM also will appoint current Cognos President and CEO Rob Ashe to lead this group.
"As a direct result of this deal, MCI Consultants, already a strategic partner of IBM in South Africa, joins just a handful of other local organisations that have a similar role, although none have the TM1 knowledge," added Aliki Droussiotis, Director of MCI Consultants.
"We are very positive re this double acquisition, since we are now able to offer a wider and improved portfolio of solutions for our clients as the areas of overlap between Applix, Cognos and IBM are minimal."
For further information, please contact Aliki Droussiotis, MCI: tel 011 454-3420, fax 011 454-3417, e-mail aliki@mci.co.za
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MCI Consultants is a South African-based business information systems consulting firm specialising in providing software solutions to the business community, specifically to the financial services and personnel recruitment industries.
They offer complete solutions, including accounting systems (ACCPAC), business intelligence solutions (Applix/Cognos) and recruitment solutions (AdaptRecruitment), as well as bespoke developments including software for the JSE Stock Brokers, including Trading and Portfolio systems that also incorporate e-commerce and mobile technologies.
Its approach is to continuously provide solutions to meet its clients` changing requirements. It prides itself in delivering excellent customer service and building long-lasting partnerships with its clients.
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