Can you imagine a world where it`s not possible to push a button and get the precise answer you want from your software application?
Do you remember that frustrating button called `export to Excel`? We used to hit it daily and then clunk away trying to make the data more presentable. Did you know that just 10 years ago, around 2006, this was the norm, hard to believe, right?
A paradigm shift occurred in 2006.
I remember it clearly. IT journalists were all writing about Microsoft`s official entrance into the business intelligence space. Bill had named Office as his official platform to take business intelligence to the masses. SQL provided the back-end brains, and Office the selected front-end, because of end-user familiarity with the product.
The Microsoft news was met with mixed feelings generally, and by us personally. We had already been playing in the Excel Integration space for five years or so, here in South Africa. We distributed a product called Alchemex, and by the time Microsoft started making BI noises, Alchemex was already providing automated Excel reporting to 2000 South African businesses.
The obvious concern was that Microsoft would replace our product with functionality built into Excel. Would we become a small niche player? Precariously, we were already specialists because we had focused all our attention on the financial sector.
Our strategy had always been to develop solutions for popular accounting packages. End-users were not interested in a raw tool. Instead, they wanted immediate value. We had solutions for Pastel, ACCPAC, SAGE, SAPB1 and efforts we were just beginning to develop intellectual property for payroll applications. These solutions were not designed to satisfy a financial manager `out the box`, but served to fast track the process of delivering customised reporting.
The effort we had already put into solutions got us thinking a little more. We just could not see Microsoft doing integrations for all the applications out there. But, in order to justify the claim that they were offering business intelligence, someone would need to develop the reports. So who would take on this task? The obvious candidates were the application vendors themselves. We debated this at length and came to the conclusion that generally, they were simply not well placed to do this. We already had some history to call on and accounting vendors wanted to remain focused on accounting, not business intelligence. So, what about the database vendors? The popular view on this one was that they needed to match Microsoft, and ensure they offered a raw tool, but no more.
As we contemplated the future, it became clearer and clearer that business intelligence would only reach the masses if intense resources were applied to converting application data into meaningful Excel reports. The technology had arrived, so it seemed like a case of all dressed up and nowhere to go. Someone needed to make the investment. A huge, and accelerating demand for report development resources was predictable, foresight was the required skill to take advantage.
Once we understood this reality, the colour returned to our faces. A new market opportunity had emerged because Bill had just stated that he was about to give his million-strong Excel install base some boosted power.
So, in mid-2006, a new crusade began. Entrepreneurs all over the world began feverishly developing every conceivable Excel report in a race to stake a claim in the endless reporting domain called business intelligence.
At the time, we were thankful our paths had placed us in a privileged position to observe the signs. Years on, looking back, we have used Alchemex to partner countless third parties, software vendors and industry vertical operators to contribute a significant collection of intellectual property that makes each end-user`s day more productive.
If we could turn back the clock, we would not change much in doing it all again!
Share
Editorial contacts