IBM releases new Business Analytics Software for mid-sized clients
As part of IBM’s ongoing investment in business analytics, IBM has launched IBM Cognos Express, an all-in-one business intelligence (BI) and planning solution specifically designed and priced for mid-sized clients. Deployed in just a matter of hours, the new solution offers clients a low-cost and
low-risk, integrated approach to planning, analysing and reporting performance, identifying trends, and ultimately helping businesses make smarter business decisions.
A recent IBM Global CIO Study involving 2,500 CIOs from 78 countries – the largest study of CIOs ever conducted – found that 83% of midmarket executives ranked ‘BI and analytics’ as their top priority for improving competitiveness and cutting costs. Faced with limited budgets and overstretched IT resources, mid-sized organisations are seeking faster and more affordable analytics solutions that can help them cope with information overload.
The new IBM Cognos Express solution provides pre-configured business analytics and planning capabilities in a single offering, enabling mid-market executives to quickly launch their business analytics strategy and then evolve it as their needs grow. The solution easily plugs into an organisation’s existing infrastructure and can be up and running in just a few hours. New capabilities can then be added over time as business requirements change. The new solution also offers a centralised, Web-based console that manages all administrative aspects of installation, deployment and ongoing management, minimising the need for IT staff assistance.
Through its self-service environment, IBM Cognos Express allows clients to easily build reports, analyses, dashboards and multi-dimensional plans on their own, saving time and ensuring they remain responsive to competitive pressures. For instance, instead of waiting for the IT department to funnel
reports that are often outdated by the time they are received, individual retail store managers can now immediately tap into IBM Cognos Express to build their own daily store sales reports. This enables them to forecast sales against corporate objectives, and adjust promotions and inventory levels accordingly. This immediate access to critical business information better positions them to maximise revenues and stay one step ahead of their competitors.
