Microsoft set to transform business intelligence software

“By fundamentally changing the economic model for business intelligence and delivering unprecedented ease of use, we’re enabling the broadest deployment of BI possible – so employees can better contribute to a company’s overall business performance,” he added. What’s all the fuss? Microsoft is working on the next version of SQL Server, code-named Katmai, and says that system will meet all the needs of the coming data explosion and the next generation of data-driven applications. SQL Server Katmai will, says the software giant, also include capabilities for large-scale data warehousing and richer information delivery through Microsoft Office. Interestingly, Microsoft has is also acquiring SoftArtisans’ OfficeWriter, which, when combined with SQL Server Reporting Services, will enable business users to author and consume managed reports in Microsoft Office applications. Business intelligence software developer Panorama, which was behind Microsoft’s initial moves into BT, says it’s the foundation for its next step with the technology will be ‘proactive business intelligence’ (PBI), “a new model for the BI industry based on the need for a forward-thinking approach to enhance the enterprise through innovative BI”. The company claims that it’s challenging classic BI by providing all the tools for analytics, reporting, dashboarding and scorecarding, but also “taking a quantum leap to ensure the tools are better tailored to, and focused on, the end-user”. “Proactive business intelligence is a new way of looking at BI,” claims Eynav Azarya, CEO, Panorama Software. “As opposed to putting the tools in the centre, we are putting them in the hands of the end-user. PBI is about providing the end-user the best BI-based solution for his business needs.”