Microsoft Launches Data Warehousing Alliance 2000

REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 30, 1999 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that 47 applications and tools from 39 top vendors throughout the industry have qualified for Microsoft® Data Warehousing Alliance 2000. Alliance members and partners are committed to delivering tools and applications based on the Microsoft Data Warehousing Framework 2000, an open architecture for building business intelligence and analytical applications based on the open standards and services built into the Windows® 2000 operating system, Microsoft SQL Server TM 7.0 and Office 2000. Application vendor membership for the Data Warehousing Alliance has more than doubled since it was originally announced in October 1998.

For customers, the Microsoft Data Warehousing Framework simplifies and speeds data integration and greatly expands their ability to deliver valuable business intelligence and analysis to decision-makers at all levels securely over the Web. In addition, customers gain the simplicity of having a comprehensive platform combined with the ability to easily and seamlessly integrate best-of-breed tools and applications for competitive advantage. As a result, organizations leveraging the framework and using alliance member products are better able to align local decision-making around key business drivers and harness the full potential of the Web to win new customers, retain and extend customer relationships and work more effectively with partners.

Broad vendor support and participation in the Data Warehousing Alliance 2000 demonstrates the wide adoption of OLE DB and Open Information Model standards and recognition of the value and competitive advantage provided by the data warehousing services built into Microsoft products. The tools and applications that have qualified for the Alliance include the following:

Data Warehousing Build and Management Tools

  • Partner products. AppsCo Software Ltd. — Appsmart

  • Member products. Ardent Software — DataStage Suite and Artech-GeneXus; Cognos Corp. — Decision Stream; DataMirror Corp. — Transformation Server for SQL Server; Data Watch Corp. — Monarch Data Pump; Informatica Corp. — PowerMart and PowerCenter; Information Builders Inc. — SmartMart

Query, Reporting and Analysis Tools

  • Partner products. Appsource Corp. — Wired for OLAP 5.0; Decision Support Panel International AB — DS Panel; European Management Systems PLC — Active Analyst; Maximal Innovative Intelligence Ltd. — Max; OLAP@Work Inc. — OLAP@Work for Excel and OLAP@Work for Office; Seagate Software — Seagate Info and Seagate Analysis; Visual Insights — Advisor

  • Member products. Appsource — Wired for OLAP 4.1; BI-Logix Inc. — The BI Solution; Brio Technology Inc. — Enterprise; Business Objects — Business Objects 5.0; Cizer Software Corp. — Cizer; Cognos — Nova View and PowerPlay; Comshare Inc. — DecisionWeb; FRx Software Corp. — Alytix; Knosys Inc. — ProClarity; Revelwood Inc. — SmartSite; Visual Insights — Advisor/2000

Analytical Applications

  • Partner products. Adaytum Software — e-Planning; Broadbase Software Inc. — Broadbase EPM; Citicorp Information Technology Inc. Ltd. — FLEXICUBE Information Center; NetAcumen Inc. — WebVision; Sagent Technology Inc. — Solution 4.1

  • Member products. Baan Co. NV — Business Intelligence Suite; Best Software Inc. — Best! Imperativ Active Planner; ChangePoint Corp. — ChangePoint; Epicor Software Corp. — Business Performance Suite; Infinium Software Inc. — Business Intelligence Analysis Server; Manugistics Inc. — Supply Chain Analytics; MIS Technologies Gmbh — MIS Alea Decisionware; and Silvon Software Inc. — Data Tracker and DecisionMarts.

“The Honickman Group (a billion-dollar independent beverage supplier with Pepsi-Cola and Canada Dry franchises from New York to Richmond, Va., as well as private label facilities in the Northeast corridor) was looking for an integrated analytical application to enable sharing and analysis of all business-critical information via its intranet, reducing costs, improving efficiency and increasing productivity,” said Walter Wilkinson, CFO of The Honickman Group. “The Infinium Business Intelligence Analysis Server (BIAS) built on the Microsoft Data Warehousing Framework has enabled managers at all levels to be more predictive, strategic and effective in addressing these key business drivers.”

“The delivery of business intelligence — combined with collaboration and relevant Web content — needs to be integrated into the working environment of knowledge workers to speed the process of turning information into results,” said Colin White, president of DataBase Associates International Inc. “The Microsoft Data Warehousing Framework 2000 makes it easy to build Digital Dashboard applications integrating business intelligence, collaboration and Web content right into the environment many knowledge workers live in: Outlook® 2000.”

Microsoft’s new Alliance criteria call for compliance with technical standards, including OLE DB for universal data access and the Open Information Model for sharing metadata, that make it easier to integrate and use tools and applications from multiple vendors. In addition, Alliance partner products support Windows 2000 including key features such as Active Directory TM services and the Windows Installer. The new criteria and information about how Alliance member products support these standards and services is available online at http://www.microsoft.com/industry/bi/developers/initiatives/initiatives.stm.

More information on Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 and solutions based on it can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/sql/ .

Created by a world-class development team, Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 is the leading Windows NT® Server operating system-based database, bringing business advantage and improved decision-making to all levels of an organization through the power of data warehousing, industry solutions and interoperability with Microsoft Office. SQL Server 7.0, with SQL Server OLAP Services, is the only RDBMS to integrate essential data warehousing technology for multidimentional analysis. SQL Server is an integral part of the Windows DNA platform, Microsoft’s comprehensive platform for building Web applications.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.

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