Cognos launches Web-based BI system

Analytics and planning software vendor Cognos Inc. released Tuesday its new ReportNet system, a product company officials hope to position as a flagship offering.

"Three and a half years ago, Cognos had the vision for this product. We handed 30 of our programmers a clean sheet of paper and asked them to build it," Cognos Chief Executive Officer Ron Zambonini said during a New York launch event.

ReportNet is a Web-based query and reporting system intended to offer advanced customization options while reducing the burden and costs for administrators, by taking advantage of the features enabled by Web services standards such as XML (Extensible Markup Language) and SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol). The software includes multilingual support for languages, including French, German and Japanese, and can import data from other applications and BI (business intelligence) systems.

That data exchange flows both ways: Cognos' API (application program interface) is open and extensively documented, and Cognos is encouraging partners and customers to tweak and extend the software, executives said at the event.

One customer speaking at the presentation said ReportNet's openness was a point in its favor during his company's software selection process.

When securities firm Bear Stearns decided to standardize its patchwork of reporting systems, the company drew up a list of must-have features, including a flexible and easily learned user interface, some OLAP (online analytical processing) capabilities, and a client-free "zero footprint" installation. ReportNet met those needs, and is helping Bear Stearns lower its reporting system costs and improve user satisfaction, said Ashe Vasthare, managing director of the firm's fixed income business unit.

Other early-adopter customers include car manufacturer BMW AG and pharmaceuticals company Pfizer Inc.

Analysts say ReportNet is a noteworthy move toward an all-in-one approach to BI.

"ReportNet blurs the traditional boundaries between end-user query, reporting, and production reporting, establishes Cognos' foundation architecture for its next generation of BI, and allows the company to position itself as a single source for all reporting needs," AMR Research Inc. analyst John Hagerty said in a recent research note.

In the turbulent and rapidly consolidating BI sector, ReportNet's differentiation from other available BI products gives Cognos an advantage as it and other vendors face a market shakeout, Hagerty said.

Cognos benefits from ReportNet at a time when some of its key rivals, notably Business Objects SA and Hyperion Solutions Corp., are distracted with completing acquisitions and drafting integrated product roadmaps, Ventana Research analyst Eric Rogge said in a report last week. However, the product still faces a market-share battle, he noted.

"ReportNet is new to the game and these other competitors have large installed bases and demonstrated successes," Rogge wrote. "Expect opportunities for Cognos to open with ReportNet, but don't expect the entire market to go to Cognos in one fell swoop. Cognos and its competitors are both disclosing competitive wins for and against ReportNet respectively."