Cognos has a line-up of products that is as follows: Impromptu-database reporting, Powerplay-Multidimensional analysis, scenario-data mining and 4thought-bus forecasting.
All these products are classed "best of breed" in their product categories.Unlike Bus. Objects, their software is easy to use and has very few bugs. No other BI company has this product line-up, HUM can maybe capture what is left over but large corporations want their software to be seamless and not have to get different software from diff co's and have to continually deal with separate pieces and hope it all works well together.
The competitive advantage CSN has is that it is proven, it works, and it can be used enterprise wide and is supported already by Oracle, SAP and Peoplesoft. Yes there is room for HUM's software but it is for an entirely different segment than CSN's. Your argument about commoditization of the software frankly doesn't have any weight.
Are word processors, spreadsheets etc. commoditized, not really.
MS software is always higher priced than its competitor, if you're argument was true, Corel would be cleaning up as it is priced about 60% less than others. Customers want staying power and a superior, reliable product line. Andyne software is an unknown and until they prove otherwise they'll be a bit player. |
