I would've agreed with you before seeing SQL 7 and Office 2000 recently. I do think there will be a robust aftermarket for SQL 7 tools using Excel or Access as the client viewer ("OLAP@Work" is a pretty slick such product I also saw). Their clear goal (at least IMO) is to muscle out Cognos, Bus Objects, Microstrategy et al to the extent possible. And yes it's true Cognos has NovaView OLAP tool specifically for SQL 7, but it will have plenty of competition.
No, I'm not suggesting for a moment Cognos, Bus Obj's et al will be toppled overnight, but the days of Excel and Access being way underpowered compared with Impromptu, Powerplay et al are limited. The "race" that CEO Zambonini alluded to in the Q4 earnings release will be a tough one, and Cognos is a strong, sound player, but the "race" will definitely include a certain 800 pound bespectacled gorilla :-)
Whether Cognos goes up or down tomorrow will depend on the conf.call tone, I suspect. Anyone have a replay number?
PS-Sultan, OT: What do you think of Hummingbird? |
