Compared to Who?
Every BI vendor in the marketplace today tries to put their software is the most favorable light. They like to rattle off words like: world-class, best, only, leading, #1, best-in-class, complete, etc. Here are some of the leading statements:
- Actuate Corporation – Dedicated to providing business intelligence solutions that increase the richness, interactivity and effectiveness of enterprise data, for everyone, everywhere
- IBM Cognos – Leading provider of technology and services for Business Intelligence (BI) and Performance Management,
- Microstrategy – Leading Independent Provider of Business Intelligence
- SAP BusinessObjects – World’s leading provider of business intelligence (BI) solutions
- SAS – The leader in business analytics software and services, and the largest independent vendor in the business intelligence market
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mind that everyone wants to be leading. It depends how you measure it right? Revenue? New Customers? OEM Partners? Downloads? I’m sure everyone is #1 is some category. Just ask the airports. No one can decide who’s the busiest. Are you measuring number of flights or number of passengers?
It’s all marketing.
…but what I don’t like are deceptive practices backed up by dubious legal statements.
Key Differentiators
Microstrategy’s website shows you how they compare against all the competition. Allegedly. Actually I’m not legally allowed to say. You see if you do a Google search for Microstrategy Comparison, it takes you to a website called Microstrategy vs. Competition. At this point you might expect to be able to see a chart which explains the products… and yes, of course Microstrategy is going to come out on top. Funny how that works.
What I didn’t expect was a legal disclaimer!
MicroStrategy's Legal Notice
Legal Notice
My goodness what are they afraid of?
Here is the text from the website (the italics/bold are mine):
The information contained in this document is confidential and proprietary to MicroStrategy Incorporated. The recipient of this document agrees not to disclose its contents to any third party or otherwise to use this document for any purpose other than an evaluation of MicroStrategy’s business or its offerings. Reproduction or distribution of this document is prohibited without MicroStrategy’s advance written authorization. MicroStrategy does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented in this document, and there is no commitment, express or implied, on the part of MicroStrategy to update or otherwise amend this document. The furnishing of this document does not provide any license to patents, trademarks, copyrights or other intellectual property rights owned or held by MicroStrategy.
Copyright Information
All Contents Copyright © 2009 MicroStrategy Incorporated. All Rights Reserved.
Please click the link to agree to the above terms and continue with the QuickTour. AGREE »
So let me take a shot at this. Basically, although this is on their public website, you aren’t allowed to talk about, share or otherwise comment on the information that MicroStrategy says about it’s capabilities against the competition. Hmmm. You aren’t allowed to reproduce it. To correct it. To reference it. To rely on it. It may not be correct and if something is incorrect, that’s okay, we never said it was! Interesting.
Don’t let the Truth get in the way of a good Story
Well, I would love to say that maybe they are afraid of the truth, but I wouldn’t want to go negative. What I will say is that I wouldn’t trust what you read. I’m sure I’ve seen some of these key differentiators mentioned in snopes.com. 
If you are in the process of evaluating BI solutions, don’t be afraid to tell the BI vendors who you are comparing them to. Each vendor will try to put their software is the best possible light, but at the end of the day it shouldn’t be about features and functions. Don’t add features to the evaluation just because the BI vendor says you need it. Know your requirements and longer term BI Strategy.
Your BI Vendor should be able to:
- Meet the key business requirements
- Offer multiple training options for different user needs
- Get you going quickly with services (their own or via partners)
- Explain and help you of product best practices
- Provide the lowest possible TCO
You are going to have your BI solution is place for a long time. Consider the criteria that is important to you as well as all the on-going costs, not just licensing and maintenance.
Who To Trust
Never trust another vendors evaluation of their competitor’s product. Always try it out for yourself. Pepsi or Coke?
One final point: Don’t be afraid to tell those vendors who didn’t make the cut why they didn’t. Your feedback may improve their product(s) which will ultimately help drive better competition in the marketplace. It also helps vendors understand how customer’s needs may be changing over time.
Overall analysts do a good job and evaluating BI vendors and ranking them accordingly. I recommend you look at Gartner’s BI Magic Quadrant (Compliments of SAS believe it or not!), Forrester BI Wave and BIScorecard. When it comes to product comparisons, the old adage remains true: You get what you pay for. When it comes to understanding how BI tools compare with each other, it might be worth it to hear what the analysts are saying.
«Good BI»
Software companies are beginning to give all customers an equal voice and I love it. SAP had launched Idea Place – a great place for you to share you best ideas directly with the product developers.
