Home > Ask the Data management / BI Experts > Business intelligence and analytics Questions & Answers > Comparing Cognos vs. Business Objects for BI reporting
Ask The Data Management Expert: Questions & Answers
EMAIL THIS

Comparing Cognos vs. Business Objects for BI reporting

William McKnight EXPERT RESPONSE FROM: William McKnight

Pose a Question
Other Data Management Categories
Meet all Data Management Experts
Become an Expert for this site


Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us   


>
QUESTION POSED ON: 23 February 2009
I have to come up with a business solution to develop BI reports. The requirements to be included are: HeatMaps, Scorecards, Querying, Adhoc Reports, Data Input, Threshold Changes, Export to Excel/ PDF ,Performance data, dashboard, metadata. Can you compare Cognos vs. Business Objects or fill me in on how each product would comply with those requirements?


Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us   



RELATED CONTENT
Business intelligence and analytics
Do we need business intelligence (BI) tools to be successful?
How to explain and define business intelligence to mid-management
Examining different data access methods: OLAP and data mining
What are the best analytical tools for business intelligence for finance?
Fastest way to learn business intelligence (BI)
Should a data steward have direct SQL access for reporting purposes?
Business intelligence market growth for 2009 and beyond
Business intelligence in management careers
Data warehouse and business intelligence team reporting structure
Who should the business intelligence team report to?

Business intelligence technology platform
Five technology trends for improved business intelligence performance
Choosing BI software: Use your ERP vendor or go with third-party BI?
Data integration for Software as a Service business intelligence software evolves
SAP inks another partnership to enhance NetWeaver BW
Yearbook publisher finds BI reporting, data integration tools from same vendor
A rash of business intelligence acquisitions making waves
What is Enterprise 2.0?
Should we use traditional or agile software development processes?
IBM releases Cognos business intelligence suite aimed at midmarket
Gartner: Take a parallel approach to migrate business intelligence reports

Business intelligence dashboards and performance scorecards
BI software adoption remains strong despite economic downturn
How to create effective dashboards and scorecards
Real-life examples of effective dashboard design
Guide to building effective dashboards and scorecards
Ten key elements for effective dashboard design
Q/A: Working with dashboard editors for streamlining and increased user adoption
Executive dashboards and data visualization trends and future outlook
Microsoft gives PerformancePoint Server's financial planning component new life
Business Intelligence Product Directory
In-memory technology promises faster, more flexible BI and data analysis

RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS
Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary
corporate performance management  (SearchDataManagement.com)

RELATED RESOURCES
2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems
Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts
Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary


While each BI vendor can demonstrate a laundry list of things they do, and marketing terms they use, to distinguish from the other, there is a lot of parity between these two leading BI products. I could distinguish them further, but although you provided a good list, I'd need to know more. Looking at this list quickly, I think you'd find either product can fulfill most of these requirements, except for HeatMaps – I'm not sure about that.

These decisions these days come down to broader issues as well as the technical ones. These issues include whether you'll go with best-of-breed vs. a single vendor, your already installed components, the local team you deal with and the deal itself.

One caution about Cognos is their architectures tend to be more "data mart" than "data warehouse" and their cube structures can tend to multiply and divide if you are not careful. The simplest approach, and one which I'd need to see evidence to stray from, is the relational approach.

And remember, it's going to be just as much about execution as it is selection. Don't allow hangovers about the selection cast a pall on executing the business strategy with the chosen tool.




Search and Browse the Expert Answer Center
Search and browse more than 25,000 question and answer pairs from more than 250 TechTarget industry experts.
Browse our Expert Advice

About Us  |  Contact Us  |  For Advertisers  |  For Business Partners  |  Site Index  |  RSS
SEARCH 
TechTarget provides technology professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective purchase decisions and managing their organizations' technology projects - with its network of technology-specific websites, events and online magazines.

TechTarget Corporate Web Site  |  Media Kits  |  Site Map




All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2005 - 2009, TechTarget | Read our Privacy Policy
  TechTarget - The IT Media ROI Experts