IBM Builds Integration StrategyIBM Builds Integration Strategy

VentanaMonitor™

Summary
IBM's acquisition of Ascential strengthens IBM's ability to deliver a comprehensive data integration technology suite. While adding more corporate muscle behind the Ascential brand, IBM's acquisition leaves Informatica as the leading independent provider of data integration technology, a position that may be viewed as favorable by IT shops indifferent to IBM. Nevertheless, IBM will bolster their integration suite infrastructure, which spans applications, data, events and information, while supporting both structured and unstructured data. Ventana Research believes that the importance of data integration plays a critical role in the enterprise and that IBM now finally has the data integration suite critical to their information management strategy.

Assessment
The value of this acquisition to integration management teams will not be fully realized until IBM and Ascential can deliver incremental technology integration beyond their already-published roadmap and organizational integration benefits. Certainly, organizations that have purchased Ascential through IBM or as part of a joint IBM/Ascential program will see this as a positive development in regards to simplifying their technology supplier interaction. Organizations that use technology from vendors against which IBM competes (such as Oracle and Microsoft) will evaluate IBM's long-term commitment to equivalent support for non-IBM data sources.

IBM has stated that it intends to integrate the Ascential suite with IBM's WebSphere Information Integrator. Ventana Research sees EII as a complementary technology to data integration. Once integrated, these systems can then share meta-data, security, hosting resources, and development environments.

Integration is a leading theme within enterprise IT today. Data integration is a key element of that theme, as organizations strive towards consistency across systems. Comprehensive views of customers, products, employees and other enterprise aspects are driving this integration. As composite applications based upon service-oriented architecture gain prominence, combined EII/data integration technologies will be likely be a significant enabler for these applications.

Market Impact
The acquisition of Ascential by IBM is a mixed bag for other competitors in the market. IBM's backing of the Ascential technology strengthens its reach. On the other hand, it leaves Informatica as the leading database vendor and independent supplier of data integration technology. IT shops that use IBM technology, but not Ascential, will likely view the integration favorably when it's delivered. IT shops that have little or no IBM brand loyalty may be more attracted to independent data integration providers like Informatica, Information Builders and Synopsis.

Recommendation
Ventana Research believes that, for IBM-loyal organizations that are seeking a data integration solution, there is now even more reason to consider Ascential. Clearly, a need for a combined data integration/EII solution will not be met until IBM delivers integration across product lines. Organizations that see IBM's participation as neutral should consider Ascential alongside the other data integration platforms, since Ascential's technology isn't yet any different from that available prior to the acquisition.

Eric Rogge is VP and research director for Business Intelligence & Performance Management at Ventana Research.

Ventana Research is the preeminent research and advisory services firm helping our clients maximize stakeholder value with Performance Management throughout their organizations. Putting research in a business and IT context we provide insight and education on the best practices, methodologies and technologies that enable our clients to leverage assets to understand, optimize, and align strategies and processes to meet their goals and objectives.