Geac Deal Boosts Business-Intelligence CapabilitiesGeac Deal Boosts Business-Intelligence Capabilities

Geac Computer Corp. is boosting the business-intelligence and real-time Web reporting capabilities of its mainframe enterprise applications by linking them with Information Builders Inc.'s WebFocus software.

Under terms of a deal disclosed Wednesday, Geac will resell WebFocus for its E Series and M Series financial, human-resources, and procurement mainframe applications in the first quarter, according to the company. The WebFocus tools will provide Geac application owners with real-time access to data generated by the applications, while individual users can get a personalized view of that data using the WebFocus dashboard.

The vendors have already completed the integration work, a Geac spokesman says. Cognos Inc.'s reporting software already works with Geac's financial applications through an earlier relationship, but Geac established the alliance with IBI because its business-intelligence software is Web-based, the spokesman says.

Enterprise application suppliers such as PeopleSoft, SAP, and Siebel Systems are building up the business-intelligence capabilities of their software either by developing their own products or by partnering with business-intelligence software vendors such as Business Objects, Cognos, and Crystal Decisions. Adding business-intelligence capabilities helps managers gain visibility into their companies' business processes.