New Cognos Business-Intelligence Framework Is On TapNew Cognos Business-Intelligence Framework Is On Tap

Cognos Inc. next week will unveil business-intelligence framework software that the company says will let IT managers more easily deploy business-intelligence capabilities to tens of thousands of users. The vendor is also expected to announce a new event notification application that analysts say will help companies deliver better service to customers.

The business-intelligence framework, Cognos Series 7, provides users of Cognos' Impromptu query and reporting tool, PowerPlay analytical processing software, and other Cognos applications with a means of exchanging data and analytical results. The framework also provides a common set of administration and security services for the apps. It will offer new deployment and configuration management tools, new portal capabilities, and security based on the Secure Sockets Layer encryption protocol.

The new NoticeCast application monitors business transactions and events and notifies users via wireless devices about supply-chain activity, sales and financial performance alerts, and changes in customer relationships. For example, a sales representative can be alerted when a key customer lodges a complaint through a customer service center.

Cognos' latest offerings move the company "out of passive business intelligence and into active business intelligence," says Aberdeen Group analyst Bob Moran, and helps companies provide their best customers with "concierge treatment.

NoticeCast will ship in January 2002. Pricing has not been set. Cognos Series 7 technology will be built into the vendor's business-intelligence tools starting in January 2002.