Cognos suite update unites business data

Offers firms a comprehensive suite of functionality built on a web services architecture

Cognos has updated its namesake business intelligence (BI) system to offer firms a comprehensive suite of functionality built on a web services architecture.

Speaking at the launch of Cognos 8 BI in New York, chief executive Rob Ashe said the firm is, "Redefining business intelligence... [and] providing a solid BI foundation for companies demanding a simpler path to complete corporate performance management."

Cognos 8 uses web services to provide a single layer of metadata, letting users access any kind of organisational data, said Ashe.

He also emphasised the ability to create graphs and other graphics as needed, while a dashboard feature lets users drill down into departments, sales history, and other data with a few clicks, enabling more comparative analysis.

A Business Event Management tool can alert users to issues such as shortfalls in sales, with warnings delivered via email or an RSS feed.

Cognos's Christopher Dziekan said all of the system's features can be accessed via a browser, making it easy to use. Beta users cited usability as Cognos 8's biggest attraction, he added.

Graham Pritchard, a data warehouse manager at car breakdown firm RAC, agreed that the system is easy to use and referred to it as a "one-stop shop". He added, "You can see the range of tools and use them straight off the main dashboard. It is a very important step."