Cognos, an IBM company, has announced that it will partner with SPSS to bring predictive analytics capabilities to joint customers in retail, financial services, insurance and other industries. The deal fills an important gap in Cognos' portfolio, and it follows closely on the heels of a parallel arrangement, announced in December, between Business Objects and SPSS, reports Intelligent Enterprise.
The Cognos-SPSS partnership is a joint marketing deal under which both companies will promote existing integrations between SPSS Clementine and Cognos 8 while also adding Cognos-compatible blueprints for predictive applications.
"We're building joint assets with SPSS that will include the predictive models as well as the BI and performance management around these solutions," Jennifer Francis, vice president of market development at Cognos, told IE.
Consumer product placement, campaign management, and financial and insurance risk management are the starting point for the partnership, but blueprints are envisioned for other applications as well, says Francis. For instance, joint customers are already doing customer churn analysis, she says. The predictive modeling churn analysis is done in SPSS Clementine while the scoring is then handled by Cognos 8 Reporting.
Under the Business Object-SPSS OEM deal, SPSS Clementine software is to be rebranded, sold and supported directly by Business Objects, which signals a deeper commitment to rely on SPSS for statistical and predictive analytics capabilities.
Concludes Intelligent Enterprise, the loser in all these deals seems to be SAS, which was quite vocal, during last year's BI consolidation spree, in pointing out that Cognos and Business Objects lacked predictive analytics capabilities. Now SPSS, a SAS analytics rival that doesn't compete in the reporting and analysis space, is benefitting from the considerable market penetration and marketing muscle of the top-two vendors in business intelligence.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Haith's Selects Elucid (UK)
Sanderson, the publicly owned UK provider of software solutions for mail order and multi-channel businesses, has won a contract to supply its Elucid solution to Haith’s Bird Foods. Haith’s operate through mail order, retail, eCommerce, and wholesale and have invested in the Elucid solution to support all of these sales channels.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Epicor Announces Enhancements
According to the SupplyChainBrain Newsletter, Epicor Software Corporation says that enhancements to the supply chain management (SCM) and financial suites of Epicor Enterprise offer improved forecasting and order fulfillment capabilities, better information access and reporting, and improved budget management for stronger compliance and control.
Epicor says the SCM suite streamlines operations, from order fulfillment to warehouse management to supplier relationship management. SCM provides immediate access to the inventory, pricing and customer information companies need to increase inventory turns, enhance customer service and improve profitability. The developer says that more than 100 enhancements made in this latest release enable more accurate demand forecasting, which in turn improves order fulfillment rates and stock movement efficiency.
Epicor says the SCM suite streamlines operations, from order fulfillment to warehouse management to supplier relationship management. SCM provides immediate access to the inventory, pricing and customer information companies need to increase inventory turns, enhance customer service and improve profitability. The developer says that more than 100 enhancements made in this latest release enable more accurate demand forecasting, which in turn improves order fulfillment rates and stock movement efficiency.
Cadre Upgrades Cadence WMS Module
Cadre Technologies has released a new version of Cadence Mobile Logistics (CML), its Microsoft Windows-based radio frequency system that is part of the Cadence Fulfillment software suite.
CML integrates a variety of new features that enable warehouse workers to update inventory in real time and increase productivity.
For example, the new version supports "pick and pass," also known as "zone picking," whereby one warehouse worker stays in a zone to complete the lines of an order specific to that zone and passes the order, via a conveyor belt or cart, to another zone to be processed by a different picker working in that zone.
It also allows manual lot substitutions managed by business rules, and lets managers assign work groups through a module called "Team Assignment."
CML integrates a variety of new features that enable warehouse workers to update inventory in real time and increase productivity.
For example, the new version supports "pick and pass," also known as "zone picking," whereby one warehouse worker stays in a zone to complete the lines of an order specific to that zone and passes the order, via a conveyor belt or cart, to another zone to be processed by a different picker working in that zone.
It also allows manual lot substitutions managed by business rules, and lets managers assign work groups through a module called "Team Assignment."
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sigma Micro 4.1 Includes eCommerce Module, SaaS Option
Sigma Micro announced today the availability of SigmaCommerce 4.1, which includes a tool for building and managing dynamic Web stores coupling full eCommerce integration and back-office functionality.
Effective with this release, Sigma Micro also adds on-demand availability plus Website hosting services to its SigmaCommerce solutions platform for multi-channel direct retailers.
The architecture of SigmaCommerce 4.1 reinforces Sigma Micro's strategic commitment to mid-market direct retailers. The 26-year-old company launched SigmaCommerce in 2007 as the flagship product to deliver a comprehensive solution that centrally manages the complexities of the direct-to-consumer business.
"Direct retailers have to balance channel growth with profitability, and eCommerce represents a real business opportunity for multi-channel merchants who have yet to integrate this disparate channel into their core business." said Matt Konkle, President of Sigma Micro. "SigmaCommerce 4.1 brings an unprecedented solution that unites full back-office functionality with advanced eCommerce, call center and marketing capabilities."
The eStore Manager module enables users to build and manage dynamic Web stores within the SigmaCommerce application. The new release provides a set of site authoring tools for eCommerce management while keeping product and content management simple.
Features of the eStore Manager include:
• Real-time integration with product information and customer data in a single database
• Drag-and-drop capabilities for building, maintaining and optimizing Websites
• Dynamic control over Website content and offerings
• Ease-of-use with over 70 ecommerce controls and a preeminent CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) Editor
• 50 built-in page templates or user-created templates
• Search Engine Optimization and advanced analytics
SigmaCommerce is built entirely on the Microsoft® .Net Framework 3.0 and is available as a Web-based application. Along with its Software as a Service (SaaS) delivery model, Sigma Micro provides full hosting for Web stores built within the application.
Effective with this release, Sigma Micro also adds on-demand availability plus Website hosting services to its SigmaCommerce solutions platform for multi-channel direct retailers.
The architecture of SigmaCommerce 4.1 reinforces Sigma Micro's strategic commitment to mid-market direct retailers. The 26-year-old company launched SigmaCommerce in 2007 as the flagship product to deliver a comprehensive solution that centrally manages the complexities of the direct-to-consumer business.
"Direct retailers have to balance channel growth with profitability, and eCommerce represents a real business opportunity for multi-channel merchants who have yet to integrate this disparate channel into their core business." said Matt Konkle, President of Sigma Micro. "SigmaCommerce 4.1 brings an unprecedented solution that unites full back-office functionality with advanced eCommerce, call center and marketing capabilities."
The eStore Manager module enables users to build and manage dynamic Web stores within the SigmaCommerce application. The new release provides a set of site authoring tools for eCommerce management while keeping product and content management simple.
Features of the eStore Manager include:
• Real-time integration with product information and customer data in a single database
• Drag-and-drop capabilities for building, maintaining and optimizing Websites
• Dynamic control over Website content and offerings
• Ease-of-use with over 70 ecommerce controls and a preeminent CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) Editor
• 50 built-in page templates or user-created templates
• Search Engine Optimization and advanced analytics
SigmaCommerce is built entirely on the Microsoft® .Net Framework 3.0 and is available as a Web-based application. Along with its Software as a Service (SaaS) delivery model, Sigma Micro provides full hosting for Web stores built within the application.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Microsoft to Test New Web Ad Measure
Microsoft said Monday it would test a new way to measure the effectiveness of Internet advertising in a beta program that is due to begin on March 1.
Microsoft's "Engagement Mapping" departs from an industry standard that ties sales, leads and traffic to the last ad that a user clicked on online. Instead, it attempts to take into account all the Internet interactions that lead a consumer to buy a product. This is presumably based at least in part on Microsoft's purchase last year of aQuantive.
Microsoft advertising clients and partner agencies such as Citi Cards and Initiative Media have signed on for the program.
In related news, fresh numbers from the Interactive Advertising Bureau, which is holding its annual meeting this week: The U.S. online ad market hit a record $21.1 billion last year, a 25% increase over 2006.
But that year-on-year growth is a decline from 2005-2006, when Internet ads jumped 35%. 2007 Q4 results show a similar pattern: They're up 24% y/y from 2006, to $5.9 billion. But that's a slower increase than the previous year, when they grew 33% y/y.
Microsoft's "Engagement Mapping" departs from an industry standard that ties sales, leads and traffic to the last ad that a user clicked on online. Instead, it attempts to take into account all the Internet interactions that lead a consumer to buy a product. This is presumably based at least in part on Microsoft's purchase last year of aQuantive.
Microsoft advertising clients and partner agencies such as Citi Cards and Initiative Media have signed on for the program.
In related news, fresh numbers from the Interactive Advertising Bureau, which is holding its annual meeting this week: The U.S. online ad market hit a record $21.1 billion last year, a 25% increase over 2006.
But that year-on-year growth is a decline from 2005-2006, when Internet ads jumped 35%. 2007 Q4 results show a similar pattern: They're up 24% y/y from 2006, to $5.9 billion. But that's a slower increase than the previous year, when they grew 33% y/y.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Sigma Micro, Stark Bros. Offer Complete Business Solution for Direct Retailers
Sigma Micro and Stark Bro's Fulfillment Services® have announced an expanded relationship under the ownership of Sigma Holdings, Inc.
Al Langsenkamp, CEO of Sigma Holdings, Inc. added Stark Bro's to the Sigma Holdings group of companies for its strategic focus on the direct retail segment. Langsenkamp previously held a limited financial interest in the business.
"For over 16 years, we've relied on Sigma Micro's order management solution to run our business, and it has enabled us to provide completely outsourced fulfillment and call center services to our customers," remarked Jack Alexander, President of Stark Bro's. "Under this business arrangement, we will continue to make significant investments in our facilities, processes and people."
Stark Bro's customers will benefit from the investments that Sigma Micro has made in the last few years in SigmaCommerce, its next-generation software, noted Alexander. "Their order management solution means we can deliver even better service, enhanced web marketing, and improved access to management information. Ultimately, our customers will be equipped to make fast decisions based on timely information."
Under Sigma Holdings, Stark Bro's has already begun significant enhancements to several areas of the business which will enable the company to continue its double-digit growth. This includes the purchase of a second distribution facility of 315,000 sq ft to its capacity. The new facility is located adjacent to its headquarters in Louisiana, Mo. Stark Bro's has also implemented enhancements to business processes, services offerings, and growth in personnel.
Al Langsenkamp, CEO of Sigma Holdings, Inc. added Stark Bro's to the Sigma Holdings group of companies for its strategic focus on the direct retail segment. Langsenkamp previously held a limited financial interest in the business.
"For over 16 years, we've relied on Sigma Micro's order management solution to run our business, and it has enabled us to provide completely outsourced fulfillment and call center services to our customers," remarked Jack Alexander, President of Stark Bro's. "Under this business arrangement, we will continue to make significant investments in our facilities, processes and people."
Stark Bro's customers will benefit from the investments that Sigma Micro has made in the last few years in SigmaCommerce, its next-generation software, noted Alexander. "Their order management solution means we can deliver even better service, enhanced web marketing, and improved access to management information. Ultimately, our customers will be equipped to make fast decisions based on timely information."
Under Sigma Holdings, Stark Bro's has already begun significant enhancements to several areas of the business which will enable the company to continue its double-digit growth. This includes the purchase of a second distribution facility of 315,000 sq ft to its capacity. The new facility is located adjacent to its headquarters in Louisiana, Mo. Stark Bro's has also implemented enhancements to business processes, services offerings, and growth in personnel.
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