SQL2005 Impact on Cognos

[GoWestGw]

Having worked with the Cognos products for over 8 years, I was wondering what everybody thinks about the effects the new release of SQL will have on Cognos.

Microsoft really seem to be pitching Business Intelligence as a key release feature so is it time to be worried?

I remember way back when I used to program in the first Windows RDBMS (Superbase if anybody remembers it!), thinking things were going well when Microsoft brought out a product called MS-Access.  Clever marketing and bundling with the existing Office products and bang MSAccess over 1million clients within a few months.  Where are Superbase developers now?

I am not too worried as I am also a SQL-Specialist, but the signs look the same to me.  There are a suite of niche BI vendors and products, with a relatively high price tag, along come Microsoft bundling BI stuff and hey presto.........

[cognostechie]

Exactly what I have been thinking, as I said in one of my earlier posts. There had not been too many competitors for Cognos on the BI side so far, so it was a different story.

Anyway, I am not too worried either as I was spending only 20% time in Cognos. My main work is as a developer and a DBA. 

[Vaughn]

Cognos should be very worried, but I doubt that they will be.  They have
established a nice BI customer base that is very profitable.  This is a nice
ripe target for Microsoft who have not been doing very well in the stock
market for the past few years.  (Basically since the NASDAQ has been
under performing.)  Often, Microsoft has gone after markets by buying
technology and absorbing same, along with the established customers.
They just started issuing a dividend so they likely don't want to spend
more money just now. 
SQL Server has been in a tough market for a while.  Oracle is the real Windows
database on the market.  SQL Server and MS Access have basically been considered
toy and pretend databases since their implementation dates.  While these
designations are undeserved, it is the sentiment in the IT industry.  Microsoft
has been doing a lot to counter the thoughts especially with SQL Server.
They have greatly improved SQL Server.  I used version 6.5 a lot and am
MS DBA certified in version 7.  It is pretty good, version 2000 even better
but what could Microsoft do during the design of version 2005?  The marketing
boys likely didn't want another "We are (almost) as good as Oracle" advertising
campaign.  Why not tweak a bit, bundle in some parts of Excel, Powerpoint
and maybe Work or Publisher, throw in a paper clip graphic named "Bob" and
go after the Business Intelligence market.
Like I said, Cognos should be worried, but I doubt that they will be.  Why?
They weren't worried about Axiant competing with Visual Basic, Powerbuilder
and others.  Axiant has almost no presence.  They weren't worried about
Powerhouse being supplanted and yet it very nearly has been.  As I see it,
Cognos has a good chance of keeping BI profits only if the introduction of
Microsoft causes the whole BI concept to expand.  Microsoft gets an increasing
share of an increasing market while Cognos would get a decreasing share
of the same.  Frankly, I think that Cognos marketing has been pathetic for
years so I would recommend to their shareholders to closely watch Cognos
sales.

[Vaughn]

SQL Server 2000 developer version is available for $50.  SQL 2005
developer is a similar price but is not available until November 7.

[cognostechie]

I am tired of asking good questions so here is a dumb question.

Where do you get that from? Microsoft or any store? Like CDW?

[Vaughn]

Amazon has it.  I Googled "SQL SERVER SOFTWARE PURCHASE" and found
a couple of online sellers.

[COGNOiSe administrator]

Cognos should be very worried, but I doubt that they will be.  They have
established a nice BI customer base that is very profitable.  This is a nice
ripe target for Microsoft who have not been doing very well in the stock
market for the past few years.  (Basically since the NASDAQ has been
under performing.)  Often, Microsoft has gone after markets by buying
technology and absorbing same, along with the established customers.
They just started issuing a dividend so they likely don't want to spend
more money just now. 
SQL Server has been in a tough market for a while.  Oracle is the real Windows
database on the market.  SQL Server and MS Access have basically been considered
toy and pretend databases since their implementation dates.  While these
designations are undeserved, it is the sentiment in the IT industry.  Microsoft
has been doing a lot to counter the thoughts especially with SQL Server.
They have greatly improved SQL Server.  I used version 6.5 a lot and am
MS DBA certified in version 7.  It is pretty good, version 2000 even better
but what could Microsoft do during the design of version 2005?  The marketing
boys likely didn't want another "We are (almost) as good as Oracle" advertising
campaign.  Why not tweak a bit, bundle in some parts of Excel, Powerpoint
and maybe Work or Publisher, throw in a paper clip graphic named "Bob" and
go after the Business Intelligence market.
Like I said, Cognos should be worried, but I doubt that they will be.  Why?
They weren't worried about Axiant competing with Visual Basic, Powerbuilder
and others.  Axiant has almost no presence.  They weren't worried about
Powerhouse being supplanted and yet it very nearly has been.  As I see it,
Cognos has a good chance of keeping BI profits only if the introduction of
Microsoft causes the whole BI concept to expand.  Microsoft gets an increasing
share of an increasing market while Cognos would get a decreasing share
of the same.  Frankly, I think that Cognos marketing has been pathetic for
years so I would recommend to their shareholders to closely watch Cognos
sales.

They're here.......!

SQL Server 2005 certainly looks the goods. I have no doubt that it will mark a further acceleration of the already rationalising BI segment.

Anyone been to the SS2k5 roadshows or downloaded the CTP?

[ngalemmo]

My guess it the folks at Cognos still sleep well at night.

When DTS came out, Ascential (now IBM) and Informatica were not running for cover, neither should Cognos.

The thing is, Microsoft hasn't got serious yet.  This is the first significant release in 5 years (Oracle has had 8, 9 & 10 in that time frame).  They also bundle everything into the database.  Large users generally do not like the bundles... it ties them too closely to a specific technology.   And you really do 'get what you pay for' in software.  There is a lot of sophistication and maturity build into the Cognos products, as well as database platform independence.

BUT... If Microsoft really wants to get into the DW/BI space in large corporate environments, if they begin to develop and market separate 'high end' tools, look out.  They certainly have the resources and talent to significantly impact the market.

Will they?  Its hard to say.  The BI tools market is very small compared to what they already dominate.