Information Builders Upgrades Performance Management Software

Information Builders released a new version of its performance management software Thursday. Enhancements include features related to predictive analysis and forecasting, alert management, and business-process management.

Performance management is a new area for business intelligence software vendors including Information Builders (IBI), Cognos, and Hyperion. Performance management refers to the use of data analysis and business scorecard applications to set goals for a business and then measure progress toward meeting those goals. While most vendors have concentrated on financial performance management, IBI has focused more on operational performance management and linking business strategy to operations.

The WebFocus Performance Management Framework is based on IBI's core WebFocus business intelligence platform and uses that tool to deliver performance management information to users through reports and dashboards. The product also uses IBI's iWay connectivity software to tap into multiple data sources, including real-time data feeds from applications and other operational systems.

With the new release, users can apply predictive analysis to performance metrics and predict future achievement levels based on historical patterns. The software also connects with WebFocus ReportCaster to alert users when performance metrics fall outside of acceptable parameters. And the software helps companies align corporate objectives or goals to core business processes and link those processes to documents such as operational reports.

The new software also lets users analyze two performance metrics to determine possible cause-and-effect relationships and link business scorecards hierarchically for analyzing performance up and down an organization. And companies can make performance management dashboards available to executives, managers, and employees throughout a company and even to people outside the organization.

The new product is available now with a $100,000 starting price, which includes licenses for 100 users and 20 days of implementation services. Not included are the WebFocus Server, ReportCaster, and administrative services tools needed to run the performance management software.