Study notes 11.5% growth AN IDC STUDY in partnership with InfoWorld magazine, examining the BI tools market between 2004 to 2006, found that BI tools remained an attractive market for software vendors and one of the top investment priorities for end-user organisations. The market grew 11.5% to reach $6.25 billion in worldwide software revenue. According to the survey, the market is facing continued strong demand for a variety of tools. "Executive support for business intelligence initiatives is extremely high, and more companies are placing high priorities on their business intelligence strategies over the short and long term," said Brian McDonough, research man- ager for business analytics software at IDC. As in other steadily maturing markets, the share of the top 10 BI tools vendors continued to increase with Business Objects, SAS, Cognos, Microsoft and Hyperion making up the top five. IDC expects acceleration in the BI tools market to start in 2009 - what remains to be seen is whether it will be manifested in revenue to software vendors, or simply through the broader reach of BI. Real-time reporting, high availability, and integration with business processes are all expected to become paramount as BI is deployed outside its traditional audience in the finance department and is extended to operational users.

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