
2013 Data Resolution: Avoid Architectural Cul-de-Sacs
I had an inquiry from a client using packaged software for a business system that is built on a proprietary, non-relational datastore (in this case an object-oriented DBMS.) They have an older version of the product – having “failed” with a recent upgrade attempt. The client contacted me to ask about ways to integrate this OODBMS-based […]

Amazon Redshift Disrupts DW Economics – But Nothing Comes Without Costs
At its first re:Invent conference in Late November, Amazon announced Redshift, a new managed service for data warehousing. Amazon also offered details and customer examples that made AWS’ steady inroads toward enterprise, mainstream application acceptance very visible. Redshift is made available via MPP nodes of 2TB (XL) or 16TB (8XL), running Paraccel’s high-performance columnar, compressed […]

How is big data faring in the enterprise?
With the hype sometimes seeming to reach a fever pitch, we take a look at how enterprises are really using big data along with the overall maturity of the new industry itself.

Big Data Predictions for 2012
Over the last several years, the desire to understand the surging rivers of digital data forming all around us has led inexorably towards something more meaningful than simple analysis. The rise of consumer analytics, and by that I mean analytics tools that literally anybody could and would use, could be arguably said to have begun

IBM Fills Out Netezza Lineup With High Capacity Appliance
In the months since IBM closed its Netezza acquisition, the data warehouse appliance pioneer has been busy, if the announcements at this week’s Enzee are any indication. An enthusiastic crowd – 1000 strong – heard CEO Jim Baum deliver the news: new hardware, software and partnerships.The biggest news was The Appliance Formerly Known As Cruiser, […]

PaaS Strategy: Data not Code
This is part one of a two-part series I’ve wanted to do about strategy for PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service) vendors… The PaaS market is a fascinating one. Building SaaS and Cloud apps that really take advantage of the Cloud is non-trivial. And, as I’m fond of saying, at least 70% of the software you build winds up adding […]

IBM Acquires Netezza – ADBMS Consolidation Heats Up
IBM’s bid to acquire Netezza makes it official; the insurgents are at the gates. A pioneering and leading ADBMS player, Netezza is in play for approximately $1.7 billion or 6 times earnings. When it entered the market in 2001, it catalyzed an economic and architectural shift with an appliance form factor at a dramatically different […]

6 Bullet Points of Shame for BI Endeavors
Fellow Enterprise Irregular Vinnie Merchandani’s “You Can’t Handle the Truth” post on BI is excellent. He identifies what I call 6 bullet points of shame for BI endeavors that are brilliantly on the money: 1. Most companies don’t seek out primary, real-time data. Rinse that same old data through 8 or 10 times, surface it […]

Kalido “Cascades” Continue Cadence on Designed DW Development
Kalido‘s ongoing evangelization of automation for governed, designed data warehouses has delivered fine results for the small, Massachusetts-based firm. In a recent conversation, the team shared recent results: a profitable fiscal year, with a Q4 that was up 35% and momentum that carried into the traditionally slow Q1 with 25% year over year growth. Since […]

More TDWI Notes – ParAccel Rolling On, HP Stalled, Vertica Leading Insurgents
On my second day at TDWI, I was in meetings all day – events like this are a great opportunity for analysts to catch up with many of the companies they follow at one time, and this particular one was packed with sponsors. Congrats to the folks who sell sponsorships – they had a packed […]