Take a look at the Panorama…

SQL Server

Microsoft has always been good at acquiring software. In 1996, Microsoft entered into the Business Intelligence arena by buying OLAP technology from Panorama software. This became SQL Server Analysis Services and was introduced in SQL 7.0. Panorama is still going and will be helping out with Project Gemini, due in 2010 as part of SQL Server 2008 R2.

Project Gemini is the name of the project for the new Office 2010 integration with SQL Server 2008 R2. Recent announcements have Panorama software forming a tighter partnership again with Microsoft, regarding this project. Panorama’s existing BI client tool, NovaView, already serves as a sophisticated BI client tool.

When Microsoft acquired ProClarity and produced PerformancePoint Server 2007, it seemed that Panorama’s main competitor had won over and the writing was on the wall. But things have not panned out as many had predicted, and PPS 2007 has been rolled into Sharepoint Services Enterprise. Panorama now has the opportunity of getting back in with Microsoft with Project Gemini, providing enhancements to the Excel front-end.

End users like the Excel interface, since it is based on the product they know and love. Let’s face it, they know more about Excel than we do, and it’s just the data is coming directly from the OLAP cube and not from a spreadsheet. So enhancing this in R2 makes sense.

Panorama will continue to enhance its own software, but will have the inside scoop on the latest versions of Office 2010 and SQL Server 2008 R2, as it assists Microsoft in its delivery. This follows the current trend of acquiring technology rather than entire companies. It keeps the partner company lean and nimble, provides Microsoft with the technology it needs and allows follow-on “feeder” business for Panorama. Microsoft provided this win-win strategy with Dundas and SSRS 2008.

Looks a nice view of the future from here.

Cheers
Brian

• Microsoft
• analysis services
• panorama
• ProClarity
• R2
• SQL Server
• SQL Server 2008
• ssas