Biz-Software War Escalates
By Anne Howland
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Excerpted from Ottawa Sun
Business Objects is taking direct aim at Ottawa's Cognos, its competitor in the business intelligence software market, by placing three large ads at the Ottawa International Airport.
Tracy Eiler, vice-president of corporate communications for Business Objects, said the company is using the ads, which went up Sunday night at the airport, to "educate customers on their business intelligence (BI) choices."
"We view this as an education campaign," she said. "Cognos has been promoting a myth that they are integrated for far too long. In addition, Cognos lacks data integration capabilities, making the data it produces untrustworthy. We just want to make sure that companies get the best BI for their dollar."
One ad shows a business person in an office, and reads, "Meet the CEO of cubicle 36, building 10. His company didn't wait for an integrated platform from Cognos."
"To be honest, we're not surprised," said Sean Reid, senior manager of corporate communications at Cognos. "It shows the difference between our two companies. We focus on building great products. They focus on desperation marketing. I'm sure their clients are wondering why money they could have spent on much-needed customer service is instead going toward silly tactics like this."
Cognos and Business Objects have a long history as rivals, with both companies competing to be market leader. In 2002, the firms settled a patent lawsuit in which Business Objects, based in France, claimed Cognos' Impromptu software infringed on its U.S. patent.
Cognos did not admit guilt in the $24-million settlement.
