Marc L. Songini

Although there's big buzz among IT managers about creating real-time systems that can consolidate important business information into data warehouses for rapid analysis and reporting, a panel of users in Boston last week warned that considerable obstacles remain.

Microsoft Corp. pushed out a new release of its business portal software that aims to deliver new self-service features for employees and help companies dynamically adjust to changing conditions by using key performance indicators.

Although the market for CRM systems applications has trended toward smaller, incremental installations, industry leader Siebel Systems Inc. has closed one of its biggest deals ever with massive Hewlett-Packard Co.

The number of independent business intelligence software vendors continued to shrink this week, when Hyperion Solutions Corp. announced plans to buy query and reporting tools maker Brio Software Inc.

The business intelligence software market took a turn toward consolidation late last week with Business Objects SA's announced acquisition of rival Crystal Decisions Inc.

Customer relationship management software vendor Siebel Systems Inc. plans to cut out a layer of its operating hierarchy and reduce staff as it faces continued flat revenues.

Making a bid to appeal to reluctant, or even vehemently opposed, PeopleSoft Inc. customers, an Oracle Corp. executive reiterated the company's position that it won't kill off the PeopleSoft line of products should its hostile takeover bid for the company succeed.

In a stunning turn of events, Oracle Corp. recently said it will make an unsolicited US$5.1 billion offer to buy rival PeopleSoft Inc., a maneuver that came just four days after PeopleSoft announced a merger with J.D. Edwards & Co. that would propel it past Oracle in sales of business applications.