PLEASANTON, Calif. -
June 19, 2009 - Ventana Research today introduces its 2009 Value Index
for Business Intelligence, the second of a new category of quantified,
research-based Indexes. This new Value Index provides research-based
metrics that will enable organizations to ascertain the value to them
of existing and future business intelligence technologies, systems and
tools for business and IT in a simple and easy-to-use manner. Using the
Value Index, businesses will be able to meet the challenge of
evaluating vendors and their products and making choices based on an
understanding of how well the offerings meet their needs.

The
Value Index is the result of more than a decade of analysis of
technology suppliers' products. The methodology used to produce the
Value Index for Business Intelligence evaluates in detail aspects of
product functionality and suitability-to-task as well as the
effectiveness of vendor support for the buying process and customer
assurance. The Index represents the value offered by a vendor and its
products, using both a clear and accessible graphic representation in
thermometer form and a precise numerical index. Those technology
vendors earning the highest Hot Vendor classification are those that
Ventana Research certifies best represent buyer value based on a
thorough evaluation and audit - that is, based on research and
verifiable facts. The Value Index is not just a selection of "cool"
products, and rather than merely representing a vendor on a
four-quadrant chart, the Index provides a specific thermometer reading
with a series of component metrics for a technology buyer to consider.
Organizations can use the Value Index by determining their priorities
and then consulting the Index to determine which vendors best meet
those needs.

The 2009 Value Index for Business
Intelligence indicates that the company delivering the highest value on
an overall weighted evaluation basis is Information Builders, which
earned the "Hot Vendor" rating, followed by IBM Cognos Software, Infor,
Softscape and arcplan, all of which earned the "Warm" rating. Drilling
down, the Value Index evaluation of product functionality using the
Ventana Research Business Intelligence methodology identified (in
order) Information Builders, Infor, IBM Cognos Software, Actuate,
Symphony-Metreo, Microsoft and arcplan as Hot Vendors in this category.

"We
are proud to unveil the next in our ongoing series of Ventana Research
Indexes," said Mark Smith, CEO and executive vice president of Ventana
Research. "This new research-based Value Index on Business Intelligence
is representative of the quality of our research. It also demonstrates
both our ability and our determination to bring facts to buyers in a
fair and balanced manner through a significant analysis and review of
vendors and products. We congratulate all the participating vendors for
the confidence they showed in their products in being willing to
subject them to our scrutiny where others chose to avoid it." Smith
added, "Many of the reviews offered by other analyst firms lack the
breadth and depth of our Value Index, and as a result many
organizations are being led astray, failing to consider carefully
product details, vendor support and their own requirements in their
assessment of existing and potential suppliers."

This
new research-based undertaking is neither sponsored nor influenced by
technology vendors and is conducted in pursuit of Ventana Research's
mission to provide value to business and IT through benchmark
assessment, workshops and advisory services. Ventana Research's goal is
to guide organizations to optimal efficiency in their use of technology
investments for business and IT. To learn more about the Value Index
for Business Intelligence, please visit http://www.ventanaresearch.com/valueindex.

About Ventana Research
Ventana Research is the leading benchmark research and advisory
services firm. We provide expert guidance to help organizations manage
and optimize performance - to become not only more efficient but more
effective. Our unparalleled insights and best practices guidance are
based on our rigorous research-based benchmarking indexes of people,
processes, information and technology across business and IT functions
worldwide. The combination we offer of benchmark research, rigorous
market coverage and in-depth knowledge of hundreds of technology
providers means we can deliver business and technology education and
expertise to our clients where and when needed. The Ventana Research
Indexes - the Value Index and the Benchmark Index family -have
redefined the research industry by providing accessible, easy-to-use
research-based business and technology guidance to businesses. Ventana
Research provides the most comprehensive analyst coverage in the
industry; more than 2.5 million business and IT professionals through
our community of 85,000 professionals and network of media and
association partners around the world benefit from Ventana Research's
insights. Ventana Research focuses on business and technology trends
and best practices that maximize organizations' potential to perform
while reducing the time, cost and risk and still achieve optimal
outcomes. To learn how Ventana Research advances the maturity of
organizations use of information and technology through benchmark
research, market indexes, education and advisory services, and also
where to find us on Facebook or LinkedIn or how to follow us on Twitter
or BusinessWeek's BusinessExchange, visit www.ventanaresearch.com.