Data collection is nowadays an indispensable part of business in every industry. Virtually all companies, including the smallest ones, have their own data collection systems. An extensive set of platforms and solutions is used – from the simplest records in spreadsheets up to advanced ERP systems. Progressing globalization, increasing unpredictability of markets as well as numerous and complex relations between enterprises dramatically increased the volume of the data collected. However, its efficient and rapid acquisition also does not ensure a success.

There is a strong link here to my Vision vs Pragmatism article. In this I argued that Vision and Pragmatism are both essential for the success of any project, be that related to change, to IT, and certainly when using IT to drive change. Unsurprisingly, similar comments apply to whether a holistic or incremental approach to BI is the superior route. However, in this case, I will come down more firmly on the side of one of the options

The current challenging economic situation both decreases the willingness of many companies to invest, while at the same time increases the need to capture and analyse data in order to stay competitive.

The high tech Titans - IBM (IBM), Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), Oracle (ORCL), Microsoft (MSFT), SAP (SAP) and EMC (EMC) – have been buying software firms at an amazing pace over the last half decade. According to BusinessWeek the tally is: Oracle $30 billion for 56 companies, Microsoft 79 companies, IBM 60 companies, EMC 40, and HPQ 34. Many of these acquisitions have been “tuck-ins” where the Titans have added the purchased company’s product capabilities into their product portfolio. This is a time honored practice the Titans and their smaller brethren, have used to expand beyond organic growth and tap the innovative ideas of entrepreneurs.