Those of you deciding what front-end to choose (particularly for
Analysis Services) have a look at Nigel Pendse's www.olapreport.com
You have to be a subscriber to view the particular report on Excel
add-ins.
However, it could save you much money in the long run!

And those who have viewed it, what do you think?

O2OLAP for Excel for Microsoft's Analysis Services gets complimented by OLAP
vendor's representatives.

It is pretty interesting that one of the addins in question, as listed in
the report you mention, not only attended one of O2OLAP's seminars in March
2003 under the guise of another linked consulting company, but also tried to
download O2OLAP in the last few weeks through one of their representatives /
linked companies in the market. I believe that O2OLAP is not the only OLAP
company that this has happened to and I expect some of the functionality of
O2OLAP for Excel to appear in this product soon as there is a new release
due. As a result of this conduct we are considering our position. The
problem for the companies involved, and the product, is that at the seminar
we only demonstrated about 25% of the O2OLAP for Excel and we believe we
will remain at least two years ahead in functionality. Technical questions
were asked by the relevant products representative and the answers were
given unknowingly to this competitor. However, saying this, extended and
improved techniques are now available through O2OLAP for Excel. Software
companies invest a lot of money in developing software products and
solutions and we all do this with the aim of making money and having a
competitive advantage. It is disappointing that unethical conduct goes on in
the OLAP market and I am surprised these people put their companies,
products and clients at risk.

There are definitely relationships in the current OLAP market that are not
in users interests due to the inter-relationships involved. We have noticed
people placing slanted and selective comments for and against OLAP vendors
and their products so as to influence the choice entities/people are making
in the OLAP market. This has not affected O2OLAP, but is affecting some
competitors. Users are thus not getting true independent advice. Why these
comments? Probably due to commentator personal relationships with the OLAP
companies or representatives of the OLAP companies and even probable
personal gripes as well. Do not get me wrong but there is also some very
good and independent OLAP advice on the market. I have personally been
involved in the OLAP market since 1991.

Our best advice for users is to try the software yourselves and see the wide
functionality that is available within the OLAP market. O2OLAP's choice has
been to use MS Analysis Services as the platform of choice as it provides
functionality and a development platform that enables you to create just
about any solution you want. This is despite what is detailed on some web
sites and in discussion groups.

Questions to consider when analyzing information from an advisor!

1. Do or have they earnt any commission from the advice?
2. Do or have services been provided by the advisor?
3. Is the advisor a shareholder or a director of the company?
4. Who else does the advisor work with and is there a conflict of interest
as a result?

5. Has the advisor worked with any of the people within any of the companies
they advise. This should be the group of companies

6. Does the recommended consultancy company or representatives have any
interest in the product?

7. ......... I am sure there are more considerations here!

Market commentators should fully disclose their interests and dependencies
within the OLAP market so users can evaluate the quality and independence of
information. Commissions and income are being earned that people should know
about prior to taking the advice. Users should evaluate all the products
they think are valid as some commentators do not have access to all the
products and as a result their advice is slanted.

Regards

Howard Taylor CA(SA)
Business Intelligence Manager
O2OLAP Limited

tel: +44 (0)20 8785 4811
fax: +44 (0)20 8789 1589
mobile: +44 (0)7831 332234
email: Howard.Taylor (AT) o2olap (DOT) com
web: www.o2olap.com


"John Keeley" <duvinrouge (AT) servihoo (DOT) com> wrote

I don't really understand where Howard is going with this. I would say it is
fair for product providers to understand the competition, (without of course
stealing the code). as I work with another Excel add-on product I take it
that if I downloaded a copy of O2OLAP to evaluate I would be in some way
unethical? Also which advisors is he warning of?

Jane

"Howard Taylor [O2OLAP]" <Howard.Taylor (AT) o2olap (DOT) com> wrote

Jane

Firstly, thank you for the response. In no ways are we implying that if we
allowed a download to yourselves are you or your company considered
unethical as you would most likely represent who you are and which company
you worked for. Our choice and procedures on any application, both for
product download and seminar attendee, is to decide if the applicant is
potentially a valid client or partner. Your company or OLAP provider may
have different policies to ours.

However, when someone applies for a download under the guise of another
company, but then in error leaves their business card on that application
with a personal email address indicating that they are in effect from a
competitor OLAP product company, then this is one area where O2OLAP has an
issue. By the way, the relevant person tried downloading under the guise of
various companies not just one, and not just his. This little slip prompted
us to do a little more investigating which highlighted the same competitor
OLAP product under a different guise, a consultancy company, at one of our
seminars. The seminar took place before the download incident.

With respects to understanding the functionality of a competitors
functionality, this should not be done in the manner as detailed in the
previous paragraph.

Regards

Howard Taylor CA(SA)
Business Intelligence Manager
O2OLAP Limited

tel: +44 (0)20 8785 4811
fax: +44 (0)20 8789 1589
mobile: +44 (0)7831 332234
email: Howard.Taylor (AT) o2olap (DOT) com
web: www.o2olap.com



"Jane Jackman" <jane.jackman (AT) nrjconsulting (DOT) co.uk> wrote

"John Keeley" <duvinrouge (AT) servihoo (DOT) com> wrote

I can heartily recommend Nigel's report. He knows the industry inside out.
He is very keen on Excel as a client for visualisation which we agree is an
application most users who would look at cubes would have some expertise in.

I am interested in what Nigel makes of MSAS in Yukon.

Regards,

Jane