Briefs

By Hannah Smalltree, 15 Feb 2007 | SearchDataManagement.com

In a business world filled with uncertainty and risk, wouldn't it be nice to be able to predict the future?

Hyperion Solutions Corp. hopes to get its customers a little closer to that impossible dream with its latest acquisition. The Santa Clara, Calif.-based business intelligence (BI) and corporate performance management (CPM) vendor recently agreed to acquire Denver-based Decisioneering Inc., which makes predictive analytics software that can help forecast the future -- even without historical data, according to Ivo Bauermann, director of product marketing with Hyperion.

Instead, Decisioneering's Crystal Ball software uses advanced modeling and simulation techniques that enable companies to better assess risk in uncertain situations -- such as launching a new product or starting a new project. Hyperion's existing software platform has some predictive analytics features now, Bauermann said, but those are based on current or "what is" scenario analysis and historical regression. The Crystal Ball software has more sophisticated "what if" analysis capabilities, enabling companies to set ranges of possible outcomes and assumptions, compare results, and model potential risks of business decisions.

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