Local software developer idu Software has entered into an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) agreement with US-based QlikTech to embed QlikView functionality within budgeting, forecasting and reporting application idu-Concept. Idu’s customers now have access to this highly popular business intelligence (BI) software as part of idu-Concept.
“Our approach has always been to develop financial software that’s easy for non-financial managers to use,” says idu Software’s MD Kevin Phillips. “Most businesses today expect their cost centre managers to take responsibility for their budgets, but that can’t happen unless you give people appropriate tools. The tools not only have to be simple to use, they must provide genuinely useful information and insights.”
This meshes perfectly with QlikView’s intuitive approach to analysing information, says Phillips. “idu Software allows people to create, track and manage their budgets easily, but we’ve had many requests to include an analysis tool,” he says. “Once they have the data at their fingertips, people are always thinking of new questions to ask about it. QlikView, with its simple interface and its very powerful analysis abilities, is the ideal complement.”
Phillips says that the launch of the new idu-Analytics product generated tremendous interest at an idu Software user conference in March. “This confirms our belief that harnessing the power and simplicity of the QlikView engine will deliver the functionality that our customers have been asking for.”
QlikView South Africa MD Davide Hanan says that unlike older BI tools which can only present information in the form of a static report, QlikView’s unique in-memory processing allows users to view the data in any way they wish. “The human brain works by association, not in neat hierarchies,” he says. “QlikView works the way people think. The difference between using QlikView versus any other BI tool is like the difference between surfing the web and reading an encyclopaedia.”
In an IDC survey conducted last year, 96% of QlikView customers said they were satisfied with their BI implementations. Customers also experienced a 16% increase in revenue, 23% increase in cash flow and a 34% increase in productivity — at an average 53% of the total cost of ownership of other solutions.
“The launch of the idu-Analytics module fast-tracks QlikView’s entry into the budgeting and forecasting space where idu already has a significant presence,” says Hanan. “This agreement offers benefit to both parties.”
“QlikView and idu-Concept have several synergies and similarities with respect to ease of use, speed of delivery and competitive pricing models,” says Phillips. “This OEM relationship is a very natural fit for both of us, which should deliver significant benefits to our clients.”
