"The first step in building a high performance organization is to make sure that you can trust your data," said John Schwarz, CEO of Business Objects. "A complete EIM approach will ensure that every decision maker - from the boardroom to the shop floor - is using correct, consistent data. Business Objects has developed a full set of EIM solutions that are integrated with BusinessObjects™ XI, the industry's most advanced and complete BI solution. Our EIM offerings will help improve customers' performance, enable standardization on a single business intelligence implementation, and ensure relevant and timely information is delivered to business users. Our integrated enterprise information management solution sets Business Objects apart from other business intelligence providers, and we expect it to play an important role in our future growth plans."

"WHSmith News, the UK's largest magazine and newspaper wholesaler, is the industry leading provider of market and operational information for publishers, distributors and retailers. This could not have been achieved without our EIM solutions from Business Objects which provide trustworthy data for our BI deployments," said Richard Webb, IS Director, WHSmith News. "We operate a highly complex and fast moving business, handling more than 50 million newspapers and magazines every week for distribution to 22,000 retailers. EIM enables us to consolidate data from multiple systems including SAP, mechanised warehouse systems and external EPOS data to provide the entire supply chain with fast access to a single and accurate view of information. This trusted insight has enabled WHSmith News to streamline processes, as a result we have reduced the cost of product shrinkage by 75 percent."

One of the new tools, Data Federator XI, creates a virtual, integrated view of disparate data sources in real time, making it easier for users to examine sources of operational data, Business Objects said. The company already offers Data Integrator XI, a tool for physically integrating such data on a batch basis by extracting it from the original data sources, transforming it and loading it into a data warehouse.The other new tool, metadata Manager XI, allows systems administrators to analyze metadata collected from sources including business intelligence systems and relational databases, in order to explore data relationships and identify business rules. Such functions can be useful in compliance activities, as they can help managers identify the source and reliability of information, the company said.Both products are now generally available, Business Objects said.

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Prashanth Rai