Analysis & Commentary:

INTERVIEW WITH EYNAV AZARYA, PANORAMA SOFTWARE SYSTEMS COO
by Tim Staub, managing editor

DSstar: What are the challenges facing the enterprise BI to date?

AZARYA: Until mid-2001, enterprises have been busy completing the installation and deployment of new large enterprise applications, such as new ERP systems, CRM etc. Now that these projects are complete, the enterprise CIO must provide management with access and insight into the data gathered in these new corporate databases. The challenge is to provide an effective and dynamic environment that can exploit the hidden treasures within the new and updated databases. Plus, the Internet provides a unique opportunity for the enterprises to open up their BI information to whole new sets of users: either internal, extranet or Internet. We are talking about BI for the masses with the related issues of security, scalability and costs. Now is the time for the enterprise to increase its returns on existing IT assets with limited investment and within short timeframes.

DSstar: What is Panorama Software's message?

AZARYA: To lead the enterprise Web-based BI with the best analytical solutions that are seamless across the desktop and across the Web. Our solutions are designed to empower management and employees in their decision making process, helping to foster the "information democracy" that provides each management level within the organization with the right data, at the right time, and with the right tools to help them exploit the data in the ways that they want to. The Panorama NovaView e-BI solution is the most cost-effective and fast-deployment solution available in the market today.

DSstar: What is unique in Panorama's new product offering?

AZARYA: With its third generation release of NovaView, Panorama has created one of the most powerful and flexible BI query and analysis tools available. Panorama NovaView was designed to make the most of the Microsoft data warehouse platform: SQL Server 2000 and Analysis Services. No other front-end tool provides such rich functionality at lightening-speed performance. The combination of Microsoft Analysis Services and Panorama NovaView is an excellent platform for business reporting, analysis and customer relationship management applications. With the addition of NovaView Web, Panorama has moved to the forefront of OLAP and business intelligence solutions providers. Panorama NovaView e-BI is a powerful suite of integrated client and Web-based OLAP query products. All products meet the needs of the most demanding business analyst and, within the same UI, enable easy access to the resulting information in a way that is understandable for executives and managers.

DSstar: How do you address security issues? And how does your product fit into the Enterprise Portal scene?

AZARYA: Panorama NovaView e-BI addresses the concerns of IT professionals about supporting large numbers of LAN-based desktop applications while maintaining security for confidential data. Regarding Enterprise Portals: Panorama completely rewrote NovaView in a component object model and moved much of the NovaView functionality to thin-client Web applications -- with security down to the cell level. The component object model is an ideal vehicle to deliver BI through Panorama within the Enterprise Portal.

DSstar: What about the architecture?

AZARYA: The Panorama Web solution is a multi-tier architecture. The operational data source can be any database: Oracle, Db2, Informix, Sybase, and SQL Server. The data warehouse tier contains the Microsoft OLAP engine and cubes as well as any data warehouse / data mart (again the emphasis is on ANY data warehouse). The client tools reside either on the LAN or on the Web browser and communicate either directly with the OLAP cubes or, in the case of the browser-based thin clients, through the Panorama Web Server. The Panorama Administrator provides access control and security.

DSstar: What are current your development plans?

AZARYA: Panorama is in the process of developing, either directly or with partners, industry-specific BI applications. We cooperate with Microsoft's new BI applications platform and have already announced our first offerings in this field.

DSstar: What about .NET?

AZARYA: Panorama was always a true believer in the Microsoft technology. We are already in the process of re-developing our new product line in .NET architecture.

DSstar: And Web Services?

AZARYA: Web Services will enable users to receive alerts and critical information anywhere and on any platform. Web Services will open the decision support process to all the parties that are involved, whether internal or external to the organization. The process will be transparent and collaborative. Panorama will produce reports in a variety of formats and these will be shareable to users in various applications…

DSstar: Do you offer real-time OLAP?

AZARYA: Panorama provides real-time access to Key Performance Indicators in order to improve the speed and effectiveness of business operations. Panorama NovaView e-BI provides a technology platform that can be integrated in to the enterprise information portal and updated regularly to provide data in an almost real-time basis.

DSstar: Microsoft and Panorama -- that relationship has been going on for quite a long time?

AZARYA: Microsoft acquired Panorama's technology in 1996. This technology formed the basis for Microsoft's entry into the OLAP field first with OLAP Services in SQL Server 7 and later with Analysis Services in SQL Server 2000. Panorama and Microsoft has been cooperating ever since. Panorama helped Microsoft grow in the BI market since the first release of OLAP Services in late 1998. With Panorama's new e-BI offering this relationship has grown stronger and stronger. Panorama always finds ways not only to exploit all of the riches of Microsoft technology but also to enrich them with additional functionality and capabilities.

DSstar: What about Data Analyzer? Is it a competitor to NovaView?

AZARYA: Data Analyzer is a very interesting feature that we see as complementary to NovaView and not as a competitor. Panorama provides integration with Data Analyzer, and sees this feature as an advantage to working within the Microsoft-oriented BI solution field. Panorama concentrates on the solutions and applications side while Microsoft concentrates on the server and infrastructure side. Data Analyzer is similar to Data mining -- it can provide an exceptional service to few, very advanced users within the organization. It is not meant for enterprise-wide deployment.

DSstar: How does Panorama Software Systems manage to compete with the bigger players in the BI field?

AZARYA: Panorama has always kept a leading technological edge over its competitors. Panorama has been active in the BI field since 1994, and since 1995 has time and again delivered solutions that were far advanced technology-wise, application-wise and UI-wise than those of her much more powerful competitors. Our inventiveness and the rare quality of our solutions attracted Microsoft in 1996 and continue to attract our partners and customers worldwide.

About Eynav Azarya

Eynav Azarya (Navi) has a dual role in Panorama: Chief Operating Officer and Strategic Alliances manager. Under the one hat he oversees the general operations of the company. Under the other he manages the development and expansion of Panorama's international partners program. Eynav has successfully launched Panorama's International Partners Program less than a year ago, and over 50 partners have signed in ever since. Prior to joining Panorama, Eynav was the Chief Operating officer of BrowseUp Inc. In 1999 Eynav was a campaign manager for the Israeli Labor Party which efforts successfully brought Prime Minister Ehud Barak to office. Eynav also served as the CEO of the International Center for Peace in the Middle East. In 1998 Eynav worked as a project manager and as a consultant in the industrial sector. Eynav is about to complete his B. Sc degree in Software Engineering and Industrial Engineering from the Academic College for Engineering in cooperation with the Tel Aviv University. Mr. Azarya has an in-depth knowledge of Internet technologies, Web-based architecture and manufacturing systems.

Contact Panorama Software Systems Ltd, Tal Ron, tal@pansw.com.