ISG Software Research Analyst Perspectives (30)

Explore Graph Databases for Better Relationships

Posted by Matt Aslett on 01 March 2023

I have previously written about the functional evolution and emerging use cases for NoSQL databases, a category of non-relational databases that first emerged 15 or so years ago and are now well established as potential alternatives to relational databases. NoSQL is a term that is used to describe a variety of databases that fall into four primary functional categories: key-value stores, wide... Read More

Topics: Data

More Effective Contingency Planning Improves Agility

Posted by Robert Kugel on 28 February 2023

We live in a time of uncertainty, not unpredictability. Managing an organization in uncertain times is always hard, but tools are available to improve the odds for success by making it easier and faster to plan for contingencies and scenarios. Software makes it possible to quickly consider the impact of a range of events or assumptions and devise a set of plans to deal with them. Dedicated... Read More

Topics: Office of Finance, Data Management, Business Planning, AI and Machine Learning

Promethium Provides Data Fabric and Self-Service for Speed to Insights

Posted by Matt Aslett on 22 February 2023

The market for data and analytics products is constantly evolving, with the emergence of new approaches to data persistence, data processing and analytics. This enables organizations to constantly adapt data analytics architecture in response to emerging functional capabilities and business requirements. It can, however, also be a challenge. Investments in data platforms cannot be constantly... Read More

Topics: Data Governance, Data Management, Data, data operations

Cloud ERP is the Path Forward for Manufacturing and Product Companies

Posted by Robert Kugel on 22 February 2023

The cloud has come to dominate many business software categories, but until recently, enterprise resource planning for manufacturing and product-focused organizations has been a notable laggard. Cloud-based systems can be less costly to operate, perform better, be more secure and shift maintenance and update chores from the IT department to the vendor, freeing IT teams to concentrate on more... Read More

Topics: Office of Finance, Operations & Supply Chain, Enterprise Resource Planning, ERP and Continuous Accounting, continuous supply chain

Advanced Analytics Enable More Informed Decision-Making

Posted by David Menninger on 16 February 2023

I’ve previously written about the analytics continuum, which spans a range of capabilities including reporting, visualization, planning, real-time processes, natural language processing, artificial intelligence and machine learning. I’ve also written about the analysis that goes into making intelligent decisions with decision intelligence. In this perspective, I’d like to focus on one end of the... Read More

Topics: Analytics, Digital Technology, Analytics and Data, AI and Machine Learning

Soda Provides Collaborative Approach to Data Observability

Posted by Matt Aslett on 16 February 2023

Data observability was a hot topic in 2022 and looks likely to be a continued area of focus for innovation in 2023 and beyond. As I have previously described, data observability software is designed to automate the monitoring of data platforms and data pipelines, as well as the detection and remediation of data quality and data reliability issues. There has been a Cambrian explosion of data... Read More

Topics: Cloud Computing, Data Management, Data, Digital Technology, data operations, Analytics and Data

Continuous Compensation Management Requires the Right Technology

Posted by ISG Research on 15 February 2023

Compensation management is the practice of strategically aligning worker pay with job roles, responsibilities and organizational objectives. It involves setting pay levels to ensure employees are adequately rewarded for their work while considering factors such as external economic trends, internal equity, budget constraints, tax regulations and compliance requirements. Historically,... Read More

Topics: Human Capital Management, Total Compensation Management

Data-Intensive Applications Need Real-Time Analytic Processing

Posted by Matt Aslett on 14 February 2023

I have written about the increased demand for data-intensive operational applications infused with the results of analytic processes, such as personalization and artificial intelligence-driven recommendations. I previously described the use of hybrid data processing to enable analytics on application data within operational data platforms. As is often the case in the data platforms sector,... Read More

Topics: Cloud Computing, Data, Digital Technology, analytic data platforms, Analytics and Data

insightsoftware Enables a Predictive and Effective Finance Department

Posted by Robert Kugel on 14 February 2023

insightsoftware provides applications for finance departments and other business users in midsize and larger organizations, offering a broad range of functions including analysis, internal and regulatory reporting, planning, consolidation, tax provision and treasury. The software brings together applications that enable business users to maximize data collected in existing systems and streamline... Read More

Topics: Office of Finance, embedded analytics, Business Intelligence, Business Planning, Financial Performance Management, ERP and Continuous Accounting

Trintech Streamlines a Transformed Record-to-Report

Posted by Robert Kugel on 09 February 2023

Trintech provides finance departments in midsize and larger organizations with software to accelerate their accounting close processes. This record-to-report (R2R) cycle is complex because it involves the coordination of numerous people, many systems and multiple sources of data. There are iterative portions that involve cycles of reviews and multiple levels of approvals. These include... Read More

Topics: Office of Finance, Financial Performance Management, ERP and Continuous Accounting

Tamr Directs Data Integrity

Posted by Matt Aslett on 08 February 2023

Organizations across various industries collect multiple types of data from disparate systems to answer key business questions and deliver personalized experiences for customers. The expanding volume of data increases complexity, and data management becomes a challenge if the process is manual and rules-based. There can be numerous siloed, incomplete and outdated data sources that result in... Read More

Topics: Data Governance, Data Management, Data, data operations, analytic data platforms

Intercompany Financial Management for Accountability and Accounting

Posted by Robert Kugel on 07 February 2023

Ventana Research coined the term intercompany financial management (IFM) to define a discipline for structuring and handling transactions within a corporation and between its legal entities designed to maximize staff efficiency and accounting accuracy while optimizing tax exposure, minimizing tax leakage and ensuring consistent tax and regulatory compliance. Technology has advanced to a point... Read More

Topics: Office of Finance, ERP and Continuous Accounting

IoT Will Enhance Customer Experiences with Field Service

Posted by Keith Dawson on 02 February 2023

The Internet of Things describes machines and objects that are enhanced with sensors and communication connections, enabling them to report on their operational status, including outages, faults or threshold conditions that require attention. The technology has gradually made its way into business and consumer systems over the past decade. Today, these connected devices are playing an important... Read More

Topics: Customer Experience

The Case for Continuous Performance Management

Posted by ISG Research on 01 February 2023

In January of 2020, I was head of product innovation for a newly launched product in the human capital management technology space, targeting high-volume hiring. We had big ambitions for that year, tied to product development and sales, all documented during our annual goal-setting and performance review process. And then the pandemic hit, and everything changed overnight. Everything, that is,... Read More

Topics: Human Capital Management, Talent Management

SnapLogic Promotes Intelligent Automation for All

Posted by Matt Aslett on 31 January 2023

Despite the emphasis on organizations being more data-driven and making an increasing proportion of business decisions based on data and analytics, it remains the case that some of the most fundamental questions about an organization are difficult to answer using data and analytics. Ostensibly simple questions such as, “how many customers does the organization have?” can be fiendishly difficult... Read More

Topics: Cloud Computing, Data Management, Data, data operations, Analytics and Data, AI and Machine Learning

FinancialForce Sharpens Customer Focus in Services Businesses

Posted by Robert Kugel on 31 January 2023

FinancialForce offers cloud-based ERP and professional services automation (PSA) software. The company targets midsize and larger services companies, especially those that provide professional services (such as consultants or field service organizations) as well as those that offer subscription-based or recurring revenue services and products. FinancialForce’s key point of differentiation is that... Read More

Topics: Office of Finance, Business Planning, Digital Commerce, ERP and Continuous Accounting, Subscription Management

HCM Market Agenda: A Focus on Experience and Engagement

Posted by ISG Research on 26 January 2023

Ventana Research recently announced its 2023 Market Agenda for Human Capital Management, continuing the guidance we’ve offered for two decades to help organizations derive maximum potential from workforce- and people-related technology investments and initiatives. In crafting this Market Agenda, we focused on three critical themes top-of-mind for both HCM vendors and buyers: Organizational... Read More

Topics: Human Capital Management, Employee Engagement, Learning Management, Talent Management, Workforce Management, Payroll Management, Total Compensation Management, employee experience

Analytic Data Platforms Ranked and Rated for 2023

Posted by Matt Aslett on 26 January 2023

I am happy to share insights from our latest Ventana Research Value Index research, which assesses how well vendors’ offerings meet buyers’ requirements. The 2023 Analytic Data Platforms Value Index is the distillation of a year of market and product research by Ventana Research. Drawing on our Benchmark Research, we apply a structured methodology built on evaluation categories that reflect... Read More

Topics: Cloud Computing, Data, Digital Technology, analytic data platforms, Analytics and Data

The 2023 Value Index for Customer Experience Management: Vendor and Product Ratings

Posted by Keith Dawson on 25 January 2023

I am happy to share insights gleaned from our latest Value Index research, an assessment of how well vendors’ offerings meet buyers’ requirements. The 2023 Ventana Research Value Index: Customer Experience Management is the distillation of a year of market and product research by Ventana Research. Drawing on our Benchmark Research, we apply a structured methodology built on evaluation categories... Read More

Topics: Customer Experience, Voice of the Customer, Contact Center, Product Information Management, Digital Commerce, Subscription Management, agent management

Digital Business Market Agenda for 2023: Effectiveness and Engagement

Posted by Mark Smith on 25 January 2023

With Ventana Research’s 2023 Market Agenda, we continue the guidance we’ve offered for two decades to help organizations derive maximum value from digital business technology investments. Through our market research and expertise, we identify trends and best practices and share insights on how to achieve technological effectiveness, particularly in key processes and systems to engage the... Read More

Topics: Performance Management, Business Continuity, Digital transformation, Experience Management, Digital Communications, Sustainability and ESG