Analyst Perspectives


Search within Analyst Perspectives blog:

TopBar Analyst Perspectives BottomBar

Why Data Software Providers Are Embracing Model Context Protocol

Posted by Matt Aslett on 19 November 2025
I have written several times this year about Model Context Protocol (MCP) and its importance in enabling agentic artificial intelligence (AI) use cases. Numerous data platform, data management, data operations and real-time data software providers have added support for MCP to their products in recent months. MCP has become so ubiquitous, in fact, that it is easy to forget the protocol was only... Read More

Topics: Governance, Operations, Analytics, Data Platforms, Generative AI, Data Intelligence, AI & Technologies, AI and Machine Learning, Streaming & Events

Tokenizing Working Capital to Improve Performance and Efficiency

Posted by Robert Kugel on 13 November 2025
Tokenization is an emerging topic for business software providers. Tokenization is the process of representing something valuable or complex with a simple computer-readable substitute to enhance security or improve the efficiency and usability of a system. Tokens are already widely used in commerce. It’s now common for sensitive data used in a transaction, such as a bank account number or credit... Read More

Topics: Governance, Office of Finance, Operations, Analytics, ERP and Continuous Accounting, digital finance, Procure-to-Pay, Generative AI, AI and Machine Learning, Order-to-Cash, Business & Technologies

The Evolving Data Product Platform Landscape

Posted by Matt Aslett on 23 September 2025
The emergence of natural language analytics interfaces driven by generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) models has accelerated enterprise initiatives to enable data democratization—making data available to business decision-makers without the need to train them to use business intelligence (BI) tools. It has also heightened the need for agreed semantic models and business metrics, as well as... Read More

Topics: Operations, Data Intelligence, AI & Technologies

Nextdata Provides a Platform for Distributed Data

Posted by Matt Aslett on 11 September 2025
I previously described data mesh as a cultural and organizational approach to distributed data ownership, access and governance, rather than a product that could be acquired or even a technical architecture that could be built. While that remains true, many data management software providers have adapted their products in recent years to address the four key principles of data mesh:... Read More

Topics: Operations, Data Intelligence, AI & Technologies

IBM Enhances Data Intelligence and Data Integration

Posted by Matt Aslett on 02 September 2025
I previously wrote about IBM’s strategy of consolidating analytics, data and artificial intelligence (AI) functionality from various products under its watsonx brand, which was launched in 2023 to address the AI development life cycle, as well as data storage processing and AI governance. The company has added two more offerings to its watsonx portfolio in recent months, combining established... Read More

Topics: Governance, Operations, Analytics, Data Platforms, Data Intelligence, AI & Technologies, AI and Machine Learning

Approaches to Data as a Business Discipline for AI

Posted by Matt Aslett on 27 August 2025
The IT department of any enterprise is integral to implementing and managing the execution of its data objectives, just as the finance department is integral to implementing and managing financial objectives. Few enterprises would allow the finance department complete autonomy to define financial strategies; however, too many enterprises allow the IT department to define data strategies. Treating... Read More

Topics: Governance, Operations, Analytics, Data Intelligence, AI & Technologies, AI and Machine Learning

IT Is at the Heart of the AI-Enabled Economy

Posted by Jeff Orr on 26 August 2025
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept but a current reality, and enterprise leaders are recognizing its profound impact on the IT sector. The development and deployment of AI-driven applications across various industries hinge on a robust IT infrastructure and skilled expertise. The words of industry leaders reinforce this sentiment: Amazon's CEO Andy Jassy indicates that... Read More

Topics: GRC, Operations, Learning Management, Business Planning, Cybersecurity, Generative AI, IT & Technologies, AI and Machine Learning, IT Management, Skills Gap, Bias, Risk Management

Intelligent Automation: ServiceNow’s AI Agent Workflows at Knowledge ’25

Posted by Jeff Orr on 19 August 2025
As we stand precariously at the intersection of technology and business strategy, ServiceNow’s Knowledge ’25 conference unveiled “the art of the possible” for what service automation can mean in our efficiency-seeking world. ServiceNow has long been a champion of transforming the mundane into the extraordinary, and in the era of AI, it aims to harness the potential of intelligent automation. The... Read More

Topics: Operations, Generative AI, Intelligent Automation, IT & Technologies, AgenticAI, IT Management, ADM & DevOps, Platforms, Workflow, Control Tower

Boomi Enables Data Management and Agentic AI

Posted by Matt Aslett on 03 July 2025
One of the key questions that will need to be solved if agentic artificial intelligence is to fulfill its potential is which technologies and providers will serve the role of orchestrating communication and integration between the various models, applications and data repositories involved. ISG Research defines agentic AI as software designed to execute business processes through autonomous... Read More

Topics: Governance, Operations, AI, Generative AI, Data Intelligence, AI & Technologies, AI and Machine Learning

The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Data Management

Posted by Matt Aslett on 01 July 2025
If a single phrase could sum up the big data craze of a dozen or so years ago, it would be “more data beats better algorithms.” Attributed to Google research director Peter Norvig, the quote effectively summarized a research paper Norvig jointly authored called The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Data and was embraced by big data enthusiasts as articulating the prevalent thinking that enterprises... Read More

Topics: Operations, AI, Data Intelligence, AI & Technologies, AI and Machine Learning

Data Lakehouses Enable Data as a Product

Posted by Matt Aslett on 17 June 2025
I have previously described how data as a product was initially closely aligned with data mesh, a cultural and organizational approach to distributed data processing. As a result of data mesh’s association with distributed data, many assumed that the concept was diametrically opposed to the data lake, which offered a platform for combining large volumes of data from multiple data sources. That... Read More

Topics: Operations, Data Platforms, Data Intelligence, AI & Technologies

The Symbiotic Relationship Between Data Governance and AI

Posted by Matt Aslett on 14 May 2025
Data governance has always been a critical part of the data and analytics landscape. However, for many years, it was seen as a preventive function to limit access to data and ensure compliance with security and data privacy requirements. To fulfill today’s data-driven agendas, many enterprises need an evolved perspective on data governance. The development of new applications driven by artificial... Read More

Topics: Governance, Machine Learning, Operations, AI, Data Intelligence

Informatica Embraces AI for Data Intelligence and Operations

Posted by Matt Aslett on 08 May 2025
It has been a little over a decade since the term data operations entered the analytics and data lexicon. It describes the application of agile development, DevOps and lean manufacturing by data engineering professionals in support of data production. DataOps was initially seen as antithetical to traditional data management approaches, which typically included batch-based and manual tools and... Read More

Topics: Governance, Machine Learning, Operations, AI, Generative AI, Data Intelligence

Infor Shows off AI, Process Mining and MES Advances

Posted by Robert Kugel on 01 May 2025
Infor provides industry-specific enterprise software that enhances business performance and operational efficiency. These verticals and related micro-verticals include manufacturing, food and beverage, hospitality, healthcare, distribution and retail. Infor offers applications for enterprise resource planning, supply chain management, customer relationship management and human capital management,... Read More

Topics: ERP, Machine Learning, Office of Finance, Operations, Continuous Accounting, Supply Chain, AI

The EU Scaling Back Sustainability Reporting Mandates

Posted by Robert Kugel on 25 March 2025
The recent recommendation by the European Commission to scale back the scope, granularity and timeline for sustainability reporting represents a sea change in this form of corporate disclosure requirements. If enacted, it will substantially reduce or eliminate the reporting requirements for many enterprises, especially small to midsize establishments, as well as provide more time for compliance.... Read More

Topics: Operations, Supply Chain Planning, Business Planning, Supply Chain, Sustainability Management

Actian Enables Data Discovery and Data Intelligence

Posted by Matt Aslett on 11 March 2025
Data catalogs provide an inventory of data assets that surface metadata from data platforms, analytics tools and applications that can be used to facilitate data discovery and data usage across an enterprise. As I recently explained, however, there are actually multiple types of data catalogs that offer functionality to address specific use cases and user roles, including data inventory, data... Read More

Topics: Governance, Operations

Robotic Process Automation is a Cornerstone of Digital Finance

Posted by Robert Kugel on 25 December 2017
Robotic process automation (RPA) relies on programming or the application of analytical algorithms to execute the most appropriate action in an automated workflow. RPA enables business users to configure a “robot” (actually, computer software) to interact with applications or data sources to process a transaction, move or manipulate data, communicate with other digital systems and manage... Read More

Topics: Operations, automation, close, closing, Continuous Accounting, finance, banking, Robotic Process Automation, Accounting

Kofax Kapow 10 Advances Robotic Process Automation

Posted by Robert Kugel on 20 January 2017
Kofax offers Kapow, robotic process automation (RPA) software used to acquire information from a range of sources without human intervention and without having to write code. These sources include websites, applications, unstructured documents, data stores and desktop spreadsheets. RPA software does repetitive, low-value work that otherwise may be performed by person. It saves time in these... Read More

Topics: Office of Finance, Operations, close, finance, banking, Digital Technology

Data-Driven Business Processes Essential for Optimization

Posted by ISG Research on 16 October 2014
When applying information technology to drive better business performance, companies and the systems integrators that assist them often underestimate the importance of organizing data management around processes. For example, companies that do not execute their quote-to-cash cycle as an end-to-end process often experience a related set of issues in their sales, marketing, operations, accounting... Read More

Topics: Big Data, Mobile, Sales Performance, Supply Chain Performance, ERP, Office of Finance, Operations, Management, close, closing, computing, end-to-end, Operational Performance, Analytics, Business Performance, Cloud Computing, Data Management, Information Applications, Information Management, CRM, Data, finance, FPM

Anaplan Springs Forward with Winter Release

Posted by Robert Kugel on 04 April 2014
Anaplan, a provider of cloud-based business planning software for sales, operations, and finance and administration departments, recently implemented its new Winter ’14 Release for customers. This release builds on my colleagues analysis on their innovation in business modeling and planning in 2013. Anaplan’s primary objective is to give companies a workable alternative to spreadsheets for... Read More

Topics: Big Data, Performance Management, Planning, Predictive Analytics, Sales Performance, Supply Chain Performance, Marketing, Office of Finance, Operations, Reporting, Budgeting, Controller, Operational Performance, Business Analytics, Business Performance, Cloud Computing, Financial Performance, In-memory, Workforce Performance, CFO, Sales Planning, Financial Performance Management, financial reporting, FPM, Integrated Business Planning

Browse by Analyst

Robert Kugel

Robert Kugel

 David Menninger

David Menninger

 Jeff Orr

Jeff Orr

 Keith Dawson

Keith Dawson

 Matt Aslett

Matt Aslett

 Barika Pace

Barika Pace

Posts by Topic

see all

Posts by Month

see all