Research for a project has led one to ask both software vendors and customers about the factors most important to software users in the selection of a business intelligence (BI) solution. Two topics resounded: the use of BI tools to improve data management and business performance management. Consumers are continuously looking for innovative ways to move, store and improve the quality of their data as well as for ways to capture the most valuable information for improved decision making and business performance.

Turning data into valuable information has never been more important, as organizations today must be extremely cautious when managing information - its movement, analysis, presentation and security - owing to local as well as global legal and economic considerations (new law regulations, new business models, etc.). Technologies and frameworks like the data mart and the data warehouse are addressing some of the back-end information management issues that support the decision-making process.

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