Multidimensional Pick database companies appear to be moving in a world of ever decreasing circles. Insiders say there’s little new Pick business being generated but much cannibalizing of customers between the handful of remaining pick supporters. The key remaining Pick businesses aside from Pick Systems Inc itself are General Automation Inc and Ardent Software Inc. While Ardent is diversifying into data warehousing, Pick and General Automation are still tied to the fortunes of their Pick database businesses. Pick users are regarded as loyal adherents to robust, versatile and well-tested back office application technology. Pick Systems CEO George Olenik is apparently determined that Pick Systems would only be sold to a vendor of his choosing, and rebuffed what was described as a good offer for the company from General Automation. A reported recent slump in Pick Systems sales means that its business is now worth even less to a prospective buyer, and in any case General Automation’s stock is currently suspended from trading. General Automation and Pick Systems technologies are said to be fairly compatible with each other, unlike the Ardent (Unidata/VMark) work. Meantime, from what we understand there’s quite a story behind Pick Systems’ new professional services division headed by SVP technology John Wells. About 18 months ago Pick chief Olenik hired John Bramley from rival Sequoia Systems Inc after the latter sold its fault tolerant systems business to veteran pick supporter and current Pick Systems competitor General Automation Inc in 1996 (CI No 3,013). The way we hear it Bramley was brought in effectively to run technology development leaving Wells with little but chevrons until the company’s VP sales Steve Cobb, newly arrived from Unidata Inc (now part of Ardent Software), decided the company needed its own services business. He subsequently reined in subcontracted consulting and services work, and gave Wells responsibility for the new group.
