Online analytical processing outfit Pilot Software Inc introduced the next generation – 5.0 – of its Decision Support Suite executive information tool last month. The new release includes a new multi-dimensional architecture enabling definition of dynamic dimensions and hierarchies. The new release enables complex analysis such as variant, package size or consumer demographics to be performed in hundreds of dimensions in what the Cambridge, Massachusetts company is claiming to be an almost instantaneous response time. Version 5.0 integrates its Lightship executive information system, decision support and analytical processing offerings in a minimised consolidation time and server size. Pilot reckons it has given special attention to ‘what if’ analysis for forecasting and predictions based on company data. 5.0 is made up of five components: Pilot Desktop, including a new graphical model builder and tools for ad-hoc ranking and exception analysis; Pilot Analysis Server with more support for structural dimensions and large member sets; Pilot Designer, including a new object manager, toolbar control, drag and drop events and an integrated debugger; Pilot analysis library with enhanced modules for complex ranking, 80/20 Pareto analysis, BCG quadrant analysis and trendline forecasting and Pilot Excel Add- in. It includes an optional design environment and pre-built analysis library for customizing. A camera icon enables analysis to be saved at any point during analysis for organizing, printing, or distributing electronically to others. It supports Object Data-Base Connectivity, Object Linking & Embedding 2.0 and Messaging Applications Programming Interface. Client components are up under Windows 3.1, 95 and NT and go for $750. Server components for most Unix and Windows NT start at $32,000 for a five concurrent configuration. Pilot, a subsidiary of Dun & Bradstreet Corp, is also working on a set of Internet components for Version 5.0 which will be available later on in the year.
