Is Google
On Tuesday, the search king made few headlines when partner Panorama Software announced a new on-demand analytics service for its Google Docs suite of software.
Docs is, ostensibly, DoubleGoo's answer to Microsoft's
Yet.
But notice how Google is attacking Excel -- by adding analytics, a common feature of what's referred to as business intelligence software, or BI. It's important stuff. BI measures effectiveness in numerous tangible ways -- from customer satisfaction to inventory turns to staffing capacity, and so on.
Microsoft's largest partners and competitors have been spending billions to acquire this capability. SAP
Even Oracle
I understand why. Excel is sometimes referred to as BI in its most basic form. But that's unlikely to last now that Google has added analytics to its own (ahem) free spreadsheet program.
So, expect Microsoft to respond. Whether that's through a deal for any of the remaining independents, such as Actuate
Get your clicks with related Foolishness:
- Use the force you must, SAP.
- Actuate was buyout bait back in November.
- Turns out BI upstart Applix was cheap for a reason.