Ventana Research Names Information Builders Hot Vendor in the 2009 Value Index for Performance Management

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - June 16, 2009) - Information Builders, an independent leader in business intelligence (BI) solutions, today announced that Ventana Research, a leading benchmark research and advisory services firm, has selected the company as the overall Hot Vendor in its first-ever Value Index on Performance Management. Information Builders secured a weighted top-ranking position for products and customer assurance supporting performance management. According to Ventana Research, those earning the highest Hot Vendor classification are certified to best represent buyer value based on a thorough evaluation and audit of the company and its products based on research and verified facts.

"I want to congratulate Information Builders for achieving the Hot Vendor rating that is provided to only those vendors whose technology and commitment to help organizations is at the highest level," said Mark Smith, CEO and executive vice president of Ventana Research. "Our research and assessment covers the complete spectrum of evaluation criteria from usability to manageability and provides a faster and smarter method to evaluate those vendors who were able to handle the scrutiny of our detailed analysis."

The Ventana Research Value Index for Performance Management in 2009 is an impartial guide that evaluates technology that can be used by business and IT for performance management (PM) in the context of seven categories: adaptability, manageability, reliability, usability, functionality, total cost of ownership (TCO), and return on investment (ROI). It is the result of more than a decade of analysis of technology suppliers' products and how well they satisfy specific business and IT needs. It is based on research across all vertical industries and organizations of all sizes. The methodology used assesses product functionality, suitability-to-task, and the effectiveness of vendor support for the buying process and customer assurance. The Value Index represents the value a vendor's offerings and relevant aspects of its products and services, using both a clear and accessible graphic representation in thermometer form and a precise numerical index.

"Our Performance Management Framework solution is being used in many industry settings, and Ventana recognizes the unique value this solution provides," said David Cook, vice president of performance management solutions at Information Builders. "The ability to rapidly deliver pervasive performance management, and leverage the WebFOCUS and iWay software platforms to do this, is a unique offering in the marketplace."

Information Builders performance management solutions are developed with the belief that everyone in an organization, from CEO to process clerk to supplier, needs access to good information so that everyone can understand and contribute toward strategic goals. Information Builders WebFOCUS Performance Management Framework (PMF) is a flexible, modular PM framework that is easily tailored to help organizations create and manage a culture of performance and accountability. Customization abilities include personalized end user dashboards, metric blogging, print-quality publishing, mobile alerts, deep analytics, strategy authoring, and easy-to-use set-up wizards. With WebFOCUS PMF, each person monitors, analyzes, and manages performance in line with broader corporate objectives.

"The quality of Ventana Research services and research in the business intelligence and performance management markets is second to none," said Information Builders founder and CEO Gerald Cohen. "Our top ranking is a credit to our investment in helping companies improve efficiency, effective business decision-making, and ROI."

To learn more about the Ventana Research Value Index for Performance Management in 2009 please visit http://www.ventanaresearch.com/pmvalueindex

About Ventana Research

Ventana Research is the leading benchmark research and advisory services firm. We provide expert guidance to help organizations manage and optimize performance -- to become not only more efficient, but also more effective. Our unparalleled insights and best practices guidance are based on our rigorous research-based benchmarking indexes of people, processes, information, and technology across business and IT functions worldwide. The combination we offer of benchmark research, rigorous market coverage and in-depth knowledge of hundreds of technology providers means we can deliver business and technology education and expertise to our clients where and when needed. The Ventana Research Indexes -- the Value Index and the Benchmark Index family -- have redefined the research industry by providing accessible, easy-to-use research-based business and technology guidance to businesses. Ventana Research provides the most comprehensive analyst coverage in the industry; more than 2.5 million business and IT professionals through our community of 85,000 professionals and network of media and association partners around the world benefit from Ventana Research's insights. Ventana Research focuses on business and technology trends and best practices that maximize organizations' potential to perform while reducing the time, cost, and risk and still achieve optimal outcomes. To learn how Ventana Research advances the maturity of organizations use of information and technology through benchmark research, market indexes, education, and advisory services, and also where to find us on Facebook or LinkedIn or how to follow us on Twitter or BusinessWeek's BusinessExchange, visit www.ventanaresearch.com.

About Information Builders

Information Builders' award-winning combination of business intelligence and enterprise integration software has been providing innovative solutions to more than 12,000 customers for the past 30 years. WebFOCUS is the world's most widely utilized business intelligence platform. It provides the security, scalability and flexibility needed at every level of global extended enterprises. Its simplicity helps create executive, analytical, and operational applications that reach dozens to millions of users. Information Builders' iWay Software suite provides state of the art, multi-purpose, pre-built integration components that address all SOA, application, data and information management requirements. Its integration adapters have been adopted by the leading software platform providers. Information Builders also offers solutions in the performance management, business activity monitoring, and enterprise search markets. The company's comprehensive enterprise product offerings give Information Builders' customers the ability to grow and innovate according to their needs.

Information Builders' customers include most of the Fortune 100 and U.S. federal government agencies. Headquartered in New York City with 90 offices worldwide, the company employs 1,450 people and has more than 350 business partners. More information is available at http://www.informationbuilders.com.

Contact Information: Press Contacts: Kathleen Moran Information Builders (917) 339-6313 Karyn Martin Emerge PR (617) 729-3173