This IDC study examines the competitive situation in the Western European business analytics market. It provides an overview of the strategies that different groups of vendors are following for supplying analytic software. The study also analyzes the challenges that vendors are facing and looks at scenarios for how the future may unfold in the European business analytics market. In addition, guidance is offered on appropriate strategies for taking advantage of future market growth.

The analysis presented in this study provides valuable input into the strategic and tactical planning processes of vendors competing in the business analytics markets. According to Christina Steensboe, program manager with IDC's European Software Group, the business analytics market has attracted vendors from many different corners of the software industry including database vendors, enterprise application vendors, and vendors that provide business analytics as their core business. Today, although the market is crowded, new vendors continue to emerge, and competition for mindshare and budgets is not likely to get any less intense in the future.