This study examines the Western European market for data warehousing tools. IDC divides the data warehousing tools market into three segments: data warehouse generation, data warehouse management, and data warehouse access. The study provides detailed historical Western European revenue and market shares of data warehousing tools vendors from 2002 to 2003. These revenues are further shown in six geographical regions within Western Europe for 2003 for the top vendors. Market revenue forecasts for the data warehousing tools market are provided for a five-year period from 2004?2008 in each of 16 European countries and for each of three market segments. The current market situation is analyzed, and a discussion is provided of market drivers and inhibitors based on IDC's most recent knowledge of the Western European data warehousing tools market and its major players. Finally, guidance is offered on appropriate strategies for taking advantage of future market growth.

The data and analysis presented in this study provide valuable input for software vendors competing in the European data warehousing markets. According to Christina Steensboe, program manager with IDC's European Software Group, the Western European data warehousing tools market saw a rebound in 2003 as vendors once again reported positive revenue trends on a sequential quarterly basis. Despite the shift in the sale of analytic software from data warehousing tools to packaged analytic applications, there continues to be a demand for data warehousing tools, and market growth is forecast to be in the 3%?6% range over the forecast period.