IBM, Cognos partner

IBM has unveiled a wave of BI and business performance management software packages and vertical industry solutions that combine IBM and Cognos software under IBM's "Information on Demand" initiative, says CRN.

IBM executives said they expect a majority of sales of the pre-integrated solutions to go through IBM and Cognos channel partners.

They also promised to maintain Cognos's channel programme at least through 2008 and perhaps beyond, while Cognos solution providers migrate to IBM's PartnerWorld programme.

Software AG has introduced the Software AG BPM Advisory Council, reports FOXBusiness.

The panel will help Software AG develop new strategies for the use of business process management (BPM) technology to improve customers' operational performance.

Their insight and expertise will also contribute to the ongoing development of WebMethods BPMS, Software AG's top-ranked process design, execution, monitoring and management platform.

Microsoft's Visio, best known as software for making static flow charts, is evolving into a tool for creating 'live' data-fed diagrams akin to Web 2.0 mash-ups, states Computer World.

Microsoft also plans to inject BPM features into Visio so charts will not only be able to view processes in real-time, but possibly also able to execute changes in their workflow.

"Right now, if you want to execute a process, you have to hand this off to BizTalk or Visual Studio to do all of this coding," said William Golding, Microsoft's director of product management for Visio.