Microsoft Previews Upcoming PerformancePoint BI Product

Scheduled for a mid-2007 release, PerformancePoint -- formerly code-named BizSharp -- will replace Microsoft's Business Scorecard Manager (BSM) 2005 software and incorporate the technology that Microsoft picked up in its April acquisition of analytics firm ProClarity.

The initial CTP includes the BSM technology along with planning, budgeting, forecasting and financial consolidation features. A second CTP, scheduled for early 2007, is slated to add ProClarity's analytics tools.

PerformancePoint will pit Microsoft against traditional BI specialists like Business Objects, Cognos and Hyperion. VARs said the software's strongest selling point will be its planned integration with Microsoft Office. PerformancePoint uses Excel and other Office applications as its user interface, a tactic that will help it ease into enterprises already accustomed to using Excel for financial planning and analytics.

Microsoft is preparing to throw its weight behind the BI assault. In May, it will host its first BI conference, according to Chris Capossela, who heads Microsoft's Office products group. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Microsoft Business Division President Jeff Raikes are scheduled to keynote the event in Microsoft's hometown, Redmond, Wash.

Microsoft is also drinking its own BI Kool-Aid: The company reports that its finance department is using PerformancePoint for revenue forecasting.