TopTier Software Demonstrates First-Ever OLTP to OLAP Closed-Loop Navigation Utilizing Microsoft's Latest Technologies

Business Wire, Sept 9, 1998

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 9, 1998--

TopTier Software's HyperRelational Technology Provides Web-Enabled Interface for Users to Seamlessly Navigate Data Across Transactional and Analytical Systems

TopTier Software Inc. announced today it will demonstrate the first-ever unified, Web-enabled end-user interface for seamlessly accessing and correlating data between OLTP and OLAP data sources at Microsoft's Business Applications Conference 98.

TopTier's patent-pending HyperRelational(TM) technology uses ODBC, OLE-DB, OLE-DB for OLAP and COM objects as sources of information, which enables end users to access, navigate and seamlessly associate data in the enterprise transactional (OLTP) environment with data in the enterprise analytical (OLAP) environment from one simple, elegant interface.

HyperRelational technology introduces multi-dimensional navigation through the Internet and integrates both operational data stores and analytical data stores into a seamless, navigable environment for end users.

Users can access and combine information from relational data sources with multi-dimensional data sources, and vice-versa, to see unique views of business information and take the appropriate action.

"When information is trapped in multiple, incompatible applications and data warehouses, large organizations have difficulty resolving day-to-day operational problems and responding quickly and proactively to emerging opportunities," said Joe Zarb, vice president of business development, TopTier Software.

"TopTier provides a same-day development environment for integrating and cross-referencing the information buried in multiple applications and data stores. It provides the end user with a simple, elegant interface for navigating the cross-correlated information and recombining it in new ways."

"Microsoft's Transaction Server and COM enabling technologies are creating tremendous opportunities for ISVs to complement each other's offerings," said James Utzschneider, director of line of business evangelism at Microsoft Corp.

"TopTier's HyperRelational technology is an excellent example of how to take full advantage of Microsoft Transaction Server, COM and Microsoft SQL Server(TM) 7.0 for seamless data access and correlation."

TopTier's HyperRelational technology enables end users to find the exact piece of data that they are looking for quickly and to make logical discoveries based on the information that has been verified. Sample scenarios include: -0-

--   Supplier Chain Optimization: Analyzing supplier performance based
     on cost of goods purchased by part type, geography and vendor.

--   Target Marketing: Finding products associated with a customer and
     determining what other products in a given product family can be
     up-sold.

--   Sales Management: Relating a given order to a particular
     salesperson, discovering for that salesperson all products sold,
     and for a given customer, discovering all pending opportunities.

--   Customer Behavior Analysis: Verifying the status of a known
     order, then making logical discoveries about the customer, based
     on their ordering behavior.

-0-

"No matter how large and all-encompassing an application or warehouse may be, it will not represent all business functions or the myriad ways a business wants to look at its data," said Shai Agassi, chief technology officer, TopTier Software.

"Users always need to associate information in ways that the original applications or warehouses did not anticipate and do not provide. TopTier not only solves the back-end development backlog for IT departments, but also empowers end users."

TopTier's products include a runtime server, Win32 and browser-based clients and a same-day development environment for integrating and cross-referencing the information buried in multiple applications and data stores.

HyperRelational technology links Microsoft Internet Explorer, SQL Server 7.0, Repository, Web Server and Transaction Server, and the soon to be available Microsoft OLAP offering, known as "Plato." HyperRelational technology supports Microsoft OLE-DB, COM and OLE-DB for OLAP API for access to the Microsoft OLAP Server.

TopTier's HyperRelational technology will be featured in both the analytical Business Intelligence and operational Tracking breakout tracks at the conference. TopTier Software will also be demonstrating in the Business Applications Conference Partner Pavilion.

Sponsored by Microsoft, the Business Applications Conference 98 is a technical how-to workshop for the integration of real world solutions. The first-ever conference is designed to educate developers, systems integrators, systems architects and independent software vendors (ISVs) on how to link disparate computer systems and line-of-business applications into complete, end-to-end solutions.

The conference is the latest effort in Microsoft's ongoing commitment to helping developers and customers realize the vision of a "Digital Nervous System."

About TopTier Software

For Global 1000 companies and IT organizations looking to leverage the Internet for fast, easy and intuitive access to corporate information, TopTier Software is the creator of HyperRelational technology. This new category of products addresses the complexity, integration and navigation issues facing enterprises today.