Business Objects Expands Geographic Analysis Capabilities for BusinessObjects XI Release 2

Business Wire, Nov 7, 2006

New Integration between ESRI ArcGIS([R]) and Business Objects BI Platform Enables Users to "Mash Up" Business Information with Geographic Information System Maps

SAN FRANCISCO -- Business Objects (Nasdaq:BOBJ)(Euronext Paris ISIN code: FR0004026250 - BOB), the world's leading provider of business intelligence (BI) solutions, today announced an integration kit for ESRI ArcIMS([R]) and ArcGIS Server and BusinessObjects[TM] XI Release 2. The product provides a powerful two-way bridge between these industry-leading solutions, enabling users to "mash up" business information with geographic information system maps to gain a more complete understanding of the link between relevant data and location. Developed by APOS Systems, a Business Objects Technology Partner and ESRI Authorized Business Partner, the new integration kit is generally available now.

With BusinessObjects XI Release 2 and the new BusinessObjects Integration Kit for ESRI GIS, Business Objects provides customers the ability to quickly and easily access geographic data. Customers can use the solution to create Crystal reports and perform web-based ad hoc queries with Web Intelligence that include detailed map information from ESRI ArcIMS or ESRI ArcGIS Server. The integrated solution also enables ESRI GIS maps to be embedded into Microsoft Office documents, including Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files. Using the solution a company could combine GIS analysis with BI information on customers, facilities, and personnel to strategically balance sales territories based on where salespeople are located and how many existing and target customers are in the area. This information could be shared using a map image embedded in a Crystal report.

ESRI and Business Objects have a long-standing relationship and a shared commitment to providing the best in GIS and BI solutions to customers around the globe. Since 1997, ESRI has used Crystal Reports[R] from Business Objects as the only third-party reporting solution bundled within ESRI's ArcGIS desktop products.

"The BusinessObjects Integration Kit for ESRI GIS provides advanced self-service analytic capabilities that allow both GIS and business analysts to realize more value from their existing data," said Jack Dangermond, president of ESRI. "APOS Systems' role in developing this integration kit will enable a large business intelligence user community to more effectively analyze and visualize business data. The success of a business is ultimately tied to its ability to exploit all relevant data to make decisions, and we believe geographic data is critical to this process."

The City of Troy, Michigan has used the beta version of the Integration Kit with Crystal Reports Server XI Release 2. Their goal was to use the URL reporting capabilities of Crystal Reports to generate a report with an embedded map image from their ESRI ArcIMS server, based on a variable in the report.

"We were delighted to see how easy it was to implement the BusinessObjects Integration Kit for ESRI GIS, to seamlessly serve BusinessObjects XI Release 2 reports back to the ArcIMS user based on selected map features," said Alex Bellak, GIS administrator at City of Troy. "It took very little technical knowledge of ArcIMS to add the Crystal Reports functionality to the standard ESRI html map template."

"With this new integration between our two products, Business Objects and ESRI customers are now able to seamlessly access and interact with the valuable data contained within ESRI ArcGIS using BusinessObjects XI Release 2," said Wyatt Mullin, vice president of global ISV sales at Business Objects. "In doing so, customers will be able to better analyze their geospatial data in order to uncover new insights and improve decision making."

For more information about the BusinessObjects Integration Kit for ESRI GIS, please contact your local Business Objects office. A brief web demonstration can also be viewed online at http://businessobjects.auc.com/ESRI_solutionsKit/videos/ aposSolutionsKit.html (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

About ESRI

ESRI is the world leader in the $1.1 billion GIS software market. Their software enables organizations to build complete, intelligent geographical information systems and to deploy GIS functionality across the enterprise. The ability to link location data to other critical information in the business decision-making process has attracted customers from various markets such as retail, transportation, financial services, governmental agencies and many more. Visit www.esri.com for more information.

About Business Objects

Business Objects is the world's leading business intelligence (BI) software company, with more than 39,000 customers worldwide, including over 80 percent of the Fortune 500. Business Objects helps organizations of all sizes create a trusted foundation for decision making, gain better insight into their business, and optimize performance. The company's innovative business intelligence suite, BusinessObjects[TM] XI, offers the BI industry's most advanced and complete solution for performance management, planning, reporting, query and analysis, and enterprise information management. BusinessObjects XI includes the award-winning Crystal line of reporting and data visualization software. Business Objects has also built the industry's strongest and most diverse partner community, and offers consulting and education services to help customers effectively deploy their business intelligence projects.