Microsoft Crowds Business Intelligence Space

Moreover, his company works closely with Microsoft, and some of its products are embedded within Microsoft developer tools and collaboration products. "Millions of Microsoft users already have our product. They already use our product to bring BI to the desktop through Office and other software, something Microsoft is just promising."

Still, the most positive recent news for the BI companies is what appears to be a coming spike in demand. A survey by Goldman Sachs found that 59% of IT executives polled during a recent survey said they were planning to buy BI tools in the next 12 months -- and 61% of them plan to buy the software from a pure-play BI vendor. Goldman Sachs has an investment banking relationship with Business Objects, Microsoft and Oracle.