Sort-of comments on Sigma

Those slippery Oracle folks … Manufacturing Computer Solutions’ online version is reporting today that Oracle has released statements regarding future plans for predictive business intelligence firm Sigma Dynamics. While Oracle PR has stated that the Oracle brain trust seeks to develop Sigma “beyond early call centre applications and into general ERP,” writer Brain Tinham could only get hints from the big guys.

Oracle attained Manufacturing Computer Solutions’ intellectual property assets of predictive analytics technology provider Sigma Dynamics in late August. At that time, the move was touted as an enhancement for the Oracle business intelligence suite and Oracle Fusion Middleware offerings. Tinham quotes and profiles Paul Rodwick, vice president of product management in Oracle’s business intelligence unit.

Rodwick, however, “refuses to name specific developments but gives examples of the new system solving problems in purchasing and shipping.” “We expect to introduce a range of applications to allow real-time decision making over time, and also the technology will be used by partners and customers to create their own specialist applications,” said Rodwick. “It is a core enabler for applications that Oracle will deliver.” The piece later has Rodwick stating that his firm is integrating Sigma Dynamics “We’re also integrating it into our Fusion middleware suite so that it will be even easier to integrate with other systems,” says Rodwick. Currently, says Rodwick, Sigma Dynamics software presents some advantages to Oracle for future development of the product.

Sigma Dynamics has been the technology foundation for Oracle’s Siebel Real-Time Decisions product within the Oracle business intelligence suite and, since Sigma Dynamics was originally introduced by Siebel Systems, the system is already integrated with some Oracle systems the firm snagged from Siebel’s; Sigma Dynamics also currently works with Oracle’s BI suite. Key decision applications in Sigma Dynamics’ real-time decision software include real-time offer management, field service optimization, predictive call routing, and fraud detection.

Tinham’s entire article can be found here. For over 20 years, Manufacturing Computer Solutions has reportedly been the UK’s leading manufacturing business IT journal. Manufacturing Computer Solutions’ monthly print edition has a controlled circulation of 44,000: Copies go to 17,000 IT directors, 28,000 managers, and 5,000 engineers and executives.