CA
announced the latest version of ERwin at its fourth on-line ERworld 2013 event
held November 12-14th. Presentations and announcements can be viewed[1]
for free online at: http://erwin.com/erworld.It is worth spending some time there to hear from
actual users and IT professionals about how they have benefitted from and
leveraged ERwin capabilities.
This blog discusses how CA leveraged customers and increased
interaction with them to improve access to the product and explain its value to
a growing number and variety of potential users. But first, a short digression
about product management tactics that, properly implemented, benefit both
customer and vendor.
One
consistently beneficial tactic is ‘listen to and understand what the customer
is trying to do’. Correct execution requires more insight and effort than what
you would first think. What the customer identifies as the solution they want
isn’t necessarily what is needed to accomplish what they want. In that, it is akin to the hoary tactic about
‘partnering’ with your vendor, solution provider, etc. Both ideas have a long
history of verbose commitment. ‘Partnering as a strategy’ has been asserted
since I was a young Software Product Manager. It had a dubious reputation even
then. However, as we’ve remarked before, both are enjoying renewed and enhanced
popularity. The good news is that in many cases those embracing these tactics
are implementing in all the right ways.
This
applies to CA and the latest release of its Data Modeling solution, ERwin 9.5,
as a clear example of how both of these maxims are enjoying renewed support and
successful implementation. The payoff is evident for both the vendor community
and users. For ERwin, this is evident in new features, messaging and marketing.
Let’s see what the impact of closer collaboration and partnering with users has
done for CA ERwin.
The
enhancements in Release 9.5 are in response to the ‘Information Overload’
experienced, not simply by IT, but all professionals. The list of problems
themselves is well known, i.e. too much data, too many platforms, diverse
sources and formats of data, etc. In addition, it is difficult to extract
insightful information from the data; typically that requires not just
sophisticated tools but equally educated, scarce professionals. Compounding the
problem today, is the accessibility of all this data to users with diverse
responsibilities who NEED data-based insights, but lack the ability with
analytics.
Many
who could profitably use ERwin’s data modeling didn’t recognize what it could
do for them or had only a limited knowledge of its capabilities. For example,
even among its users, ERwin’s most frequently identified competitor was VISIO,
followed by Excel and PowerPoint, all products with far less functionality.
CA
now presents ERwin in a way that is understandable to business users. They
describe what ERwin does and can do with explicit examples that demonstrate ERwin
providing insights into the data to solve business problems.
For
example, Facebook wanted to know how many unique users were active at any one
time. They had lots of data about logins, active links, etc. that told them
from a technical viewpoint about connections. They had no way to define a
business user (i.e. unique – as a single entity, not personally). ERwin, by
providing insight into the data and its sources, gave Facebook the insight and
opportunity, as well as the capability to build a business-relevant model of a
user.
Data
modeling with ERwin sounds complex and difficult. The ability to provide a
centralized business-based view of where the data comes from and resides, a
single, consistent view of data relationships and locations is more
understandable and makes ERwin a helpful asset. The CA ERwin Web Portal
provides an interface that is accessible and understandable across enterprise roles
and user teams. It allows data visibility and sharing of analysis and
scenarios. It is a key differentiator, made stronger by the three new elements
in ERwin 9.5:
- ERwin Report designer – fully configurable way that makes it easier to share data and resulting insights across enterprise business boundaries;
- Big Data bridges – access through ERwin’s graphic interface to and integration with multiple Big Data sources and platforms Apache Hadoop adds information sources for business users;
- Teradata certification - platform for Data Warehousing projects that supports a key CA technology alliance partner and customer, adds to existing Oracle, DB2, SQL Azure support.
There
is much more to ERwin, we recommend that enterprise user, interested in getting
the most from their data, take a look at this product.
It
requires active listening, interaction, and close attention to clearly understand
what the client or customer is trying to accomplish, the problem they want
solved or the need to be filled. I’ve learned not to jump too quickly to accept
what they ask for as the solution needed. Understanding their goals assures
that what we deliver, whether it is advice, support, research, analysis or
services, is most effective for and useful to that client.
The
point of all this is that vendors and users are becoming more closely linked.
The consumerization of IT and penetration of social media provide more
opportunities for interaction and collaboration that benefits both. The
partnership between vendors, channel and technology partners and the consumer
provide a rich ground for cooperative efforts that will benefit all three. In the
case of CA Technologies and ERwin 9.5, the results are evident in product
messaging that makes it easier to recognize by a larger set of potential users
who need it. Additionally, the new product capabilities make it both easier to
use and more effective in application for its users.
Overall,
we are pleased to see productive collaboration between vendors and customers.
It is both highly welcome and much needed.