Cognos ReportNet
| Company type | Product |
|---|---|
| Industry | Business intelligence software |
| Founded | September 2003 |
| Founder | Cognos |
| Headquarters | Ottawa , Canada |
| Products | Web-based reporting software, SDK |
| Parent | Cognos (later IBM) |
Cognos ReportNet (CRN) was a web-based application designed for the creation and administration of both ad hoc and customized reports. Created by Ottawa-headquartered Cognos, which later became part of IBM, ReportNet was introduced in September 2003. After IBM's acquisition, the product was renamed IBM Cognos ReportNet.
The system leveraged web services protocols such as XML and Simple Object Access Protocol and supported dynamic content through HTML and Java. It offered compatibility with a variety of database platforms including Oracle, SAP, Teradata, Microsoft SQL server, DB2, and Sybase. With support for more than ten languages, its Web Services framework was tailored for global organizations with the goal of minimizing total cost of ownership. Over time, several editions were released, and in 2005, ReportNet earned the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) Codie award for "Best Business Intelligence or Knowledge Management Solution." Its functionalities were later incorporated into IBM Cognos 8 BI during 2005. The package also featured a dedicated software development kit (SDK).
Launch
Among the initial corporate users adopting Cognos ReportNet for enterprise reporting were Bear Stearns, BMW, and Alfred Publishing. At the time of ReportNet's debut, competitor Business Objects launched version 6.1 of its enterprise reporting software. Cognos ReportNet saw considerable commercial success, achieving $30 million in licensing revenue within a single quarter in 2004.
Controversy
In 2005, competitor Business Objects asserted that their BusinessObjects XI product outperformed Cognos ReportNet based on VeriTest benchmark evaluations, demonstrating report throughput rates up to 21 times higher, particularly with styled and complex reports. Cognos rebutted these claims, stating that Business Objects controlled the testing environment and parameters while Cognos software was excluded from the tests. In response, Cognos conducted independent assessments to confirm ReportNet’s performance.
Components
- Cognos Report Studio – A web-based application designed for developing sophisticated, polished reports.
- Cognos Query Studio – A web tool aimed at creating ad hoc reports.
- Cognos Framework Manager – A metadata modeling utility used for business intelligence metadata in reporting and dashboards.
- Cognos Connection – An enterprise portal facilitating report access, scheduling, and administrative tasks.
Versions
- Cognos ReportNet 1.1 – A professional web authoring tool built on Java EE architecture.
- Cognos ReportNet IBM Special Edition – Bundled with embedded IBM WebSphere application server and IBM DB2 database.
- Cognos Linux – Compatible with Intel-based Linux systems.