Industry Leaders Propose Common Warehouse Metadata Interchange Standard

Strategic Insights -

Top technology companies, including Oracle, Unisys, IBM, and Hyperion, have come together to propose a common warehouse metadata interchange (CWMI) standard, aimed at simplifying data exchange between e-business systems. The proposed CWMI standard is designed to facilitate integration and reduce costs associated with warehouse implementations, enabling companies to share critical business information more efficiently.

Key Takeaways:

  • The proposed CWMI standard defines a metadata format for all data warehouse and business intelligence products.
  • Over 90 percent of Fortune 1000 companies have deployed or are evaluating a data warehouse as a foundation for effective decision-making.
  • The CWMI standard aims to reduce software compatibility testing time and costs associated with standard warehouse implementations.
  • By promoting open data exchange, CWMI enables companies to quickly and easily integrate best-of-breed analytic applications with data warehouses and e-business systems.
  • The proposal was supported by UBS AG, Genesis Development Corporation, and Dimension EDI.
  • The development of the specification took a year, analyzing and integrating metadata requirements from leading data warehousing and metadata products and related standards.
  • Oracle's Data Warehouse Program Office played a key role in driving the initiative, citing the benefits of CWMI in enabling open and free exchange of an organization's information assets.
  • IBM has long been involved in promoting open industry standards and sees CWMI as an opportunity to leverage their e-business experience and extend metadata management solutions to customers.
  • Hyperion's contribution to the OMG CWMI specification reflects their commitment to promoting truly open industry standards.

Statistics:

  • Over 90% of Fortune 1000 companies have deployed or are evaluating a data warehouse.
  • The proposed CWMI standard aims to reduce software compatibility testing time by [undisclosed amount].
  • The CWMI standard can help reduce costs associated with standard warehouse implementations.
  • The proposed CWMI standard enables open data exchange that is key to providing critical business insights in today's dynamic global economy.
  • Nearly 6,000 organizations worldwide use Hyperion's family of analytic application software.

Sources:

  • Oracle Corp.
  • Unisys Corp.
  • IBM Corp.
  • NCR Corp.
  • Hyperion Solutions Corporation
  • META Group
  • Object Management Group (OMG)
  • Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C)
  • The proposed CWMI standard was submitted to the OMG on September 27, 1999.