News
Similarity Systems and Firstlogic Push New Data Quality Products
- By Stephen Swoyer
- November 16, 2005
At the recent TDWI show in Orlando, data quality
specialists Similarity Systems and Firstlogic touted new data profiling and
data quality offerings. Although that might not sound like earth-shattering
news, both vendors have a lot more riding on these products than meets the eye.
For Similarity Systems, the latest release of its AXIO data profiling product
is an important one, and not because AXIO 5.0 ships with a bevy of new features
or enhancements. Several months ago, Similarity Systems became an overnight
force to be reckoned with in the data quality segment, snapping up troubled
Evoke Software. With the acquisition, Similarity shot for synergy, hoping the
combination of its ATHANOR data quality technology with Evoke’s AXIO data
profiling software would provide compelling differentiation in a crowded data
quality marketplace. So with last week’s AXIO 5.0 release, all eyes—at
least, the eyes of most ANTHOR and AXIO users—were on Similarity Systems.
The revamped AXIO does ship with an upgraded front end, which Similarity Systems
says should help improve usability. It also incorporates architectural enhancements
that company officials claim will help improve the execution of multiple (concurrent)
profiling tasks. In addition, AXIO 5.0 features new database connectivity options
and better integration with ATHANOR.
Also at TDWI Orlando, Firstlogic announced IQ Watch, a compliance-oriented
product that’s designed to help manage interdiction list compliance. IQ
Watch taps Firstlogic’s data cleansing and matching capabilities to compare
customers and transactions with government interdiction lists to ensure compliance
with OFAC, FBI lists, Bureau of Industry and Security lists, Security Council
of the United Nations Consolidated List, World Bank Debarred Parties List as
well as lists from OSFI, DTC, EU, FATF NCCT, FinCEN and OCC.
“While this should be a good solution for the company in a number of
ways, Firstlogic is nevertheless not the only data quality vendor with such
a solution,” says Rob Lerner, a senior analyst for data management with
consultancy Current Analysis.
If nothing else, IQ Watch could help shore up Firstlogic’s position in
the regulatory compliance arena, Lerner suggests. “The demand, and the
money spent on regulatory compliance, is significant and growing…and Firstlogic
may be able to use this solution to strengthen its position in this market,
as well as leverage its technology and expertise to partner with any number
of vendors addressing regulatory compliance that may not have a list cleansing
service or, more importantly, data quality support.”
About the Author
Stephen Swoyer is a contributing editor for Enterprise Systems. He can be reached at [email protected].