SAP takes on Oracle in performance management space

In November, the companies announced that Microsoft would back BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation as "a preferred solution for companies running their business applications on the Microsoft platform." Microsoft will also participate in various marketing initiatives.

The move seemed like a natural fit, given Microsoft had retired its own dedicated EPM product, PerformancePoint Server, earlier this year, and that BusinessObjects Planning & Consolidation uses Microsoft's .NET technology.