From the Editor

 

Welcome back to The Data Profiler.  My apologies for the delay in this issue.  Given that so much has happened in the data profiling/data quality industry, you’d think that I wouldn’t hesitate in publishing new issues.  Rest assured, The Data Profiler is back and will stay.

 

Of course, it seems that the newsletter is bucking the industry trend.  As of this issue, there are no major independent data profiling vendors left.  Trillium Software purchased Avellino Technologies in February, while Evoke Software is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Conversion Services International, Inc.  Gartner Group predicted that data profiling would be subsumed into the data quality space, and they were right.

 

So why continue the newsletter?  The need for data profiling is still acute.  Data assessment is a necessary and vital first step in maintaining data quality.  Also, data profiling is still applicable to other types of projects such as mergers and acquisitions, data integration, and data migrations.

 

Secondly, even though the major vendors are no longer independent, the number of data profiling products has increased.  Innovative Systems now has a data profiling engine to complement their i/Lytics platform.  A new company called Business Data Quality released their inaugural product earlier this year.  DataFlux, a SAS subsidiary, significantly improved its dfPower® offering.  FirstLogic and Informatica have released new versions of their products.  The market for data profiling is definitely improving significantly.

 

So, now is a great time for the industry and The Data Profiler will continue to publish industry news, events, resources, and techniques for its readers.  Please let me know of any topics you’d like to see covered in future issues.

 

On another note, I’ve recently accepted a position at CSI as a Senior Data Quality Consultant.  Of course, CSI is the consulting firm that just purchased Evoke Software.  Given that, I will endeavor to keep this newsletter as independent and vendor-neutral as possible.  As always, articles on any facet of the data profiling or data quality areas are encouraged.

 

On occasion, there may be tips, techniques, or comments on specific areas of Evoke Axio, or CSI’s Center for Data Warehousing.  However, the focus of this newsletter is still on the data profiling/data quality industry.

 

Again, welcome back.  Enjoy The Data Profiler.

 

Joseph Novella,

Editor