This is some what’s insider information, but may be something that MicroStrategy re-sellers should be knowing or should find out in due course of time. This is specific to India. MicroStrategy can not compete any BI tool to a the most price sensitive market of world, India. Even free is not something that people would easily go for, due to extremely low awareness about MicroStrategy BI in India. Sales is India doesn’t really affect much to MicroStrategy in the sense, it is not directly involved in selling the product here but only and only through authorized resellers, that to with a division of region of sales among them. But so far from last 7 years, sales of MicroStrategy is dismal. An recent consolidation in BI landscape has made things very tough for re-sellers, though I fail to understand why any damn company would go for Cognos/BO, even though they can’t beat MicroStrategy in any aspect, but price.

But how much the high price is hurting to adaption of MicroStrategy, I came to know while speaking with a friend only last week. First, MicroStrategy has around 30 clients in India, one of them having HQ right across my apartment. 😎 . Low penetration is mainly because of selective marketing by resellers but MicroStrategy, Inc has tried their hands. Now IBM is exploiting the high license cost of MicroStrategy in sales like anything. These guys (sales representative of Cognos) admit in front of client that MicroStrategy is highly scalable and better analytic capable than Cognos, but why to pay such a high price when you can have Cognos for BI and SAS for analytic, and is working great for them (IBM Cognos). Seriously a high price paid by MicroStrategy.

MicroStrategy really can’t do much about this evil marketing. Though I must say having two different tools would increase the cost of “experienced professionals” to handle them. Something that MicroStrategy reseller can counter argue. But after having lost Netizza, SPSS, Unica, etc. it is going to a tough market for them. also new kids on block like TableU are also giving them tough challenge in department BI sales, not here in India though.

All I can advice MicroStrategy is that you are the best BI. You can be the best BI, winning all accolades for the blah blah BI report, Nigel etc, done by independent authorities, but your scalability, features would be still used by least %age in industry due to very high cost of license and high cost of processionals (and tough search of them too). Just bring down your prices and see yourself sweeping the market.

Critical part of this blog is based on discussion with person who taught me MicroStrategy.