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July 21, 2014

Actuate Introduces BIRT Analytics 4.4

SAN MATEO, Calif., July 21 — Actuate Corporation, The BIRT Company and the leader in personalized analytics and insights, today announced immediate availability of an upgrade to the BIRT Analytics Big Data analytics platform for business analysts and business users. BIRT Analytics 4.4 sees the addition of powerful new background algorithms and foreground functionalities, comprising a complete toolbox of data mining techniques that are fast and easy to use for self-service, advanced analytics.

BIRT Analytics 4.4 is a sophisticated, end-to-end software solution that allows users to extract maximum value from Big Data, in the form of visual statistical insights that enable sharper commercial decision-making, and greater customer responsiveness, providing organizations a powerful competitive edge. The built-in, columnar database engine loads at an unrivalled speed of up to 60 GB/hour. With BIRT Analytics 4.4, users are able to explore up to 6 billion records in less than a second, and perform advanced analytics on a million records in under a minute. Business analysts and business users can get to the exact insight they need in seconds rather than days or weeks – freeing IT and data scientists to work on projects that require their expertise. A new user interface (UI) and instructions further increase productivity for business users and administrators.

The BIRT Analytics engine is capable of reading virtually any data source. Other highlights include its efficient and impeccably reliable approach to data auditing, cleansing and enrichment, and its flexibility with data preparation. It is particularly powerful for spontaneous and interactive (non-predicted) analytics, and for making accurate deductions about events that haven’t happened yet (predictive analytics). Statistical insights are made easy with its visual decision tree and visual association rules features, both run from powerful, background algorithms. These tools help organizations discover vital patterns of purchasing behaviour, the next best products to recommend to individual and groups of customers, which customers are more likely to churn, and which leads are truly qualified. Importantly, the software further uncovers inefficiencies in internal processes to save time and reduce costs.

“BIRT Analytics is unique in its ability to combine a fast columnar database with preprogramed statistical and analytical routines, all from within a graphical user interface designed specifically for the business user,” said Peter Hoopes, General Manager of the BIRT Analytics Group at Actuate.

“BIRT Analytics allows the business professional a way to easily explore and pivot billions of rows of data in seconds, while gaining immediate insights though visual representations of statistical models and advanced analytic techniques,” Hoopes explained. “And now, with the enhancements available in release 4.4, it’s even easier for business analysts and business users to spot trends, make predictions and stay ahead of the game, whatever market they’re in.”

Key features of BIRT Analytics 4.4:

  • New Pre-process Tools and Data Mining Algorithms, including:
    • Dichotomous pre-processing tool
    • Advanced ‘correlation’ analysis algorithm
    • Advanced ‘linear regression’ analysis algorithm
    • Advanced ‘logistic regression’ analysis
  • Functional Loader Enhancements, including:
    • New index functionality
    • New round expression function
    • Upgraded mid, left and right expression
    • New search functionality in ‘transform’ tab
    • New ‘test connection’ functionality
    • New ability to share loading projects and data sources between users.
  • Architecture and technology, including:
    • Updated and simplified installer
    • Modification to installation folders structure
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