The Forrester Wave: Complex Event Processing (CEP) Platforms, Q3 2009

August 4, 2009
The Forrester WaveT: Complex
Event Processing (CEP) Platforms,
Q3 2009by Mike Gualtieri and John R. Rymerfor Application Development & Program Management Professionals
Making Leaders Successful Every DayFor Application Development & Program Management Professionals Includes a Forrester WaveT
August 4, 2009
The Forrester WaveT: Complex Event Processing (CEP) Platforms, Q3 2009The Fledgling CEP Platform Market Is Vibrant, Competitive, And Dynamicby Mike Gualtieri and John R. Rymerwith Randy Heffner and Wallis Yu
Executive SummaryForrester evaluated nine complex event processing (CEP) platforms using 114 criteria and found Progress Software and Aleri to be standout Leaders because of their top scores in the event processing features and strategy categories. Solid features and strategy also helped IBM, StreamBase Systems, and TIBCO Software find their way into the Leaders' circle. Coral8, Oracle, and UC4 are Strong Performers: Comparing scores using Forrester's default weightings, these vendors' current offering scores are strong enough for them to become Leaders, but their overall strategies are a step behind. Oracle grazed the Leaders' circle. EsperTech, the only open source option, is also a Strong Performer.
table of Contents NOTES & RESOURCES2"How Can We React To What Is Happening In Forrester conducted lab-based product and The Business - Now?" strategy research during February and March 4 CEP Is In Transition From A Niche To A 2009 and interviewed nine vendors: Aleri, Coral8 Mainstream Market (the two companies subsequently merged), 5 Complex Event Processing Platforms EsperTech, IBM, Oracle, Progress Software, Evaluation Overview StreamBase Systems, TIBCO Software, and UC4 Software (formerly SENACTIVE). In addition, 7 The Forrester CEP Platform Wave Reveals Forrester interviewed two reference customers Leaders And Strong Performers for each vendor's product (a total of 18 user 10 Vendor Profiles companies). 12 Supplemental Material Related Research Documents"European Airline Aims To Delight Passengers Through RFID Bag Tracking"July 15, 2009"Must You Choose Between Business Rules And Complex Event Processing Platforms?"January 21, 2009"CEP Adoption Is Broader, Deeper, And More Business-Driven Than IT May Expect"January 31, 2008
© 2009, Forrester Research, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited. Information is based on best available resources. Opinions reflect judgment at the time and are subject to change. Forrester®, Technographics®, Forrester Wave, RoleView, TechRadar, and Total Economic Impact are trademarks of Forrester Research, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. To purchase reprints of this document, please email clientsupport@forrester.com. For additional information, go to www.forrester.com.2 The Forrester WaveT: Complex Event Processing (CEP) Platforms, Q3 2009 For Application Development & Program Management Professionals
"HOw can we react to what is happening in the business - Now?" This is the big question that complex event processing (CEP) platforms seek to help organizations answer. Sometimes the answer is as simple as ordering more products when the inventory dips below safety stock, but often it involves recognizing patterns of business events that foretell critical business situations that require immediate action. To react to what is happening in the business now, organizations need to consider questions such as:
· What combinations of products are our customers buying right now, and how should we spend our advertising dollars?
· Do securities pricing trends indicate a buying or a selling opportunity right now?
· Are our rental vehicles in the right locations right now, and which ones should we move?
· How much money has our high roller lost as of this moment, and what should we do to keep him playing?
· Have all of our external partners completed their tasks in our business process, and can we automatically prompt those who have not?
· Which sequence of banking customer activities happening now should we investigate for fraud?
To answer these questions and ones like them, CEP platforms analyze streams of data as they flow from live sources such as transaction flows, click streams, market data feeds, and myriad other sources of data swirling around inside a business environment. T... [download for more]