9 January 2004 Business intelligence software supplier Business Objects has unveiled its roadmap for integrating technology from Crystal Decisions, the enterprise reporting company it bought in July 2003.

The process will take two years, but is intended to reduce product overlaps and ensure that users enjoy a smooth migration to the new software. It will bring together two systems previously targeted separately at executives and lower-ranking employees.

Business Objects completed its $820 million cash-and-stock purchase in December and last week announced the latest update to the Crystal series of reporting products, now at version 10. With the new software, Business Objects focused on usability, integration and manageability.

The integration process, advised by customer feedback, is broken down into three phases. The first, expected in the second quarter of 2004, is the product integration pack, followed by platform-level integration by the end of the year. Complete integration is due for delivery in 2005.

Crystal Decisions’ sales grew strongly in the two financial years before its purchase, with 16 million licenses of its flagship package Crystal Reports sold worldwide.