Keeping Pace in the Speed Race

ACNielsen Market Decisions provides market research data to Fortune 500 companies. In their business, speed and accuracy are everything. But the company was being hamstrung by its old system of desktop databases and scripts stored on file-sharing network servers. Data processing was slow and the system couldn't handle large volume inquiries. Unexpected requests - those critical, last minute calls that clients remember best - took as long as several days to answer.
ACNielsen's management knew they would win more business if they could offer faster turnarounds. A new information system would solve other persistent problems as well, such as the time-consuming data importing process and updating difficulties.
The company was committed to using a Microsoft set of technologies, not only because the products work well together, but also because Microsoft's market position ensured technical leadership in the future. A Microsoft-based system was also the best choice for easy integration, since most of ACNielsen's customers use Microsoft products.
To take full advantage of the Microsoft BackOffice® family of products, ACNielsen Market Decisions selected a Microsoft expert, Microsoft Certified Solution Provider Partner G. A. Sullivan to build MarketVu II, the new information system. The company's track record in data warehouse and Microsoft Windows® DNA-based applications was a strong selling point. "In the past, we've had trouble finding technical people who provide us with what we really need," says Bob Dittrich, ACNielsen's Director of Information Services. "We don't just need bodies, we need experts who can really jump-start our learning curve-people who can get answers quickly, who have a high level of skill in Microsoft technologies and who have good processes for learning and problem solving. G. A. Sullivan has met these needs better than anyone else."