For example, after Corporate Express Inc. started using MicroStrategy's BI tools, it was able to cut costs by eliminating 31 jobs that were dedicated to running Microsoft Access BI reports, said Matt Schwartz, director of business analysis at the Broomfield, Colo.-based office supply company.

Corporate Express also uses MicroStrategy data mining tools to predict potential customer turnover, and this year it will start using BI to provide customers with online access to reports detailing how much they spend with the company.

Schwartz noted that the lack of that capability in the past prompted one client, financial services firm BB&T Corp., to jump ship to a Corporate Express competitor. Therefore, he said, adding the capability "was a very easy sell to our CEO."